Doxologies: Jesus Strong and Kind
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Jesus Strong and Kind has a rich message and yet a simple melody that makes it easy for the family to learn and sing together. This song reminds us of Jesus’s promise that He is able and willing to offer ultimate sustenance and relief in our times of need. The problems we are currently facing as a community, as a country, and as a culture may lead us to rely on temporal things that can offer brief respite or relief; but they will never fully satisfy the way Jesus can.
The verses of this song touch on four symptoms of our fallen world. After each challenge is presented, truths from Scripture are sung in response reminding us of the way Jesus can satisfy when we face those challenges. So we can come to Jesus…
…WHEN WE ARE THIRSTY: Verse 1 says that if we thirst, we should come to Him, because no one else can satisfy. This reminds us of the promises of John 4:14, “Whoever drinks of the water that [Jesus] will give him will never be thirsty again,” and that “the water [Jesus gives] … will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
…WHEN WE ARE WEAK: Verse 2 says that if we feel weak, we should come to Him, because no one else can substantially or be our strength in a sustained way. This reminds us of the promises of 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, where Jesus says “My power is made perfect in weakness” and Paul responds, “I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses… For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
…WHEN WE ARE AFRAID: Verse 3 says that if we fear, we should come to Him, because no one else can be our shield. And this is not just because He is able and strong to protect us from earthly danger, but also because no one else can protect us from the spiritual forces at work against us in this life. As Jesus says to John in Revelation 1, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” What an amazing opportunity we have to lay our fears at the feet of our Jesus who died, was raised to life again (“forevermore”!), and who literally holds the keys to Satan’s entire operation.
…WHEN WE ARE LOST: Actually, verse 4 changes things up and says that if we are lost, Jesus will come to us. The song turns to focus on our depraved sin nature – our inability to provide our own salvation. While repeating the same phrase “I should come to Him” from the first 3 verses would have certainly helped maintain the repetitive structure throughout the song, it wouldn’t have made sense, because we are unable to do this for ourselves. As Jesus says in John 14, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” We are indebted to Jesus because of the sacrifice He made for us.
The Bible is filled with beautiful stories and parables depicting Jesus’s passion for the lost. Like when Jesus tells the tax collector Zacchaeus, “Today salvation has come to this house… for the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19). Or when He shows the lengths to which He will go to save, not just His people (plural,) but even just one of His people – (singular.) “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?…there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
Lastly, throughout the song, a simple chorus reminds us of God’s faithfulness to us at all times. As Paul writes to the church at Thessalonica, “The Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3).
As we go forward into this week, whether we are singing together as a church body on Sunday or singing with our family as we do chores in our homes, I pray we are encouraged in knowing that Jesus is always enough for us, even – and especially – in life’s greatest moments of need.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: John 4:13-14, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Revelation 1:17-18, John 14:6, Luke 15:4-7, 19:9-10, 2 Thessalonians 3:3
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Jesus Strong and Kind
Verse 1
Jesus said that if I thirst
I should come to Him
No one else can satisfy
I should come to Him
Verse 2
Jesus said if I am weak
I should come to Him
No one else can be my strength
I should come to Him
Chorus
For the Lord is good and faithful
He will keep us day and night
We can always run to Jesus
Jesus, strong and kind
Verse 3
Jesus said that if I fear
I should come to Him
No one else can be my shield
I should come to Him
Verse 4
Jesus said if I am lost
He will come to me
And He showed me on that cross
He will come to me
Stay the Course: Wisdom, Part 1
The world is steadily growing in knowledge, but also increasing in problems. We need more than knowledge: we need wisdom, which is the proper application of knowledge.
FAQ: Upcoming Service Changes
Beginning on Sunday, March 7, we are moving to a dual service format.
The 9:00 a.m. service will have full COVID precautions as they are currently (registration, masks and social distancing required), and the 10:45 a.m. service will move to a “restaurant style” in regard to masks, which should be worn when entering, exiting or moving around inside the building, but may be removed while seated and standing during the worship service.
