Category Archives: Preparation for Worship

Preparing for Worship: When Does Worship Really Start?

Posted on May 25, 2013 by

What time does your worship service start? That’s a typical question for church visitors. But for longtime members, this question might seem irrelevant. At one level the answer is as simple as looking at a church’s bulletin or website. We could … Continue reading →

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Praying the Lord’s Prayer: Our Father, Who Art in Heaven

Posted on February 16, 2013 by

What’s your prayer life like? Do you primarily pray in arrows? You know what I mean. It’s like Nehemiah before approaching the king for permission to return to Jerusalem to inspect the city (Neh. 1). He thought he would lose his … Continue reading →

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Called to Worship: God is a Missionary God

Posted on February 1, 2013 by

Do you wonder why some pastors say that God is a missionary God? Are you confused when some people call America a Christian nation? Doesn’t Scripture talk about people from every nation being part of God’s family? How do we … Continue reading →

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Phil’s Top Ten Lists: 10 Things to Make 2012 Memorable

Posted on December 16, 2011 by

The end of a year always provides a chance for analysis and forecasting. While it’s an arbitrary marker in certain respects, it allows us a chance to evaluate our work and lives. John Piper recently released his end of year … Continue reading →

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God With Us: 5 Implications of the Incarnation for Corporate Worship

Posted on December 9, 2011 by

I love singing Advent songs like “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” and “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus.” They help me remember the longing Israel felt as they waited for God’s promised Messiah. Check out the two cool arrangements of these … Continue reading →

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Phil’s Top Ten Lists: Top 10 Reasons to Celebrate Advent

Posted on December 5, 2011 by

If you grew up outside the church or in a broadly evangelical congregation, there’s a good chance you don’t know what to do with Advent. For years I thought Christmas and Advent were synonymous. Not true. They are inseparable, but … Continue reading →

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Celebrating Advent: 4 Songs and Resources to Aid in Your Worship

Posted on November 25, 2011 by

With Thanksgiving behind and Christmas ahead, many churches will enter the Advent season this Sunday. If you’re like me (raised more generally evangelical), the richness of Advent is often an after thought. I know for many churches this is the … Continue reading →

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Offering New Songs of Thanks: Three Stories to Inspire Your Thanksgiving Celebration

Posted on November 22, 2011 by

Football, turkey, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Add in family, friends and some fall colors and you have Thanksgiving, right? I don’t think that’s what the pilgrims were thinking. The food and celebration overflowed from a place of gratefulness they … Continue reading →

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God’s Call to Worship: 5 Ways Psalm 95 Shows Us How to Worship

Posted on November 18, 2011 by

Do you know how to worship God? Sounds like a silly question, especially on a site about worship for worship leaders and serious worshippers. But this is a vital question, “Do you really know how to worship?” Sixty years ago … Continue reading →

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