Preparing for Sunday | October 17
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
God So Loved | [listen]
Ed Cash, Scott Cash, Franni Cash, Martin Cash, Andrew Bergthold
John 3:16
Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me | [listen + lyrics]
Jonny Robinson, Michael Farren, Rich Thompson
Galatians 2:20
Christ Be All Around Me | [listen + lyrics]
Jack Mooring, Leeland Mooring, David Leonard, Leslie Jordan
Ephesians 4:4-6
The Blessing [listen + lyrics]
Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, Steven Furtick, Chris Brown
Numbers 6:24-25
SERMON TEXT
Ephesians 4
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:15-16)
Doxologies: God So Loved
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
John 3:16 is one of the most familiar verses in all of Scripture and cuts directly to the good news of the gospel message. What an amazing and beautiful reality. What a blessed assurance of life everlasting (Hebrews 10:22) for those who trust Christ Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. How great our joy (John 15:11)!
As we worship through song together each week, we journey through various postures of praise and thanksgiving, lamentation, intercession. prayer, and exuberant exaltation. With this song, we celebrate the good news of God’s redemption of sinners saved by grace – and we call all to come to the altar and share in the richness of His goodness and blessing. It is both an exaltation and an invitation.
Churches are not temples built to glorify the saints within them, but rather houses of worship (Psalm 150:6), hospitals for the sinful and broken (Mark 2:17), and respite for the weary and downtrodden (Matthew 11:28). And here’s the reality: we are all broken and sinful (Romans 3:23). We all grow weary. And we all experience suffering at some point in our journey through this life (John 16:33). And with that reality comes a desperate need for a Savior – one whose Kingdom will not pass away (Daniel 7:14, Matthew 28:18, 1 Corinthians 15:24-25).
It is my desire for each of us to share in a deep personal reflection of our role as representatives of Christ and His Church – specifically His local church body – to draw in and make welcome a community in need. Are we engaged with those around us while we’re in these four walls? Are we personally going out of our way to welcome the new faces? Are we truly willing to share the Lord’s table and feast with our neighbors in observable and tangible ways?
My prayer this week as we introduce God So Loved:
Heavenly Father,
May we, the Church, come boldly and humbly before Your throne this week as we rejoice in Your daily mercy and grace. May we feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit to root out the sins we continue to harbor in our lives; may we rely on You, Lord, for the strength and steadfastness to repent. May You be the center of our lives in a way that is evident to those around us who are weary and broken, hungry and thirsty, struggling with addiction and sin, and otherwise far from You. May we draw them near with Your glorious light and make them welcome at Your table (and ours). Thank You for loving and redeeming us while we were still sinners – and thank You for giving us a hope and a future that will endure forever. May the joy that comes from this blessed assurance overflow and permeate every aspect of our lives as we live for You.
Amen.
————–
God So Loved
Come all you weary Come all you thirsty Come to the well That never runs dry Drink of the water Come and thirst no more Well, come all you sinners Come find His mercy Come to the table He will satisfy Taste of His goodness Find what you're looking for For God so loved The world that He gave us His one and only Son to save us Whoever believes in Him Will live forever Bring all your failures Bring your addictions Come lay them down At the foot of the cross Jesus is waiting there With open arms see His open arms For God so loved The world that He gave us His one and only Son to save us Whoever believes in Him Will live forever The power of hell Forever defeated Now it is well I'm walking in freedom For God so loved God so loved the world Praise God Praise God From whom all blessings flow Praise Him Praise Him For the wonders of His love (praise God) Praise God Praise God From whom all blessings flow Praise Him Praise Him For the wonders of His love His amazing love For God so loved The world that He gave us His one and only Son to save For God so loved The world that He gave us His one and only Son to save us Whoever believes in Him Will live forever The power of hell Forever defeated Now it is well I'm walking in freedom For God so loved God so loved the world Bring all your failures Bring your addictions Come lay them down At the foot of the cross Jesus is waiting God so loved the world
Preparing for Sunday | October 10
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
This week, we will be singing a new song together, called “God So Loved.” As we worship through song together each week, we journey through various postures of praise and thanksgiving, lamentation, intercession. prayer, and exuberant exaltation. With this song, we celebrate the good news of God’s redemption of sinners saved by grace – and we call all to come to the altar and share in the richness of His goodness and blessing. It is both an exaltation and an invitation. We encourage you to watch the Doxologies video for “God So Loved” as you prepare for worship this week.
