Preparing for Sunday | December 18
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Open Up The Heavens | [listen | lyrics]
Meredith Andrews, Stuart Garrard. James McDonald, Andi Rozier
Isaiah 64:1
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing | [listen + lyrics]
Felix Mendelssohn, Robert Sterling, Charles Wesley
Luke 2:14
Angels We Have Heard On High | [listen + lyrics]
Hymn, possibly from the 18th century; translated by James Chadwick (1862)
Luke 2:9
Hosanna | [listen]
Brooke Ligertwood
Mark 11:9-10
Let There Be Light [listen]
Bryan Torwalt, Katie Torwalt, Hank Bentley, Mia Fieldes
Genesis 1:3-4
SERMON TEXT
Genesis 17
Preparing for Sunday | December 11
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Joy to the World | [listen]
George Frideric Handel, Isaac Watts, and Phil Wickham
Psalm 98:4
Christmas Day | [listen + lyrics]
Andrew Bergthold, Scott Cash, Franni Cash, Ed Cash, Ed Cash Jr.
Isaiah 49:13
The First Noel | [listen]
Luke 2:8-9
A Thousand Hallelujahs | [listen]
Brooke Ligertwood, Phil Wickham, Scott Ligertwood
Psalm 92:4-5
SERMON TEXT
Luke 6
Read an Excerpt from ‘Stay the Course’
The following is the preface from Pastor Mike Minter’s book, Stay the Course: A Pastor’s Guide to Navigating the Restless Waters of Ministry.
I once read Open, the autobiography of the legendary tennis player, Andre Agassi.
I don’t play tennis, so why would I read his story? Well, because it took me into a world I never knew existed. I learned about string tension, the difference between hard courts and grass courts, and the mental anguish that comes before each tournament. It was all fascinating to me. The experience was palpable. I could practically feel the sweat trickling down my face as I was moments away from hoisting the Wimbledon trophy before thousands of adoring fans. Agassi had me step into his life and feel every throbbing heartbeat of match point.
After that, I read The Accidental President by A. J. Baime, a very different book that threw me into the world of Harry S. Truman and the messy universe of politics. It was almost overwhelming to comprehend the apprehension that President Truman felt before giving the green light to bomb Japan with a nuclear device.
Good books, whether fiction or nonfiction, bring readers into unfamiliar environments. What string tension will he use on a grass court? What matrix will be employed to tip the scales in favor of dropping a bomb that will eradicate thousands of lives?
This is a book about pastoral ministry and the local church. It is written for pastors, but not exclusively. I hope it proves valuable for anyone who wishes to peek behind the curtain of ministry, as I did with tennis and politics. It is a book for anyone who has a heart for the local church or is concerned about the lack of unity in the body of Christ. There are wonderful things taking place in the global Church, particularly outside of the United States, but there is also plenty of room for growth. Division is rampant, and the debates that rage among Christians often make Democrats and Republicans look like buddies. It’s tragic, really. And it may seem that Christ’s prayer that “all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you” (John 17:21) is not even close to being realized.
It is easy to be discouraged as wars are fought among fellow believers. I want pastors to stay the course and be the generation that will be the answer to the Lord’s prayer that we would be one.
