Open Foreward

Foreward

by Evan Kahlich

Trumpets in the Bible.

I cannot shake the use and references of trumpets in Scriptures. The trumpet is often used in the Scriptures and with much meaning. One expositor said,

"Now the voice was like a trumpet. It is the one instrument that makes us think of the future. It is piercing, it is commanding, it is penetrating, it makes you listen and pay attention. There is going to be a day - the noisiest day in the world's history - when the trumpet shall sound, the archangel will cry out with a shouted command: and the word trumpet occurs more in the last book in the Bible than anywhere else in the New Testament. It is quite frequent in the Old, but this is the book of trumpets, and though most people associate harps with heaven, I associate trumpets. It was a voice like a trumpet: piercing, loud, penetrating."

The most impressive use of the trumpet in the Bible is it is the sound used when the dead are raised! The Apostle Paul makes this reference twice in his epistles.

Open Day 1: An Outward Expression of an Inward Delight

Day 1: An Outward Expression of an Inward Delight

by Keith Golightly

Scripture

“An hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” —John 4:23-24 (NASB)

Application

Worship in its most simple definition is paying attention to God. When a King enters his kingdom or even his throne room, all eyes and ears of the people are on him as an expression of honor and respect. As carriers of the presence of King Jesus, our hearts and minds are always aware of Him and sensitive to His presence. 

We all worship something, whether we realize it or not. Our hearts are like sonar radars that constantly scan for things to give itself to. Worship is never an on or off switch that suddenly switches on when we find ourselves in a worship service; nor does it switch off when we leave church. Our worship is constantly on -

Open Day 2: The Invitation to Trust God Through Our Circumstances

Day 2: The Invitation to Trust God Through Our Circumstances

by Joshua Lett

Scripture

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand… Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me.” —Philippians 4:6, 7a, 8b, 9a

Application

Worship isn’t the denial of what we see and feel in our circumstances by singing songs about God’s Truth. Worship is our response of trust in and through prayer that walks us through our circumstances because of God’s worth. 

We worship God when we give an honest response to His worth in relationship with Him through prayer. In prayer we bring what we honestly see and feel into the presence of God. God isn’t looking for our perfect devot

Open Day 3: The Gospel Makes Us Perfect Again

Day 3: The Gospel Makes Us Perfect Again

by Simon Netznik

Scripture

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand… And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” —Romans 5:1, 2a, 5 (ESV)

Application

When our team is planning corporate worship experiences, it’s tempting to try to create a perfect, seamless experience. After all, that’s what we see on social media - hours worth of professional, sterilized content that has been produced for the business of mass media.

This got me thinking: What elements would create a “perfect” worship service – whether according to my preference or theological technicalities?

After a few moments thinking, something hit me - In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve embodied God’s initial design for worship and comm

Open Day 4: Heart Over Hype

Day 4: Heart Over Hype

by Simon Netznik

Scripture

"Samuel saw Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.’ But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'" 1 Samuel 16:6b-7

Application

In ancient times, the trumpet wasn't just a musical instrument—it was a call to focus and give attention for all those in its wake. Whether signaling the start of a battle, a king’s arrival, or a holy moment, the sound of a trumpet commanded the eyes of people. Similarly, the word "behold" in Scripture serves as a verbal trumpet. When we encounter it in the Bible, it’s like a divine interruption, telling us to stop, look, and give our attention to what comes next.

In worship, both personally and corporately, our lives should echo this sense of holy interruption. When we declare God’s goodn

Open Day 5: The Definition of Success

Day 5: The Definition of Success

by Simon Netznik

Scripture

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." —Joshua 1:8

Application

That’s it! That’s God’s definition of success: read the Word, and do what it says. In today’s world, the definition of success is often wrapped up in numbers—followers, income, grades, and even objective beauty standards. There’s a pressure to constantly do better, trying to build up our own pride.

There’s a difference between God making us successful by the world’s standards, and Him establishing our plans as we are walking in service to Him. We have the choice to submit our plans, our lives, to Him, and let Him do the work of renewing us to be more like Him. In doing so, Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be e

Open Day 6: Focused on the Truth

Day 6: Focused on the Truth

by Simon Netznik

Scripture

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)

Application

“Guys, I have bad news.” This was the text message I received the day a family member attempted suicide. Fortunately, their life was saved and I am glad to still know them today. Having never dealt with the topic of suicide on a personal level, I was stunned at the thought that they would choose to attempt to take their own life. This got me thinking about my own purpose: despite my flesh being “hostile to God” (Romans 8:7), Jesus seeks to give us new life and breath in the spiritual.

It’s often when we receive unexpected and distressing news that we are reminded of our own vulnerability. While life is unpredictable, worship leaders get to share the best Good News of all - the Hope and Life of the Gospel! As servants are entrusted to leaders

Open Day 7: Going Through the Motions is a Form of Worship

Day 7: Going Through the Motions is a Form of Worship

by Matt Bonnett

Scripture

“Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” —Matthew 15:7-9

Application

Worship, by its own definition, is the ascribing of worth to an entity, idea, value, or purpose. In every gathering of the body of Christ, worship takes place. The concern posed here in the Gospel of Matthew isn’t about whether worship is taking place or not, but whether the target is the right one. Throughout the years of ministry, I have seen worship that is aimed properly, and God uses it for His glory (Ephesians 2:10) because people are doing what they are doing with excellence (Colossians 3:17) with the sole purpose of making much of Jesus and pushing forth the life-changing narrative of the gospel. Conversely, I have also seen remarkably talented teams that have put forth a produc

Open Day 8: Chew it Up, Swallow the Meat, Spit Out the Fat

Day 8: Chew it Up, Swallow the Meat, Spit Out the Fat

by Simon Netznik

Scripture

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47

Application

A mentor told me, “You can have ‘no money’ and still have a church. You can have ‘no worship team’ and still have a church. But you can’t have ‘no people’ and still have a church.”

To clarify the double-negative, he was explaining that our church – as well as the worldwide Church – is comprised

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