Let There Be Light [listen]
Bryan Torwalt, Katie Torwalt, Hank Bentley, Mia Fieldes
Genesis 1:3-4
Promises | [listen]
Aaron Moses, Carrington Gaines, Dante Bowe, Keila Alvarado, Lemuel Marin
Psalm 113:2-3
God So Loved | [listen]
Ed Cash, Scott Cash, Franni Cash, Martin Cash, Andrew Bergthold
John 3:16
Thank You Jesus for the Blood | [listen]
Bryan McCleery, Charity Gayle, David Gentiles, Ryan Kennedy, and Steven Musso
1 John 1:7
My Worth Is Not in What I Own [listen]
Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, Graham Kendrick
Philippians 3:8
SERMON TEXT
Ephesians 4
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:15-16)
Preparing for Sunday | October 3
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Great and Mighty King | [listen]
Chris Brown, Zachary Kale, Brett Younker
Psalm 145:3
Do It Again | [listen + lyrics]
Matt Redman, Mack Brock, Chris Brown, Steven Furtick
2 Corinthians 1:20
Great Things (Worth It All) | [listen]
Mack Brock, Chris Brown, Wade Joye.
Psalm 126:3
Death Was Arrested | [listen + lyrics]
Adam Kersh, Brandon Coker, Heath Balltzglier, Paul Taylor Smith
Hebrews 2:9
SERMON TEXT
Hebrews 10
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Preparing for Sunday | September 26
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Your Great Name | [listen + lyrics]
Michael Neale, Krissy Nordhoff
Philippians 2:10-11
Goodness of God [listen + lyrics]
Jenn Johnson, Jason Ingram, Ben Fielding, Ed Cash, Brian Johnson
1 Chronicles 16:34
Be Still My Soul (In You I Rest) | [listen + lyrics]
Katharina von Schlegel, Jason Ingram, Kari Jobe
Psalm 46:10
King of Kings | [listen + lyrics]
Brooke Ligertwood, Jason Ingram, and Scott Ligertwood
Revelation 19:16
SERMON TEXT
Hebrews 10
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Preparing for Sunday | September 19
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
The Lion and the Lamb | [listen + lyrics]
Leeland Mooring, Benton Brown, Brian Johnson
Deuteronomy 33:26
Come As You Are [listen]
Matt Maher, David Crowder, Ben Glover
Luke 15:24
Cornerstone | [listen]
Eric Liljero, Reuben Morgan, Edward Mote, Jonas Myrin
Ephesians 2:20
SERMON TEXT
Philippians 2
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
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 acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)
Preparing for Sunday | September 12
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Jesus Is Better | [listen | lyrics]
Aaron Ivey, Brett Land
Mark 9:24
There Is a Fountain | [listen]
Lowell Mason, William Cowper, Nicol Smith, Allan Hall, and Todd Smith
1 John 1:7
Thank You Jesus for the Blood | [listen]
Bryan McCleery, Charity Gayle, David Gentiles, Ryan Kennedy, and Steven Musso
1 John 1:7
Breathe | [listen]
Marie Barnett
Romans 8:9
Let It Rain | [listen + lyrics]
Michael Farren
Malachi 3:10
Awesome God | [listen]
Rich Mullins
Nehemiah 1:5
Your Great Name | [listen + lyrics]
Michael Neale, Krissy Nordhoff
Philippians 2:10-11
SERMON TEXT
1 John 5
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:11-12)
Preparing for Sunday | September 5
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
My Worth Is Not in What I Own [listen]
Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, Graham Kendrick
Philippians 3:8
In Christ Alone | [listen + lyrics]
Keith Getty, Stuart Townend
Galatians 2:20
Thank You Jesus for the Blood | [listen]
Bryan McCleery, Charity Gayle, David Gentiles, Ryan Kennedy, and Steven Musso
1 John 1:7
Because He Lives | [listen]
Gloria Gaither and William J. Gaither
2 Corinthians 13:4
SERMON TEXT
1 Thessalonians 5
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)
Doxologies: Thank You Jesus for the Blood
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13
Blood. We know that for every creature, “its blood is its life” (Leviticus 17:14), yet the very connotation of the word can also bring thoughts of brutality, pain and death. While the flow of blood sustains life, the shedding of blood ends it—at least in human terms. As we introduce this new song, Thank You Jesus for the Blood, we as a church body have the opportunity to reflect on how Christ’s blood shed for us (Isaiah 53:5) and His subsequent resurrection (Matthew 28:5-6) secures and sustains abundant, eternal life. Jesus’ blood is for us life through death—just another example of how human understanding is often turned upside down in the context of God’s Kingdom (Philippians 1:21).
