A Whole-Person Gospel for the Whole Community: An Interview with Manuel Arteaga
“A gospel that remains disembodied will inevitably lack credibility. Gospel-centered preaching finds its integrity when it is matched by a church willing to live the message it proclaims. Without that embodied witness, compassion risks becoming momentary concern rather than sustained commitment.”
Who Pastors the Pastors? The Cross as Source, Not Just Message
“So, who pastors the pastors? In the truest sense, the answer is both simple and profound: we do. As a priesthood of all believers, we pastor one another. What the Great Shepherd reveals to one becomes nourishment for all. In gathering together—listening, learning, and submitting ourselves anew to the Spirit—we find our own wells refilled.”
Reflections on a Two-Day Gospel Infusion in the Heart of Manhattan
“This Conference, though, reminded me where true power resides—and that has been reflected once again in my preaching. Through the influence of the various speakers, I’ve been inspired afresh to make much of Jesus and the gospel. This doesn’t mean I have discontinued to focus on other pressing matters and issues, but I have recommitted to framing everything I preach about within the context of the gospel.”
Joy: The Mission of Worship
“The fruit of the Spirit is essential to the mission of the church. Proclamation of the Three Angels’ Messages includes not only spoken truth but lived truth through acts of loving service to humanity. What a privilege and joy to share the good news of Jesus Christ in this way!”
Honest Lament and Stubborn Hope
“In the cross of Christ, we see a God who, though profoundly misunderstood and rejected, continues to choose us—continues to confront injustice with love. Only love is stronger than hate, more powerful than evil, and stubborn enough to walk with us and work through us until the day when all things are finally made whole.”
The Aims of Adventist Worship
How can Adventist worship leaders organize worship services that sustain what we believe?
Gospel-Centered Preaching: An Interview with Ty Gibson
In anticipation of the Gospel-Centered Preaching Conference, October 27–28, 2025, Best Practices for Adventist Worship interviewed Ty Gibson, a featured speaker at the event, on the heart of gospel-centered preaching.
Artificial Intelligence, Real Worship?
“I am not arguing that we avoid AI altogether, but I hope we will ask what we are trading for efficiency, and in particular, what opportunities to truly meet one another and God we may be missing in the rush to generate meaningful products and practices.”
Art, Faith, and Adventist Mission: An Interview with Jonathan Walter
“Art can express the beauty, mystery, truth, and love of God in unique ways that resonate with searching, broken people and draw their hearts closer to Him.”
Worship as a Creative, Transformative Encounter: An Interview with Jillian Lawrence
“May we never shy away from the bold fragrance of devotion that arises when worship meets artistry—because in that meeting place, we catch a clearer glimpse of the God who formed us to create and to love Him in every color, sound, and language.”
Art, Faith, and Pastoral Ministry: A Conversation with Whitni Carlson from New Haven Seventh-day Adventist Church
“The only response that feels sane when we encounter the story of the gospel or the way God wants to recreate His Kingdom here is to create for ourselves, however imperfectly.”
Embodying a Fuller Story
Whether your congregation will have multiple gatherings or a single gathering, here are some ways we can embody a fuller story of Jesus’ dying and rising in our worship practices.
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.