Worship Teams

How Worship Music Has Changed (And What’s Next) ft. Brenton Brown

Worship music has changed a lot over the last 30 years. We’ve gone from overhead projectors and simple worship choruses to massive productions and incredibly talented worship teams. But has all that progress actually made worship better?

In this episode, Matt sits down with worship songwriter Brenton Brown, known for songs like “Everlasting God,” “Lord Reign in Me,” and “Hosanna (Praise Is Rising),” to reflect on how worship has evolved through the years. Brenton shares stories from the early Vineyard worship movement, what made those days so special, and how songwriting and worship leading have changed since then. They also discuss the tension between production and congregational participation, why worship songs have become more complex, and what worship leaders today can learn from previous generations. Plus, Brenton shares what excites him about the future of worship music and the incredible story behind his song “Hallelujah, Jesus Saves.”

Key Discussion Points:

• The early days of the Vineyard worship movement
• How worship has changed over the last 30 years
• What made early Vineyard worship so unique
• The shift from simple worship gatherings to highly produced services
• Why churches sometimes struggle with congregational participation
• The difference between performing songs and leading people in worship
• How worship songwriting has evolved from simple choruses to more complex songs
• What today’s worship leaders can learn from previous generations
• Why we shouldn’t overcomplicate our worship setlists
• Where Brenton believes the next wave of worship music might come from
• The powerful story behind “Hallelujah, Jesus Saves”