Preaching with Outsiders in Mind
This series of Preach the Word articles will wrestle with preaching with those outside of our church membership in mind. Through interviews, sermon excerpts, and timeless reminders, we will aim to grow in being wise toward outsiders and seek to make the most of every preaching opportunity to them.
This series on worship and outreach has a simple goal: to encourage all congregations to do their very best in both realms. But isn’t it fair to assume that they already are? Doing their best? By some measurements, yes. But it’s also clear that our churches face various challenges. If improvements can be realized, we are likely under God to see greater blessings in both worship and outreach.
So, this series will share perspectives and ideas from a variety of congregations, hoping to inspire ongoing attention to these twin priorities.
Prof. Tiefel discussed preaching on the First or Second Reading with the day’s Gospel in mind.
Dr. Mark Paustian addresses the basics of preaching.
This series shares information regarding Christian Worship: Hymnal (CW21)
Notes regarding Vol. 102:
This series explores room acoustics along with sound systems and hearing assistance. It covers common deficiencies or mistakes along with solutions.
This series of articles is based on the presentation by Rev. Mark Tiefel at the 2017 National Conference on Worship, Music, and the Arts.
This series explores how the pastor and congregation can partner with the parents to assist parents in engaging their children in worship. It reviews the pros and cons of various strategies and concludes with suggested “best practice” ideas.
This issue reminds us of the value of well planned worship, carried out in teamwork by the pastor and worship coordinator.
Rev. Nathan Nass encourages pastors to preach simply and clearly for the benefit of all hearers.
Dr. Michael Berg writes a series about apologetics in preaching.
The sample worship plans below can be a starting point for creating a customized plan for any church not currently doing long range worship planning.
Links to sample plans:
More planning resources:
This article discusses the use of screens and technology in worship.
The 2017 worship conference highlights CD, A Mighty Fortress, is now available. The recordings from Carthage College include commissioned works, children’s choir, and selections from various services, choirs, and recitals. Several selections make use of full orchestra featuring some of the finest professional WELS instrumentalists. The CD may be purchased through Northwestern Publishing House.
A number of selections that are not on the CD are available for free download below. Service folders are available for viewing here.
– To download songs, right click on “Download”, choose “Save link as”, and save to your computer.
(If individual song titles are not visible, please select the 2017 Worship Conference Music heading to see them. Songs may only be downloaded by individual title.)
Many of the conference presenters have made their handouts and PowerPoint presentations available. Handouts from the art, architecture, music education, and repertoire sectionals can be found below.
Presentation handouts listed under the “General” category can be found here.
Other conference items are also available:
Due to the large size of some files, it will be necessary to download files individually. Please click on the “2017 Conference” title to see individual files if they are not visible.
Many of the conference presenters have made their handouts and PowerPoint presentations available. The files below are presentations listed under the “General” category.
Presentation handouts from the art, architecture, music education, and repertoire sectionals can be found here.
Other conference items are also available:
Due to the large size of some files, it will be necessary to download files individually. Please click on the “2017 Conference” title to see individual files if they are not visible.
Pastor Joel Gawrisch writes a series titled “Treasures Old and New.”
These services are posted for reference purposes, to provide ideas for adaptation in parishes. Note that some elements are copyrighted. Those desiring to use these elements must seek permission from the acknowledged copyright holders.
Choral settings that are published are noted in each service. Those without an indication of publisher and stock number are possibly available from the composer or poet.
A sampling of sermons from the conference are available below, along with the plenary address and conference welcome letters. Presentation handouts and service folders are also available.
Service folder samples for Epiphany.
Pastor Jonathan Scharf writes a series titled “To Correctly Handle the Word of Truth.”
This issue launches a new series on renovation projects. It will feature projects from churches small and large. Often the concepts, goals, and process behind a renovation are most important, not the particulars of design or size. These are transferable and helpful for churches of any size.
View the supplemental documents for the Hartford, Wisconsin sanctuary renovation article in the July 2016 edition of Worship the Lord, Vol. 80.
