Category Archives: Songs for Sunday

Songs for Sunday, May 12, 2024 @ Christ Community Church

Tomorrow is Sunday, and I am excited to gather with my faith family and worship our resurrected King, Jesus Christ!

Our pastor, John Goldwater, has been leading us through the book of Matthew for about two years now, and we are moving quickly toward the culmination of that study.

Two weeks ago, we were in Matthew 27:32-50 and saw Jesus die for our sin on the cross. It really gives context and gravitas to “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son” (John 3:16). It is one thing to say it; it is something else to grasp the reality of our need for Jesus to die in our place. The cross should have been ours — should have been mine. I am the sinner not Jesus. The wages of sin is death for each of us (Romans 6:23), but Jesus was innocent and worthy of worship not public execution and shame. He bore the wrath we deserve in order that we may receive the favor He deserves as well as adoption into His family and His Life (2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 4:4-5, John 3:16).

Last week, we were in Matthew 27:51-66 and saw the aftermath of His death. The veil that separated mankind from the Holy of Holies in the temple was torn from top to bottom in a feat that no man could accomplish. God made a way for us to be with Him through the death of His Son. The earth quaked and split. Dead walked out of their tombs alive. Centurions who presided over Jesus’s execution praised and exulted Him when they realized Who He was and what He had done.

It looked as if darkness had won that Friday afternoon. Jesus’s body was taken down from the cross and buried in Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb. A heavy stone covered the door because the powers-that-were found themselves worried that someone might try to make Jesus’s claims that He would raise from the dead on the third day a reality. It seems silly from a human perspective to think that people would be afraid of a dead man, but it is clear that those who presided over Jesus’s death knew He was more than they made out.

Thankfully, we know that there was hope that Friday — enough so that we now call it Good Friday. Why good when such terrible (and terrifying) things occurred? SUNDAY was coming!

You see, that FIRST first day of the week when Jesus rose from the dead set the standard for our worship. Sunday is not a religious memento or memorial. No, Jesus was alive that first Sunday and every one since and all that there will ever be and after — forevermore! Sunday is when His Church gathers to worship Him, celebrate all He has done/is doing, and look forward to His return.

Essentially, Sunday is coming — JESUS is coming again!

So, tomorrow, we are going to make much of Jesus. All that we do — as fickle and fallible an offering as it will be — is intended to point people to Jesus. We will not have it all together. We will not be polished, professional, or performing. We want people to see that Jesus is alive and well and coming again!

Won’t you join us?

Here are our Scriptures and songs:

14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.
16“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. 18Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because He has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

4We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
5For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His. 6We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. 9We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him.

Songs for Sunday, April 21 @ Christ Community Church

Tomorrow is Sunday, and I’m excited!

Actually, excited might not be the best word to describe what I am feeling — just the best I have to offer. I’m a little drained. I’m a little weary. And I know that I need some of what Zephaniah (3:17) wrote about:

The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty One who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing.

Man, what a beautiful picture. God is truly Emmanuel — God with us — and willing to be in our midst. He “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). That life He took up, He willingly laid down for us in love (John 15:13, 1 John 4:9). But death did not keep Him away or stop Him because He rose from the dead (Acts 3:15); indeed, “it was not possible for Him to be held by [death]” (Acts 2:24)! And even today, millennia after He ascended back to heaven, His Spirit is with us and in us (John 14:16-17, Romans 8:9-11)!

The Holy Spirit is not some impersonal force. He is God. And if we are His, He is with us and in us.

He is mighty to save.

He rejoices over us in gladness.

And that last part of Zephaniah 3:17 is what I am excitedly — expectantly — rejoicing in today: He quiets us by His love and exults — sings — over us with loud singing. What a beautifully powerful image! It reminds me of singing to my kiddos when they were little.

There were times when they were restless, sick, or afraid and just wanted to be held. I would rock them or stand swaying with them in my arms, singing hymns like “Be Thou My Vision”, “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us”, “It is Well”, or “In Christ Alone” — singing of the deep truths of the gospel, praying God would save them and order their steps, seeking for God to soothe their ills and discomfort and let them sleep.

There were times when they would be silly and playing, and I’d play my guitar and watch them dance and laugh. Both kids had such unique tastes in music, even at young ages, but I would rotate through whatever they would dance or play to, enjoying and finding joy in their enjoyment and joy.

