Psalms/Scripture

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.

January 1, 2009 | 63 min listen
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."

January 1, 2009 | 59 min listen

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.

November 26, 2008 | 11 min read
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.

November 12, 2008 | 11 min read
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.

May 7, 2008 | 15 min read

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."

January 1, 2008 | 61 min listen
Preaching Christ from the Gospels

There are unique and wonderful challenges in following the apostle Paul's example of preaching Christ and Him crucified from the gospels. How do we faithfully communicate the message of Christ from the very words and life of Christ himself? It may seem obvious, but too often men and women are getting it wrong.

January 1, 2008 | 54 min listen

Base Worship Drama on the Lectionary

In contrast to Jeff Barker, who often presents Old Testament passages as brief plays or mimes in place of or during the sermon text, John Steven Paul writes liturgical plays long enough to replace the sermon.

April 5, 2007 | 4 min read
Let Story Form Your Worship: Old Testament and lectionary dramas

Here are two church worship drama models based on Bible texts. Part of a feature story exploring dramas based on the Old Testament and lectionary texts.

April 5, 2007 | 8 min read
Old Testament Sermons: The case for preaching the whole Bible

Paul said that all Scripture is God-breathed. Still, when did you last hear a sermon on the Old Testament? A feature story exploring the case for preaching the Old Testament.

March 16, 2007 | 13 min read