From Doubt to “Yes I Will”: A Worship Leader’s Story | Landmark Stories #6 w/ Judd Harris

They say a dead man cannot sing and spiritually that’s true. In this episode of Landmark Stories, Matthew Maher sits down with Judd Harris of Vertical Worship for a conversation about doubt, calling, rejection, and the worship that heals. Judd shares the moment he walked out of a worship service feeling flat and then heard the Lord speak, “I’m with you.” From writing songs as a teenager to being invited into leadership, from not making the Liberty Worship Collective at first to returning and making it the second time, Judd’s story is a case study in how God uses a small yes to reshape a life. You will also hear the behind the scenes journey of how Judd joined Vertical Worship, how he ended up singing “Yes I Will,” and why worship is not performance but formation. This is a conversation about beholding Jesus, learning to serve without chasing platforms, and allowing worship to move from a stage into the other ninety five percent of life. If you are navigating rejection, calling, or spiritual dryness, this episode is for you. Guest: Judd Harris of Vertical Worship 0:00 — Dead Men Don’t Sing: Why Worship Matters 1:27 — Meet Judd Harris (Vertical Worship) 2:13 — The Night Worship Felt Flat (Doubt + Dryness) 3:35 — “I’m With You”: The Moment God Spoke 5:39 — Where “Dead Men Don’t Sing” Came From 7:23 — Why Music Moves the Soul (and Why That Matters Spiritually) 8:28 — Discovering the Gift: Songs, Guitar, and Early Calling 10:20 — The First “Yes”: Invited to Youth Worship (Out of Comfort Zone) 11:48 — From Background Kid to Leading the Team 13:25 — Why Liberty University? The Dream Opportunity 14:40 — Rejected: Not Making the Team (Deflated + Doubt) 15:33 — The Year That Formed Him (Identity ≠ Performance) 16:24 — Second Try: The Door Opens (Making the Team) 17:03 — Delays Aren’t Denials (God’s Timing in Formation) 18:29 — Serving Before Spotlight: Cutting Teeth in Ministry 20:02 — From Youth Rooms to 10,000 Students (Convocation Shift) 21:11 — Worship vs. Performance: What’s the Purpose? 22:18 — Scripture Shapes the Set: “God’s Prescription” for Worship 25:00 — Why People Don’t Sing (Vulnerability + Discomfort) 26:46 — Music Can Manipulate—Worship Brings Life 28:22 — The 4-Year-Old’s Sermon: “How Else Will Jesus Hear Me?” 29:25 — Joining Vertical Worship: The Internship to the Invitation 30:45 — The “Yes I Will” Story (And Why It Went Global) 33:52 — Worship Is Medicinal: Songs as Lifeboats 36:14 — A Night of Hope: Why He Came to Ocean City 37:41 — What God’s Teaching Judd Now: Beholding (5% vs 95%) 39:55 — Practicing the Presence of God (Brother Lawrence) 42:46 — What’s Next: New Music + “At Last” (Hope + Heaven) 47:05 — Final Encouragement: God’s There-ness (He Is With You) Thank you for watching a Landmark video. Please subscribe and tap or click the bell icon to turn notifications on so you're alerted when we go live or upload a new video. Visit our website to stay up-to-date on everything we do: http://thelandmark.church/ Follow us on social media to stay engaged: Instagram: @thelandmark.church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelandmark.church X: @thelandmark_ TikTok: @thelandmark.church Listen to our sermons: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3oMO0TF2OWF0JSzU8nOZ2m?si=ac45dc5fc2464d3b Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/landmark-sermons/id1724233354 Watch live here on Youtube. Gathering times: Sunday at 9:00am & 11:00am Wednesday at 6:30pm Landmark Church 300 E. 8th Street Ocean City, NJ 08226