What if praise was never meant to be a warm-up for worship?

In this episode of The Walk: Faith in the Real World, Alexander Pappas—founding member of Hillsong Young & Free and writer of songs like Alive, Wake, Real Love, and Echo—shares a passionate and deeply personal conversation about worship, grace, repentance, and the transformational power of praise.

After years of leading worship around the world, Alexander opens up about the tension between confidence and humility, conviction and shame, and why praise is more than fast songs and high energy—it’s a spiritual posture that changes us from the inside out.

He also shares the heart behind his new EP Sunday, the stories that shaped songs like It Is So Sweet, and why worship gatherings should equip believers for the other six days of the week.

This conversation will challenge the way you think about worship—and remind you why praise still matters.

Guest Bio

Alexander Pappas is a world-renowned worship leader, songwriter, and founding member of the twice GRAMMY-nominated band Hillsong Young & Free. He is best known for writing songs including Alive, Wake, Real Love, Echo (Elevation Worship), and A Great Awakening. Alexander currently lives in Los Angeles and also serves as a contributor with Lakewood Music. His latest EP, Sunday, explores worship not just as a church experience, but as a lifestyle lived throughout the week.

Episode Highlights

• Why praise is more than emotional hype
  Alexander explains how praise shifts our hearts into agreement with God’s truth
• The difference between conviction and shame
  How grace changes the way believers process failure and growth
• Why worship should prepare you for Monday—not just Sunday
  The deeper heart behind his new EP Sunday
• The danger of treating praise like a warm-up
  Why fast songs still matter in modern worship culture
• How songs shape spiritual formation
  “Music connects our emotions to our intellect.”

Sponsor

This episode is brought to you by Planning Center: the all-in-one software to help your church schedule volunteers, plan services, and stay organized. Try it today at https://www.planningcenter.com/?utm_source=wlm&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=thewalk