Singing to the Lord in the congregation can be one of the most exciting and meaningful activities of the local church. No other activity equally engages the mind, will, and emotions. No other activity requires the precedent of unity around the truth of God’s Word. It is a wonderful experience when God’s people are fully engaged and unified in worship.…
In the last post on this topic, I explored six ways to find new music for your church. After finding new music, though, the next task on a music director’s list is to choose the best music. Choosing music seems like an elementary topic for a post, but any music director who has choosen music with constraints like a budget,…
Yes, I am dedicating this entire post to review this book. I’ve read many books on worship and music, and there are many good ones. I can’t say I’ve ever read one so encouraging as this one. I think it is an important book for reviving passionate, joyful, and celebratory congregational singing. Keith and Kristyn Getty have written some great…
My wife and I enjoy being involved in a number of ministries at Lancaster Baptist Church, but most of all we enjoy one-on-one discipleship. Every Wednesday evening, several couples and individual gather to meet with their disciplers and cover one of 14 basic Bible lessons. The goal of this program is to instruct newer Christians in the basic teachings of…
After forming a biblical theology and philosophy of worship and music, the great task of simply finding the right music for a church falls on the shoulders of the worship leader. This task is much easier now that many publishers are going digital with their music. I believe we are nearing the end of the days when a worship leader…
Three of my absolute favorite courses to teach at West Coast Baptist College are Hymnology, the study of Christian song, Philosophy of Church Music, and Theology of Worship. I believe all three are necessary for a biblical and balanced worship program. Our biblical theology of worship builds framework for all matters of corporate worship, including music. Philosophy of Church Music then…
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. – Hebrews 11:1-2 Knowing God and experiencing His power…
Disclaimer: This is by far the longest post I’ve written to date. My desire is to be clear and comprehensive in my treatment of this topic. As a blogger, writer, and teacher, it is my sincere desire that Christians would have a more amiable, biblical, and wholesome approach to the discussion of ideas and the proclamation of truth through online…
One of the greatest privileges and joys of our ministry here at Lancaster Baptist Church and West Coast Baptist College is leading the “First Love” connection group for young couples. This ministry brings many challenges with it, but those are far outweighed by the joy of seeing young families strive to follow Christ and honor God in their lives. One…
It has been over a month since my last post, so I thought I would take this time to give a quick update about what the Lord has done in our lives. It truly has been a busy but exciting summer. We greatly anticipate what the Lord will continue to do this school year. [We know not everyone that reads…
This post is for every penny-pincher out there, whether you’re a young family looking for more ways enjoy life, college students trying to make it through, or simply a financial geek who likes to find creative ways to save a little extra. There are SO many awesome ways to save or simply to create a little pocket change for the…
I started this post while watching my boys play at the park. I was thinking about posting something about spending time with kids. As I started to write, it was as if the Lord smacked me upside the head and said, “Stop writing about what you’re not doing right this moment.” After finishing at the park, this post took a…
Let all things be done decently and in order. –1 Corinthians 10:31 Have you even stopped to consider how the smallest details of your order of service can communicate importance to the congregation? Did you know that even a simple detail like how you begin the service can set the wrong tone for the service? Specifically, have you considered that the…
Because my primary role at West Coast Baptist College is to oversee the music department, I am constantly asking whether or not we are effectively preparing our students for the work of music ministry. As you can imagine, the skills and knowledge required for this position vary from church to church. In some cases, a music pastor is responsible for other…
Have you reflected recently on the love of Christ? Have you paused from the busyness of life, family, and ministry just to view it all through the lens of Christ’s love for us? In this short post, I would like to simply inspire reflection and meditation on Christ’s love. Take a moment today to reflect on the awesome love of…