Worship is meant to be an encounter with the living God that stirs the soul. But for many, Sunday morning worship can feel routine or passionless. What’s the secret to igniting fervent, heartfelt praise?

Mark Cole provides 8 keys to taking your worship team and congregation to the next level. Cole does a fantastic job to include stories and advice to help you quickly decide on next steps. Whether you’re new to leading worship or a veteran looking to revive your team’s fervor, this article will rekindle your passion for extravagant worship and equip you to shepherd your congregation into God’s presence.

Don’t settle for lukewarm worship any longer. Discover tested secrets for planning and leading worship that engages mind, body and spirit in praise. Create services that glorify God and remind your people why worship matters. The time is now to take your team and congregation’s worship to the next level!

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Worship leaders often don’t evaluate their own leadership until complaints come in. But preemptive self-evaluation can prevent problems down the road. Here are 50 thoughtful questions you as a worship leader can ask yourself to assess your leadership.

50 questions may sound intimidating, but that number ensures a very thorough assessment. A wide range of topics are covered – from logistics, to spiritual preparation, to relating to the congregation and team. Here are some examples:

• Do your verbal instructions help the service flow smoothly?
• Are you choosing songs based on musical range versus congregational participation?
• Are you pouring into the next generation?

You’ll also be challenged with your baseline motivations in your position:

• Why are you leading worship in the first place?
• Are you relying on your talents versus developing relationship skills?

Get ready for some serious introspection. Save the page for regular visits and continued growth, year by year. Take your commitment to God’s calling in your life to the next level.

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The question of whether churches should sing songs from controversial sources is not new. Even famed 19th century preacher Charles Spurgeon wrestled with it when compiling a hymnal for his congregation. Kenny Lamm explores Spurgeon’s perspective to glean insights for modern worship leaders.

When selecting hymns, Spurgeon prioritized songs that best suited his church’s needs and identity. He also wanted to include both proven hymns and the best new songs of the day. Lamm notes effective worship combines timeless and current elements.

Interestingly, Spurgeon didn’t reject songs based on the author’s character or doctrinal issues with their church. Rather, he evaluated each song on its own merits – if the lyrics aligned with sound doctrine, he included it. Lamm suggests Spurgeon would approve singing Hillsong and Bethel songs in church if the texts are biblically sound.

Of course, today’s celebrity culture complicates things – songs are closely tied to high-profile leaders and movements. Lamm acknowledges we can’t know exactly where Spurgeon would land on this issue had he come across it today.

Nonetheless, Spurgeon’s wisdom remains relevant. Worship leaders must actively and prayerfully assess all songs, old or new, on theological truth versus associations. Spurgeon’s approach provides a thought-provoking framework to navigate controversial music choices. Careful discernment enables our song selections to powerfully reflect our church’s identity and values.

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It’s rare for churches to start out insider-focused—but over time, many drift from reaching new people to solely caring for those already in the pews. This article explores four of the most common reasons churches become inwardly fixated.

Mitigating risk, clinging to old methods, over-planning, and lacking vision can all gradually shift a church’s focus inward. Each of these factors subtly erode outward mission, and author Tony Morgan provides great explanation as to why.

Throughout the article, the core theme is that insider-focused churches have lost their appetite for risk and change in pursuit of the Great Commission. Morgan warns against common pitfalls and diagnoses why vibrant vision fades over time. Church leaders concerned about drift will find this a spur to refocusing outward.

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Metrics matter for church growth and outreach, but diving into the data can seem overwhelming for pastors. This guide breaks down seven must-know metrics into practical takeaways for ministry.

Kenny Jahng explains unique pageviews, percentage of new visitors, and other website analytics that reveal a church’s digital reach and resonance. You’ll learn metrics for gauging communication effectiveness, such as keeping track of email open rates, tracking sign-ups and leads, social media and video engagement, and more. All of it gives great insight into community interest and engagement and helps you discover what content and formats best connect with those in your community.

While the metrics may initially seem intimidating, Jahng provides simple, actionable analysis to get you going. Pastors focused on understanding their congregation’s needs and nurturing growth will find this a vital resource. By starting with these key metrics, church leaders can make data-driven decisions that bear fruit in their communities.

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