10 Facts About “This Changes Everything”

#10 – The Album releases TOMORROW (8/2) on iTunes!

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#9 – The album was produced by the legendary Matt Goldman (Anberlin/Underoath/ThirdDay/CastingCrowns/K.Stanfill)

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#8 – The album is “Indy” (which means I paid for the whole thing) (OUCH )

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#7 – Although the album is “indy”, it will be going to Christian bookstores nationwide on 8/16, Lord-willing!

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#6 – One of the songs, “The Lord Is A Warrior”, features Shai Linne rapping, and he is a BEAST on the mic!

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#5 – In 11 days, we’ll be starting our “CD Release Tour” dates. Mostly in the southeast. Come worship w/ us 1 night!  mattpapa.com for dates…

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#4 – Music/Books/People who influenced this record::: Rich Mullins “A liturgy, a legacy…”, “The Psalms and Hymns of Issac Watts” (book), ”Don’t Waste Your Life” by @johnpiper, “The Forgotton Ways” by @alanhirsch, @carparknorthdk, a dude in India named “Ajay”, & @jdgreear

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#3 – A % of the sales from every CD we sell will go toward funding our orphanage in India!

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#2 – “This” in “This Changes Everything” is NOT “this album”!  #JESUSchangesEVERYTHING

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And #1 – This album is about Jesus. I pray it is a gospel catalyst to your heart and to the world!

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Writing that the nations might be glad!

Matt

This Changes Everything (coming August 2nd)

Hi friends-

Here’s a sneak peak at the album artwork and a quick blurb about the concept of my new album, “This Changes Everything” coming August 2nd!  In a few days or so you’ll be able to pre-order it.  I’m pumped.  Go Jesus.

This Changes Everything

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The year was 1514, and the earth was the center of it all.  Until Nicolas Copernicus changed everything.

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It’s called the “Copernican Revolution” for a reason.  Everyone believed the sun, and everything else, revolved around the earth.  Everyone was wrong.  And as the Sun took it’s rightful place at the center of the great Milky Way, a greater fear and reverence swept over all mankind; as for the first time man doubted his centrality in the universe.  For the first time, humanity came trembling to grips with the humbling and earth-shattering reality:  we are small.

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My prayer for you is that as these songs bring you into collision with the greatest, most central reality in the universe, namely the Gospel, that a copernican revolution would be unleashed in your life.  All of us come into this world bent on believing that we are at the center.  But we’re not.  There is, however, a Reality holding steady at the center of it all, beckoning us to open our eyes and see what we were made for.  His name is Jesus.  And He is the center.  He will not be a part of your life, one of the many orbiting obligations around you.  He will be your life; the star you revolve around or nothing at all.  The tomb is empty and He is Lord.  This changes everything.

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Writing songs and blogs that you might see Jesus shining at the center of all things-

Matt

Sorry for the silence!

Hi friends.

Thanks to you all for your prayers for this new album.  I believe in the power of prayer….and while sometimes I honestly feel a bit selfish for asking people to pray for my “new album recording” while people are lost and starving in India, I do believe that through prayer this new album can and will make an impact on those lost and starving people! I pray that it does, and brings a ton of glory to God.  Go Jesus!

So….sorry for the silence.  I have been working hard to complete this album, but now that the recording part is all wrapped up, you should be getting an onslaught of awesome blog posts from me

grace and peace to you!

Matt

IT IS FINISHED!

Hi friends!

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It is finished!  This time of year, we remember together the greatest act of love and justice in the history of the world, and the 3 greatest words ever spoken: IT IS FINISHED.  He said it in agony so we could say it in victory.

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So…..to help us all remember the work of Jesus, I’m excited to announce that we have released a brand new song called “It Is Finished”!  I hope and pray with all my heart that this song is a huge blessing to you & to the Church during this Easter season and beyond.

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You can get the song here:

http://mattpapa.com/it_is_finished

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And also….Would you please help us by spreading the word?  We really feel a burden to get this song to the Church.  Here’s a couple practical things you can do:

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1.  Post something like this to your facebook and twitter page:

IT IS FINISHED!  THANK YOU JESUS!  http://mattpapa.com/it_is_finished

2.  If the song has been a blessing to you, please write a review on iTunes.

3.  You can let your worship pastor at your church know about the song.

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Thank you so, so much.  Most of all, I hope you will just listen to the song and fall in love with Jesus all over again.

