I'm sure many of you are familiar with what is called the "Prosperity Gospel." In case you aren't, it's what is being preached from many pulpits in America, and from many "Christian Living" bestsellers over at Barnes and Noble. It's a message that says "if you accept Jesus, you'll be healthy, you'll be wealthy, and you'll have great relationships" etc.
Here's John Piper telling us what God's Word says the gospel is:
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
Preparing For Worship: March 2nd
Happy Leap Year! Any exciting plans?? There are a select few out there who were born on a leap year, and so they age at 1/4 the rate that the rest of us do! Yay!
Alright, that's the most celebrating I've EVER done for a leap year, so be thankful you witnessed it.
Looking to this Sunday, let's jump right in:
We'll start with a new song "Let God Arise" which is a great call-to-worship song celebrating the power and majestic strength of our God. Check out my last post for the lyrics.
We'll have a little "family-time" and hear about various ministry opportunities, including our college/young adult ministry, our youth ministry, and our Giving/In-N-Out Sunday (you'll want to pay attention to that one!).
We'll continue singing, and preparing our hearts for Pastor Todd's message dealing with distractions in our life, with "How Great Thou Art" (click forward to about 2:00 on that one) "Better Is One Day" and "I Fix My Eyes." Each of which reminds us that we have the greatest most wonderful thing in the entire universe to focus on and pursue, and how silly and dangerous it can be when we get distracted by temporal, worldly pursuits.
Pastor Todd will then bring the Word of the Lord to us from 1 Timothy 6:17-20. Read the passage, be familiar with it, so you know what's going on!
After the sermon, we'll continue worshiping through a time of communion together. I will sing a special song called "At The Cross" (which we'll do together soon) as we remember the sacrifice of Christ. Then we'll all sing "You Alone" as a final reminder that God is indeed the only Father, and good God. We'll go our ways with that thought in our minds, and hopefully live a little less distracted in the coming weeks!
Alright, that's the most celebrating I've EVER done for a leap year, so be thankful you witnessed it.
Looking to this Sunday, let's jump right in:
We'll start with a new song "Let God Arise" which is a great call-to-worship song celebrating the power and majestic strength of our God. Check out my last post for the lyrics.
We'll have a little "family-time" and hear about various ministry opportunities, including our college/young adult ministry, our youth ministry, and our Giving/In-N-Out Sunday (you'll want to pay attention to that one!).
We'll continue singing, and preparing our hearts for Pastor Todd's message dealing with distractions in our life, with "How Great Thou Art" (click forward to about 2:00 on that one) "Better Is One Day" and "I Fix My Eyes." Each of which reminds us that we have the greatest most wonderful thing in the entire universe to focus on and pursue, and how silly and dangerous it can be when we get distracted by temporal, worldly pursuits.
Pastor Todd will then bring the Word of the Lord to us from 1 Timothy 6:17-20. Read the passage, be familiar with it, so you know what's going on!
After the sermon, we'll continue worshiping through a time of communion together. I will sing a special song called "At The Cross" (which we'll do together soon) as we remember the sacrifice of Christ. Then we'll all sing "You Alone" as a final reminder that God is indeed the only Father, and good God. We'll go our ways with that thought in our minds, and hopefully live a little less distracted in the coming weeks!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
New Song This Week: Let God Arise
Hey guys,
Wanted to share this new song with our church this week. It's called "Let God Arise" by Chris Tomlin, and it's a fabulous call to worship song, that comes from Psalm 68, and is built on the idea that our God is almighty, all-powerful, and he will accomplish his perfect will, and it is no problem for him!
Check out this video of Chris teaching the song in the "New Song Cafe" from worshiptogether.com (especially if you play the guitar!), and then check out this video of them doing the song live.
