Life

Page 78 of 80

Pop! Sizzle! Boom!

Connecting kids (and communities) to Jesus with ... science! read more

1:00AM EDT 9/1/2008

Strategizing for the Next Generation

Are we dreaming dreams for our young people? read more
8:00PM EDT 8/31/2008

Torn Apart

How you can help children through the pain of parents' separation or divorce. read more
1:00AM EDT 7/1/2008

Reaching a Higher Plane

Are you leading people into praise that extends beyond this earth? read more
8:00PM EDT 6/30/2008

Twenty or 30 years ago, the average church youth ministry consisted of monthly pizza-and-movie nights, sadly, many churches are still using the same approach to minister to young people and (not surprisingly) seeing minimal results. read more 8:00PM EDT 6/30/2008

How's Your Sunday Service?

As a pastor, you set the tone for true corporate worship.

Every pastor wants to raise up a group of people who God considers true worshipers. Jesus defined these people in John 4:23 as those who "worship the Father in spirit and truth." He even added that these are the ones after whom the Father seeks.

We have the chance to cultivate these kinds of worshipers every Sunday in our services by how we lead. Whether you are a senior pastor or a worship leader, you serve as a model for true worship. You play a key role in creating an environment that is conducive to the moving of God's Spirit. To excel at both of these requires some understanding of what I believe are fundamental principles of congregational worship.

• "Worship time" is not a setup for the sermon. If we're not careful we can develop a dangerous mind-set that believes the praise and worship part of a service functions merely to prepare the congregation for the preaching. Though preparing people for the message can certainly be one benefit of a good "worship time" (and I use that term begrudgingly), it must not be its primary purpose. read more

1:00AM EDT 5/1/2008