articles

How the motto “Be Prepared” can come in handy for worship leaders. As a kid, my mom wanted to make sure that my brother and I had significant male role modeling in our lives since she was raising us on her own. Beavers, Cubs, and Boy Scouts were a normal…

Homosexuality is gearing up to be THE issue the Church will face. Kevin DeYoung, Senior Pastor at University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan, has some great thoughts on the subject: Of the many complexities involving the church and homosexuality, one of the most difficult is how the former should…

By Melissa Riddle Chalos “There are a lot of songs about the Cross on this record. People are almost apologetic about it, and yet I feel challenged not to shrink from it. Our tendency is to make our language inclusive and seeker friendly. And I get that, but we also…

Apologist and author Josh McDowell launched Just1ClickAway.org, a new website to raise awareness about online pornography which he says is a problem big enough to cause the downfall of the church. Continue reading.

Daniel Connell from Church On the Move in Tulsa explains how he plans and creates staging concepts. Read more. See additional staging ideas.

Russell Reid from ChurchLeaders.com offers ideas to spruce up your stage: One of the most immediately noticeable renovations you can make to your worship center is to the stage area. When people walk into an auditorium, the first thing they see is the platform. Any change to it grabs attention…

Question: I think I understand why our church isn’t reaching new people or creating any kind of noticeable impact: It’s boring. To be honest, I’m the pastor and even I’m bored. Obviously, the solution is to fix it, but I’m not sure how. Suggestions? Know this: You’re not alone. This…

Is your church defined more by its reaction to “boring” churches than by its response to a needy world? You may be too fashionable if: – You look around at church and notice that everybody is the same age and looks and dresses pretty much like you do. – You…

I enjoy reading articles written by people in mainline denominations who are baffled/amazed by contemporary church growth. Here, a retired Methodist minister lists his observations on the reasons behind the growth of Evangelical churches: 1. Music. The first half hour of worship often resembles a rock concert as talented vocalists…

Doug Lawrence at ChurchCentral.com compares worship planning to the movie making process: Classic Story: There is no story as compelling as God’s Word. There is no human emotion or troubling dilemma left out of its vibrant chapters. Producers always have to start with a really good story—not a problem for…

Worship Leader Magazine lists their picks for the top 20 worship albums of the past 20 years: 20. Offerings Third Day Essential Records (2000) 19. Break Through: Live At Saddleback Tommy Walker (2006) 18. Eternity Misty Edwards Forerunner Music (2003) 17. Worship Michael W Smith Reunion Records (2001) 16. Hungry…

Doug Lawrence of ChurchCentral.com offers 3 unique ideas for shaking up your service. Especially touching is the video about the end of a particular Methodist ministry. When I was a child, I thought as a child, and had lots of ideas, but when I grew up and worked in a…

Worship leader David Santistevan writes the article you wish every potential musician in your church could read.

Recently I visited a church where I had to jump over a few unnecessary hurdles before I finally took my seat in their worship service. Does your church have any of these barriers to visitors? Ineffective website. Right off the bat, I almost couldn’t find this church’s website – it…