Fellowship Church Sermon Podcast

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:

• “Rejoice” by Keith and Kristyn Getty (song)
• Sing! by Keith and Kristyn Getty (book)
• Thoughts on Worship and Culture by John Piper (article)

This is the second sermon from the 2025 Advent series, "The Savior Has Come."

This is the first of the Advent Sermon series, "The Savior Has Come." 

Join Pastor Nick and Pastor Stephen as they introduce our upcoming sermon series, The Savior Has Come, in this new episode! Together, they share a sneak peek at our Advent series, which includes the four Sundays prior to Christmas and culminates in our Christmas Eve candlelight celebration.

 

In a season often marked by busyness and materialism, Advent invites us to slow down, to wait, and to refocus our hearts on the message and meaning of Christ’s coming. It helps us think biblically and communally about the significance of Jesus’ arrival and places Christmas in its proper context within the story of Scripture—where the entire Old Testament points ahead in longing for the promised Messiah. As we reflect on this waiting, we’re reminded of how we, too, are called to wait with hope for Christ’s return.

 

As we prepare our hearts for Advent, we anticipate a season filled with intention, celebration, and worship. We’re eager to dive into the first two chapters of Luke together on Sundays and to focus our hearts with our church-wide devotional, where the daily readings prepare us for each week’s preaching text and provide thoughtful reflection and discussion for families and individuals. This Advent, we look forward to celebrating our great Savior with joy, anticipation, and hope—adoring Christ together.

 

Resources & Links

• Sermon Notebook & Daily Advent Devotional Guide: Pick up notebooks this weekend in the Worship Center or Resource Center
• This Sunday resource page: Weekly songs and Scriptures to prepare your heart for worship
• This Sunday playlist on Spotify: Learn the songs and prepare for corporate worship throughout the week
• Weekly Email: Subscribe for updates, announcements, and recommended resources
• Read: Luke 1-2

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.