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Unto the One who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be all blessing and honor and glory and power and praise forever!  Writing and living that the whole world might know “IT IS FINISHED”-

Matt

So You Wanna Be A Rock Star – by Keith Green

For as long as he could remember, Keith Green’s greatest dream was to be a musical success.  After he gave his life to Jesus, however, he felt the need to surrender those dreams and aspirations by laying down his music…perhaps never to perform publicly again.

Ironically, when sometime later he felt God release him to pick up his music again, he soon had a recording contract and his first album soared straight to the top of the Contemporary Christian Music charts.

The following message was birthed out of Keith’s encounters with those who approached him, usually after a concert, to ask how they too could “make it big” in Christian music.

Today, so many people ask me if I can tell them how they can start or enter into a music ministry. At concerts I get countless questions about this, and I also get lots of letters and even some long-distance phone calls from many people who feel they are only “called” into the music “ministry.” One day I began to ask myself why so few have ever asked me how to become a missionary, or even a local street preacher, or how to disciple a new believer. It seems everyone would prefer the “bright lights” of what they think a music ministry would be, rather than the mud and obscurity of the mission field, or the streets of the ghetto, or even the true spiritual sweetness of just being a nobody whom the Lord uses mightily in small “everyday” ways.

Are You Willing?

My answer to their question is almost always the same. “Are you willing to never play music again? Are you willing to be a nothing? Are you willing to goanywhere and do anything for Christ? Are you willing to stay right where you are and let the Lord do great things through you, though no one may seem to notice at all?” They all seem to answer each of these questions with a quick “yes!” But I really doubt if they know what their answer entails.

Star Struck

My dearest family in Jesus…why are we so star struck? Why do we idolize Christian singers and speakers? We go from glorifying musicians in the world, to glorifying Christian musicians. It’s all idolatry! Can’t you see that? It’s true that there are many men and women of God who are greatly anointed to call down the Spirit of God on His people and the unsaved. But Satan is getting a great victory as we seem to worship these ministers on tapes and records, and clamor to get their autographs in churches and concert halls from coast to coast.
Can’t you see that you are hurting these ministers? They try desperately to tell you that they don’t deserve to be praised, and because of this you squeal with delight and praise them all the more. You’re smothering them, making it almost impossible for them to see that it’s really Jesus. They keep telling themselves that, but you keep telling them it’s really them, crushing their humility and grieving the Spirit that is trying to keep their eyes on Jesus.
Ultimately, what we idolize we ourselves desire to become, sometimes with our whole heart. So a lot of people who want to become just like their favorite Gospel singer or minister, seek after it with the same fervor that the Lord demands we seek after Him! And again, we insult the Spirit of Grace and try to make a place for ourselves, rather than a place for Jesus.

A Thankless Job

How come no one idolizes or praises the missionaries who give up everything and live in poverty, endangering their lives and families with every danger that the “American dream” has almost completely eliminated? How come no one lifts up and exalts the ghetto and prison ministers who can never take up an offering, because if they did they would either laugh or cry at what they’d receive?

How come?

Because (1) we’re taught from very early on that comfort is our goal and security… and (2) that we should always seek for a lot of people to like us. Who lives less comfortably and has had less friends and supporters than the selfless missionaries who have suffered untimely, premature deaths trying to conquer souls and nations for the whole glory of God? Do you really believe we’re living in the very last times? Then why do you spend more money on Gospel records and concerts than you give to organizations that feed the poor, or to missionaries out in the field?
There are ministries all over the world where “penniless” people are being saved and transformed. They are broken people who have promise and qualities, but just need someone to bring them God’s light during the times when their lives seem so completely hopeless.
I repent of ever having recorded one single song, and ever having performed one concert, if my music, and more importantly, my life has not provoked you into Godly jealousy (Romans 11:11) or to sell out more completely to Jesus!
Quit trying to make “gods” out of music ministers, and quit desiring to become like them. The Lord commands you, “Deny yourself take up your cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). My piano is not my cross, it is my tool. I’d never play it again if God would show me a more effective tool in my life for proclaiming His Gospel.[God gives us each our own unique tools. But we may never use them if we become more interested in someone else's. Seek God, ask Him for His plan for ministry (true, God glorifying ministry) in your life.]

