The Church for the Sake of the World: Urban Challenges Today
This workshop focused on discerning and acting on the call to integrate worship with ministry in order to be with those who are least and last through the example of LaSalle Street Church in downtown Chicago with a 40 year history in social engagement.
The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults
This workshop focused on understanding the latest social scientific research on the religious beliefs and practices of young people as they transition to adulthood.
Feeding the God-Hungry Imagination
While defenders of Christianity attempt to barge through the front door of reason by arguing the case for Christ, the Holy Spirit has been slipping through the back door of the imagination without the church's permission or even notice.
In Other Words: A Conversation on Preaching
Sermons usually say in other words what Scripture says, and do in other words what Scripture does --assure, warn, encourage, inform, inspire--. But they say and do Scripture in a great many ways and they can sound very different from each other depending on the acoustics of time, place, and audience.
Singing the Psalms Against a Backdrop of Persecution: A View from Pakistan
Find out how the psalms bring hope to suffering Christians in Pakistan and how the psalms can challenge theologians, poets, and musicians around the world to strengthen faith, ministry, and worship.
How to Connect Church-Based Community Ministry Programs to Corporate Worship
Starting with his own very diverse church and community connections, Tony Campbell explored the many different ministry opportunities Christians have to deepen relationships between church and community, and offer a variety of ways to celebrate those relationships in worship.?
Worship: A Spring of Life and Shalom
Worship helps us answer fundamental questions of human existence regarding our identity, calling, main purpose in life, and how to be empowered for service to God?
Tending the Heart: Soul Care for Worship Leaders
It is all too easy for worship leaders--preachers and musicians alike-to--slip into "mere professionalism." When that happens, we settle into dull habit, holy things no longer stir our soul, and God becomes distant and even abstract? This session examined that spiritual danger and suggested some practices to "guard our souls."
Preaching the Great Stories of Genesis
An absentee father with a son of blistering hate; a frightened man pimping his wife; a penniless mother left to die; a husband beaten down by his wily woman. The stories from Genesis read like last night's news.
Worship and Civility
In what ways can the church's worshiping life equip people for the patterns of civility-public politeness-that make for good citizenship? Should we even care about the question?
Faith Formation in Worship
Faith formation is not just for children—all of us are shaped in our faith by the way we come to God in worship. This session considered what it might mean if we have a faith formation focus as we plan worship.
Forgotten Ones: Worship and Pastoral Care
Many people have a vision for pastoral care that takes place in homes, hospitals, and institutions, often in times of crisis. But the prime place for pastoral care is in the community gathered for worship, when all who are able gather under the care of the Good Shepherd, and those who cannot attend are still remembered and named.