articles

After 30 years consulting churches, Thom Rainer observes an unprecedented number of congregations on the brink of death post-COVID. Rainer outlines five commonalities of dying churches: abandoned evangelism, majoring on minutiae, gossip/conflict, lack of urgency, and blaming pastors. He notes dying churches fail to reach people for Christ or engage…

What transforms a worship band from good to great? Alex Enfieldjian cracks the code on musical excellence. He notes the best players arrive ready to rock their personalized parts. They’re team players who serve the song, not their egos, keeping the spotlight on worship. These artists minimize mistakes through practice…

Removing someone from your worship team can be painful, but sometimes necessary. Josh Kluge provides guidance on how to gracefully walk through the process of releasing a team member. He emphasizes the importance of setting clear expectations upfront, having ongoing conversations to address issues, involving leadership, and maintaining a heart…

Mark Cole provides a step-by-step guide to learning harmonies for worship teams. He recommends active listening, starting simple, using sheet music, online tutorials, recording yourself, and consistent practice. Cole emphasizes that learning harmonies takes patience and persistence, but will enhance your team’s worship over time. Continue Reading.

Kenny Lamm, worship ministry strategist for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, has written a new book that tackles a surprising issue facing churches worldwide – a lack of congregational participation in worship. Lamm believes well-intentioned worship leaders may inadvertently contribute to this problem. In “The Worship Ministry Guidebook,”…

Looking to take your worship services to the next level? The team at Worshipflow shares an in-depth guide for recruiting and training a stellar worship team. Their comprehensive 6-step process covers defining team needs, creating job descriptions, spreading the word, hosting auditions, providing training, and building community. With some strategic…

In a recent study, over 400 church leaders identified the Sundays when attendance reliably drops each year. Thom Rainer shares the top 10 lowest attended Sundays. Factors like age, weather, sports schedules, and travel patterns influence declines. Most churches see a consistent annual pattern for their lowest turnout, and understanding…

Leading worship requires more than musical skill – it demands strong stage presence. Mark Cole offers tangible tips to help worship team singers and musicians boost their confidence and connect with congregations during church services. From understanding song messages to making eye contact, Cole covers key areas like body language,…

Introducing unfamiliar worship songs can be daunting, but thoughtful planning and preparation can set your congregation up for success. Chris Denning shares practical guidance for worship leaders seeking to integrate new music. Just as a football coach structures plays around the team’s strengths, Chris advises getting to know your church’s…

Jonathan Swindal has curated a collection of profound quotes about worship from influential Christian voices. His blog post examines how worship changes us into the image of God, fuels both intimacy with Jesus and service to the world, and intertwines gazing upon the Lord with joining in His work. Whether…

What does worship truly look like? Jonathan Mason challenges us to expand our perspectives on musical worship beyond the contemporary “standards” we’ve created. Through a transformative experience in Jamaica, he realized that worship extends far beyond acoustic guitars and drum sets. Mason calls us to evaluate if our chosen musical…