Conclusion

To finish, let me say that the only music minister to whom the Lord will say, “Well done, thy good and faithful servant,” is the one whose life proves what their lyrics are saying, and to whom music is the least important part of their life. Glorifying the only worthy One has to be a minister’s most important goal!
Let’s all repent of the idolatry in our hearts and our desires for a comfortable, rewarding life when, really, the Bible tells us we are just passing through as strangers and pilgrims in this world (Hebrews 11:13), for our reward is in heaven. Let’s not forget that our due service to the Lord is “… not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake”(Phil. 1:29).
Amen. Let us die graciously together and endure to the end like brave soldiers who give their lives, without hesitation, for our noble and glorious King of Light.

From http://lastdaysministries.org

Jesus Juve, Soli Deo Gloria

As I set out on the journey of making this new album, I am reminded of and refreshed by one of the practices of one of my heros….Johann Sebastian Bach.

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Many people know him well as one of the most brilliant and prolific composers of all time….which he is.  What many people do not know, however, are the very things about Bach for which I have the most respect.

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Bach was a devout Christian, and his music and life gave evidence for this.  One of my favorite quotes of all-time is Bach’s reason for music:  ”The chief end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul” (Beautiful.  Reminds you of the Westminster doesn’t it?)   Many of his works have melodies that are mathematically/melodically encoded spelling out Bible verses or bits of liturgy from the Mass.  On top of this, Bach was a hard-worker…not a lazy, romanticized dreamer.  He was the worship leader/pastor of 4 churches at ONE TIME, and also a father of 20 CHILDREN!  (Some of you just threw up a little bit in your mouth)

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Yet through all of this, Bach wrote music….amazing music….amazing music to the GLORY of GOD!  But how?  I’m glad you asked.  Bach practiced something that was extremely simple, methodical, practical, and intentional….and this something makes him one of my heros….

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At the beginning of EVERY piece of music Bach ever wrote were 2 words:  JESUS JUVE.  This is Latin for “Jesus Help Me”.  Help me?  J.S. freaking Bach asking for HELP?  Yep.  He was.  Bach knew and lived the words of John 15…”Apart from Me you can do nothing”.  The greatest composer of all-time needed God’s help to write music.  ”Jesus Juve” was his prayer, and that’s a prayer that God loves to hear.

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Then, at the end of EVERY piece of music Bach ever wrote were 3 words…words which have become somewhat famous…”Soli Deo Gloria”.  Many of you know what that means….it’s Latin for “To God Alone Be The Glory”.  Another extremely humbling statement, especially from the pen of one of the greatest composers of all-time.  But he wrote it EVERY TIME.  Every piece.  He didn’t save it for just the good ones….or just the “ok” ones.  He wrote it every time.  To God alone.

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What an incredible practice for any artist or composer….and yet it is an incredible practice for ALL of us.  It is THE lesson of life.  We all do things, and we try to do them as best we can.  And yet as Bach teaches us, we must write “Jesus Juve” at the beginning of everything we do, because everything we know and have and do is GRACE.  The mind that Bach thought with, the hands that he wrote with, and the fingers he composed with were all GIFTS from heaven, and Bach knew this and lived this.  Do you?  Think about it….this very sentence you are reading right now is only possible because God is sustaining your mind and your thoughts in this very moment, and He has created a matrix of truth through which words can be interpreted and understood.  Your breath is God’s.  Your heartbeat is His.  Meditating on these things makes a humble man.  Forgetting it is a foundry of pride.

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Those who can write “Jesus Juve” before their work are much more inclined to write “Soli Deo Gloria” at the end of their work.  The power to work was God’s….the strength God’s….so GOD MUST receive ALL the GLORY.  What are you doing right now?  What are you achieving?  Is your life saying “Look at God!”  ”He did it!”  Or are you taking a piece of the pie?  Remember these words from 1 corinthians 3:

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¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

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What’s done for ourselves will burn.  Whatever is done for God’s glory will endure….whether we eat or we drink or whatever we do (1 Cor 10:31).  So HOW do we do EVERYTHING that we do to the glory of GOD?  We follow Bach’s example.

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Writing that you might write “Jesus Juve” and “Soli Deo Gloria” and the beginning and end of everything you do,

Matt

Sing The Story (How I plan worship sets)

I plan virtually EVERY worship set I lead the same way I would plan to share Christ with a total stranger on the street.  Let me explain (but keep that statement in your back pocket).

