These four songs are rich in theological depth and diverse in musical arrangement. From indie folk of “Beautiful Love” to the pop of “You are God and I am Not”, these songs also share a common theme of reflecting the glory of Christ. Drawing on the riches of the gospel, we hope these songs will provoke you to glow with Jesus’ glory.

• Stream “Beautiful Love” now
• Check out the whole EP

Looking for the diamond in the rough? That little known gem hiding from any mainstream press and yet as good as anything you’ll find on store shelves? Then allow me to help you out. Austin City Life is a missional community in Austin, Texas – the home of many a talented musician. So it should come as no surprise that Austin should also provide some fantastic worship music as well.

Buy it on iTunes

People slowly made their way to the Austin City Life EP Release Party. Lamar Stockton and the Resonate Band opened with folk style worship, followed by an energetic set by J.J. Plascensio and the Gateway band. More people kept coming. By the time the ACL  band took the stage, we had about 100 folks there. The whole night was worshipful, from cokes and conversation to violin and vibrant singing. But the next six songs were intensely worshipful. What was relaxed and fun became serious and reverent and joy-filled.

I worshiped by watching and by singing, by reflecting on God’s remarkable grace poured out in downtown Austin, filling a club with worship, community, and a sense of mission. Just two years ago there were eight people in my living room dreaming about what it would look like for a community to address the brokenness of the city with the hope of the gospel. As I looked around, I saw changed lives, worshippers of Jesus, and a remarkable counter culture of light in a dark corner of our great city. God has done so much in such a short amount of time.

Listen to the whole Austin City Life EP for free. Produced by Andy Melvin.

Check iTunes to purchase the album. If you can’t wait, email Miranda to have a cd mailed to you for $10.

The EP is a product of worship from a community for a community. Each of our three worship leaders have contributed to this 6 song album, drawing on their unique gifts and artistry to produce songs that don’t quite fit within the usual worship stream. Some of the distinctives include:

• City focused
• Gospel-centered
• Martin Luther on the Spirit
• High Colossian Christology
• Ancient hymns to progressive tunes
• Reflective worship that builds and crescendos
• Integration of Gospel, Community, and Mission in the song writing

I hope you are compelled to worship  God in all of life through the power of his Spirit in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ through this music. May we lift our voices and our hearts in Christ-cherishing praise all our days.

Laura Winner reflects on similar things:

Of course, “Sabbath” observance begins on Friday evening. So does, or should, “Sunday” celebration begin on Saturday evening? I remember a family from my childhood who had been missionaries in Sudan who followed this practice. Even as a kid I can recall being both puzzled by and attracted to such a rhythm to life (though I didn’t call it that then, of course!). HT:JT

What would sabbath be like if we started with just a ten minute rhythm? A few minutes of prayer and Scripture meditation before we went to sleep? What if we aimed those reflections on considering Jesus, talking to him, loving him? Would Sundays look any different?

God-glorifying Worship is Christ-centered Worship
According to Peter, our gifts, our service, our love, our prayers, our hospitality all exist in “order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” To glorify something is not to make it bigger than it is, but rather to demonstrate it’s inherent centrality. It is the difference between magnifying through a Telescope and a Microscope. How do we magnify God? Through Jesus Christ. We do this in two key ways: Creation and Redemption. As artists and technicians we can approach God because he made us in Jesus (Col 1; Heb 1). We can worship God as artists and technicians because Jesus has bought our spot with his blood. We do not merit God’s presence in any way; it is a gift of himself to us. All things in through and for Jesus. Creation & Redemption. We worship because we were made and remade through him. His once for all sacrifice secures our spot as worshippers.

You are Not Your Gift
A Gift is a gift; it isn’t you or yours. The gift is a stewardship, something given for the good, the service of others. Its not really yours…if anything its theirs; it belongs to the Church. Your spiritual and musical talent is something given to you by God. You didn’t earn it. It is a stewardship. You are honing your gift, employing it in the service of the church, just as people with the gift of service are serving you in set-up. The gift is for the good of the church. The gift isn’t you, though it is your expression. I am not my sermons, though my preaching is an expression of me. I am constantly working on not seeking praise but seeking criticism so that I can serve our church better with God’s word. It is a gift given for service, for the good of others, for worship. You are not your gift. Your significance does not fluctuate with how well you set up, play an instrument or run sound. Your gift is not about you. Lead from your significance in Jesus not for your significance. Lead in the Strength that God supplies. This word “supplies” is used of a choral leader, of abundantly furnishing a chorus for a drama. God is rich in strength to supply others-serving, Christ-centered worship. These musical undertones remind us that worship comes from God in rich supply. God is more committed to his praise than we are and is disposed to lead us, fuel us in worship leading!

Love Covers a Multitude of Technical Difficulties
You guys seem to love one another, to really be striving for unity and mutual concern. Everyone helps out with set up and tear down. There seems to be very little grumbling or complaining. This is a wonderful expression of Jesus in you. Cultivate it! I have read of horror stories of division between the technical people and the musical people. Where people get really edgy and irritable that they have to turn their amp down or monitor up. You aren’t above this. So it’s important that you cultivate love for one another, show hospitality to one another without grumbling, keeping the centrality of Jesus in view in all things. We need to create a space in our Worship Teams that fosters kind, thoughtful ciritique and encouragement. If your identity is wrapped up with your music, then you will be slow to give encouragement and unreceptive to critique. The more your identity is wrapped up with Jesus, you will be able to consider your craft critically. You are all equal in Christ and different in function. Everyone doesn’t lead or set up. But you can all arrive at the same time and help unload equipment. In setting up and tearing down we need to practice hospitality. This means that those responsible for set up should serve without grumbling and those who play should play without grumbling. You are all equal in Jesus. To believe anything else is to believe a lie. Band should help unload. There is no higher tier of artist.

Worship Begins with Prayer

Worship starts with prayer, with confessing our inability to worship Christ on our own. With confessing that all things are in through and for Jesus, including worship. Worship is not something we manufacture; it is the giving of God himself to us. We have things backwards. Practice, practice, practice and pray for five minutes. Let’s be aware that worship is fueled by prayer. The end of all things is coming. Let’s pray for God’s presence not for musical perfection. Let’s pray that our church would be full-time worshippers, not Sunday service singers. Let’s pray that worship would result in mission, the making of more worshippers in this city.

~ harold best, unceasing worship, 28