Resource Search Results

Becoming Equipped to Follow God’s Call

Called at age 39 to be a messenger of God, a minister-in-training finds acceptance, insight, and guidance through a preaching peer group.

Reflection | August 08, 2018

Engaging Sermons: Bringing the Bible to Life

How a preaching peer group helped an imaginative preacher reach new heights in her quest to create engaging sermons.

Reflection | August 06, 2018

Seeing from Other Viewpoints

Engaging deeply with peers and perspectives from outside your tradition is the best way to grow in your understanding of others and enrich your own view.

Reflection | July 30, 2018

From Isolation to Encirclement: Finding the Preaching Voice Among Peers

By preaching to trusted peers and hearing their reflections, even veteran pastors can find transformation in the practice of preaching.

Reflection | July 23, 2018

The Impact of Peer Learning Groups for the Preaching Life

The leader of preaching peer groups in northern Indiana and on Chicago’s South Side shares his insights about what makes these groups so effective.

Reflection | July 16, 2018

The Challenge of Preaching in Bilingual Communities

Preaching to peers in a homiletics cohort opened Antonio Almonte’s eyes to the differences in how listeners perceive his preaching in English versus Spanish. As a result, he adjusted his English-language preaching style.

Reflection | July 11, 2018

Reflections from a Charlottesville Church . . .

Isaac Wardell, Director of Worship Arts at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, shares reflections from his experience shepherding their Charlottesville congregation in Sunday worship through the trauma of hatred, bigotry, and violence that took place in their small town less than one day before they gathered for worship.

Reflection | August 28, 2017

Introducing Lent: A Season of Preparation and Repentance

Through deliberate forms of self-denial, Christians in Lent open their hearts to the self-giving grace of Jesus Christ and their own union with Christ.

Reflection | March 06, 2017

Would Jesus Listen To My Story?

In November 2016, the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship sent Calvin College student Adrienne Hall to Would Jesus Eat Frybread, a conference for Native American students put on by Intervarsity, Cru, and the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship.

Reflection | November 28, 2016

Can I be Native and Christian?

In November 2014 Calvin College senior Chantelle Yazzie traveled to Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Reservation, Carlton, MN, to participate in the third annual “Would Jesus Eat Frybread?” conference.

Reflection | January 16, 2015

Bible Study on Worship: Elements of worship

This Bible study with 12 lessons focuses on the key elements of Christian worship and is designed for use by a worship planning team/committee.

Reflection | June 30, 2014

Bible Study on Worship: Themes to explore

This Bible study with 12 lessons focuses on key themes in understanding Christian worship and is designed for use by a worship planning team/committee.

Reflection | June 30, 2014

The Wardrobe of Easter: Compassion

God's Word makes a breath-taking confession about followers of Jesus: they have become resurrected with their risen Lord.

Reflection | April 19, 2014

The Wardrobe of Easter: Kindness

Language that folks wouldn’t dream of using in face-to-face conversation has now become, sad to say, a normal part of their careless, coarsened interaction. How do you reduce the level of shrill and inappropriate talk and behavior?

Reflection | April 18, 2014

The Wardrobe of Easter: Humility

St. Paul commended it as a resurrection virtue. A humble person is within a millimeter of becoming like Christ himself, who “did not consider equality with God something to be grasped… but humbled himself and became obedient unto death—even death on a cross!”

Reflection | April 17, 2014

The Wardrobe of Easter: Gentleness

Gentleness ought to be an obvious character quality of every person who bears the Savior’s name. Christian leaders are not exempt. Wielding power over others as they are called to do, leaders are susceptible to treating their followers harshly and inappropriately. But Christian leaders who are gentle know that leadership is best expressed by those who show they care about those they lead.

Reflection | April 16, 2014

The Wardrobe of Easter: Patience

Patience-filled Christian saints keep cultivating their relationship with the Spirit and keep praying continually for his help in showing makrothumia everywhere and always toward all others, no matter how impatient and rude, no matter how grumbling and irritating those others at times may be.

Reflection | April 15, 2014

The Wardrobe of Easter: Forgiveness

Forgiving: it’s a challenging practice—perhaps no other command of Jesus is more difficult to obey. And it’s so counter-intuitive. Why give anyone a fresh start after he’s hurt you deeply? Why not just retaliate by knocking his block off?

Reflection | April 14, 2014

The Wardrobe of Easter: Love

What better place to celebrate the Good News of God’s agape and to get the instruction manual for learning how to live it out toward others than in the congregation of saints on Sunday morning? There we gather to hear about and to celebrate, to receive instruction and to pledge anew.

Reflection | April 13, 2014

The Wardrobe of Easter: Peace

The things which most unite Christians often most divide them. Honest believers at times honestly disagree. But too often—and too quickly—they turn disagreements into unholy quarrels.

Reflection | April 12, 2014