Called To Worship Podcast

Co-hosts John Shimp and Pastor Karl Dyrli are back for another episode engaging with Worship Ministry “Hot Takes”! The topic of discussion: Hymns or CCM: What’s Better?

Throughout the centuries, the church has been singing songs of various styles: Gregorian chants, hymns, the Psalms, contemporary worship music, etc. In the vastness of style, the two genres that are always at odds are “the old hymns” and the new songs of today. How should the church understand these genres and their place in the worship service on Sunday morning?Are hymns more theologically clear than CCM? Does the Bible prescribe the genre that the church should sing? 

Join our hosts as they discuss the two genres, the mission of the church, and who is the focus of our gathering. The hope is that through this episode, you will have a more robust and biblically faithful understanding of music, worship, and our Lord Jesus Christ!

Additional Resources Mentioned:

History of the Hymns (YouTube Video)

Welcome back to our Called to Worship podcast!

Join co-hosts John Shimp and Pastor Karl Dyrli as they kick off Season 2 by engaging with some Worship Ministry “Hot Takes”. The first installment of this season addresses the question: Do we NEED worship leaders?

In this episode, they consider the historical emergence of the term “worship leader” and its roots in mid 1970s Praise and Worship philosophies, in addition to the biblical implications for worship leadership in the local church. Does the Bible support the role of the worship leader? Who are worship leaders and what are the responsibilities they commit to? 

The hosts offer thoughtful commentary on these questions and more in this deep dive on worship ministry and its leadership structure. They also highlight the importance of sacrificial and humble service in ministry, as well as some practical examples of how a love for God and people should influence the position. Whether you’re a worship pastor, worship leader, or follower of Jesus in general, the hope is that this episode will encourage and build up your faith as you seek to become a more devoted servant of Jesus Christ!

Building on the themes explored throughout this season, co-hosts John Shimp and Pastor Karl Dyrli are joined by Josh Cheetham, Family Ministries and Discipleship Resident at Fellowship, to consider the question: how do we faithfully prepare our hearts and minds for the gathered worship of the church on Sunday?

Together, they reflect on the rhythms of preparation that extend beyond Sunday morning, emphasizing the importance of cultivating hearts of worship throughout the week from Monday through Saturday and carrying that posture into the corporate gathering. The conversation also addresses the call to reconciliation found in Matthew 5, encouraging believers to take seriously any conviction regarding broken relationships and to pursue unity within the body before coming before the Lord in worship, and so much more.

As this season comes to a close, the hosts aim to offer thoughtful guidance that helps listeners examine their own hearts, pursue unity within the church, and approach corporate worship with intentionality, reverence, and a deep desire to honor God.

In this episode, co-hosts John Shimp and Pastor Karl Dyrli discuss the relationship between preparation and spontaneity in worship ministry. Are careful planning and Spirit-led spontaneity really at odds with one another?

Together, they explore the biblical foundations of how the Holy Spirit works in and through the process of preparing a worship service. Through Scripture, they reflect on who the Holy Spirit is, what he does, and how he guides both the planning and leading of worship. 

The conversation also touches on cultural misunderstandings about the work of the Spirit, the importance of guarding against false teachings and spiritual mysticism, and how thoughtful preparation can still leave room for genuine responsiveness to God. They also share practical insights for worship ministry and consider how these principles shape our personal walk with Jesus Christ.

In this episode, co-hosts John Shimp and Pastor Karl Dyrli are joined by Wyatt Tompkins, a member of Fellowship who serves on our worship team as lead guitar player, to explore the tension between excellence and perfectionism.

Together, they discuss what it looks like to pursue excellence as Christians and as members of a worship team while guarding against the drift into performance driven perfectionism. Through biblical reflection, they consider how Scripture defines excellence and what that means for our daily walk with Christ.

The conversation also touches on stewarding the gifts God has given us and remembering that our pursuit of excellence is ultimately about glorifying him, not ourselves, and so much more.

Building on conversations about worship and its purpose, co-hosts John Shimp and Pastor Karl Dyrli are joined once again by lead Pastor Stephen Anderson to discuss our song vetting process. Together, they explore the practical and theological considerations that shape how songs are chosen for Sunday morning worship, seeking to faithfully apply principles of biblical fidelity, congregational singability, artistic beauty, and songwriter association. 

The conversation also extends beyond the gathered church, examining how these same principles intersect with personal and private worship, as well as the role of the lead pastor as the primary worship leader within the life of the church. As a longer episode than usual, the hosts aim to provide thoughtful nuance and pastoral care, holding fast to the authority of Scripture and our call to worship God in Spirit and Truth. 

Additional Resources Mentioned: 

Worship Matters by Bob Kauflin (book)

Building on the foundation laid in previous episodes, co-hosts John Shimp and Pastor Karl Dyrli are joined by Laura Forrester, who is a member of the worship team as well as the Director of Communications at Fellowship, to discuss the difference between doxology and personal preference. Together, they lay the groundwork for understanding what true, biblical worship really looks like and why worship is about giving God what he is worthy of rather than making the focus on our own preferences and styles.

They explore the tension between true worship and preference, why preferences themselves are not bad but become disordered when they are placed before Christ, how worship encompasses every aspect of life, why biblical worship is not an escape from reality but a response to God’s kingdom breaking into the world through Christ, the freedom Scripture gives when it comes to style and expression, and so much more.

Additional Resources Mentioned:

Having laid the groundwork for understanding worship in the earlier episodes, co-hosts John Shimp and Pastor Karl Dyrli come together to talk about why we sing as believers and why singing has such an essential place when we gather together as the church. They explore how worship begins with God—his character, his holiness, and his perfection—and how singing directs our thoughts toward who God is. This conversation helps listeners see congregational singing as an expression of worship built on a right view of God and grounded in his Word.

They discuss the biblical worldview that calls every believer to be a worshipper, the purpose and practice of singing within the gathered church, how singing shapes our hearts as we build our lives on the foundation of who God is, what it looks like when God’s people lift their voices together, and so much more.

Having laid the foundation with a biblical overview of worship in the first episode, co-hosts John Shimp and Pastor Karl Dyrli sit down with our lead pastor, Stephen Anderson, to talk about the purpose of a worship service. They explore the biblical and theological underpinnings of corporate worship, emphasizing its role in glorifying God, edifying the congregation, and fulfilling the church's mission. Through thoughtful conversation, they aim to deepen listeners' understanding of worship beyond personal preference, highlighting its significance as we both love one another and glorify God.

They discuss the way the localized church gatherings are an expression of the universal church, the way individualism in our culture can negatively impact our perspective on the church along with Scriptural correctives, and so much more.

Additional Resources Mentioned: