[INTERVIEW] Big Daddy Weave, 'The beauty of the offering is what He has deposited in us'

Big Daddy Weave’s new album Beautiful Offerings is more than just the seventh studio release for the Pensacola, Florida, locals; it is a reflection of their journey with God as a band.

“It really has been the last three years of our lives in the making,” shares frontman Mike Weaver. “God has just had such an amazing season with the last record, some of these songs just really resonated with people in such a way, and the Holy Spirit just did an amazing work in people’s lives.”

Finding success with its previous album Love Come To Life, where Big Daddy Weave achieved four back-to-back No. 1 singles, Beautiful Offerings became a continuation of the journey. Weaver puts it this way, “God can really use anybody, He can use anything, and what we saw Him do with these songs just kind of put us on the journey that is beautiful offerings.”

Penning some deeply introspective tracks for the previous album, Beautiful Offerings is an invitation for listeners to take the next step in their relationship with God.

“The song ‘Redeemed’ from our last record just really dealt with identity,” says Weaver. “We felt like God was doing this thing in people’s lives where they are able to exhale and just say, ‘Man, I don’t have to be that person anymore.’ But then what we also saw was that there would be a relief from what had been, but it’s like now, ‘What do we do?'”

Focusing on the deposit left in believers by the Holy Spirit, Beautiful Offerings is an empowering and challenging collection of songs.

“The Kingdom of Heaven is not a maybe, the Kingdom of Heaven is a certainty. Jesus says that His Kingdom is within us, and His Kingdom is at hand. The Kingdom is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

“The beauty of the offering is what He has deposited in us. Then the truth is every one of us, every day has a living opportunity to offer what He placed inside of us back to Him,” Weaver explains. “Beautiful Offerings is about a daily encounter with God and response to that encounter, how we are giving Him back what He has placed in us, with the Holy Spirit through us?”

Fans of the band’s previous work will be thrilled to know this release is as personal and poignant as ever. The subject matter, while close to Weaver’s heart, is challenging: “The Kingdom of Heaven is not a maybe, the Kingdom of Heaven is certainty. Jesus says that His Kingdom is within us, and His Kingdom is at hand. The Kingdom is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

“What does that look like as we step out?” asks Weaver. “To begin to confess not only am I saved from what I was, but then say, ‘I am a beautiful offering,’ and that changes the way you look at what can happen today, because everything is possible to him who believes, is what Jesus says.”

Living out this abundant faith remains integral for the bandmates, whether they are at home or on the road, and they put measures in place to cultivate an environment of worship wherever they go.

“We’re out for 11 days, then we are home for 10 days,” Weaver says. “So while we are out for those 11 days, the tour is our family, and they’re our church, and they are all of that. We get together daily about 4:30 p.m. – everybody is sort of finished, hopefully, with what we have been working on – then we get together and open God’s Word together.”

This strengthens them on the road, as a team and physically, during the grueling tour schedule.

“There have been times I have been so tired these last couple of months, and literally we get in the middle of the concert, or the worship time at night, as we are worshiping God and I begin to sense His presence, all of that tired just leaves. … His presence makes all the difference,” says Weaver.

After working together for 17 years, Big Daddy Weave members found themselves worn out after their last release. Beautiful Offerings signals a fresh start for the band.

“I think this is a new season, because there was a season before this when we were done,” Weaver continues. “We were so tired, we were so jaded I think … if you are only dealing with numbers and you are only dealing with budgets, and you’re only dealing [with] that kind of stuff it is so easy to just dry up.”

This new season has also given them the opportunity to care for their own relationships within the band on a personal and professional level.

“As we are worshiping God, and I begin to sense His presence, all of that tired just leaves. … His presence makes all the difference.”
“I think that communication is just a really huge thing; communication and just the fact that we know that one guy’s lack of relationship with God can hurt the whole thing,” says Weaver. “We need to be encouraging each other in relationship with God, and that’s where it’s going to come from, and I think that we have grown in that in the last while together.”

As Big Daddy Weave looks to the future, one thing is inherently clear: The bandmates want to see God move. And as they seek Him out with the release of Beautiful Offerings, they will undoubtedly experience greater things than ever before.

“Honestly, this music thing, I could take or leave, but I want to be involved with what God is doing in the world,” concludes Weaver. “And no matter what that looks like, to know Him and His presence and to have the sense that He is with you and that you’re in the middle of what He’s doing … it is so wonderful.”

Beautiful Offerings

Find out more about Big Daddy Weave and its new album, Beautiful Offerings, on the band’s website.