Fellowship Church, Dallas, PA Podcast

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, our ministry resident for discipleship and family ministries, Josh Cheetham, talks with Pastor Frank Yamrick of Faith and Life Church in Edwardsville for a March update on the church plant. They discuss how the church is doing, ways God has been at work over the past few months, and some of the challenges they have faced along the way. They also share how you can be praying for Faith and Life Church and how to get involved.   Resources & Links Previous church planting updates Faith and Life Church  

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.

In this important message, Pastor Stephen concludes the series on biblical generosity, and explains the next steps of the Gathered and Growing capital campaign.

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 Mattersby 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: “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."