As I read through each day’s headlines, my heart breaks at the injustice, the malice and the lack of mercy exhibited between human beings. One needs to look no further than current events in Afghanistan or on the streets of our cities here at home. The bloodshed of innocents is a brutal reality of the fallen and broken condition of this world. It’s more than my frail flesh can handle, and I cry out, “Jesus, have mercy. Come quickly.”
But then I’m reminded of the ultimate Innocent One, whose blood was shed: God’s Son who dwelt among us (Matthew 1:23, John 1:14), lived a sinless life (1 Peter 2:22, Hebrews 4:15) and formed human bonds as a son, a brother, a cousin, and a friend over the course of thirty-some years. He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10), and to reconcile us to the Father while we were still sinners and enemies of God (Romans 5:8-10). In the greatest act of mercy and love ever witnessed, Jesus took on the depravity of the entire world and every generation (2 Corinthians 5:21) as He willingly submitted to the brutality of Roman crucifixion. His innocent blood was shed and applied as payment for our sin, satisfying the wrath of a just and Holy God, and securing our salvation once and for all, forever and ever (1 Peter 2:24). Jesus stands in stark contrast to the fallen world we navigate—and rarely is this contrast more visible than when we gaze upon the brutality and the beauty of the cross.
So as we sing the words of this song together and reflect on the cost of our atonement, may we remember who we were (and are) apart from the grace of Christ. May we recall that the old has passed away, crucified and buried with Christ in the likeness of His death. May we rejoice that the new has come, raised anew in the likeness of His life. May we remember the price that was paid in our Savior’s blood to purchase us from sin and death. And may we sing out in humble gratitude for the Savior who applied His blood to our debt and paved the way back to Him.
Thank you, Jesus.
————–
Thank You Jesus for the Blood
I was a wretch, I remember who I was. I was lost, I was blind I was running out of time Sin separated, the breach was far too wide But from the far side of the chasm You held me in Your sight So You made a way across the great divide Left behind Heaven's throne To build it here inside And there at the cross, You paid the debt I owed Broke my chains, freed my soul For the first time I had hope CHORUS Thank you, Jesus, for the blood applied Thank you, Jesus, it has washed me white Thank you, Jesus, You have saved my life Brought me from the darkness into glorious light You took my place Laid inside my tomb of sin You were buried for three days And then You walked right out again And now death has no sting And life has no end For I have been transformed By the blood of the Lamb BRIDGE There is nothing stronger Than the wonder-working power of the blood, the blood That calls us sons and daughters We are ransomed by our Father Through the blood, the blood
Preparing for Sunday | August 29
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
O Come to the Altar | [listen + lyrics]
Wade Joye, Mack Brock, Steven Furtick, Christopher Brown
1 Peter 1:19
Great I Am | [listen + lyrics]
Jared Anderson
1 Samuel 2:2
Christ Our Hope In Life And Death | [listen + lyrics]
Jordan Kauflin, Keith Getty, Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, and Matthew Merker
1 Corinthians 15:19-20
Battle Belongs | [listen]
Brian Johnson and Phil Wickham
Romans 8:31-32
His Mercy Is More | [listen]
Matt Boswell, Matt Papa
Romans 5:20
SERMON TEXT
Romans 15
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
Sing to the Lord, bless His name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples! (Psalm 96:2-3)