He’s come a long way in his 15- year career.

Five gold records and one platinum might provide tangible evidence of his success, but the most valuable sign of his hard work lies in his ability to effectively convey a message to audiences through music.

And Michael W. Smith proved Saturday night at Stephens Auditorium that performance skills are something he’s mastered.

Whether it’s playing bouncy tunes on his acoustic guitar backed up by a six-piece band, or performing a solo medley on a baby grand piano, Smith demonstrated his ability to energize his audience to the point of a standing ovation — actually, more than one.

The show began with cuts from his new “Live the Life” CD, such as “Never Been Unloved” and “I Believe in You Now.”

He ended his first “Live the Life” promotion set with a moving performance of “Let Me Show You the Way,” a toe-tapping ballad Smith said the band is particularly fond of.

“We’re going to play one more cut from our new album,” Smith said. “We all like it up [on stage], so if you don’t like it, that’s just tough.”

After the overwhelming response to Smith’s new creation, it’s hard to believe anyone had a “tough” time with the song. But that wasn’t the only part of the show that provoked an energetic audience.

Other highlights occurred further into the performance when Smith played a trademark “piano set,” which featured nothing more than him, his piano and a gaudy chandelier which was lowered down from the ceiling to hang directly above him.

“I’m going to take a blast from the past and get a little nostalgic with you,” Smith told the audience.

Old favorites such as “Rocketown,” “Place in this World,” “I Will Be Here” and “Pray For Me” were among the songs played during the medley, which he finished off with a full performance of the graduation ceremony favorite, “Friends.”

“When I wrote and recorded [‘Friends’] 16 years ago, little did I know I would have to sing this song for the rest of my life,” Smith said dryly.

But his heartfelt performance of the popular tune indicated he was happy to sing it again for the Ames audience.

After the medley, contagious applause once again generated throughout the auditorium, but the applause level reached its climax after the part of the concert when Smith invited the audience to sing praise and worship songs with him.

Rich Mullins classics “Awesome God” and “God You Are My God,” as well as Smith’s “Great is the Lord” were among the expressive praise and worship songs that led members of the audience to raise their hands in adoration to the Lord.

The powerful sound of 2,000 voices singing praise to God encouraged many audience members to forget they were at a rock concert. During this portion of the concert, it was as if Smith wasn’t really performing, but instead a vessel to be used to play the piano amid everyone else’s worship.

“I have a heart for praise and worship,” Smith said. “I could just do [praise and worship music] all night long if that’s OK with you.”

With the worshipful atmosphere intact, the band returned to the stage to help Smith finish off the show. At the end of the concert, Smith said the “Live the Life” tour is the first tour he has ever really felt “called” to set out on because he believes God has a real purpose for it.

“For the rest of my life, I want to preach about the ravishing, awesome love of God,” Smith said. “We’ve been fed a lot of bad theology that salvation is based on works. Praise God for churches who preach the gospel.”

And once again, Smith’s words were affirmed by wild applause.