Here are the words:
Copyright 2006 worshiptogether.com songs, sixsteps music, and Aletrop music
CCLI License 2915685
Wanted to share this new song with our church this week. It's called "Let God Arise" by Chris Tomlin, and it's a fabulous call to worship song, that comes from Psalm 68, and is built on the idea that our God is almighty, all-powerful, and he will accomplish his perfect will, and it is no problem for him!
Check out this video of Chris teaching the song in the "New Song Cafe" from worshiptogether.com (especially if you play the guitar!), and then check out this video of them doing the song live.
Here are the words:
Hear the holy roar of God resoundBy Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, and Jesse Reeves
Watch the waters part before us now
Come and see what He has done for us
Tell the world of His great love
Our God is a God who saves!
Let God arise! Let God arise!
Our God reigns now and forever
He reigns now and forever!
His enemies will run for sure
The church will stand she will endure
He holds the keys of life our Lord
Death has no sting no final word!
Copyright 2006 worshiptogether.com songs, sixsteps music, and Aletrop music
CCLI License 2915685
Friday, February 22, 2008
Preparing For Worship: February 24th
Happy Friday everyone. I'm writing from Village Christian today where I'm subbing as a history teacher. I'm looking forward to a great weekend worshiping with you all!
We've got another "regular" Sunday this week, gathering in the name of, and by the blood of, our Savior Jesus Christ, to corporately direct our praises, offerings, and thanksgivings to God through worship music, preaching from the Word, giving towards the furtherance of the kingdom, and edifying and exhorting one another.
Be sure to prepare and come ready to bless others, and join with them as we together proclaim the name of the Lord.
We'll start with the new song we did a couple weeks ago, that reminds us that we come before God as friends: "Friend Of God."
We have a few announcements, including Men's Relay, Women's Discipleship, and Foundation retreat. Great opportunities to worship God through these ministries and events!
We'll continue singing with "Holy Is The Lord," "Indescribable," and "Immortal, Invisible God, Only Wise" that focus us on the glorious character of God, and will prepare us for Pastor Todd's message from 1 Timothy 6:3-16 on the attributes of God.
We'll have the chance to respond by singing the amazing hymn "Praise To The Lord, The Almighty" and close our time by declaring our trust in the sovereignty and character of God with "We Trust Your Will."
Read the passage, learn the songs, pray that God would use you to edify his church through your participation and exhortation, and pray for all that would come through the doors, that God would accomplish his perfect will in their lives even as we come together to worship him!
See you Sunday!
We've got another "regular" Sunday this week, gathering in the name of, and by the blood of, our Savior Jesus Christ, to corporately direct our praises, offerings, and thanksgivings to God through worship music, preaching from the Word, giving towards the furtherance of the kingdom, and edifying and exhorting one another.
Be sure to prepare and come ready to bless others, and join with them as we together proclaim the name of the Lord.
We'll start with the new song we did a couple weeks ago, that reminds us that we come before God as friends: "Friend Of God."
We have a few announcements, including Men's Relay, Women's Discipleship, and Foundation retreat. Great opportunities to worship God through these ministries and events!
We'll continue singing with "Holy Is The Lord," "Indescribable," and "Immortal, Invisible God, Only Wise" that focus us on the glorious character of God, and will prepare us for Pastor Todd's message from 1 Timothy 6:3-16 on the attributes of God.
We'll have the chance to respond by singing the amazing hymn "Praise To The Lord, The Almighty" and close our time by declaring our trust in the sovereignty and character of God with "We Trust Your Will."
Read the passage, learn the songs, pray that God would use you to edify his church through your participation and exhortation, and pray for all that would come through the doors, that God would accomplish his perfect will in their lives even as we come together to worship him!
See you Sunday!
Friday, February 15, 2008
Preparing For Worship: Februrary 17th
Hey everyone!
Pastor Todd and I met earlier this week to plan this Sunday's service, and we kept saying it would be an "average," "run-of-the-mill," "normal" service. We said that because we've had lots of "special" things in the last few weeks: elder affirmations and commissionings, building updates, financial reports, etc. and so since we don't have any of those kinds of things this week, we called it a "regular" Sunday.
