A Song of Despair and Praise: Diverse Songbooks as a Space for Honest Engagement with God
“The story in and of Psalm 22 is a powerful testimony to the importance of using a variety of music (and arts in general) to hold space for different human experiences in their relationship with the divine—the pretty and the ugly, the hopeful and the desperate, the song of praise and the song of despair. All to God, and (note!) all to the congregation!”
Worship in the Desert
“Is it possible to escape the disenchanted and detached world of modernity without wandering after illusions in the desert? Can we find our way home to a place of divine dwelling? What images might orient the people of God in the shifting sands of contemporary culture? And how might these images inform Christian worship, whose task is to shape our imaginations toward God and His world?”
Practice Looking Up
“On a practical level, the Sabbath offers us the chance to recalibrate our attention—shifting it from the noise of daily life to the things that matter most. This shift doesn’t happen automatically; it requires intentional practices that help us learn to focus.”
Creating a Climate of Collaboration: A Conversation with Lola Moore Johnston from Restoration Praise Center
"I realized that as the lead pastor, I'm uniquely positioned to create the climate I desire— a climate of collaboration. My worship leader can request it, but I can make it happen."
5 Hymns That Are Easily Adaptable to Different Styles
Hymns have been an integral part of worship for centuries. Their enduring melodies and profound lyrics make them ideal for adaptation across a variety of musical styles. Here are five hymns that are easily adaptable, along with examples of how different artists have reimagined them.
Worship as a Window
"While the Bible does not explicitly use a window as a metaphor for worship, the connection between worship and transformed vision is pervasive. In addition to other metaphors for worship—e.g., worship as a sacrifice (Romans 12:1) or worship as a banquet/feast (Revelation 19:9)—I’d suggest that thinking of worship as a window can illuminate and clarify how we approach worship ministry."
Worship as Art: Art as Worship
“Rather than considering art as additional or supplemental to our worship as Christians, it invites our contemplation of the profound essential nature of art in our daily worship and liturgical gatherings.”
Creating Community in Worship
While content may be king in many realms, in worship, the priority is communion and connection with God and fellow worshipers. Here are several ways to foster community during worship gatherings.
Integrating Christian Worship’s “Vertical” and “Horizontal” Dimensions
“Isaiah’s vision of heavenly worship, however, reminds us that ultimately the ‘vertical’ and ‘horizontal’ dimensions of worship are inextricably bound together. Just as the seraphim “were calling out to one another,” we glorify God not only through praise directed toward God but also as we exhort, encourage, and bless one another.”
Resilience in Pastoral Worship Ministry: An Interview with David Oceguera from Bolingbrook Church
“The most important thing I have done to lead with resilience and maintain a healthy well-being is to create a Rule of Life for myself. A Rule of Life is the practices and rhythms you want to include in your daily life that will help you remain close to God, dedicated to your calling, and committed to your most important relationships. It might be helpful to think of a rule of life as a trellis that supports you in staying committed to the things that are most important to you.”
Cultivating a New Worship Community: An Interview with Justin Alabata from Forest Lake Seventh-Day Adventist Church
“One of the most important strategies is clear and consistent communication. We spent a healthy amount of time fleshing out our church mission, vision, and values. These have helped us clearly communicate what our purpose is as a church. These also guide everything we do when it comes to starting and/or supporting different ministries.”
Collective, Comprehensive Worship Renewal: A Conversation with Alareece Collie and Morgan Kochenower of Frederick Seventh-day Adventist Church
“It is essential that we don’t just make changes as a leadership team, but that the congregation is not only aware of what we're doing but also why we're doing it so we can all contribute and work together.”
Singing the Gospel
Worship Pastor, Vanessa Hairston, shares song suggestions for building a Gospel-packed worship set list.
Our Livestream Journey: Priorities and Improvements
“New Hope had already been streaming their services for many years. But the pandemic led to a more intentional approach to improving the online experience.”
Preaching the Gospel: An Interview with Todd Stout from Church of the Advent Hope
“Most people come to worship acknowledging their failures over the past week. Good advice or calls for more effort won't change their condition, but an encounter with Christ through the proclamation of the Gospel can be transformative.”
The Power of Gestures
“Similarly, when we break bread and share it with those in need—which is all of us in different ways—when we kneel and stand and celebrate and sing and serve, the bread becomes a gift, a transformative symbol, and we become the Body of Christ.”
A Farewell Riddle: Birthing a New Reality Through Worship
“Like a woman bearing her unborn child, these leaders carry congregations through the pain, struggle, and uncertainty that mark transitions to the possibility of new life beyond.”
Cultivating Blended Worship
“I've told members of my church family that if you don't like a particular song, look around and see who does and pray, ‘Lord, thank You that this music is reaching them.’”
Unifying Worship
“If sports can unite strangers, why does something of infinitely more importance—worshiping God—so often divide us?”
Worshiping a Present God
“Worshiping an implicitly absent, distant God of “control” maligns God’s character and encourages our continued absence from God, one another, and those in need.”