Please watch the announcement for more details, or see the section below for answers to questions you might have.
Will the 9:00 a.m. service have full COVID precautions of registration, masks, social distancing?
Yes.
How will the 10:45 service be different?
We will use the “restaurant style” approach. You may remove your mask once seated or standing in the sanctuary.
At the 10:45 service, when can I remove my mask?
Please wait until you are seated in the sanctuary to remove your mask. Please have your mask on when entering/exiting and when moving around inside the building.
Why do we still have to register to attend services?
Due to limited space. Also so that we can inform those who may have been exposed should someone in the service let us know they later test positive for COVID.
Is the same “restaurant style” mask policy in place at Quest, youth and other ministry gatherings that take place during the 10:45 a.m. service?
The same policy is in place in the Quest classrooms during the 10:45 service. Contact Tony Cho, Children’s Ministry Director, for more information. For other ministry gatherings taking place at 10:45, please check with the pastor overseeing that ministry.
Why will there be two rows empty between occupied rows at 10:45?
In this phase of reopening, it will lessen the risk of a possible spread to larger numbers due to singing.
When will the “two empty row” approach end and the 10:45 go back to full normal?
As all the local metrics and conditions, such as increased availability of vaccines, continue to improve. It is our desire to move to a fully open phase but it is too early to predict the week or month just yet.
Youth-Related Questions
How will these changes affect the Jr. and Sr. High Youth Ministry on Sundays?
The youth Engage elective classes which meet on Sunday mornings will follow the protocols of the main services. Specifically, classes during the 9am service will require face masks. Masks will be optional for classes during the 10:45am service. Please note that singing is not part of the Engage electives and that students will continue to sit spread out, four per table. Finally, we are currently planning to return to our combined Jr. and Sr. High outdoor youth service on April 11 (the Sunday after Easter).
Will masks still be required at other Youth events?
Masks will be required while indoors at Wednesday night Jr. High Small Groups and Sr. High Shepherd Groups. We feel this is best at this time because: 1) it is what all our volunteers and parents committed to at the beginning of the year; 2) we do not want to exclude any students; 3) creating mask and no-mask groups would split friend groups; and 4) with Spring coming, we will be able to move back outside shortly. If you have additional questions regarding safety precautions at youth events, please contact aaronosborne@restonbible.org (Jr. High) or leebanton@restonbible.org (Sr. High).
Quest-Related Questions
Will masks be required for Quest at 10:45?
No. After they enter their class or the Clubhouse room, masks will be optional.
Will there be social distancing in Quest at 10:45?
Not in classes or the clubhouse. Depending on the numbers, distancing may be considered.
Is class size impacted at the 10:45 service?
It depends on the situation. Although we may be able to increase numbers in some classes, we may still be limited based on the number of volunteers in classes. We will maintain the child/leader ratio we have in place to keep kids safe in Quest. We hope to increase all class sizes as more volunteers return to serve in Quest.
If you have other questions, please feel free to reach out to the appropriate pastor or Bruce Campbell the Executive Pastor at brucecampbell@restonbible.org.
QUEST: Clubhouse Service for February 28
Awana Message for February 28
Family Quest: Extreme Makeover, Spiritual Edition – Family, Lesson 1
LESSON 1: GOD’S FAMILY AND MINE
God uses many metaphors (parallels) in the Bible to describe how He relates to us, how He relates to the church, and how we relate to one another. One of these is the metaphor of “God’s family.” In this picture God is the parent and we the children. Jesus is our brother, and we, the church, saved by grace through faith, are the adopted brothers and sisters in this family (Ephesians 1:5 and Galatians 3:26, John 1:12-13). How does the Father want us to love our family? To answer this question we must first look to how He has loved us and also how the Son, our adopted brother, has loved us. Jesus said, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” It is at the source of divine love that we must begin and end our Quest.
Download Family, Lesson 1QUEST: Preschool Lesson for February 28
Stay the Course: Hypocrisy, Part 6
Jesus is the only one who has ever fully lived up to what He believed. Otherwise, Christian or not, we’re on a level playing field when it comes to hypocrisy.
