Category Archives: Worship

25 Things the Holy Spirit Does

Posted on December 15, 2025 by Mark Cole

The Holy Spirit is not an abstract force or a vague influence. He is the living, active presence of God at work in us and among us. Jesus said it was better for Him to go away so the Spirit … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, God, God Adventures, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Leadership, Wisdom, Worship | Tagged active, boldness, born again, children of God, comforts, convicts, draws people, empowers, encourages, eternity, freedom, fruit, gifts, God's love, God's will, guides us, Holy Spirit, indwelt, inheritance, invitation to life, joy, leads, living, mind of God, obedience, power, power for service, pray, prepares, Presence of God, regeneration, reveals, salvation, sanctifies, service, spirit, spiritual fruit, spiritual gifts, teaches us, testifies, truth | Leave a comment

Why Some Musicians Age Out of Ministry (and How Not To)

Posted on December 13, 2025 by Mark Cole

I’m 70 years old and still serving as an active musician and leader in the local church. Over the years, I’ve watched something happen—quietly, gradually, and far too often. Some gifted church musicians don’t leave ministry because they lose ability.They … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, God, Jesus, Leadership, Worship | Tagged age out, alive in learning, alive in spirit, church musicians, curiosity, curious, humble, inflexibility, influence, keep practicing, lead with joy, learning, longevity, ministry, music is a language, musicians, new sound, new vocabulary, next generation, personal taste, rigidity, rooted in the past, serve the Church, start shrinking, stay alive, stay teachable, stop learning, styles, teachable, the mission, worship leader | Leave a comment

Revelation 5 — The Lion Who Is a Lamb

Posted on December 13, 2025 by Mark Cole

Revelation chapter 5 is one of the most breathtaking scenes in all of Scripture. It pulls back the curtain of heaven and shows us who is truly worthy, who holds history, and why worship sits at the center of everything. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Jesus, Leadership, Wisdom, Worship | Tagged best of us, defeated death, every, every tribe, faithful, follow Him, future, God's plan, heaven, heaven searches, His mission, His reign, His worship, His wounds, history, humble service, Jesus is worthy, language, laying down His life, Lion and the Lamb, Lion of the tribe of Judah, love, nation, Obedient, people, perfect obedience, present, purpose, redeemed, restoration, sacrificial love, song of heaven, true worship, weight of sin, who is worthy?, Worship, worthy is the Lamb, You are worthy, Your blood | Leave a comment

“Your Kingdom Come”: The Heartbeat of Prayer

Posted on December 12, 2025 by Mark Cole

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He gave them words that have echoed through centuries: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come…” (Matthew 6:9-10). Most of us rush past those three small words—“Your kingdom come”—without … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Jesus, Wisdom, Worship | Tagged come, dangerous prayer, evil is judged, feed the hungry, finish, forgive, God's will, Hallowed be Your Name, in me, invade history, Jesus returns, living the prayer, Lord's Prayer, reign of God, revolution, rule, speak up, tears are wiped away, Worship, Your kingdom come, Your rule | Leave a comment

Psalm 100 — The Joyful Way Into God’s Presence

Posted on December 10, 2025 by Mark Cole

Psalm 100 is one of the most loved passages in Scripture. It’s short, memorable, and overflowing with joy. But it’s also deeply theological. In just five verses, the psalmist gives us a blueprint for how to approach God, how to … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, God, Worship | Tagged all the earth, approach God, bless His name, enter His gates, faithful, faithfulness, give thanks, gladness, guides, He made us, heart, His gates, His people, how to, joy, joyful, leads, praise, protects, Psalm 100, shout for joy, singing, thank you, thanksgiving, understand God, unfailing, we are His, worship God, worship the Lord | Leave a comment

The Influence of Jesus on Classical Music’s Top Composers

Posted on December 9, 2025 by Mark Cole

Western classical music cannot be fully understood apart from the profound influence of Christianity and the person of Jesus Christ. From the Gregorian chants of the Middle Ages to the grand oratorios of the Baroque era and beyond, the Christian … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, God, Jesus, Music, Worship | Tagged act of worship, Bach, Beethoven, Bible, Biblical, Christian, Christian faith, church, classical music, composer, compositions, deep faith, devout, Dvorak, Elijah, emotional depth, Gospel, Hallelujah Chorus, Handel, inspiration, Liszt, Lutheran, Mass, Mendelssohn, Messiah, Missa Solemnis, Mozart, narratives, oratorios, personal devotion, power of faith, religious devotion, Requiem, sacred music, spiritual depth, Stravinsky, western music, Worship | Leave a comment

Kept by His Power

Posted on December 9, 2025 by Mark Cole

“Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into His glorious presence without a single fault.” Jude 1:24 (NLT) On the Christian journey, most believers know what … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Teaching, Wisdom, Worship | Tagged confident trust, devoted, discouraged, falling away, God's ability, God's power, grateful, great joy, guarded, guards, heart of God, His presence, hope, joy, obedience, perseverance, preserves, shepherd, tempted, tired, Trust, without fault, wonder, Worship, worship the Lord | Leave a comment

When Praise Sounds Like Joy and Weeping: Learning from Ezra 3

Posted on December 6, 2025 by Mark Cole

Some moments in Scripture are so human, so raw, so emotionally honest that they pull us right into the story. Ezra 3 is one of those scenes. After decades of exile, the Israelites finally return to Jerusalem. The city is … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, God, Jesus, Worship | Tagged answered prayer, both generations, cymbals, emotion, Ezra 3, faithful love, foundation, God at work, God is moving, gratitude, grief, grieving, He is good, honest worship, joy, new, old, older generation, past and future, praise, rejoicing, restoration, shout for joy, sorrow, sound of revival, weeping, Worship, worship practices | Leave a comment

From Spectators to Worshippers: Inviting People Into True Participation

Posted on November 29, 2025 by Mark Cole

One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned—first as a choir director and now as a worship leader—is this: the real power in worship isn’t in what the platform does… it’s in what the people do. A choir can sound incredible. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, God, Jesus, Leadership, Music, Worship | Tagged all the people, atmosphere, authentic, bow, choir, clap, engage, engagement, invite, joyful noise, lifting their hearts, participation, performance, prompting, shout, sing, sing to the Lord, sing together, singable songs, singing, spectator, unity, Worship, worship leadership, worship matters, worship team, Worshipper, worshippers | Leave a comment

My Favorite Christmas Worship Songs

Posted on November 24, 2025 by Mark Cole

I love Christmas music but sometimes it can be a challenge to find great Christmas songs that a congregation can truly worship with. Sometimes we sing songs just because they are traditional and they have a Christmas theme but they … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, God, Jesus, Music, Worship | Tagged 10000 Reasons, Angels, Christmas, Glory to God, Hark the Herald, Here I am, Joy to the World, Let This Christmas be, manger, Messiah, offering, Our God, Silent NIght, Worship | 9 Comments

Category Archives: Worship

25 Things the Holy Spirit Does

Why Some Musicians Age Out of Ministry (and How Not To)

Revelation 5 — The Lion Who Is a Lamb

“Your Kingdom Come”: The Heartbeat of Prayer

Psalm 100 — The Joyful Way Into God’s Presence

The Influence of Jesus on Classical Music’s Top Composers

Kept by His Power

When Praise Sounds Like Joy and Weeping: Learning from Ezra 3

From Spectators to Worshippers: Inviting People Into True Participation

My Favorite Christmas Worship Songs

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