Worship Weblog

Worship leaders wonder why what they do in worship fails to prepare people for mission. Why is the congregation not saving souls and adding members? Why is attendance down? What can the staff and lay leaders do to read the culture and deliver more relevant messages

Simon Chan, an Assemblies of God pastor and author who teaches systematic theology at Trinity Theological College in Singapore, understands these concerns. He says the reason more people don’t experience worship as life-transforming is because they don’t understand the true nature of the church and its worship. Chan’s way of reframing the Bible’s overarching story can help your church be more attuned to how the Holy Spirit works in worship.

Read more.

www.calvin.edu/worship/stories/simon_chan.php

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Can a theologian be a good pastor or evangelist? Can an effective, church-growing evangelist be theological? Can a caring pastor preach doctrine in a relevant way? Is it possible for one person to be a dynamic evangelist, pastor, and theologian all at once? Many today would answer “no.”

That’s why looking at Cyril, the fourth century bishop of Jerusalem, is so helpful. In his addresses to the baptismal candidates in his church, he does a masterful job of weaving together solid theology, effective evangelism, and nurturing pastoral care. Whatever Cyril’s vestments actually were like (who knows exactly what a fourth century bishop would have worn?), he did wear simultaneously the metaphorical caps of evangelist, pastor, and theologian as he prepared new Christians for their baptism at Easter and preached to them the meaning of the sacraments afterward.

Read more.

www.calvin.edu/worship/idis/history/catechetical_cyril.php