This collection features resources for celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation and beyond. The composer, Steven J. Rhode, states: “The Wittenberg Psalter is a collection of unison psalm settings for congregation, choir, and/or soloist.” He recognizes that—due to perceived difficulty—they “may not be appropriate for every congregation” and provides various options for usage. Be sure to read “About the Wittenberg Psalter,” provided by the composer. (See below.)
Read “About the Wittenberg Psalter” under Formulary Psalms to learn more.
Read “About the Wittenberg Psalter” under Formulary Psalms to learn more.
Read “About the Wittenberg Psalter” under Formulary Psalms to learn more.
Read “About the Wittenberg Psalter” under Formulary Psalms to learn more.
Read “About the Wittenberg Psalter” under Formulary Psalms to learn more.
Read “About the Wittenberg Psalter” under Formulary Psalms to learn more.
Resources for use with Christian Worship: Supplement.
The three-word title of this series, “Sermons in Song”, speaks volumes about what worship is. Selected hymns from the supplement are divided for study into four categories: Season, Savior, Sacrament, and Saints. “Sermons in Song” is a Bible class series prepared by Pastor John Koelpin.
The files are posted in PDF and as Word documents, so that changes can be made to fit individual congregations’ needs.
Both student handouts and leader guides are available.
The CW: Supplement songs below are available for free download. The entire CW: Supplement CD is available at Northwestern Publishing House.
– To download songs, right click on “Download”, choose “Save link as”, and save to your computer.
The resources below are useful in worship education. Some may need to be adapted to suit a specific situation or purpose. Some are more niche approaches to worship education. Consider a multifaceted approach: the narrative service on Sunday (maybe spread over 2-3 Sundays) plus the reinforcement that could come from a Bible class or an ongoing series of printed comments.
Two teaching resources from the 2008 national worship conference archives:
Useful background preparation for the teacher, especially on any sensitive issues, can come from a comment in Worship the Lord:
The series “Worship Words to Wrestle With” (12 articles beginning in May 2009) offers helpful analysis of issues that frequently surface in worship discussions. Confessional Lutheran brothers share ideas that help us to be a confessional Lutheran synod.
From the 2002 worship conference:
Stephen Valleskey – “Theology of the Ordinary”. Both the presentation (essay) and a PowerPoint file are available. The presentation contains many great insights and could be turned into more of a class than a presentation, using Valleskey’s content as starting point. If you do create such a class, please share!
Service of Word and Sacrament: An Explanation, Wayne Schulz, Northwestern Publishing House, 1996. Rather than eliminating or drastically cutting the sermon to allow presenting this on one Sunday, you might divide it into 3-4 sections to be covered on the same Sundays of the Bible class series.
The ABC’s of Worship, Paul T. Prange, Northwestern Publishing House, 2002. This booklet could be recommended for home reading by class participants. Also available: ABC’s of Worship – Discussion Questions
Ideas beyond an overview of “how we worship”:
How does one teach confessional perspectives on worship to a larger audience, in a Bible class setting? Here are three sample possibilities.
From the 2014 worship conference: Zabell – Teaching the Sacraments
Comments from Worship the Lord, by Phil Hirsch.
How does one teach confessional perspectives on worship in a way that reaches the largest audience in the parish? Our synod’s Commission on Worship has done a great thing as they have modeled how to use the worship folder in a teaching manner without unduly interrupting the flow of the assembly’s time together. Notes that communicate, that teach, can be most helpful. But every now and then a verbal comment (teaching!) is beneficial—for example, about the Trinitarian invocation one Sunday and the Nicene Creed another. “Worship education” comments in the sermon, both appropriation and application, often flow naturally from the text.
For ideas check out a resource prepared by Pastor Wade Johnston formerly in Saginaw, MI [now at WLC]. He uses the Western rite to teach two things—the Christian faith and the whys and wherefores of worship. See PDF below. The result of such catechesis is that doctrine and worship reinforce each other every Sunday.
