Articles for Worship & Creative – ChurchLeaders

Heaven: Better Than Sex?

Timothy Lane — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 07:55:03 +0000

Jesus: "Is your imagination really that limited? Your fantasy life is dull and boring. Let me tell you about something far greater than sex."

Remembering and Rejoicing

David Manner — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 06:10:57 +0000

We can’t rejoice without first remembering. When we remember the gravity of our condition, we are all the more ready to rejoice in the glories of our Savior.

When and Why We Stopped Singing about Heaven, and How to Start Again

Matthew Westerholm — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 06:14:38 +0000

Singing about heaven has always served as a great encouragement to believers who do not (and should not) feel at home in this fallen world. Singing about heaven “right-sizes” a church’s expectations about what believers can anticipate in this life.

Are You Ready to Risk Again? (A Worship Team Devotional)

Dan Wilt — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 06:02:42 +0000

This worship team devotional asks the people on your worship team: are you ready to risk again?

The Harmony of Obedience

Ray Hollenbach — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 06:59:46 +0000

What if the Person who loves us most is also the one capable of showing us how to live? What if obedience means "going with the flow?" We need to discover the harmony of obedience.

Is Our Worship a One-Sided Conversation?

David Manner — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 06:01:20 +0000

A singular focus on worship is a one-sided conversation without discipleship.

Should Expressive Worship Be Physical?

Glenn Packiam — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 06:03:31 +0000

It’s understandable that people sometimes wonder if expressive worship leaders are simply imitating entertainment culture in asking people to respond.

Steeplejacking: A Hostile Takeover in Worship?

David Manner — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 06:01:49 +0000

Steeplejacking is a coined term that describes the attempt to infiltrate, influence and take-over an existing congregation.

Let Children Lead Worship!

Tina Houser — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 06:07:00 +0000

It’s true that kids can point out the obvious and teach us a thing or two, but what if we intentionally taught them to lead? What if we encouraged them to lead? And, are you ready for this? What if we let children lead worship?

What Ruined Contemporary Worship?

Don Chapman — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 06:02:13 +0000

Something happened that has absolutely ruined contemporary worship: the CCM industry collapsed. Now a young, hopeful CCM artist who really has no interest in being a worship leader goes straight into a worship leading job so he can make a living in music—there are simply no record deals to be had.

12 Steps to Discover Your Call to Music Ministry

MichaelDottin — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 06:05:00 +0000

Music ministry is one of the most vital ministries in the local church and should be viewed as a sacred office. Discovering your call begins with a DESIRE to be used by God to impact the local church and the world around you.

40 Songs for Grieving and Funerals

Kristen Gilles — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 06:01:00 +0000

Often, our songs in worship focus exclusively on celebration or happiness. But life includes grieving. Consider using some of these songs as ways to help your congregation mourn well.

How to Join The Many Tongues of World Communion Sunday

Paul Detterman — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 06:37:55 +0000

When a congregation’s “normal” pattern of worship is being enhanced or changed for a special emphasis like World Communion Sunday, it is important to design the changes in such a way that they heighten, not diminish, the clarity of the gospel message.

Best Advice for New Worship Leaders

Jeremy Gonzalez — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 06:02:47 +0000

What is the best advice young worship leaders can receive?

The Next Worship Leaders

Dan Wilt — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 06:03:00 +0000

The next worship leaders are ready to act, taking their creative calling seriously and understanding the vital role worship leaders play in the holistic spiritual formation of the next Christians.

The Epic Formula to Make Your Band Sound Great

Dan Wilt — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 06:21:19 +0000

We have to start with some basic principles when we’re thinking about arranging a large band. You can make your band sound great!

How to Help Your People Become Better Worshipers

Stephen Newman — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 06:03:16 +0000

I would like to challenge you with a thought concerning those we have in places of leadership in our worship ministries, and how to help your people become better worshippers.

8 Steps Toward Next Level Worship

Mark Cole — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 11:01:35 +0000

I love leading God’s people in worship. I have been blessed to have led Sunday worship teams at home and around the world for over 30 years. Here are a few things that I have learned along the way.

Emotionally Healthy Worship Leaders

David Santistevan — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 06:02:39 +0000

Emotionally healthy worship leaders know how to be vulnerable because they know who they are.

Why Wedding Worship Is Different

Steve Newman — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 06:01:00 +0000

I have sung at hundreds of weddings over the years, and had never been asked to lead worship before. I had never considered a time of congregational worship a part of a wedding ceremony. Call it wedding worship.

10 Current Challenges to Authentic Christian Worship

Paul Detterman — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 06:31:44 +0000

The greatest challenge to authentic Christian worship seems to be a crumbling foundation of authentic Christian faith.

Guests Return to Worship Services Because of These 9 Surprises

Thom Rainer — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 06:01:56 +0000

Most of the respondents said they were “delighted” or “surprised,” and that the one event made guests return to the church.

How to Balance Structure & Spontaneity in Worship

Dan Wilt — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 06:31:12 +0000

Some spontaneity in your worship sets will encourage the community to engage in unique and fresh ways in the midst of a service.

4 Solutions to “I Hate Choirs”

Don Chapman — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 06:02:00 +0000

I hate choirs! - So said a friend of mine recently at lunch as we discussed ministry matters.

How to Display Lyrics On Your Camera Feeds

Duke Taber — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 06:25:49 +0000

Whether your church is running a live stream for viewers at home or in other remote locations, or you have a projection screen in the church and want to display lyrics to hymns or scripture, you can do so easily using EasyWorship and NDI output functionality.

