Matthew BoffeyElevation Worship, a musical group from Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC, released “O Come to the Altar” in early 2016. As a mid-tempo ballad with a melody in an accessible range, the song has been well received by churches worldwide. Lyrically, it...
“Who You Say I Am” was released this year by Hillsong Worship and centers around John 8. It explores the wonderful truth that when Jesus saves us, He not only sets us free, but also brings us into the family of God. About the song “Who You Say I Am”...
“Good Good Father,” by Pat Barrett and Tony Brown of the band Housefires, rose to prominence after Chris Tomlin’s wife heard it at a conference. She showed the song to Chris, who went on to record it. The song soon became a number one radio single...
“Resurrection Power” is a new song from worship leader Chris Tomlin. If you’ve led music in church for any length of time, you are familiar with Tomlin’s music. Any new song from Tomlin carries with it a strong recommendation. He is one of only four...
What are the key elements of the doctrine of Scripture? While there is no official list, there is general consensus. This article simply summarizes them. It is not an attempt to wade into any debates, only to refresh our minds and point out helpful...
Released in 2011 by husband-and-wife duo Bryan and Katie Torwalt, “Holy Spirit” has been sitting near the top of CCLI charts for weeks, and many well-known artists have recorded it (including Francesca Battistelli, Jesus Culture, and Kari Jobe)...
Four lines, thirty seconds long, and yet one of the most popular worship songs for centuries. How has “Doxology”—officially called “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow,” but usually referred to as The Doxology (as if there were no other)—become...
Released this year by Passion, “Whole Heart” is an anthem about Jesus’s love for us and our hope in Him. It was recorded live at the Passion Conference this January in Atlanta, with more than 30,000 college students in attendance. There are so many...
“There’s no way to know it without discovery.” — Sara Groves, songwriter Groves isn’t talking about commentaries when she sings that line, but she’s describing a fundamental truth about deep knowledge: it only comes by discovery. And...
“Great Are You, Lord,” by Leslie Jordan and David Leonard (of All Sons and Daughters) and their producer Jason Ingram, came out in 2013. It has since been recorded by many other artists, including One Sonic Society (Jason Ingram’s band), Casting...
Released earlier this year, “Reckless Love” by Cory Asbury, Caleb Culver, and Ran Jackson is probably the fastest growing song in Christian music right now. It’s a worshipful song about the passionate love of God. If you’re not familiar with...
Much has been said about this amazing man since he passed last week. We praise God for Billy Graham’s life and ministry—literally billions have heard the gospel through him. Though Billy Graham is most known for his preaching, he loved to...
“What A Beautiful Name” was released in early 2017 by Hillsong Worship. Written by Brooke Ligertwood and Ben Fielding, the song quickly rose to #1 on the radio and CCLI and has won two Dove Awards and a Grammy. With a classic feel, it is an...
“Build My Life” was released by Housefires in 2016 and by Passion Music in 2017. It’s quickly climbing the charts, and it’s a fantastic song to lead in your church. Here are five reasons why. 1. It has sound theology Most importantly, the lyrics are...
This morning the world woke to the news that Billy Graham, arguably the most recognized evangelist in history, has passed into glory. Born November 7, 1918, and born again at age 16 at a revival meeting, Graham became a household name for his...
If you had to prove why the Bible is God’s word, what would you say? Even among Christians, confidence in the Bible’s authority is waning. Many are casting aside the doctrines of inerrancy and inspiration, with devastating consequences. The God Who...
“It needs to be affordable.” “It needs to be professional.” “It needs to be easy to use.” Can it be all three? You’ll hear statements like these when church staff debate which ministry tools to buy, especially in the beginning of the year when...
I took a class with D. A. Carson in seminary that completely changed how I read the Bible. Prior to the class, I understood the Bible’s general storyline, but you couldn’t drop me somewhere in 1 Chronicles and ask me to relate it to Christ and his...
A. W. Tozer, pastor and author of many Christian classics, once wrote, “We do not want new doctrine—we want fresh emphasis on doctrine already well known by all of us.” Tozer is getting at something very much related to the role of art in worship...
The much-anticipated documentary from Les Lanphere finally dropped this September. Calvinist gathered buzz before filming even began. Three days after launching his Kickstarter for the project, Lanphere met his goal. By the time it ended, he had...
Now that you can share custom-made Smart Media with the Proclaim community, you might wonder, “How do I create great designs that others can use?” It’s actually pretty easy. Here are six basic design tips that will help you make...
In the midst of all your Christmas busyness, why add sermon recording and podcasting to the list? The short answer is, it’s a season of opportunity. Here are three reasons why it’s well worth your time to record and upload your sermons this...
Do a quick Google image search of “Nativity scenes.” Really, go search and scroll for a bit and come back. Did you notice anything? At least half of them show an angel or more present at the manger. The only problem: Scripture doesn’t report...
With Christmas coming up, it’s a great time to gather as a family and enjoy some movies. But, if you’re anything like me, sometimes you feel a little guilty for just watching movies all day. That’s where documentaries come in handy...
It’s that time of year when churches kick things up a notch. We’re celebrating God’s greatest act of mercy: sending his Son to redeem the world. And since a multitude of angels sang at his appearing, it’s right that churches celebrate with at least...
For a long time, professional church lighting has been a luxury reserved for churches with big budgets and experienced personnel. Not anymore. A recent Proclaim update lets churches with limited budgets and volunteers enjoy tasteful, professional...
Preparing for church services is hard work. It takes a lot of prayer, planning, and teamwork to consistently construct services that encourage others and glorify God. That said, sometimes we make it harder than it has to be. Here are three mistakes...
Your songs teach theology. Your prayers teach how to pray. Your church calendar teaches what to prioritize. Everything teaches—even the little things. What lessons are you teaching? For several years I attended a church where we stood for the...