Prayer for God's Leading: Luke 3:21-22
Shaping a time of prayer for dwelling with Bible texts, prayer responses, songs of faith, and a concluding benediction.
Coming Alongside Youth on New Pathways of Being Church
In this conversation, pastor and justice-seeker Sandra Maria Van Opstal talks Elizabeth Tamez Méndez about how the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and racial reckoning provided an opportunity for churches to pivot and reset practices and spaces that allow youth to ask hard questions and explore a Biblical understanding of worship, justice, and collective flourishing in Christ.
The 'Jazz' of Worship Planning
Convictions and suggestions for planning public Christian worship services that welcome and make room for all
Cultural Intelligence and Youth Ministry: Creating Safe Spaces for Questions and Community
A youth minister reflects on the necessity of cultural intelligence in ministry alongside youth in order to create safe spaces to ask questions, wrestle with biblical concepts, and hear thoughts from people different from them, all with the purpose of loving God and others better.
Prayer for God's Leading: Matt. 2:1-12
Shaping a time of prayer for dwelling with Bible texts, prayer responses, songs of faith, and a concluding benediction.
Shively T. J. Smith on Visualizing Christian Faith through Howard Thurman's Metaphors
Rather than starting with words and theories of interpretation, scholar Shively T. J. Smith uses Howard Thurman's metaphorical imagery to help congregations visually process how they understand scripture and live out their Christian faith.
Shively T. J. Smith on Howard Thurman and Congregational Hermeneutics
Congregations and lay Christians have methods of interpreting the Bible and faith life even if they can't articulate them. Using Howard Thurman’s image-rich meditations, scholar Shively T. J. Smith offers a visual way to reflect on applying the Bible to faith and ordinary life.
A Conversation on Preaching with Jeff Manion and Scott Hoezee
In this conversation, Scott Hoezee will ask Ada Bible Church pastor Jeff Manion to talk about the challenges of preaching in a multi-site church, the communication challenges all preachers face in the 21st century, and how Manion as a preacher and pastor has navigated the multifaceted issues that have come with the global COVID pandemic.
Intergenerational Church as a Space for Opportunity, Change, and Learning
In this conversation, pastor Theresa Cho of St. John's Church in the Richmond neighborhood of San Francisco shares joys and insights from a historical congregation that is learning to embrace change and be vulnerable in order to live together as an intergenerational, contextual worshiping community.
Mimi L. Larson on Pastors, Pressures, and Intergenerational Worship
Pastors play a crucial role in promoting or preventing intergenerational worship. Scholar Mimi L. Larson explains why, despite the pressures, pastors should treat children as full image bearers of God. This choice influences how all ages engage with God in worship.
Mimi L. Larson on Keys to Involving Children in Worship
Scholar Mimi L. Larson explains how theology, beliefs about children's capabilities, and pastors influence whether or how children meet God in worship. She says that Black church culture offers valuable examples.
Jon Terry and Liuan Huska on Liturgies of Restoration
Au Sable Institute developed its Liturgies of Restoration workbook to help university students in summer field science courses connect Christian worship and creation care. Now small groups and churches are using the workbook to cultivate habits of worship, community, earthkeeping, purposeful stewardship, and hope.