12 Post-Pandemic Questions Every Worship Leader Should Be Asking

David Manner — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 06:59:08 +0000

Pastor, author, and theologian David Manner recently presented twelve vital questions every church, every worship leader (and pastor!) should be asking right now.

33 Wise Quotes You Need to Help Guide Your Ministry

Staff — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 06:01:00 +0000

God gave Solomon wisdom, but the wise king also collected wise quotes whenever he encountered them. Here are some wise quotes to help your collection.

Do You Know the Regulative Principle of Worship?

Nicholas Batzig — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 06:10:37 +0000

individuals who are serious about the regulative principle of worship put everything into the categories of "good vs. bad" instead of into what we may consider to be "good, better, and best" practices.

The Danger of Worship Hype

Rich Kirkpatrick — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 06:05:30 +0000

Worship hype is an addiction. Don’t call it leadership. Or the movement of the Spirit. We must be careful to not over-promise on something that is an under-delivered mirage.

6 Ways To Embrace Culturally Diverse Worship

David Manner — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 11:03:42 +0000

We are willing to go outside the church for culturally diverse worship but fail miserably to do so within. So why are we so ready to defer when we travel around the world but not across the aisle?

8 Keys to Personal Prayer

Winfield Bevens — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 06:01:52 +0000

These are words that should be used to describe our personal prayer time with the Lord. Prayer should not be dry or stuffy; it should be warm and intimate.

Does God Really Inhabit the Praises of His People?

Daniel Henderson — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 06:53:36 +0000

As Christians we must understand that music is an expression, or overflow, of the indwelling Holy Spirit controlling us (Ephesians 5:18-19). It is also the “word of Christ” at work in our hearts that gives us cause to sing (Colossians 3:16).

12 Keys to Improving Worship Keyboards

Mark Cole — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 06:03:50 +0000

How to grow your keys in your worship services.

Worship Context, Behavior, and Faith

Paul Detterman — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 06:51:58 +0000

My wife and I had an interesting experience one year at Calvin Worship Symposium. We learning something about the importance of worship context. It happened on a Thursday night at the Covenant Fine Arts Center. The auditorium was beautifully prepped for worship with themed hangings and well-designed lighting on and around the stage. The worship […]

5 Ways the Enemy Tries To Keep Us Distracted From Worship

Chuck Lawless — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 11:01:53 +0000

Let me get right to the point: the enemy wants to hinder your worship of God this weekend, so he will work to distract and deceive you.

Top 10 Things I Love That Worship Leaders Do

Jared C. Wilson — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 06:03:16 +0000

Many friends of mine serve their churches as worship leaders, some perhaps in the face of weekly criticism and complaints—I am eternally thankful for you. I love you.

4 Tips for Great Worship Song Intros

Dan Wilt — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 06:05:05 +0000

Talk about your worship song intros together until you feel like the band understands what you are after.

Worship Spectators or Participators?

David Manner — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 06:01:00 +0000

If those of us who lead worship want congregants to be participators rather than spectators, then we must facilitate worship not just depending on our own strengths and abilities.

Sing Hallelujah!

Clint Archer — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 06:07:44 +0000

Praise the LORD is the Hebrew word Hallelujah. Hallel means praise, worship, magnify. U means “us” or “we.” Jah is a common abbreviation for the name “Yahweh.”

10 Current Challenges to Christian Worship

Paul Detterman — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 06:46:23 +0000

Pick a church, attend Lord’s Day worship, and more than likely you will discover that authentic Christian worship is in real trouble.

What Is Lectio Divina?

Mark Riner — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 11:03:39 +0000

The process of Lectio Divina begins with, you guessed it, reading. To pray while reading the Scriptures, we need to read Scripture! The central premise of reading the Bible in this context is to not go too fast or too slow.

20 Things Pastors and Worship Leaders Should Say to Each Other More Often

David Manner — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 11:01:21 +0000

It's easy for a church staff to fall into "silos," where each one does their work and steers clear of other staff members. We might even do a good job within that silo, but the church deserves better. Pastors and worship leaders need to communicate, often--and with encouragement.

How to Build Prayer Into a Worship Service

Chuck Lawless — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 06:01:22 +0000

Getting prayer into your church means building prayer into the DNA of a congregation.

5 Tips on Handling Angry People

Scott Thomas — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 21:01:00 +0000

I have observed that worship leaders, pastors, and church planters, live in a constant state of being either angry, depressed or delusional, perhaps because we are often handling angry people.

Vision for Worship Ministry

Paul Detterman — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 06:26:25 +0000

How do we see our life and our calling? It’s a question everyone must ask. What's your vision for worship ministry?

Why Your Sunday Setlist Matters

David Santistevan — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 11:01:07 +0000

The Sunday setlist you choose each week makes a bigger difference than you might think.

The Nature and Marks of Spiritual Pride

Nicholas Batzig — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 06:07:36 +0000

When we foster spiritual pride, we reveal that we do not truly see our need the atoning sacrifice of Christ for our sin.

Holiness is True Freedom

Dan Wilt — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 06:02:12 +0000

Jesus, I want true freedom. I want holiness. I want anything out of the way that separates me from the incredible love you have for me.

The Truth About Leading Worship

Gary Durbin — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 06:02:07 +0000

It isn't always pretty—but this is what reality looks like for worship leaders.

Top 10 Praise and Worship Songs From the Last Two Decades

ChurchLeaders — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 06:42:36 +0000

Praise and worship occupy a special place in the hearts of believers everywhere. Whether it’s the private experience of God’s near-ness or the corporate experience of a shared event, praise and worship is one of God’s means of grace. Here are 10 of our favorites #PraiseAndWorship