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On the campus of Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary
© 2024 Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
A seasoned preacher offers tips on how to be an effective guest preacher
Some suggestions for hosting a guest preacher
This syllabus covers a study of resources, skills, and strategies for planning and leading public worship services. Particular attention will be given to the interpretative reading of Scripture, congregational prayer, training lay worship leaders, and celebrations of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Worship planned in series provides for a greater cumulative impact on the spiritual life of a congregation as a theme is continually reinforced.
These psalms and prayers are provided as many voices are calling for the church to be a significant partner in the complex readjustment process of returning home for military veterans.
Your worship planning has likely been marked by a good bit of intensity in recent weeks. The season of Lent followed by Holy Week and Easter require a great deal of effort by worship planners, preachers, and worship leaders. The services have hopefully all had a consistent theme focused on the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord.
The Sunday for which this service is designated is World Communion Sunday. On this day churches around the world will come to the Table of the Lord as an expression of their oneness in Jesus Christ.
In the dialogue of worship in the Reformed tradition, congregational song has primarily had the role of the people's response to God. And that role has been shaped by Scripture, as shown through a study of the Psalms as the songbook of the Bible. In our discussion on congregational song, we will examine closely the nature of the Psalm songs and how that can serve as a model for our songs today.
We are called into the presence of God. We are exhorted to come with joy, thanksgiving, music and song. We affirm that he is the "great God," our maker and our shepherd. We can expect to be welcomed into his presence because we are the "flock under his care." What a rich spirit in which to begin worship!
This Bible study lesson explores how to proclaim the Word of God.
While we cannot find either a precise order of worship or rules for the practice of worship in the Bible, we can discover much about the nature of worship by stepping into events of worship that are described in Scripture.
Perhaps you have seen examples of churches that have become more vital than ever through an examination of their worship life, and perhaps you have also seen churches that have been damaged by worship conflicts. What can we do to be sure of the one and not the other?
