Kevin Adams

Kevin Adams is the author of Living Under Water: Baptism as a Way of Life, 150: Finding Your Story in the Psalms, The Book That Understands You, and The Gospel in a Handshake: Framing Worship for Mission. In 1991 Kevin and his wife Gerry began Granite Springs Church, a congregation that has helped inspire a movement of church planting in the Sacramento area. He was Director of Formation at the Newbigin House of Studies in San Francisco, and has taught at Calvin Seminary, Western Seminary, and William Jessup University. Besides serving as senior pastor, he is writing a book about living our baptism. Kevin is fascinated and intrigued by how worship forms and shapes individuals and contagious communities of faith. His special interests are in the missional depth and wisdom of the psalms, sacraments, and preaching.

By this author

  • August 18, 2020

    Worship Blues

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    Wise and honest Christians sing the Blues. Regularly. We sing them habitually, so we know the words by heart and soul.

  • November 4, 2019

    Epiclesis and Loving Communion

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    We love weekly communion. And we love how the Epiclesis reminds us of our dependence on the Holy Spirit.

    During Lent a few years ago, our congregation began celebrating the Lord’s Supper weekly. At last, more than twenty years into our church plant-turned mission-oriented congregation, we became truly Reformed and truly ecumenical, honoring the best wisdom and practice of the global church.

  • July 17, 2019

    Peppermints, Mentos, and Communion with Children

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    Since we invite people of all ages to receive baptism as a sign of God’s never ending grace-filled love for them, why not also let people of all ages also receive communion as a sign of God’s never ending grace-filled love for them?

  • January 7, 2019

    Framing Epiphany in Worship Planning

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    Epiphany might not be on every congregation’s calendar. But perhaps some simple frames can enable worship leaders and worshipers—veteran and novice—to add it to theirs.

  • July 30, 2018

    The Gospel in a Handshake

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    After a worship service a couple of years ago, a staff person (a delightful Peruvian woman who greets everyone, both first time attendees and dearly loved regulars, with a warm South American hug) was handed a note,

  • March 8, 2018

    Healing Worship

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    There’s an old image for the pastoral vocation; it can be claimed by worship leaders too. It is to be a doctor of souls . . . It means in music and spoken word and Eucharistic invitation we offer healing.

  • September 11, 2017

    Hamilton and Jesus

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    I’m convinced the Church’s captivating, timeless gospel song plays most memorably in the classic liturgy, offering much-loved lyrics and phrases and its own kind of choreography.

    Nourishing a Love

    My daughter grew up delighting in music. Already as a toddler she loved to sing and dance and twirl. But a defining moment came when we booked tickets to the musical, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.

  • November 8, 2016

    Our True Selves

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    Two wonderful sisters attend our church. One came first. She loved the music and the people. And, as a professional percussionist, found great delight when she soon began to participate. A Christian for much of her adult life, she had been praying her sister would join her. And one day she did.

  • March 16, 2016

    Weekly Communion: Too Catholic?

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    Each week we come forward. Young and old. Spiritual veterans and rookies. Adolescents walking as if propelled by jet engines or ample caffeine. Seniors teetering on the arms of their married partner or friend of 50 years. It’s the end of our worship service, and time again for weekly communion.