Worship

We're not only permitted but commanded to sing, dance, and exalt the name of God. Artists, however, will tell you – it’s easy to cross the line where worship becomes performance. So, when preparing to lead worship, here are six facets to consider.

When we struggle, one of the first things the enemy will attack is our desire to worship. Why? Because he understands its potential for his absolute defeat even better than we do. So, we must force ourselves at times, past our flesh, to worship the Lord in all seasons, and for all reasons!

Maybe you’ve been stuck in a career or some other pursuit you felt you couldn’t turn down. Maybe you’ve wrapped your hands so tightly around your life that you can’t even receive from God. It’s okay. You can let go. You’ll be amazed at what God will do when you realize He doesn’t need you. Instead, He just wants you.

Leaving your familiar church and searching for a good fit can be an awkward experience. From denomination, to worship style, to size and more, here are some helpful things to consider in finding an imperfect church that suits you perfectly.

Music can be a powerful force in the church today - helping Christians take their mind off of themselves and onto the Savior. Music can also help a non-believer get to know Jesus’ love in a way that leans on the word of God without compromising its message. Do you have a favorite song you like to sing at work or at home that helps you set your mind and heart on God? Here are fifteen songs rich in theology that when sung can be offered as a sacrifice of praise:

To be the church that Christ wants us to be, we must know each other on a deeper level. Only then can we begin to function in unity and accountability—the model given by God to impact not only us but also the community around us.

The decision to look for a new church should not be taken lightly and should be decided after much prayer. Here are some reasons why it may be time to move on.

We sit in church on Sunday, singing as we read the words on the screen. Or maybe we look for the one mentioned in a hymnal or praise book. But there are songs I really wish we would sing—songs based on verses, that describe the God we love. Here are 10 Bible verses I wish we wrote songs about.

If your worship only takes place on Sunday morning at church, even at best you are anemic and undernourished, and will often find yourself faltering during the week. Worship is not something done for you, or to you. Worship is something you do yourself.

Your words are creative and life-giving, in the same manner that God’s are. When you sing, you are speaking words that really do mean something in the spiritual sense. So what are you singing?

There’s no acceptable or right way to sing and worship defined in the Bible. Even when we don’t have a particularly good singing voice—and I don’t—the Lord wants our praise.

Don’t set your needs to music and call it worship. Don’t use songs to tell God things He already knows. Set it all aside and sing to the Lord with no other agenda than to minister to Him in pure adoration.

These four amazing hymns are classic and beloved not only for their beauty and depth, but also for the great stories behind their creation.

As a worship leader, you must be aware of so much while you’re leading: the music, what your instrumentalists and vocalists are doing, where the Holy Spirit is leading, and how the congregation is doing. To do this well, worship leaders must steward an exchange of voices: ours and God's. It’s not about us at all. It’s not about our vocal technique or team leadership. Or if we have flawless worship experiences. It’s about serving the congregation and the Lord.

To some, the style of worship music is simply a matter of the worshipper’s preference. To others, the style of music in corporate church worship is a matter of right and wrong. Scripture tells us hymns and songs are used to worship God. By singing in worship, Christians proclaim the truths of God’s saving power, rejoice in His redeeming grace, and even edify and strengthen each other in singing the truth of His word.