In John 4, Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman reveals a pivotal shift in worship. “The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth” (Jn 4:23). This statement revolutionizes the concept of worship.
Defining True Worship, Part 1
True worship runs far deeper than any stylistic expression. It is not merely the sound we produce but the surrender we offer. Pastors, worship leaders, and all church leaders must recapture the biblical vision of worship.
The New Sacrament?
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“All of this came to mind when I read Bob Smietana’s article for Religious News Service entitled If Jesus showed up today, would he play guitar? He was reporting on the Conference on Contemporary Praise and Worship held this summer in Nashville, in which scholars came together to discuss, among other things, ‘whether worship music has become a new sacrament.’” - Gene Veith
Help! I Don’t Like My Church’s Music
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“Many faithful Christians are committed to churches they love, even if they don’t always care for the music. They join and stay because the preaching is biblicalb…. Because music engages our affections, though, it can be painful when we don’t love our church’s music.music.” - TGC
Worship Is More than Music
McDonald’s sells more than burgers, Amazon sells more than books, and a AAA membership offers far more benefits than just roadside assistance. We easily associate a brand name or well-known company with a limited sample of its products or services when it actually produces or offers much more. If we’re not careful, we do the same thing in the church when we view or portray worship as the musical part of Sunday morning gatherings. I say this because worshiping God encompasses so much more than music.
New Free Playlist: Old Hymns Made New
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“Perhaps unsurprisingly in a world of vapid, repetitive ‘praise’ music and ephemeral ‘pop worship’ hits, the old hymns of our faith—many musically gorgeous and lyrically deep—have not only endured but been rediscovered by younger generations.” - TGC
Why we sing
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“The Christian faith is a singing faith…. when you consider the sum of singing commands and the role singing plays at so many critical points in redemptive history, we easily come to the conclusion that our God really, really likes to hear his people sing.” - Baptist Press
Singing Is Not Filler Time
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“A church’s songs are not a mere preamble to the sermon. Singing is not filler time to warm up a congregation. Singing is a holy practice. We sing because God has commanded us, and our songs should fill our hearts with delight.” - Matt Boswell
The O Antiphons of Advent
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“A way to pray and sing with deeper intention this Christmas.” - Breakpoint
Church Tech Turn-offs: How Technology Can Offend Members
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“When your sanctuary looks like a concert venue, with giant LED screens, flashing lights, and booming surround sound, someone might feel, ‘This isn’t church to me—it’s a show.’” - C.Leaders
