Cultivating a Deep Love for Scripture
To help form a biblical worldview, we saturated our congregation with a rhythm of scripture memorization that has become a key component of spiritual formation. This workshop showed how this practice has transformed us and our worship.
Getting Past the Fish: The Book of Jonah for Christian Worship
The book of Jonah is replete with themes near to the heart of Christian life, worship, and witness.
Helping Children Understand the Psalms
The Psalms have been a great source of inspiration for generations of Christians but children seldom get the chance to interact with more than a handful of Psalms in a meaningful way. This workshop will explore how we can help children do this and why it matters.
Preaching to Expose the Principalities and Powers
Church leaders and other saints in our congregations frequently find themselves struggling with money, technology, politics, the institutional church, etc. - what the Bible calls "principalities and powers."
The Drama of Liturgy
What role can drama play in the various elements of liturgy? Drama has been used to introduce sermon topics or themes of worship, but there are even more possibilities. This session explored how drama can enhance the call to worship, confession and assurance, proclaiming the word, offering, and sacraments.
Symposium 2009 - A Firm Foundation: Biblical Principles of Worship
Twelve principles were presented as a scriptural framework for thinking about, preaching and teaching on, and planning and leading corporate worship.
Symposium 2009 - Jesus: Our Worship Leader
This seminar explored the wonderful truth that when we gather, our living Lord is present and active in our midst?empowering, perfecting and leading our worship. Behind all true worship, regardless of its form or style, is the present mediating ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Singing the New Testament: No greater text than scripture for worship songs
Singing Scripture songs and hymns sinks the words of the Bible into your heart, mind, and muscle memory. A feature story on the hymnal, Singing the New Testament.
Old Testament Resources for Christian Worship: Surprising insight
Touching the Altar, edited by Carol M. Bechtel, shows how the often-neglected Old Testament is essential to understand the purpose of worship, giving practical ideas any church can apply. A feature story on using Old Testament values in worship.
Kenneth E. Bailey on Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes
Middle East scholar Kenneth Bailey's books, lectures, and more invite Christians to strip away cultural mythologies and worship the real Jesus of the Middle East. A feature story exploring the life of Jesus through his own Middle-Eastern culture.
Symposium 2008 - Blended Worship: Good for the Body
The best argument for blended worship is that the body of Christ by definition is itself blended - therefore our services should reflect that reality.
Christ's Priesthood and Our Praises
This workshop will explore the implications for liturgy and preaching which arrive from recognizing afresh 1-- the reality of Christ's priesthood and 2-- that we are, in George Herbert's phrase, "Secretaries of thy praise."