It reminds me, too, of when Candice and I were first starting out. She was my muse from the beginning. I wrote songs to try and relay the deep feelings I had. I sang those songs over her, hoping she would hear and see the love I had and still have for her. I sang “Will you marry me?” instead of asking. And exulted when she said, “Yes”.

Those are poor and dim pictures of the great love with which God loves us (Ephesians 2:4, John 3:16, 1 John 4:9-10), but hopefully, they illustrate to you pictures of what it is for Him to quiet us in His love and sing over us.

Tomorrow at Christ Community, my brothers and sisters are going to sing the truth of Scripture and the gospel. I will get to stand and listen to them, singing along myself, and be quieted by God’s love. The weariness of my soul and body won’t magically be erased, but the presence of God and the power of His Word will simply be more than my weariness. God’s strength will be stronger than my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). And I will be reminded once more of my loving Father — the One who loves me more and better than I am capable of loving my own kiddos, which brings me to tears as I type this; I will be reminded once more of my loving Savior who died for His Bride, more than that who lives for her — a love and life more than I am capable of for my wife.

So, I am excited to have the words of the songs wash over me and point me to Christ. I am excited to have the Word read and preached wash over me tomorrow. I am excited that Jesus has washed me clean by His blood. Despite my weariness, I can find excitement in Christ and pray that you can, too.

Won’t you gather with us tomorrow and seek Him?

  • Scripture | Zechariah 14:6-9 —

6 On that day there shall be no light, cold, or frost. 7 And there shall be a unique day, which is known to the Lord, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light.
8 On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea. It shall continue in summer as in winter.
9 And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day the Lord will be one and his name one.

  • Scripture | John 7:37-38 —

37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ”

  • Scripture | Revelation 21:1-6 —

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.

Songs for Sunday, April 14, 2024 @ Christ Community Church

Tomorrow is Sunday, and I’m excited.

This Sunday, I’m particularly excited about grace and mercy.

These are words that show up in Scripture a lot, and because of that, these words show up in the preaching and singing at Christ Community a lot. But just because they show up a lot doesn’t mean we know what they mean (or that it wouldn’t do us good to be reminded).

Grace means undeserved favor. Specifically, it is referencing God’s response to sinners who turn from their sin and trust Him as Savior and Lord. He offers His favor, not because they deserve it but because of who He is.

Mercy means compassionate forgiveness or an offer of help/aid despite one deserving the opposite. Specifically, it is referencing God giving love and grace and salvation despite the death and wrath due for sin.

These words are (and really can be) used kind of interchangeably in English. There are other words in Scripture that convey these ideas, too: lovingkindness, favor, pity, compassion, and steadfast love. These words paint such a beautiful picture picture of what God has done for us.

You see, because of our sin, we are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-2, Romans 6:23), and there is nothing we can do to save ourselves. But God. BUT. GOD. As a language nerd, I get hung up on words sometimes (if you can’t already tell that in today’s writing). But is a conjunction that takes everything that comes before it, cancelling it out in favor of what comes after it. So when the Bible gives us a BUT GOD (Ephesians 2:4-5, Titus 3:4), we see how God in Christ cancels out our former sin and the reality of our being and deserving death because of it and replaces it with His love — His grace and mercy!

By grace through faith in Jesus and because of the “great love with which He loved us”, we are made alive in Him (Ephesians 2:4-9)!

That’s good news!

By grace through faith in Jesus — not by our righteous deeds (Titus 3:4-7), God saves us from the wrath due our sin and gives us new life in Him!

That’s good news!

God in His mercy withholds the just punishment due our sin and gives us His undeserved grace.

I don’t know if you are seeing a theme here, but that’s good news!

And it’s that good news — the gospel of Jesus Christ — that will be the focus of our singing and preaching tomorrow, just as it is every week.

Won’t you join us?

Here are our Scriptures & songs:

  • Scripture | Ephesians 2:1-10 —

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

  • Scripture | Titus 3:3-7 —

3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Songs for Resurrection Sunday 2024 @ Christ Community Church

Tomorrow is Sunday — RESURRECTION SUNDAY, and I am excited.

Sometimes, there can be a temptation to try and make holiday Sundays bigger, brighter, and, well, just to try and make it seem special by pulling out all the stops. As John said last week, we celebrate Resurrection Sunday every Sunday because our hope comes from Jesus’s resurrection — dead Saviors can’t save!