David Platt once said “worship is a rhythm of revelation and response”.  I would wholeheartedly agree.  We see God and we respond.  That is why the use of God’s Word in worship is not an option.  You will not (cannot) respond to something or Someone you have not seen, and you cannot see the Triune God apart from His Word.  The Bible is the revelation of who God is, and worship sets must be saturated with Scripture or they are worthless.  The Bible is also the revelation of what God has done….i.e. The Story of God….i.e. The Gospel.  When we worship we are remembering the mighty deeds of God, His faithfulness, and most of all His faithfulness in sending His Son to die for us and be raised for our sins.  So when someone stands up to lead the Church in worship, their two PRIMARY roles are teacher and story-teller.  Through Scripture, the worship leader is teaching people WHO God is, and telling people WHAT God has done.  (see Isaiah 6:1-8 and Col 3:16)

Now….you still have that statement from the beginning in your back pocket?  Good, cause here we go….

I never begin my worship sets with “cross songs”.  Why?  Because that’s not where God started His Story, and that’s not where I would start when sharing Christ with a someone on the street.  Imagine this somewhat typical scenario:  You see a dude in the mall you want to share Christ with.  You’re not sure how to start, so you just throw out a quick “uh….hey man, did you know that Jesus loves you?”  You smile, and hope the Holy Spirit falls.  Since we’re in America, you just get a slightly awkward look and then a response, “yeah”.  Now, you’re wondering what to say.  He already knows Jesus loves him, so I guess he’s a Christian?  So, you respond with “uh, cool man.  um, have a great day!”.  So what went wrong in this scenario?  Why wasn’t the gospel unbelievably good news (or unbelievably offensive)?  Because the story teller started in the middle of the story.  This guy didn’t even know he needed Jesus to love him.

You can’t see how amazing grace is until you see how disgusting sin is and how Holy God is.  Thus, when I’m sharing the gospel with someone on the street, I always want to make sure I start with GOD…..His character, His nature, His power, His holiness, etc (using the Bible).  Then, in light of That, they/you see sin, depravity, and eternal separation as a consequence for all sinners.  NOW ENTER THE CROSS….because THAT’S when it’s GLORIOUSLY GOOD NEWS!  We can have peace with God again!  You see, the guy in the scenario above didn’t know he NEEDED the cross, and as worship leaders it is also crucial for us to ALWAYS ASSUME that people don’t know that they need the cross.  Here’s what I’m getting at:  Leading worship is sharing the gospel!  It’s putting the whole Story on display.  Congregations are full of people who have forgotten that they need the cross, so we as worship leaders (who also forget) MUST remind them (and remind ourselves)!  So here’s what it looks like practically for me (Isaiah 6 is a great model):

I usually start every worship set with a couple worship songs that just make God look HUGE.  Songs that remind us that He is Different from us…that He is Holy, Holy, Holy (i.e. Everlasting God, Revelation Song, Glory To God, Our God, etc.).  Then sometimes I’ll do a song of contrition….a song that cries for the mercies of God in light of who He is (Give us clean hands, You Alone Can Rescue, etc.).  THEN, and every time, I will bring in the “cross songs”.  And at this point in the service, they are SO precious.  Infinitely precious, b/c we have seen the infinite distance God has come to save us (Jesus Paid It All, In Christ Alone, etc.)! Then I will hit the resurrection (Stronger, Mighty To Save, etc.), and finally sometimes I will close with some missional songs (Open Hands, etc.).

I am honored to lead in about 6 or 7 worship services a week, and I can truly say, it does NOT get old this way.  The Gospel is good news.  Always.

Planning worship sets primarily around tempo (fast songs first, slow songs last) or key(s) (playing songs in the same key or related keys), in my opinion, leads to banal and trite singing that doesn’t have Biblical or logical substance.  And we know we don’t need more of that.  We need The Story.  We don’t need more worship jukeboxes who stand on stage and sing out of context excerpts of The Story that sound cool.  We need men of prayer, full of the Word, who stand up with the weight of glory on them and sing The Story.

I’d love to hear from you.  Worship Leaders:  what’s your formula for worship planning?  Do you have one?  I’d love to learn from you.  My goal in this post was not to say that my way of leading worship is the only right way of leading worship, although I do feel quite strongly about it.  If you don’t have a formula, I would encourage you to start thinking through this lens.

Writing that our churches might be full of people who are set ablaze with the Gospel-

Matt