1855 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402 USA
On the campus of Calvin University
© 2026 Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
Many preachers and Christians wonder: What place does “preaching” have in our image-shaped world? How do we bring the gospel word to people inundated by images?
Eyes are for seeing. Good eyes can see well; bad eyes, less well; blind eyes, not at all.
During this Lenten season, I intend to focus these meditations on the radiant preciousness of our Lord Jesus Christ and his love-driven willingness to endure cruel suffering and death in order to bring us new life.
It takes an act of slowing life down enough to cultivate wonder, which is one of the reasons God bids his children to practice Sabbath—to take a day off in order to savor life for the sheer and undeserved gift that it is, and then in turn to worship God and to give God thanks for it. This column includes an audio recording by Dale Cooper.
We are currently observing a new phenomenon within the development of young adults: emerging adulthood, which spans the ages of 18 to 29, marked by unprecedented options for education, work and career choices, delayed marriage and family life, and remarkable geographic mobility.
Hymns have been woven into our lives with layers of significance. Hear the stories behind the hymns that were written, why hymns still matter today, and how they have shaped my own story. This session was a combination of discussion, performance and singing together.
The word justice is never far hidden in the vocabulary of the psalmists. Over half the psalms specifically use the word. But in worship today, particularly in the Western church, the word is suspect and politicised.
They are the emerging leaders in our congregations. They are only a few years away from serving as deacons, elders, or preachers themselves. What are they listening for in sermons? What are they hungry for? What bores them?
A conversation with N.T. Wright exploring themes from his plenary address: Praying the Psalms: Personal, Pastoral, Theological and Liturgical Reflections.
Mike Cosper and Kevin Twit discuss using old hymn texts set to new music and how to nurture a “hymn movement,” including such issues as finding texts, songwriting, copyright issues, as well as working with artists, and recording and distributing music.
A multicultural, multilingual congregation is one that reflects the diversity of God’s kingdom, but also the complexities of life together this side of eternity. Having a way of understanding and interpreting the differences among us makes it possible to anticipate the worship described in the Revelation vision.
These two mothers of young children have a particular interest in helping children understand what it means to be baptized and to participate in the Lord’s Supper.