Every god or holy man or people who put themselves out there to say they are saviors either has or will die. Muhammed is dead. Buddha is dead. All of the false prophets who have claimed to be the messiah, both before and after Jesus, have died or will die. This isn’t an attack on other religions; it’s a clarification that religion can’t save because their founders don’t last. Jesus is something else entirely.

No, at Christ Community tomorrow, we are going to do our best to do what we always strive do: point people to Jesus!

Look at how Paul pointed the church at Corinth to Jesus in 1 Corinthians 15 — a chapter that beautifully proclaims the gospel and the importance of Jesus’s resurrection:

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you — unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures….

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Look at the language Paul used there to highlight the importance:

1. He wanted them to be reminded of the gospel (good news) that he had preached to them regarding Jesus and for them to hold fast to that truth (2 Timothy 1:13-14, Jude 3). Putting one’s faith in Jesus is not a one-time-thing but something that believers need to continually do. We trust in Him for salvation, but we continually trust in Him to continue to carry us (Hebrews 10:38-39). Those who believed were saved from the wrath of God toward sin, but as Paul says here, were “being saved” continually by their resurrected — their living — Savior who cares for them (Romans 5:9-10, 1 Corinthians 1:18)!

2. He made sure they knew that what he was preaching was “in accordance with the Scriptures” — something he says twice in v. 4. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not something that popped up new after he lived and died. His death, burial, and resurrection were foretold by the God’s prophets throughout the Old Testament (Luke 24:25-27). The gospel was not something new for someone like Paul who had studied it his whole life; no, it was the fulfillment of all he had studied (Acts 17:2-3).

2. He preached that gospel to them again: “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, …He was buried, …He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures”. The gospel he preached came from the Scriptures and was all about Jesus, who He is and all He had done and is doing (Acts 26:22-23).

3. He understood that the gospel is of “first importance” because that is what he “also received”. This is not a hypothetical gospel for Paul. Jesus is his hope as well (John 12:32, Romans 15:13, 1 Peter 1:3). His Ph.D. in Judaism wasn’t going to save him. The warrant given to him by when he was Saul of Tarsus the Jerusalem elite to arrest and imprison Christians wasn’t going to save him. His claims as a “Hebrew of Hebrews” and a “Pharisee” weren’t going to save him (Philippians 3:4). No, Paul knew that all of his hope was in Jesus, the same Jesus whom he had previously persecuted, and because Jesus had saved him, he understood that everything that came before was “rubbish” unable to be compared to the “surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus” as Lord (Philippians 3:7-8).

Tomorrow, we have the privilege, just as we do every Sunday, to remind ourselves and others of the good news of Jesus Christ and get to share His gospel through preaching, reading the Word, and singing in praise and worship of our resurrected King (Colossians 3:16-17). We will lift Him up “as of first importance” because we know that if we had not “also received” Him, we would have no hope.

Dead saviors can’t save, but our God is not dead — “He is risen as He said” (Matthew 28:6).

Won’t you gather with us as we worship Him?

Here are our Scriptures and songs:

  • Song | Ain’t No Grave —
    Scripture Inspiration: John 8:34, Romans 6:6, 1 John 4:8, 1 Chronicles 28:20, 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 1 Corinthians 15:50-56, John 8:44, 1 Peter 5:8, Revelation 12:9, Genesis 3:15, Ephesians 6:11-18, Isaiah 25:8, Hosea 13:14, 2 Timothy 1:10, Hebrews 2:14, Revelation 5:5, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
  • Scripture | 1 Corinthians 15:50-57 —

50I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”

56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

  • Song | Graves Into Gardens —
    Scripture Inspiration: Psalm 34:10, Isaiah 55:1-3, Psalm 53:1-3, Luke 15:11-24, Romans 6:23, John 6:26-35, Revelation 7:13-17, Matthew 11:28-30, 1 John 4:8, Psalm 51:10, Jeremiah 24:7, Ezekiel 36:26, Romans 12:2, Psalm 37:4, Exodus 8:10, Deuteronomy 3:24, Jeremiah 10:6, 1 Samuel 2:2, Isaiah 40:18, Romans 5:6-8, Psalm 138:8-9, 1 Kings 8:39, 1 John 3:20, John 15:15, Psalm 139:7-12, Hebrews 4:13, Psalm 30:11, Isaiah 62:2, Galatians 2:19-20, John 14:6, 1 Corinthians 15:20-49, Ezekiel 37:1-14, Exodus 14:1-31
  • Song | Thank You Jesus for the Blood —
    Scripture Inspiration: Deuteronomy 6:5, Lamentations 3:22-23, Isaiah 64:8, Psalm 139:16, Deuteronomy 6:7, Psalm 113:3, 2 Timothy 2:13, Psalm 27:13, Psalm 31:19, Psalm 145:9, Psalm 150:6, Psalm 107:1, 1 Kings 19:11-12, Hebrews 1:3, Isaiah 43:1-3, Jeremiah 23:23-24, John 15:14-15, Psalm 23:6, Luke 9:23-24
  • Scripture | 1 Peter 1:3-5 —

