Why should Christians regularly go to church?

In this episode of Faith & Clarity, Dr. Mark Turman is joined by pastors Sam Holm and Justin Hornsby to discuss why corporate worship matters and why many Christians struggle to make church a priority.

They explore what worship truly is—centering our attention and affection on God—and why gathering weekly offers essential reminders of the gospel that shape our faith and fuel our mission. The conversation also addresses common challenges like consumer-driven expectations, performance-focused services, and how both leaders and congregants play a role in creating Christ-centered worship.

Sam and Justin offer practical insight into the elements of meaningful worship, from confession and prayer to communion and congregational singing, inviting listeners to rediscover the purpose and power of gathering together as the church.

Topics

0:00) Introduction

(3:00) Why church attendance drops

(5:22) From consumer to contributor

(10:25) Defining corporate worship

(20:02) Worship leader influences

(23:27) Preparing hearts for Sunday

(25:55) Questions before worship

(28:42) Confession in worship

(30:31) Tell the gospel again

(35:18) Stewardship on stage

(41:02) Forgotten worship tools

(43:38) Fresh vs. familiar songs

(50:50) Funniest service moments

(56:02) Conclusion

Resources

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About Sam Holm

Sam Holm grew up at a therapeutic wilderness camp with five brothers in East Texas. He served at Pine Cove Camps for 11 years before God called him to the local Church. He has been the pastor at First McKinney since 2017. He is married to Rebecca and the father of two girls. Sam desires to make authentic disciples of Jesus. 

About Justin Hornsby

Justin Hornsby has been a Worship Pastor since he was 19 and currently serves at First Baptist Church in McKinney, TX. He leads worship, oversees various ministry teams, and is part of the preaching team alongside his wife, Hollye. A father of 3, Justin's desire is to point people to the greatness of God through Jesus, often saying, "Music is great, but Jesus is greater."

About Dr. Mark Turman

Dr. Mark Turman serves as the Executive Director of Denison Forum, where he leads with a passion for equipping believers to navigate today’s complex culture with biblical truth. He is best known as the host of the Faith & Clarity podcast and the lead pastor of the Possum Kingdom Lake Chapel, the in-person congregation of Denison Ministries.

Dr. Turman is the coauthor of Sacred Sexuality: Reclaiming God’s Design and Who Am I? What the Bible Says About Identity and Why it Matters. He earned his undergraduate degree from Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas, and received his Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He later completed his Doctor of Ministry degree at George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University in Waco.

Before joining Denison Forum, Mark served as a pastor for thirty-five years, including twenty-five years as the founding pastor of Crosspoint Church in McKinney, Texas. Mark and his high school sweetheart, Judi, married in 1986. They are proud parents of two adult children and grandparents to three grandchildren.

About Denison Forum

Denison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of our day from a biblical perspective, helping believers discern today’s news and culture through the lens of faith. Led by Dr. Jim Denison and a team of contributing writers, we offer trusted insight through The Daily Article, a daily email newsletter and podcast, along with articles, podcasts, interviews, books, and other resources. Together, these form a growing ecosystem of Christ-centered content that equips readers to respond to current events not with fear or partisanship, but with clarity, conviction, and hope. To learn more, visit DenisonForum.org.