Then I started thinking: we're coming together as the local body of Christ at Crossroads Community Church to direct our worship unto the omnipotent/omniscient/omnipresent Creator of the universe, who directed the entirety of his infinite wrath against sin onto his own son so that we might be reconciled to a right relationship with him! I know we do it every week, but man, it's a little sad when we start saying it's "average" and "regular."
I hope that the time we spend together each week is "regular" in that it's consistently edifying for all the believers that come in the door, and that our worship/offerings/sitting under the authority of the Word is all glorifying to God each week, but man, I hope that it's never "normal" to experience the glory of God together!!
Now that we all know what we mean when we say it's going to be a "regular" Sunday, here's what'll be going on so you can prepare.
We'll start with "You're Worthy Of My Praise" as a call to worship. We'll continue in worship through ministry opportunities and announcements. Our Hope Gardens outreach event is next Saturday, so (women-only) don't forget to sign up if you haven't yet! Shelter (College/Young Adult ministry) meets this Sunday night, and we normally meet at Wes and Denise Toy's house, and we want to remember to pray for Wes, as he suffered from a stroke early this week. He's doing better, and the Doctors think he'll make a full recovery, but it's a long road ahead, so keep Wes and his family in your prayers. Then we have Men's and Women's discipleship starting again, so get involved!
After announcements, we'll jump back into singing together and focus our minds towards the message Pastor Todd will bring us with "Marvelous Light" which is a wonderful picture of how we run out of the darkness and into the light. Pastor Todd will preach on "The Battle for Faith and Godliness" and what it means to pursue biblical man and womanhood.
"For You Are The Lord" surveys the glory of the character of God, and responds with "my life to live for you" and acknowledges the Lordship of Christ in each of our lives. Right before the sermon, we'll sing our newer song "From The Inside Out" that we've done the last couple weeks. It expresses the desire of our hearts to bring praise and glory to the name of God from the inside out, and leads well into Todd's message.
He's preaching from 1 Timothy 6:11-12 and instructing us to not only flee from the things that displease God, but to flee towards the things that do please him (you can't just flee and expect to be done!)
We'll respond in song after the sermon with the great hymn "Be Thou My Vision" as a prayer for our lives that we would remain focused on the Lord, and that we'd see everything else as "naught" except what points us to him. We'll end our service with "I Stand In Awe" reminding us of the beautiful and marvelous God that we serve, and resolve to praise him with all of our lives!
Looking forward to worshiping with you this Sunday!
There weren't many good versions of "I Stand In Awe" on YouTube, but if you neeeeed to see one, check THIS ONE out... :-)
Pastor Todd and I met earlier this week to plan this Sunday's service, and we kept saying it would be an "average," "run-of-the-mill," "normal" service. We said that because we've had lots of "special" things in the last few weeks: elder affirmations and commissionings, building updates, financial reports, etc. and so since we don't have any of those kinds of things this week, we called it a "regular" Sunday.
Then I started thinking: we're coming together as the local body of Christ at Crossroads Community Church to direct our worship unto the omnipotent/omniscient/omnipresent Creator of the universe, who directed the entirety of his infinite wrath against sin onto his own son so that we might be reconciled to a right relationship with him! I know we do it every week, but man, it's a little sad when we start saying it's "average" and "regular."
I hope that the time we spend together each week is "regular" in that it's consistently edifying for all the believers that come in the door, and that our worship/offerings/sitting under the authority of the Word is all glorifying to God each week, but man, I hope that it's never "normal" to experience the glory of God together!!
Now that we all know what we mean when we say it's going to be a "regular" Sunday, here's what'll be going on so you can prepare.