A resource similar to Johnston’s is discussed in a Worship the Lord issue by Michael Zarling.
While teaching about worship in a class setting, consider including one or both of the options below.
Meaningful Worship, James Brauer, Concordia Publishing House, 1994. 96 pages of accessible guidance on Lutheran worship. The beginnings of each chapter, with stories and anecdotes, are useful with children and also valuable with adults. Similar material could be the basis for a bulletin insert as well as verbal comments that go beyond the insert. This book could be invaluable for a sermon series.
The 2014 worship conference highlights CD, By Faith, is now available. The recordings from Carthage College include commissioned works, children’s choir, and selections from various services, choirs, and recitals. Several selections make use of full orchestra featuring some of the finest professional WELS instrumentalists. The CD may be purchased through Northwestern Publishing House. Samples of several tracks are included below.
A number of selections that are not on the CD are available for free download below.
– To download songs, right click on “Download”, choose “Save link as”, and save to your computer.
(If individual song titles are not visible, please select the 2014 Worship Conference Music heading to see them. Songs may only be downloaded by individual title.)
The 2014 National Conference on Worship, Music, and the Arts took place at Carthage College in Kenosha, WI on July 22-25.
Plenary Address
Read the conference plenary address Compelling Worship by Jonathan Hein.
Presentations
Handouts from many of the conference presentations have been made available below.
Learn more about Hymns in the Life of Church, School, and Home at hymns.shepherdstory.com.
Review the warm-ups for Improving Vocal Resonance with handouts and YouTube video.
Find out how BIC Teaches Doctrine and Worship.
We thank Sara Schlicht of Fresh Frame Photography (freshframephotography.com) for providing photography service at the conference. View the conference pictures.
Due to the large size of some files, it will be necessary to download files individually. Please click on the “2014 Conference” title to see individual files.
“If we work with the assumption that what we use in worship should support and enhance the divine service through both its utility and beauty, then printed worship aids, including worship folders, deserve our attention. That was the philosophy behind the worship folder project for the 2014 WELS National Conference on Worship, Music, and the Arts.” – Read more from Rev. Caleb Basset regarding the Worship Folder Project.
Due to the large size of graphics in the files, it may be necessary to download them individually.
Jesus, My Joy, a CD of highlights from the 2011 worship conference, is available through Northwestern Publishing House. The music on this double CD was performed at the National Conference on Worship, Music and the Arts, held July 2011. The recordings from Gustavus Adolphus and Martin Luther College include commissioned works, children’s choir, and selections from various services, choirs, and recitals. Several selections make use of full orchestra featuring some of the finest professional WELS instrumentalists. The worship at this conference concentrated on Holy Week and the Easter season and also included a Festival Concert and Hymn Festival. Samples of CD tracks are available below. Full recordings of selections that are not on the CD are also included for free download.
You will also find recordings of the plenary address and the Joshua Pedde presentation “Beautiful Sound from Average Children.”
– To download songs, right click on “Download”, choose “Save link as”, and save to your computer.
(If individual song titles are not visible, please select the 2011 Worship Conference Music heading to see them.)
View the presentation handouts and repertoire lists from the 2011 National Conference on Worship, Music, and the Arts.
Presentation handouts from the 2008 National Conference on Worship, Music, and the Arts.
Presentation handouts from the 2005 National Conference on Worship, Music, and the Arts.
Presentation handouts from the 2002 National Conference on Worship, Music, and the Arts.
Presentation handouts from the 1999 National Conference on Worship, Music, and the Arts.
This issue of Preach the Word begins a new series: preaching to Millennials while maintaining connection with other generations.
This series, planned in cooperation with the Commission on Evangelism, departs from previous custom with a different writer for each issue.
Service folder samples for Mission Convention, Christian Education, and Augsburg Confession.
Service folder samples for Minor Festivals, such as St. Michael and All Angels.
Service folder samples for Sundays in End Time, such as Reformation and Saints Triumphant.
Sample folders for Trinity Sunday.