I am looking forward to Sunday. The freshness of the new week and the reminder of the empty tomb give hope for the future by pointing to eternity.
Last week, we began a series of sorts in our Songs for Sunday posts where we are looking at verses that drive our Sunday gatherings as a church as part of our collective focus on memorizing the Word together as a faith family and putting it in our hearts and minds (Psalm 119:11).
The Word of Christ in Us Makes Us Rich
16 Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Colossians 3:16-17
This particular passage is a treasure trove for our worship gatherings. What I love about it is how it places God’s Word at the forefront. It elevates it to its appropriate place, which makes sense because we cannot gather with Him and not hear from Him – from the Word that He gave us. This, like 1 Timothy 4:13, takes our focus on worship and lifts it above our individual wants or needs – above our favorite songs or worship styles – and focuses on what God Himself has told us.
I love that the word used here to describe our interaction with the Word is “dwell”. God, in His infinite wisdom, could have used memorize if that is what He wanted to communicate. He could have told us to meditate on His Word as He does in other passages. But, here, He tells us that He wants us to let His Word “dwell” – live in/be at home – in us. And where His Spirit and His Word are dwells riches that surpass anything in this world. We need His Spirit and Word to guide us in all our life, but especially in our worship of Him.
We’ll talk more in the coming weeks about the “teaching” and “admonishing” and “singing”. For today, let us understand how much we need to rely on the Word to worship God as He commands. Rather than offering what we think He might want from us, we can offer the worship that He wants.
This Sunday, we are singing about and to Jesus about how much we rely on Him. We will delight in His forgiveness, relish in the hope that only comes from Him, praise Him despite our struggles and difficulties, and pour out our hearts to Christ alone and stand in His strength, love, and grace.
Here are our songs:
- Romans 5:1-5 —
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
- Holy Water —
Scripture References / Inspiration for the Song: Romans 10:9-10, Romans 5:12-15, John 8:34, John 3:3-21, Matthew 3:11, Romans 6:1-11, Galatians 2:19-20, Proverbs 16:24, 1 Corinthians 13:1, Numbers 19:17, Romans 6:1-7, Matthew 11:28-30, Acts 3:19-21
- All My Hope —
Scripture References / Inspiration for the Song: Matthew 11:28-30, Romans 5:1-8, Romans 8:24-39, 1 Peter 1:3-6, Acts 2:38, Romans 4:7, 1 John 2:1-2, Ephesians 1:7, Romans 6:6
- Colossians 3:1-4 —
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
- Praise Your Name —
Scripture References / Inspiration for the Song: John 1:4-5, Psalm 34:4-5, Luke 1:79, Isaiah 9:2, John 8:12, Psalm 43, Psalm 23:4, Matthew 17:20, John 8:32, Psalm 119:50, Psalm 42:4-5, 1 John 1:5-10, Job 1:21-22, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, John 14:1-6, Psalm 42:11, Luke 3:21-24, Matthew 28:18, Psalm 110:1, 1 Corinthians 15:26-27, Hebrews 2:6-8, Psalm 119:37
- In Christ Alone —
Scripture References / Inspiration for the Song: John 14:6, Ephesians 5:8, Psalm 28:7-8, Psalm 40:3, Ephesians 2:19-22, Matthew 7:24-27, Romans 5:1-8, Joshua 1:9, 2 Timothy 1:7, 2 Corinthians 5:15, Galatians 2:20, 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, 1 Corinthians 15:28, Philippians 2:16, John 19:38-42, John 8:12, John 3:19-20, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:33, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Romans 6:15-23, 1 Corinthians 15:54-57, Galatians 3:13, Revelation 21:3, Ephesians 1:7, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Romans 8:1-2, Romans 1:16, Deuteronomy 4:39, Psalm 115:3, Isaiah 43:13, Daniel 4:35, Ephesians 1:11, Matthew 16:17-19, Romans 8:35-39, John 10:28-30, Psalm 115:18, Revelation 5:9-13, Luke 9:23-26, Philippians 2:5-11
- (invitation) O Come to the Altar —
Scripture References / Inspiration for the Song: Matthew 11:28-30, John 10:3, John 4:7-38, Revelation 3:20, Hebrews 13:10-14, 1 Timothy 2:3-4, 2 Peter 3:9, Isaiah 53:5, Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 9:22, Luke 9:62, Philippians 4:13-14, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Titus 2:13-14, Matthew 21:9, Revelation 17:14, Luke 9:23, James 1:12, 1 Peter 5:4, Matthew 28:16-20
I hope to see you with us, whether you gather in person, in the parking lot via speaker, or on Facebook or YouTube live!
If gathering in person, please remember that masks are recommended and that we need to remain vigilant in our social distancing measures. Continue to pray for those who are sick – not just our members but all those around the world.
New Opportunity:
This Sunday, we will be offering an 8:00a service for those who are at risk for Covid-19 and/or desire more social distancing and masking. The worship center will be sanitized prior to this service as well as all high-traffic surfaces.
This is not merely an overflow or alternate service but an opportunity for those of our faith family who have not been able to gather to have the opportunity to gather (socially distanced) as we believe it is absolutely essential to gather together (Hebrews 10:24).
Please be in prayer for God’s protection on those willing to begin to gather again in and for this effort in general.
Just Keith Harris 