We'll start with "You're Worthy Of My Praise" as a call to worship. We'll continue in worship through ministry opportunities and announcements. Our Hope Gardens outreach event is next Saturday, so (women-only) don't forget to sign up if you haven't yet! Shelter (College/Young Adult ministry) meets this Sunday night, and we normally meet at Wes and Denise Toy's house, and we want to remember to pray for Wes, as he suffered from a stroke early this week. He's doing better, and the Doctors think he'll make a full recovery, but it's a long road ahead, so keep Wes and his family in your prayers. Then we have Men's and Women's discipleship starting again, so get involved!
After announcements, we'll jump back into singing together and focus our minds towards the message Pastor Todd will bring us with "Marvelous Light" which is a wonderful picture of how we run out of the darkness and into the light. Pastor Todd will preach on "The Battle for Faith and Godliness" and what it means to pursue biblical man and womanhood.
"For You Are The Lord" surveys the glory of the character of God, and responds with "my life to live for you" and acknowledges the Lordship of Christ in each of our lives. Right before the sermon, we'll sing our newer song "From The Inside Out" that we've done the last couple weeks. It expresses the desire of our hearts to bring praise and glory to the name of God from the inside out, and leads well into Todd's message.
He's preaching from 1 Timothy 6:11-12 and instructing us to not only flee from the things that displease God, but to flee towards the things that do please him (you can't just flee and expect to be done!)
We'll respond in song after the sermon with the great hymn "Be Thou My Vision" as a prayer for our lives that we would remain focused on the Lord, and that we'd see everything else as "naught" except what points us to him. We'll end our service with "I Stand In Awe" reminding us of the beautiful and marvelous God that we serve, and resolve to praise him with all of our lives!
Looking forward to worshiping with you this Sunday!
There weren't many good versions of "I Stand In Awe" on YouTube, but if you neeeeed to see one, check THIS ONE out... :-)
Monday, February 11, 2008
Questions To Ask Yourself
Here's a link to a blog entry by Greg Gilbert of 9Marks Ministries. These questions address our worship life, and help us to take inventory of how much of our "worship experience" is entirely dependent on music.
Very sobering, especially for someone like me, for whom music in the church is my main ministry, and occupation!
Click HERE to read.
Greg Gilbert is the director of theological research for the president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Having graduated B.A. from Yale in 1999 and M.Div from SBTS in 2006, he intends to complete a PhD and then pastor. Greg is an elder at Third Avenue Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, and he and his wife Moriah have two sons, Justin and Jack. Email Greg at gospel@9Marks.org.
Very sobering, especially for someone like me, for whom music in the church is my main ministry, and occupation!
Click HERE to read.
Greg Gilbert is the director of theological research for the president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Having graduated B.A. from Yale in 1999 and M.Div from SBTS in 2006, he intends to complete a PhD and then pastor. Greg is an elder at Third Avenue Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, and he and his wife Moriah have two sons, Justin and Jack. Email Greg at gospel@9Marks.org.
Contentment
Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment
For we brought nothing into the world
And we can take nothing out of the world
But if we have food and clothing
With these we will be content
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation
Into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires
That plunge people into ruin and destruction
-1 Timothy 6:6-9
Pastor Todd spoke to us about how we can misplace our affections in men, having more stuff, and money itself.
I was reminded of a video that one of my old college roommates had posted on his blog.
Tom Brady is the quarterback for the New England Patriots, and according to our world's standards of success, he has made it. Big.
At the 2:25 mark of the video, he makes an interesting and unexpected observation...
Click HERE to go to the video.
For we brought nothing into the world
And we can take nothing out of the world
But if we have food and clothing
With these we will be content
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation
Into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires
That plunge people into ruin and destruction
-1 Timothy 6:6-9
Pastor Todd spoke to us about how we can misplace our affections in men, having more stuff, and money itself.
I was reminded of a video that one of my old college roommates had posted on his blog.
Tom Brady is the quarterback for the New England Patriots, and according to our world's standards of success, he has made it. Big.
At the 2:25 mark of the video, he makes an interesting and unexpected observation...
Click HERE to go to the video.
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