This Sunday we may see a lot of new faces and I am excited to welcome them all to our church. One of the main things that I wanted to communicate this Sunday was the greatness of God. We celebrate the birth of Jesus because through him we are made right with God. We sing carols about this excitement and joy of his birth; Joy to the World, or the, “thrill of hope the weary world rejoices” from O Holy Night. This excitement is real, because our great God provided the long expected King, Jesus. God’s plan did not stop at His birth, How Great Thou Art, tells the purpose of His birth;
“And when I think that God His son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
And on the cross, my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee, how great Thou art”
Jesus is the Messiah sent by God, he is the “rescue for sinners” and the “light of the world”; He is what all the excitement is about. It is important for us to not forget about the cross during this Christmas season. Our response is to bring an offering of worship similar to the wise men’s gift or the bowed Shepherds.
Songs for Sunday...
O Come All Ye Faithful / Oakeley, C. Frederick | Wade, John Francis
How Great Thou Art / Hine
Jesus Messiah / Tomlin, Chris | Carson, Daniel | Reeves, Jesse | Cash, Ed
O Holy Night / Kipley, Pete | Millard, Bart | Dwight, John S. | Adam, Adolphe
Christmas Offering / Paul Balouche
Friday, December 19, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Sunday Flow
O, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing / Wesley, Crowder
A great song that Charles Wesley wrote in honor of the day he surrendered to Christ.
How Deep the Father’s Love for Us / Stuart Townsend
This song tells God’s story of salvation and asks the question why we a sinner should benefit from the victory of Christ’s resurrection. Paul writes a song in the book of Philippines that emphasizes this sacrifice.
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil. 2:6-11.
Jesus Messiah / Tomlin
This song is clear about the identity of Christ and what His sacrifice means for us. In the last part of the Philippines passage we see the power of Jesus’ name and that all will worship Him. His name is above all names, he is the Messiah.
God of Justice / Hughes
Worship is a verb not a noun and this song prays that God will keep us from just singing and move us into action.
Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
A great song that Charles Wesley wrote in honor of the day he surrendered to Christ.
How Deep the Father’s Love for Us / Stuart Townsend
This song tells God’s story of salvation and asks the question why we a sinner should benefit from the victory of Christ’s resurrection. Paul writes a song in the book of Philippines that emphasizes this sacrifice.
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil. 2:6-11.
Jesus Messiah / Tomlin
This song is clear about the identity of Christ and what His sacrifice means for us. In the last part of the Philippines passage we see the power of Jesus’ name and that all will worship Him. His name is above all names, he is the Messiah.
God of Justice / Hughes
Worship is a verb not a noun and this song prays that God will keep us from just singing and move us into action.
Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Redemption and Righteousness
Set List
Happy Day / Hughes
Hosanna / Fraser
God of this City / McCann, Tomlin
Nothing But Your Blood / Redman
Thoughts
I love “Happy Day” it is a great song of celebration of the risen Jesus. We do not have to wait for Easter to express the joy of our salvation. My favorite line is “I’ll never be the same, forever I am changed”. When we experience the grace of God, we are changed and our life is about being conformed into the image of Christ.
“Hosanna” we introduced last week and I hope that we can make it our own, because our church’s heart is to serve. The process of our heart being broken for the things that break his heart should be our continuous prayer as a church. This connects very well with the theme of “God of Justice”. After our hearts are broken for others, we have to believe that God has the strength to help and to heal.
“Nothing But the Blood” which speaks about how we can approach God with confidence because of the price that was payed by Jesus’ sacrifice.
Key Verse;
Hebrews 10:19-23
“Therefore brothers, since we have confidence to enter into the Most Holy Pace by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and have our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
Happy Day / Hughes
Hosanna / Fraser
God of this City / McCann, Tomlin
Nothing But Your Blood / Redman
Thoughts
I love “Happy Day” it is a great song of celebration of the risen Jesus. We do not have to wait for Easter to express the joy of our salvation. My favorite line is “I’ll never be the same, forever I am changed”. When we experience the grace of God, we are changed and our life is about being conformed into the image of Christ.
“Hosanna” we introduced last week and I hope that we can make it our own, because our church’s heart is to serve. The process of our heart being broken for the things that break his heart should be our continuous prayer as a church. This connects very well with the theme of “God of Justice”. After our hearts are broken for others, we have to believe that God has the strength to help and to heal.
“Nothing But the Blood” which speaks about how we can approach God with confidence because of the price that was payed by Jesus’ sacrifice.
Key Verse;
Hebrews 10:19-23
“Therefore brothers, since we have confidence to enter into the Most Holy Pace by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and have our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Hosanna
Everlasting God / Brown
Hosanna / Fraser
You Are the One / Brewster
Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
In Christ Alone / Getty
The focus this week in the songs is the firm foundation of Christ. Some great words come out of “In Christ Alone” about the characteristics of this foundation.