Doxologies: Promises
But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13
During a time in which we are so keenly aware of the frail human condition, we are especially prone to spend our prayer and worship time in lamentation (Psalm 6:6) or simply wander off in despair (Proverbs 20:6). Promises, a bold declaration of God’s faithfulness through the ages, puts the truth of God’s character at the forefront and brings me back to a place of worship through praise, joy, confidence and peace that passes understanding with its reminder of God’s unwavering covenant from generation to generation (Genesis 17:7). It comes as a blessing and sweet reminder of God’s inherent goodness (Psalm 25:8) and His promise to complete the work that He begins (Philippians 1:6).
Our God is faithful (Hebrews 13:8, Psalm 89:8) even when we struggle (2 Timothy 2:13). It’s simply who He is, part of His very nature and character (Psalm 92:15). His mercies are new each morning, His love never fails or ceases (Lamentations 3:22-23) and His promises are true (1 Kings 8:56): yesterday, today and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8). It is my prayer that, as we sing these words together, we will fix our eyes upon Christ Jesus in a posture of adoration, praise and thanksgiving – authentically and humbly exalting Him and resting on the firm foundation of His word (Luke 6:47-49, 1 Corinthians 3:11). May we, this body of believers, truly put our trust in Jesus in every sense: remaining steadfast as the trials of this world come and go (James 1:12, Romans 12:12) – and impacting those around us with the deep, steadfast and abiding love of Christ Jesus in our daily lives and interactions (Matthew 28:16-20).
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Promises
God of Abraham You're the God of covenant And of faithful promises Time and time again You have proven You'll do just what You said Though the storms may come And the winds may blow I'll remain steadfast And let my heart learn When You speak a word It will come to pass Great is Your faithfulness to me Great is Your faithfulness to me From the rising sun to the setting same, I will praise Your name Great is Your faithfulness to me God from age to age Though the earth may pass away Your word remains the same, yeah Your history can prove There's nothing You can't do You're faithful and true Though the storms may come And the winds may blow I'll remain steadfast And let my heart learn When You speak a word It will come to pass, yeah Great is Your faithfulness to me Great is Your faithfulness to me From the rising sun to the setting same, I will praise Your name Great is Your faithfulness to me So I put my faith in Jesus My anchor to the ground My hope and firm foundation He'll never let me down Great is Your faithfulness to me Great is Your faithfulness to me From the rising sun to the setting same, I will praise Your name From the rising sun to the setting same, I will praise Your name From the rising sun to the setting same, I will praise Your name In every season, great is Your faithfulness to me Great is Your faithfulness to me Great is Your faithfulness to me
Preparing for Sunday | February 28
We are excited to be gathering in person this Sunday! You can use the button below to register, or to find out more about the precautions we have put in place. If you are unable to join us in person, we encourage you to worship with us via our live stream.
Register to attend a worship service Watch the Live Stream
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
This Sunday, we’ll sing a new song together called Promises. This song comes as a blessing and sweet reminder of God’s inherent goodness (Psalm 25:8) and His promise to complete the work that He begins (Philippians 1:6). Watch the Doxologies video here.
Do It Again | [listen + lyrics]
Matt Redman, Mack Brock, Chris Brown, Steven Furtick
2 Corinthians 1:20
Great Is Thy Faithfulness | [listen + lyrics]
William Marion Runyan
Lamentations 3:22-23
Promises | [listen]
Aaron Moses, Carrington Gaines, Dante Bowe, Keila Alvarado, Lemuel Marin
Psalm 113:2-3
Let There Be Light [listen]
Bryan Torwalt, Katie Torwalt, Hank Bentley, Mia Fieldes
Genesis 1:3-4
Living Hope | [listen]
Phil Wickham, Brian Johnson
1 Peter 1:3
SERMON TEXT
Colossians 3
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
“And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent.” (Colossians 1:18)