EPISODE · Aug 28, 2026 · 34 MIN
Deep Calls to Deep: Writing Worship Songs That Reach the Human Heart
from Ray Badham Songwriting · host Ray Badham
Ps 42:7 “Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls;all your waves and breakers have swept over me.”There's something fundamentally wrong with a lot of contemporary worship — and if you're a worship songwriter, you're in the perfect position to change this. In this episode, we dig into what worship actually is, using Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 as our guide. Worship songwriting isn't about writing songs that feel good in the moment -feeding individualism and self-help ‘theology.’ It's about crafting worship lyrics that take people into the true depth of who God is. Discover why so much contemporary worship music stays on the surface, how worship leaders can write songs that actually transform hearts — not simply produce a good feeling — and what it means to write from, and to, the depth of worship.In this episode:Why John 4 reframes what worship really isThe problem with individualistic, self-help worship songwritingMoving worship lyrics from expression to transformationA surprising discovery about worship that reshaped this approachChapters:00:00 — Introduction01:18 — Fundamental Problems in Contemporary Worship03:14 — The Depth of Worship05:34 — 1. The Deep Need of Humanity09:49 — 2. The Deep Desire of the Father12:16 — 3. The Deep Barrier to Worship14:26 — 4. Conquered by the Deep Love of God• • 29:07 — ConclusionResources Mentioned:*The Church (sacraments, worship, ministry, mission) Donald G Bloesch“Stupid Deep” by Jon Bellion“How He Loves” by John Mark McMillan*This page contains Amazon affiliate links. If you buy something through one, I earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. It's one small way you can support my work while grabbing gear or books you were probably going to buy anyway. Thanks for being here.
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Deep Calls to Deep: Writing Worship Songs That Reach the Human Heart
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