1 Corinthians 3:10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Hosanna is a new song for us and it came highly recommended by some of my fellow worship leaders. Hosanna means come save now, which brings a lot of meaning to the verses. The line that is constantly on my heart with this song is, “Break my heart for what breaks yours.” There are always certain words that we walk away with in songs and can be used by God to challenge our perspective of Him or our actions towards others.
This is the essence of what it means to have a lifestyle of worship; these words can be used to develop devotional habits throughout the week.
Hosanna / Fraser
You Are the One / Brewster
Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
In Christ Alone / Getty
The focus this week in the songs is the firm foundation of Christ. Some great words come out of “In Christ Alone” about the characteristics of this foundation.
1 Corinthians 3:10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Hosanna is a new song for us and it came highly recommended by some of my fellow worship leaders. Hosanna means come save now, which brings a lot of meaning to the verses. The line that is constantly on my heart with this song is, “Break my heart for what breaks yours.” There are always certain words that we walk away with in songs and can be used by God to challenge our perspective of Him or our actions towards others.
This is the essence of what it means to have a lifestyle of worship; these words can be used to develop devotional habits throughout the week.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Worship Progression
This Sundays songs and thoughts...
Beautiful One
Praising Jesus for His Majesty, and thanking Him for His beautiful sacrifice.
Favorite line this morning, “My Soul must sing”
King of Glory
Jesus in the King of Glory, strong and mighty.
Favorite line, “Let the Redeemed declare the love” For our church that translates as demonstrating and announcing the love of God, through Jesus, to our Oikos or relational world.
Verse Reference...Psalms 24:7-10
Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle!
Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory!
God of Justice
Matt. 20:28 “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Some of you may not know that our church is 140 years old and historically our motto has been this verse- “ not to be ministered unto, but to minister.”
This song talks about the actions Jesus did and encourages us to act.
Beautiful One
Praising Jesus for His Majesty, and thanking Him for His beautiful sacrifice.
Favorite line this morning, “My Soul must sing”
King of Glory
Jesus in the King of Glory, strong and mighty.
Favorite line, “Let the Redeemed declare the love” For our church that translates as demonstrating and announcing the love of God, through Jesus, to our Oikos or relational world.
Verse Reference...Psalms 24:7-10
Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle!
Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory!
God of Justice
Matt. 20:28 “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Some of you may not know that our church is 140 years old and historically our motto has been this verse- “ not to be ministered unto, but to minister.”
This song talks about the actions Jesus did and encourages us to act.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Worship Reflections
Set List...
O, For A Thousand Tongues to Sing / Charles Wesley (1739) arr, by David Crowder
How Marvelous (My Savior’s Love) / Charles H. Gabriel (1905) arr. by Tomlin
Father Let me Dedicate (Be Glorified) / Lawrence Tuttiett, Redman
God of This City / McCann, Tomlin
Lifestyle of worship
This week we began First John, a book that looks at some divisions in the Church as well as attributes of Christ and how to love. Looking at 1:1-4, Scott talked about how our joy should be rooted in our fellowship with Jesus and with each other. He cross referenced this passage to one of my favorite chapters in the Bible, John 15. Here we are called to ‘remain in (Jesus) as He remains in us’ or using an older word ‘abide’. Simply put it means to remain as one. This is the transformational process of becoming like Christ. It is what some call a lifestyle of worship. Daily as we strive to obey and develop the character of Christ we are in worship. Music then is simply a tool to encourage this development or come together and celebrate it!
O, For A Thousand Tongues to Sing / Charles Wesley (1739) arr, by David Crowder
How Marvelous (My Savior’s Love) / Charles H. Gabriel (1905) arr. by Tomlin
Father Let me Dedicate (Be Glorified) / Lawrence Tuttiett, Redman
God of This City / McCann, Tomlin
Lifestyle of worship
This week we began First John, a book that looks at some divisions in the Church as well as attributes of Christ and how to love. Looking at 1:1-4, Scott talked about how our joy should be rooted in our fellowship with Jesus and with each other. He cross referenced this passage to one of my favorite chapters in the Bible, John 15. Here we are called to ‘remain in (Jesus) as He remains in us’ or using an older word ‘abide’. Simply put it means to remain as one. This is the transformational process of becoming like Christ. It is what some call a lifestyle of worship. Daily as we strive to obey and develop the character of Christ we are in worship. Music then is simply a tool to encourage this development or come together and celebrate it!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Set List and Thoughts
How Great Thou Art / K. Hine, Paul Balouche
“That on the cross my burden gladly bearing...”
God’s greatness is demonstrated through his Son’s death.
Scripture Reading Phil 4:5-11
“your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the very nature of God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.”
Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) / John Newton, Tomlin
“But God who called me here below will be forever mine.”
The direction of our focus should be on suffering with the world not escaping from it.
God of this City / Aaron Boyd
“Greater things are yet to come
Greater things are still to be done in this City”
The challenge is do we truly believe that, are we ministering to our Oikos with expectancy.
Communion
When I survey the Wondrous Cross / Isaac Watts, Kathryn Scott
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