Johann Sebastian Bach left a rich legacy of examples of how to live one’s faith as an organist and a composer. This workshop will explore Bach’s life and music in the context of his time, his theology, and his career as a church musician. We’ll discuss how to best live our own faith through our music-making.
Listen to Sam Johnson expound on biblical happiness from Psalm 1
Jacob and Sarah will discuss how we discern a calling to serve in ministry and what next steps might look like for each of you.
A short meditation on John 15
Understanding the Biblical context for the songs you sing
Join Hannah as she explores the unique attributes of God’s character
Listen to James Cheesman as he talks about the importance of knowing and believing that God is sovereign and that He is in control.
Listen to Sean Horton as he breaks down the process of how to lead Bible studies in churches.
Listen to Josh Steward expound from the Bible on what it means to have “humble confidence” as a worship leader.
Listen to Shannan Baker as she talks about the one true God of the Bible.
The introduction session to our worship leadership series on growth.
How can the church support individuals and families for whom church is very difficult? Including individuals in the life of the church who have disabilities or extenuating
In this session of practical music ministry, we will examine the importance of foundational personal concepts for the Music/Worship leader. The concepts include: Who am I? Whose am I? Faith, God, Church, and Worship. We will then…
Can we include kids with varied abilities in our Children and Youth ministries? Yes! Boldly go where others have seen success in Children’s settings using Universal Design and Universal Design for Learning
Where do you begin the conversation about becoming a community of belonging for persons with varied abilities? Perspective. Discover how puzzle pieces of green (strengths/gifts) and pink (weaknesses, areas of struggle) inform
John Woods, Music and Worship Pastor for Dawson Family of Faith in Birmingham, Alabama, joins us as the Spring 2019 Hearn Innovator. John provides leadership in a variety of areas including music, the arts, and liturgy. He is passionate about the marriage of
The gospel is the center of our Christian faith, and its story has anchored worship for centuries across many different traditions. How do we structure worship services which…
What do our emotions have to do with worship? Is healthy emotionalism even imaginable in our contexts, and if so, how do we help the people of God engage…
Music is an “indispensable” aspect of Protestant Christian worship, to use Brian Wren’s term (2000, 48). Yet it is also perceived as one of the most divisive aspects of that activity, with scholars, practitioners, and congregants alike contributing to this perspective. As scholars such as Donald Hustad (1993), Harold Best (1993, 2003), J. Nathan Corbitt (1998), Brian Wren (2000), James K. A. Smith (2009) and Jeremy S. Begbie…
Worship planning is all too often enslaved to the tyranny of the urgent. In this session, we will look at planning through the helpful metaphor of a “theological dietician,” exploring the…
When we enter into gathered worship, we step into a battlefield where a spiritual war is taking place. How does Scripture tell us to arm ourselves? What are our chief weapons? How are…
When we gather for worship, do we really believe that God will be present in a unique way? In this session, we will…
With growing repertoire choices, countless resources, and major cultural shifts, church musicians are faced with many decisions that will impact the direction of their congregations…
This session focuses on current music ministry practices outside of the Anglo-American…
Perhaps the most important thing that churches must understand is that a Christian funeral is a service…
This session will examine the differences between the Negro folk, or congregational spiritual and the concert, or arranged spiritual in worship and…
This session will examine various methods and resources for worship planning and their effectiveness. Using…
Because of differences in worship priorities and vocabulary used to…
Lester Ruth is a historian of Christian worship with particular interests in the early church and the last 250 years, especially the history of contemporary worship. He is passionate about enriching the worship life of current congregations, regardless of style…
Dr. Chuck Fromm has played a significant and ongoing role in “the worship movement,” he is passionately committed to lifelong learning. In 2007 he pulled together the first National Worship Leader Conference to bring the pages…
How can you avoid burnout in ministry? How can you continue to lead worship with passion? Discover what you can now to ensure that you’ll…
How can you avoid burnout in ministry? How can you continue to lead worship with passion? Discover what you can now to ensure…
Chances are, few people would include worship in their list of top spiritual disciplines. Yet, it is one of the most important of…
If our ministry is the product of our relationship with Christ, it’s essential to nurture a vibrant intimacy with the Lord. Join us as we discuss…
If we’re not careful, sometimes our greatest strengths can become our gravest weaknesses. This session will take an honest look at…
Liturgical inculturation seeks to cultivate worship that is meaningful in the church’s context by joining texts and rites with the cultural pattern surrounding the church. This study begins with a brief investigation of historical influences on Baptist liturgical theology and music. It then introduces the study of liturgical inculturation, describing principles and methods developed by Catholic and Protestant liturgists. These principles and methods serve as a basis for application of liturgical inculturation among Baptists in the United States…
Passive worship can be a problem in worship today regardless of worship style. Learn how to move your congregation from spectators to participants. Discover such things…
Participants will discover the importance of evaluating musical choices for congregational song to ensure theological, musical, and lyrical integrity….
What does God expect in corporate worship? This session will identify several non-negotiable, scriptural mandates for…
Comparing the work of a worship leader to that of an architect, this session offers a blueprint for designing worship services through various phases…
While many churches have opted for segregating worshipers into age groups (children’s worship, youth…
Perhaps no church leader holds as much power to impact, shape, and form the congregation as the worship leader. This…
The music of the church will always be with us – the people of God will continue to sing throughout eternity. What does…
Perhaps the most distinctive characteristic of traditional evangelical worship is the widespread practice of the “invitation” near the close of the worship service. A significant element of that invitation is the accompanying hymn, one that emphasizes the need for conversion and spiritual renewal. This thesis addresses the origin and early evolution of the public invitation, and more specifically, the hymns that have been used by evangelicals for this part of their worship. Hymns from Gospel Hymns Nos. 1 to 6, the most popular hymnal among evangelicals in the…
Isaac Wardell lectures in Baylor Chapel on the mistakes of contemporary Christian worship.
A presentation by Rob Hewell and discussion led by Tony Cunha on “The Worship Leader: Theological Identity and Spiritual Formation”…
A presentation by Martha Hicks and discussion led by Al Miller on “Cultivating an Interest in Music and Worship: Engaging Majors and Non-majors in the…
What kind of communication style best resonates in a TGiF world (Twitter, Google, iPads/Phones, Facebook)? Is it deductive, inductive, abductive, or something else? Len will introduce that something else in this session.
Len was the first to use a live internet feed and a vj as part of a sermon. Learn how to continue to pioneer uses of social media in worship.