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

  • Song | Living Hope —
    Scripture Inspiration: Acts 4:8-12, 1 Corinthians 15:3-11, 1 Peter 1:3, Philippians 2:5-8, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 9:22, John 1:12-13, Hebrews 9:15, John 8:36, 1 Corinthians 15:54-57, Galatians 5:1, Psalm 107:14-15, John 14:6, Acts 3:15, Revelation 5:5, 1 Peter 1:4-5
  • Song | Because He Lives —
    Scripture Inspiration: John 3:16, Isaiah 25:8, Hosea 13:14, 1 Corinthians 15:24-26, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, 2 Timothy 1:10, Hebrews 2:14, Psalm 28:7-8, Isaiah 40:29-31, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, John 14:25-27, Romans 8:38-39, 1 Peter 5:6-7, Jeremiah 29:11, Ephesians 2:10, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 4:6-7, Revelation 21:4, 1 Corinthians 11:26
  • Invitation | In Christ Alone —
  • Offertory | Yet Not I But Christ in Me —
    Scripture Inspiration: Genesis 15:6, Psalm 32:1-2, Romans 3:21-24, Romans 5:6-10, Ephesians 2:4-9, Titus 2:11, Isaiah 9:6, Luke 1:26-38, Matthew 1:18-255, John 3:15-16, 1 Thessalonians 1:6, Hebrews 12:2, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Psalm 119:45, Romans 8:1-4, Psalm 17:7, Psalm 36:5-7, Titus 3:4, 1 John 4:8, John 14:27, Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:14-15, Acts 4:10-12, John 14:6, Galatians 2:20, Romans 8:9-11, Galatians 4:6, Psalm 107:10-16, Psalm 118:7, Hebrews 13:5-6, 2 Corinthians 12:9, John 10:11-18, 2 Samuel 22:3-4, Nahum 1:7, 1 John 5:18, Psalm 23:4, Matthew 20:28, John 1:29, Acts 20:28, Colossians 2:14, Titus 2:14, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 John 2:1-2, Revelation 5:9-13, Acts 4:33, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, Hebrews 2:14, Revelation 21:3-4, Hebrews 13:6, Psalm 116:16, Romans 6:20, Galatians 5:1, Luke 21:33, Revelation 6:14, Psalm 51:10, Ezekiel 36:26, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Philippians 1:9-11, John 10:30

Songs for Sunday, March 24 @ Christ Community Church

Tomorrow is the Lord’s Day, and I’m excited!

Nearly 2,000 years ago on that Sunday — the first day of the week before Passover, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt to cries of “Hosanna!” (Matthew 21:9, Mark 11:10, John 12:13) and “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 19:38)

Over the past few weeks at Christ Community, we have been singing songs that mirror those cries, hoping to help us see Jesus as who He is — the King of kings, Emmanuel, our God who has come and is coming again. We lifted our voices together singing “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, yearning for Jesus to return. We lifted our voices together singing the words of the songs from Revelation 4, 5 and 7, wanting to sing the songs of Heaven dedicated to the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Lamb standing on the throne as though slain. And tomorrow, Lord willing, we will sing songs that mirror the cries heard along the streets of Jerusalem when the King came to town — as we also sing songs that look forward to the end of that week when Jesus was crucified and the beginning of the next when He rose from the grave!

One of the things I love about being able to sing these songs is that they are not merely commemorative. They are not icons pointing to a merely historic moment. They are not idols to a dead god. No, our God is alive and well — death could not keep Him! We sing these songs, and they are prophetic because Jesus has done all He promised and will coming again as He promised. We can sing “Hosanna!” (save us, O Lord — we praise You, O Lord) with the knowledge that He hears our praises just as He did the voices of those on that Jerusalem street! We can sing “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” because He is coming in the name of the Lord again!

These are not idle words (or idol words). Jesus IS King. Jesus IS alive. Jesus REALLY saves. He REALLY lives. All of this REALLY does MATTER!

