Resource Search Results

Round Three: Ordination Best Practices for Priests, Ministers, Elders, and Deacons

For our final round of ordination resources, we consulted five experts from five more traditions. Their best practices will help you understand the significance of ordaining people as bishops, priests, ministers, elders, and deacons.

Feature Story | March 14, 2019

How Singing through the Psalms Reveals the Excellence of Jesus

Singing through the entire book of Psalms helped Wasilla Bible Church expand its lyrical breadth. This shared Scriptural repertoire is pointing people of all ages toward Jesus.

Feature Story | February 25, 2019

Worship that Cares for People Pastorally

You may think of pastoral care mainly as personal visits to someone’s hospital room or home. But Howard Vanderwell wrote that the entire worship service has “powerful potential for caring for worshipers’ needs.” His book Caring Worship: Helping Worship Leaders Provide Pastoral Care through the Liturgy explains how.

Feature Story | February 13, 2019

Four Types of Advent and Christmas Eve Services: Which Have You Tried?

Experimenting with a different Advent or Christmas Eve worship format may help worshipers connect with the joy and wonder of Christ’s birth. Blue Christmas, Christmas pageants, Las Posadas, or lessons and carols make room for emotions, movement, culture, and people’s gifts.

Feature Story | November 15, 2018

Multicultural Congregations Meet for Combined Worship Services

Three church groups started out as separate congregations sharing one building. Now regularly-scheduled joint worship helps them see themselves as members of one body in Christ.

Feature Story | July 06, 2018

Storytelling and Testimony in Christian Worship

Celebrating its 150th anniversary led First Baptist Church of McMinnville, Oregon, into a practice of storytelling and testimony in worship. They learned how stories cross boundaries and time and connect people with God’s big story.

Feature Story | June 26, 2018

What Inside Songwriters Can Teach Outside Churches about Worship

A songwriting class in a North Carolina prison taught eight women to write biblical songs that touch congregations inside and outside prison walls.

Feature Story | February 14, 2018

Round Two: Ordination Best Practices for Ministers, Elders, and Deacons

Our first roundup of ordination resources was so popular that we have now consulted five more experts from five more denominations. Their best practices will help you dig beneath the surface when you ordain or install ministers, elders, and deacons.

Feature Story | November 21, 2017

How Worship Change Happened at American Lutheran Church

This once-aging, now-thriving Lutheran congregation became more comfortable with worship changes by using visuals and stories, reading books together, and sharing over meals.

Feature Story | August 18, 2017

First Steps for Including Teens in Planning and Leading Worship

Integrating youth leadership throughout the church is a new paradigm. But churches are reaping the benefits of mentoring youth to plan and lead worship.

Feature Story | February 13, 2017

Why Youth Need to Be Leading Worship Regularly NOW

When congregations empower teenagers to use their gifts in meaningful ways over time, teens are more likely to imagine themselves as faithful disciples and devoted worshipers for decades to come. Two summer programs in worship, theology, and the arts inspire teens and mentors.

Feature Story | February 09, 2017

Ordination Best Practices for Ministers, Elders and Deacons

Because so many people search our website for ordination resources, we consulted five experts from five denominations. Their best practices will help you dig beneath the surface when you ordain or install ministers, elders and deacons.

Feature Story | February 07, 2017

Our 95 Theses: Hispanic Perspectives on the Protestant Reformation

After beginning in Wittenberg, the Protestant Reformation surged among marginalized and exiled people. A new book by Latino and Latina Protestants, Catholics and Pentecostals explores that legacy.

Feature Story | November 30, 2016

Aging Together in Grace

Churches can offer a countercultural message about the gifts of older adults and walking with them through the challenges of aging.

Feature Story | August 02, 2016

Worship that Calls Us to Reflect God’s Heart for Justice

Bethany Hanke Hoang and Kristen Deede Johnson co-wrote The Justice Calling: Where Passion Meets Perseverance. They explain how weekly worship helps congregations keep working with, and waiting on, God to make all things new.

Feature Story | July 12, 2016

Best Resources for Teaching Worship

Seven college and seminary professors list their top short reads for teaching worship and say which resources would be most helpful for church worship and liturgy committees.

Feature Story | April 13, 2016

What You Can Learn from Visiting Churches

College and seminary professors offer church observation guides for their students. You can use their insights to learn more when you visit other churches. This process can also help you understand how people experience liturgical practices in your own congregation.