Ever since his teenage years, Joel Sales has enjoyed writing worship songs. He's adamant that worship should be fun, since God is the 'Dad who loves to party.' We asked him to share a little about his experience and recent album:

What do you love most about leading worship? 

Since I was quite young I have always encountered God in a special way during sung worship times and I love leading people into a similar encounter. The psalmist says we should ‘enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise’ (Psalm 100:4). Praise is often that key to entering God’s presence. As we thank God, declare His goodness, and focus on Him, that’s often when those life-defining encounters happen. It is such a privilege to go on that journey with people.

What made you want to record a worship album and what was your intention for This Is My Home?

I have always been passionate about writing worship songs and seeing home-grown songs sung in local churches. I had thought about making a worship album for a long time. Then when I was at someone else’s live worship recording I felt that God was saying it was time for me to do an album of my songs, to record it live, and to give it away. So with the support of some amazing people that’s what we did.

My intention was simply to make the best album we could with the best songs I’ve written, hoping that it would be a blessing to people.

What are the current challenges in the wider church’s corporate worship? 

One of our challenges it that worship’s not fun enough. I went for a run this week and found myself skipping lots of the Christian songs on my ipod to listen to the secular ones because they are more fun. That shouldn’t be the case. Christians should be the most joyful people on the planet, constantly blown away by the kindness of our dancing Father. Our corporate worship should also reflect this more.

One of your songs is called Dancing Father; what does this mean to you? 

Luke 15 gives us a picture of a God who is not angry, not boring, but who celebrates the return of His beloved child by throwing a party. He goes on to correct His other son for not fully enjoying the privileges of being His son. So often we forget that God is a Dad who loves to party, and we as His children should be partying with Him.

What is the story behind the title track This Is My Home? 

I had been reflecting on the life I want to lead and the depth of relationship I want to cultivate with God (as opposed to where I actually was)! I had my guitar and I began singing the words of the first verse: ‘Beautiful, I can’t last a moment without you.’ I just wrote it like a prayer. The chorus is all about our identity as children of God and our need to constantly remember who we have become; that we are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6).

What advice would you give to aspiring Christian songwriters?

Write songs that you would like to sing. If it doesn’t inspire you, it probably won’t inspire others. Then I’d say try them. Lead the songs and see how they go at your local church, cell group or youth group. A song should serve the church, not the other way round, so if it works well when you have used it a couple of times then it’s one to keep; otherwise keep working on it or bin it. The songs on This Is My Home worked well in a local church context, and that was my main criteria for choosing the tracks for the album.

This Is My Home is available to download for free at www.joelsales.co.uk . Alternatively, I would love to send you a copy! Please email Bible Reflections to request one.