Author Archives: Mark Cole

About Mark Cole

Jesus follower, Husband, Father, Worship Leader, Writer, Pastor, Church Consultant, Founding Arranger for Praisecharts.com, squash & tennis player, blogger & outdoor enthusiast.. (biking, hiking, skiing). Twitter: @MarkMCole Facebook: mmcole

Worship Leading: 4 Major Ways To Improve

Posted on October 21, 2024 by Mark Cole

Leading people in worship to the Living God is an awesome privilege and really involves four major areas: music, worship, leadership (people) and your relationship with God. The more you understand and grow in each area, the stronger your worship leading should become. … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, God, Jesus, Leadership, Music, Wisdom, Worship | Tagged administration, click track, communicate, guitar, harmony, improvise, keyboards, lessons, memorize, music skills, music styles, music theory, people, read, rehearsals, secret, serve, singing, songwriting, stage presence, team | Leave a comment

Seek Wisdom

Posted on October 8, 2024 by Mark Cole

In today’s fast-paced, information-saturated world, the need for true wisdom is more critical than ever. While knowledge can be found with a few keystrokes, wisdom is something deeper—something that guides our decisions, shapes our character, and aligns our lives with truth. The Bible, especially the book of Proverbs, offers us timeless principles on how to seek and attain this priceless treasure: wisdom. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Health, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Leadership, Wisdom | Tagged ask, character, clarity, correction, difficulties, faith, fear of the Lord, folly, fool, God's Word, humility, meditating, pray, priceless, pride, purity, reading, respect, reverence, righteous, teachable, timeless, treasure, truth, wisdom | Leave a comment

Raise the Bar: Hard Work and Enthusiasm in Worship Leadership

Posted on October 4, 2024 by Mark Cole

As I was reading Romans 12 this morning, Paul’s words, “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically,” challenged me. They reminded me of the essential role that a strong work ethic plays in worship ministry. Too often, we may find our teams stagnating—not because of a lack of talent or resources, but because we aren’t fully committing ourselves to the work with the enthusiasm and diligence Paul speaks of. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, Leadership, Music, Wisdom, Worship | Tagged charts, diligence, hard work, inspire, organized, prep, preperation, scheduling, serve, serving, spiritual, time management, transformative, work, work ethic | Leave a comment

Why Does God Heal Some and Not Others?

Posted on September 28, 2024 by Mark Cole

This is a question many of us wrestle with at different points in our lives. It’s a question that often arises when we’re faced with illness or watching someone we care about suffer. As a pastor and someone who has experienced healing personally, I, too, have pondered this difficult issue. While we may not fully grasp why God chooses to heal some and not others, there are a few biblical truths that can anchor us as we navigate this profound mystery.
Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, God, God Adventures, Healing, Jesus, Wisdom | Tagged Bible, confidence, don't give up, eternal, faith, God heals, heal, healing, heals, mystery, prayer, praying, sickness, thorn in the flesh, Your will | 1 Comment

Serving The Church And Your Family

Posted on September 23, 2024 by Mark Cole

My pastor wants me to participate in his message on Sunday by answering this question: Mark – You are a husband, a father and a grandfather, you have served in ministry with your wife, you have raised your kids and now they serve in ministry, you have grandkids now. How have you balanced serving and family, and what has been the impact on your family that you still see to this day? Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, Family, God, Leadership, Music, Worship | Tagged attending church, children, church, faithfulness, family, fun, grandchildren, grandkids, holidays, Jesus, ministry, prayer, reading the Word, serving, teaching, water baptism | Leave a comment

The Quiet Strength of Humility in Competition and Creativity

Posted on September 22, 2024 by Mark Cole

I love to compete in sports, especially racquet sports and I also love to lead worship. I have discovered that humility is a foundational principle in both life and faith, and it plays an essential role in the worlds of music and sports. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, Exercise, Health, Leadership, Music, Wisdom, Worship | Tagged comeback, compete, competing, connection, Favor, focused, growth, growth mindset, humility, lessons, open, overconfidence, performance, perseverance, resilient, serve, sports, strength, true worship, wisdom | Leave a comment

The Secret to Joy

Posted on September 17, 2024 by Mark Cole

In a world obsessed with the pursuit of happiness, joy often feels elusive. We chase after success, relationships, experiences, and possessions, only to find that true joy remains just out of reach. Yet, the Bible speaks of a joy that transcends circumstances—a joy rooted not in fleeting pleasures, but in something eternal and steadfast. What is the secret to this kind of joy? Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Health, Wisdom | Tagged accepted, biblical joy, challenges, eternal, God's presence, happiness, He is good, Holy Spirit, hope, identity, lasting joy, loved, pleasures, relationships, seasons, serving, success, trust God | Leave a comment

God With Us: The Power of His Presence

Posted on September 16, 2024 by Mark Cole

One of the most profound truths of the Christian faith is the reality that God not only created us but desires to dwell within us. The idea of God living in us is more than just a theological concept; it is the very foundation of how we experience life, faith, and spiritual transformation. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, Family, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus | Tagged believers, Christ in you, Christ lives in me, divine, faith, God breathed, hearts, His children, Holy Spirit, In us, omnipresence, profound, purpose, relationship, transformation, truths | Leave a comment

7 Keys To Starting In A New Worship Ministry

Posted on September 9, 2024 by Mark Cole

Are you starting to lead worship in a new church? Has God called you to a new ministry? It can be intimidating! I have been working in music ministry for over thirty years. Let me share what I’ve learned from my personal … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, God, Leadership, Wisdom, Worship | Tagged boldness, calling, change, church, congregation, courageous, culture, Facebook, fear not, love, memorize, new | 1 Comment

What is a Covenant to Seek the Lord?

Posted on August 30, 2024 by Mark Cole

In the pages of the Bible, we often encounter the word “covenant.” It’s a term rich with meaning, and at its core, it speaks of a deep, binding commitment between God and His people. One particular instance of this is found in 2 Chronicles 15:12, where it says, “They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul.” This ancient declaration is more than just a historical footnote; it holds profound significance for us today. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, God Adventures, Jesus, Wisdom | Tagged commitment, contract, covenant, fellowship, find Him, fullness of life, joy, life-changing, love, obeying, pledge, prayer, priority, pursue God, relationship, scripture, seek the Lord, Worship | Leave a comment