Resource Search Results

Janice McLean-Farrell on a Pastoral Approach to Research

Congregations often want to get information from members and neighbors. They can learn how to do so pastorally by considering how scholars do academic research using human subjects. Scholars follow ethical standards to gain data while doing no harm.

Conversation | January 08, 2020

Leopoldo A. Sánchez M. on Sculptor Spirit

It is impossible to become more like Jesus on your own. A new book offers five ways to recognize how the same Spirit who worked in Jesus’ life can shape us to be more Christlike.

Conversation | December 10, 2019

Tim Shapiro on How Your Congregation Learns

Many congregations suspect they need to change but don’t know how. Tim Shapiro’s book describes eight steps that healthy congregations can take to learn together. These learning journey stages have parallels to elements of Christian worship.

Conversation | November 12, 2019

Shaping the Pastoral Imagination: An Interview with Pastor Douglas Brouwer led by John Witvliet

2019 Cultivating Vital Worship | Session

Video | August 01, 2019

How People Change

2019 Cultivating Vital Worship | Session

Audio | July 19, 2019

The Church's "Big" Choir

Integration of the choir into all aspects of worship and the choir's voice into the congregation's repertoire.

Article | June 19, 2019

Framing Worship for Missional Engagement

2019 Calvin Symposium on Worship | Workshop

Audio | May 03, 2019

Seven Challenges in Multicultural, Multi-congregational Worship

Worshiping regularly with a congregation culturally dissimilar from yours is challenging but worth it. Understanding these challenges can also help you change worship to better include different cultural groups within your church.

Article | July 06, 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

Means of Grace: Forming New and Sustaining “Renewing” Congregations and Church Plants

In this seminar, veteran practitioners discussed how mission-shaped preaching and sacramental life function as means of grace in their communities. Audience engaged a discussion that sees evangelism and robust worship as beautifully integrated elements of every congregation’s ministry.

Audio | May 04, 2018

Teaching and Learning in Christian Congregations and Ministries

This session featured insights from a variety of people who love to teach in ways that help people in ordinary congregations learn about worship, the arts, inclusion, and, ultimately, Jesus himself.

Audio | February 28, 2018

Warren Kinghorn on Mental Illness and Our Deepest Identity

We hear a lot about using person-first language. Yet it is still common to label people with their mental health diagnosis. Christians and churches can offer another way to describe our common human identity.

Conversation | February 06, 2018

The Geography of Worship

An annotated research guide from the field of geography, exploring the relevance of place, space, and human/environment interactions for the study of worship practices.

Resource Guide | December 05, 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

Ten Ways to be More Inclusive and Welcoming in Worship and Church Life

Here are helpful suggestions for congregations who strive to include people across the full spectrum of abilities in their small group settings and beyond.

Article | August 03, 2017

Congregations and Sermons: A Biblical Scholar's Vision for Imaginative, Communal Sermon Listening

Most of us consider the Bible more than an anthology or a textual repository for the ancient Israelites' and early Christians' religious traditions.

Audio | July 06, 2017

Worship in Times of Trauma: Gabriel Salguero

Pastor Gabriel Salguero reminds us the soul has hunger and needs. Good worship speaks to the body and the soul.

Video | March 27, 2017

Open to Embracing the Difference: Emmett G. Price III

Emmett G. Price III reflects on the how worship brings together people with unique differences.

Video | March 23, 2017

Universal Design, Responsive Design: Keys for Welcoming Persons with Varied Abilities

Worshipers and congregation members certainly do not come in a “one size fits all” wrapping! As you gather for worship you will notice an array of gifts, but you may also see the areas of struggle each one brings to the community.

Audio | February 20, 2017

Autism Spectrum Disorder and Your Church

With one in 68 individuals being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, it is likely that your worshiping community already includes someone with ASD. If you are a pastor, worship leader, musician, church school teacher, or church volunteer, discover specific ways to identify, interact with, and worship with persons with ASD.

Audio | February 15, 2017