Purchase from Amazon Purchase from ChristianBook.com Purchase from LifewayPreparing for Sunday | December 4
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
God So Loved | [listen]
Ed Cash, Scott Cash, Franni Cash, Martin Cash, Andrew Bergthold
John 3:16
O Come All Ye Faithful | [listen]
John F. Wade (1743)
Luke 2:15-16
All Creatures of Our God and King | [listen + lyrics]
Jonathan Baird, Ryan Baird, Francis of Assisi, William Henry Draper
Psalm 69:34
Who You Say I Am [listen]
Ben Fielding, Reuben Morgan
John 8:36
Great I Am | [listen]
Jared Anderson
1 Samuel 2:2
SERMON TEXT
Exodus 3
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
God said to Moses, “I AM who I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14)
Preparing for Sunday | November 27
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Only King Forever | [listen]
Mack Brock, Chris Brown, Steven Furtick, Wade Joye
1 Timothy 1:17
O Praise The Name (Anástasis) | [listen + lyrics]
by Benjamin Hastings, Dean Ussher, Marty Sampson
Romans 5:8
New Doxology | [listen + lyrics]
Thomas Miller, Thomas Ken
I Thank God | [listen]
Aaron Moses, Chuck Butler, Dante Bowe, Jesse Cline, Maryanne J. George
Psalm 40:2-3
I Speak Jesus | [listen + lyrics]
Abby Benton, Carlene Prince, Dustin Smith, Jesse Reeves, Kristen Dutton, and Raina Pratt
Philippians 2:9-10
Holy Forever | [listen + lyrics]
Brian Johnson, Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram, Jenn Johnson, Phil Wickham
Psalm 145:21
SERMON TEXT
Isaiah 52
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
Therefore my people shall know my name. Therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here I am. (Isaiah 52:6)
Preparing for Sunday | November 20
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Honey in the Rock | [listen]
Brooke Ligertwood
Psalm 81:16
Be Glad | [listen + lyrics]
Cody Carnes, Chris Davenport, Jason Ingram, Steven Furtick
Psalm 118:1
Living Hope | [listen]
Phil Wickham, Brian Johnson
1 Peter 1:3
I Speak Jesus | [listen + lyrics]
Abby Benton, Carlene Prince, Dustin Smith, Jesse Reeves, Kristen Dutton, and Raina Pratt
Philippians 2:9-10
In Christ Alone | [listen + lyrics]
Keith Getty, Stuart Townend
Galatians 2:20
Holy Forever | [listen + lyrics]
Brian Johnson, Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram, Jenn Johnson, Phil Wickham
Psalm 145:21
Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me | [listen + lyrics]
Jonny Robinson, Michael Farren, Rich Thompson
Galatians 2:20
SERMON TEXT
Isaiah 52
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
Therefore my people shall know my name. Therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here I am. (Isaiah 52:6)
Preparing for Sunday | November 13
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
This Is Amazing Grace | [listen + lyrics]
Josh Farro, Phil Wickham, Jeremy Riddle
Revelation 5:12
Great Things (Worth It All) | [listen]
Mack Brock, Chris Brown, Wade Joye.
Psalm 126:3
Battle Belongs | [listen]
Brian Johnson and Phil Wickham
Romans 8:31-32
Be Thou My Vision | [listen]
Eleanor Henrietta Hull, Mary Elizabeth Byrne
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Holy Forever | [listen + lyrics]
Brian Johnson, Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram, Jenn Johnson, Phil Wickham
Psalm 145:21
Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me | [listen + lyrics]
Jonny Robinson, Michael Farren, Rich Thompson
Galatians 2:20
SERMON TEXT
Mark 1
Preparing for Missions Sunday | November 6
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Holy Forever | [listen + lyrics]
Brian Johnson, Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram, Jenn Johnson, Phil Wickham
Psalm 145:21
For Me And My House (We Belong To The Lord) | [listen]
Dustin Smith, Jordan Calle, and Krissy Nordhoff
Joshua 24:15
Doxology | [listen]
Thomas Ken (1674), music attributed to Louis Bourgeois
Romans 11:36
All Creatures of Our God and King | [listen]
Francis of Assisi
Psalm 69:34
Man of Sorrows | [listen]
Matt Crocker, Brooke Ligertwood
Isaiah 53:3
Amazing Grace | [listen]
John Newton (1779)
Psalm 107:14
SERMON TEXT
Colossians 1
1 John 4
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. (Colossians 1:27-28)
Preparing for Sunday | October 30
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Be Lifted High | [listen]
Mack Brock, Chris Brown, Jess Cates, Wade Joye, Jane Williams
John 3:30
King of Glory | [listen + lyrics]
Brett Younker, Hank Bentley, Jason Ingram, Kristian Stanfill, and Matt Maher
Psalm 24:7
Christ Be Magnified | [listen]
Cody Carnes, Cory Asbury, Ethan Hulse
Revelation 5:13
Battle Belongs | [listen]
Brian Johnson and Phil Wickham
Romans 8:31-32
A Thousand Hallelujahs | [listen]
Brooke Ligertwood, Phil Wickham, Scott Ligertwood
Psalm 92:4-5
SERMON TEXT
Colossians 1
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. (Colossians 1:27-28)
Preparing for Sunday | October 23
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Battle Belongs | [listen]
Brian Johnson and Phil Wickham
Romans 8:31-32
Be Glad | [listen + lyrics]
Cody Carnes, Chris Davenport, Jason Ingram, Steven Furtick
Psalm 118:1
My Jesus I Love Thee | [listen]
Adoniram Judson Gordon and William R. Featherston
1 John 4:9-10
Living Hope | [listen]
Phil Wickham, Brian Johnson
1 Peter 1:3
Hosanna | [listen]
Brooke Ligertwood
Mark 11:9-10
SERMON TEXT
3 John 1
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)