articles

Embrace Tradition for Your Christmas Celebration

Zip up your ugly Christmas sweater and cozy up to tradition this season. When it comes to the holidays, people crave the classic – timeless tunes, candles aglow, familiar phrases from Luke. So embrace what they expect. There’s power in keeping things simple. Don’t reinvent the manger scene – let…

Deeper Worship With Christmas Hymns

Christmas means tradition. This year, gift your congregation the nostalgic, soul-stirring worship experience they crave by embracing classic Christmas hymns. Reintroduce timeless carols that connect generations and tap into warm holiday memories. Modernize the melodies if you’d like, but retain the familiar lyrics that tell the Christmas story in a…

[PODCAST] Christmas Eve is on a Sunday in 2023. What Should My Church Do?

The calendar offers churches a great opportunity to reach more people on Christmas Eve in 2023. On this episode of the Church Answers Podcast, Thom Rainer discusses how the church can make a few great decisions to make it evangelistically effective this year. Listen to the podcast.

5 Surprising Ways Churches Are Increasing Attendance

While most churches have seen declines since the pandemic, a few outlier congregations are bucking the trend with surprising practices that are increasing attendance. Find five unorthodox methods these churches are using to grow against the current. From strategically subtracting and adding ministries, to consistent invitation campaigns, to starting new…

Streaming Christmas Programs and Worship Services

Explore the best streaming license options for churches this Christmas season. Streaming your holiday events and services can help maximize your reach and impact at this special time of year. The article looks at a variety of factors to help you share your message as broadly as possible. With the…

10 Ways To Improve Your Worship Team (2/4)

Worship bands rely heavily on great charts to aid their musicians and singers during rehearsals and services. This article explores the importance of high-quality charts and arranging for worship music. Find pros and cons of different charting formats, from basic lyric and chord sheets to fully notated arrangements. Excellent charts…

Worship Leader’s Guide to Christmas Planning

The Christmas season will be here before we know it, which means it’s time for worship leaders to start planning meaningful Advent and Christmas worship sets. Getting a head start on song selection, special musical elements, team schedules, and Christmas Eve services is a wise way to go. This article…

The 4 Boxes Your Christmas Service Must Check Off

Planning Christmas services requires intentionally considering all who will attend. People come from different places spiritually – seasoned believers, new believers, nonbelievers, and struggling believers. Catering only to one group can alienate others. It’s important to remind seasoned believers of the wonder of Christ through stories of God’s past faithfulness.…

Ways Churches Can Use ChatGPT and AI

ChatGPT and AI are revolutionizing how churches interact and engage with congregations. Immense possibilities are being opened by these technologies – from streamlining communication to providing spiritual guidance! Church leaders can learn how to leverage ChatGPT’s natural language capabilities to create more personalized, convenient experiences for members. Learn: An overview…

Why Nobody Wants to Work at a Church Anymore

A crisis is brewing as fewer young people want to work at churches anymore. Between ministry pressures, church hurt, hypocrisy, and abundant new job options, interest is waning. Toxic culture and low pay are also big, yet overlooked factors driving next-gen leaders away. This article explores why these issues are…

Is Passing the Offering Plate Dead?

The tradition of passing the offering plate during services is rapidly fading in churches today. While some traditionalists prefer this symbolic act, fewer and fewer churches have kept the practice in recent years. What factors are driving this major shift and what does it mean for the future? Learn about…

10 Ways To Improve Your Worship Team (1/4)

Great worship teams always start with great leaders. As a worship leader, you set the tone and standard for your team. This article offers practical advice on improving your leadership to build a stronger, more effective worship team. Learn: Ways to model passionate, biblical worship for your team Tips on…

Leading Worship with Christmas Songs

Worship leaders often have mixed feelings about doing Christmas music – some love it, while others don’t enjoy their congregation going into “sing-a-long” mode. Worry not, there is a solution that appeases everyone. Both the Christmas lovers who want something new and fresh, and the ones who only want those…

Thanksgiving Song Ideas for Worship

by Don Chapman Stumped for some great Thanksgiving-themed songs for your sets? Take a look at my suggestions – make November a month of Gratitude for your congregation! “Goodness Of God” by Bethel Music / Jenn Johnson is a perfect fit for your congregation’s Thanksgiving worship. With its reminders of…

How Song Selection Shapes a Congregation’s Spiritual Experience

Worship leaders have a special role in helping congregations connect with Almighty God. How can we create services that touch people’s hearts and inspire spiritual growth? This article explores ideas like choosing songs that uplift and reflect the community, sharing stories behind meaningful hymns, getting involved beyond Sundays, listening to…

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