Before I give you all the goods for this Sunday, I wanted to make you aware that I've posted a recording on the Crossroads homepage that I did just yesterday (Thursday). It's a recording of "The Lord's Prayer" that I did during church a number of months ago. It's an old...I mean "classic" arrangement of the text by Albert Hay Malotte, and a number of people have asked me if I would ever record it. I'm thinking this is mostly because I absolutely BOTCHED IT UP during second service, and they want to hear what it is SUPPOSED to sound like. :) Anyway, I recorded it and added some background vocals that give it a similar feel to Jeff Buckley's version of "Hallelujah." So, enjoy! CLICK HERE to go to the page...but come back!
This Sunday Pastor Todd jumps back in to the first chapter of Ephesians as we wrestle with the centuries-old tension between God's sovereign choice in election, and man's free will. Calvinists and Arminians have debated and argued for hundreds of years over this, but Pastor Todd will finally settle the debate THIS WEEK!
Just kidding. Our human minds will probably never be able to fully reconcile God's sovereign predestination with our free will to choose Christ in salvation. But guess what folks; the Bible teaches both, so somehow, even if it's in the mind of God alone, the two work together. So come, ready to think through, and wrestle with this very significant doctrine.
We're starting with the hymn "Immortal, Invisible God, Only Wise" with a great chorus written by one of my worship leading heroes: Bob Kauflin. Then we have a few announcements and a greeting time.
We'll sing "Holy Is The Lord" and "Grace Unmeasured" as we focus in on what God's sovereign grace means for us in election to salvation, and receiving the Holy Spirit. "Grace Unmeasured" is shaping up to be a really powerful "theme song" of sorts for this series in Ephesians, so hopefully you like it since I'll probably be using it a lot! :)
Todd will come preach from chapter one, verses 11-14, which you should read by CLICKING HERE. Let the text stew in your brain and in your heart for a while, and ask the Spirit to teach you and make the truth of God clear to you, and to apply it in a practical way.
We'll respond "to the praise of his glorious grace" by singing our new song "Glorious and Mighty" together, which I think will be a good way for us to respond; instead of trying to completely figure God out and put it all into nice little categories and acronyms, we'll throw our hands up in surrender and just proclaim that God is too "glorious and mighty" for us to fully comprehend!
We'll close with the tune "Stronger" which brings that truth home to our hearts when we realize that the mighty God we serve conquered and payed for our sin once and for all!
So that's what's going on; see you Sunday!
PS. The video link for "Stronger is from a youth service in Norway! COOL!
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