Last week fired me up for Palm Sunday in a way I had not considered. Again, what we do in worship is not merely commemorative — it is active and prophetic and a present offer of praise to “our blessed hope…our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13)! You see, last week we lifted our voices together and read about a time when palm branches will be lifted in worship of the King (Revelation 7:9-12). 2,000 years ago, some of those voices lining the streets were sure to be some who also cried “Crucify Him!” a few days later. These voices in Revelation 7 will be those who have had their cries of “Hosanna!”, their cries for the Lord to save them and praising His name, those cries will have been answered. No, this lifting of palms will be from an uncountable “great multitude” of people saved by grace through faith in Jesus “from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages”; they will be standing “before the throne” — standing “before the Lamb”! And with palm branches in their hands and white robes on their bodies, they will cry out at the top of their voices, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Let’s do that tomorrow!

Let’s gather in worship of the Lamb!

Let’s gather in anticipation of the coming of the King!

Let’s lift our voices and declare to our God who saves that He is worthy and acknowledge that salvation comes from Him alone!

Let’s gather and singing “Hosanna!” and “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Let’s sit under the teaching of His Word and have His Spirit move our hearts to worship Him all of our days and not just for an hour or so on Sunday.

Let’s proclaim to the world that we have a God that death could not keep down and that He offers life to all who call upon Him and confess Him as Lord!

Won’t you gather with us?

Here are our Scriptures and songs:

  • Scripture | Luke 19:28-40 —

28And when He had said these things, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29When He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, He sent two of His disciples 30saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.'” 32So those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them. 33And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35And they brought it to Jesus, throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36And as He rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37As He was drawing near — already on the way down the Mount of Olives — the whole multitude of His disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

  • Scripture | Matthew 23:37-39 —

37″O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38See, your house is left to you desolate. 39For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.'”

  • Scripture | Psalm 118:25-26 —

25Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success!

26Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD!

Songs for Sunday, March 17, 2024 @ Christ Community Church

Sunday is coming, and I’m excited!

I know, I know: I say this or something similar almost every week. That’s because it’s true. Now, I don’t mean some saccharine, sugar-high sort of excitement. I mean more of an expectation of something good or a yearning for the Lord’s day — really a yearning to commune with the Lord Himself, to have His Spirit move in and among His people, to hear from His Word. If there is an emotion to it, it’s not a high coming from having my emotions stoked but a needful desire to hear from Him and be with His people and share Him with others — a desire to hear His gospel again and again not because I have forgotten but because I still need that same good news again after slogging through the bad news of the world and the Fall all week long.

This leads me to the same question I broached the last time we read the Scriptures in Revelation pointing to the worship occurring in Heaven surrounding the Lamb (“standing, as though it had been slain” — Amen!): what if all of this really mattered in really life?

Seriously, I ask that you consider this — really ponder and meditate on this. Except this time, let’s get a little more personal. Does all of this really matter in your real life? If we profess that Jesus has brought us from dead in sin to alive in Him through salvation by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:1-8), are there vital signs pointing to the Life He gave (Ephesians 2:9-10, 4:20-24) or do we look like we are following “the course of this world” and “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2)?

The reason I ask this is because it really does matter. And it matters whether or not this is a part of your real life.

Consider the way Paul talks about it in Ephesians 2:1-10 and 4:17-25. He describes the lives of all people who are not in Christ as “dead in [their] trespasses and sins”. The Bible is clear on this: the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Think about how death impacts someone’s life. It ends it. Effectively. There is no point in the week when the dead show signs of life. That’s one of the things medical examiners, doctors, and coroners check for. I don’t mean to be crass or speak lightly over the harsh truth that has affected every human being since Adam, but we need to understand that this is a harsh truth with eternal ramifications. In Ephesians 4:17-19, Paul describes the signs of this death: “futility of [the] mind”, “darkened in…understanding, “alienated from the life of God because of…ignorance…due to hardness of heart”, “callous”, “given…up to sensuality”, “greedy to practice every kind of impurity”.

I don’t want you to think that this is a means to make you feel guilty. I want you to know that I feel guilty when I read that list because all too often I still bear the marks of death in my life. BUT “that is not the way [I] learned Christ” (Ephesians 4:20)!

You see, I was dead in my trespasses and sins. All who have been saved were; that’s why Paul says “once walked” when talking about trespasses ands sins in Ephesians 2:2, “must no longer walk” in Ephesians 4:17, and the image of putting off the “old self, which belongs to [their] former manner of life” in Ephesians 4:22. Jesus, by the same power that He rose from the grave (Ephesians 1:19-20), makes those He saves alive — by grace through faith — because He is rich in mercy and loves with a great love (Ephesians 2:4-5)! Jesus is the difference. He is the difference between death and life. He makes a difference that affects the entire trajectory of one’s life.

Think about it: if you had died and been made alive, wouldn’t that change things? In John 11, Jesus raised His friend Lazarus from physical death after He had been dead four days, and it made such a difference that the chief priests — yes, those same priests that plotted and were responsible for Jesus’s arrest — “made plans to put Lazarus to death” (John 12:10). The physical change Jesus made in His life — the way that people reacted when a man who had been dead and buried walked out of his tomb alive — disrupted the status quo. Nothing was the same for Lazarus, and those around him could not operate as if everything remained business as usual. It is the same with those who are brought from dead in sin to alive in Christ. Business as usual is a thing of the past. Everyday life is disrupted. Trajectory is eternally changed. The status quo has to go.

Tomorrow at Christ Community, we are going to make much of Jesus. We are going to read the words of songs sung in heaven in worship of the Lamb; then, we are going to sing those words in worship ourselves.

We are going to read about a “great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'” (Revelation 7:9-10)

We are going to make much of Jesus in preaching and in praise and in every way we can. Can I ask that you do something? Prayerfully and seriously ask yourself if you have been born again — if you have been saved, made alive after being dead in sin. If you find that there is no real difference and no change, we would love to talk to you. Understand that we are not talking about religion or rule-keeping or perfection; I assure you none at Christ Community fit that bill. We have the opportunity for the work of Jesus to make a difference in lives and the world around us. It starts in our own hearts.

Won’t you join us?

Here are our Scriptures & songs:

  • Scripture | Revelation 4:8-11 —

8And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

9And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who is seated on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created.”

  • Scripture | Revelation 5:6-14 —

6And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7And He went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne. 8And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10and You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

11Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

13And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,

“To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

14And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

  • Scripture | Revelation 7:9-12 —

9After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Songs for Sunday, March 10 @ Christ Community Church

Tomorrow is Sunday, and I am excited!

There is something about the approach of Easter — of Resurrection Sunday — that stirs something within me. There is hope in the emptiness of the borrowed tomb that is unlike anything this world has to offer. Well, the world cannot exactly offer empty or borrowed tombs, can it?

I think about Israel around that time. They had experienced Babylonian (and Mede-Persian) exile because of their sin. Their return home never quite met the luster or glory of the former days. But there was a promise — a Promised One, in fact, who would come and rescue them. They sought rescue from worldly oppression and wicked rulers and regimes, but this Promised One would rescue them from the wicked idolatry and sin that reigned in their own hearts. They would just have to wait for that rescue.

And they waited.

And waited.

In the silence of no more “Thus saith the Lord”, they waited about 400 years for this Promised One. Empires changed. The Persians were displaced by the Greeks, the Greeks inevitably by the Romans. They waited until the silence was broken by the cry of an infant.

God had promised that the Messiah (Promised One/Anointed One/Greek: Christ) would come — that He Himself would come. Emmanuel, translated God-with-us, would be born of a virgin. This child, this Son, would be given to bring Light and rescue to God’s people. They were desperate. They were helpless. They had no way to save themselves.

It is not hard to empathize with that kind of desperation. The effects of the Fall, sin and death, are all around us. Wickedness is rampant. Death is rampant. Idolatry is rampant. Hope seems to be in small supply. But we do not have to wait in silence! Emmanuel has already come, and He is coming again! His Spirit is with His people! His Word has and is and will continue to speak hope of rescue and salvation — of grace and mercy — of the good news of Jesus!

That’s what we are singing about tomorrow.

We are going to pour out our hearts and long for the return of Emmanuel, God-with-us. We are going to praise God for the finished work of Jesus. We are going to praise God for His steadfast love. And we are going to cry out — through the pain and sorrow and fear and longing — “Come, Lord Jesus”!

Won’t you join us?

Here are our Scriptures & songs:

  • Scripture | Isaiah 9:2-7 —

2The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has Light shone.
3You have multiplied the nation; You have increased its joy; they rejoice before You as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4For the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His Kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

  • Scripture | 1 John 4:9-10 —

9In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. 10In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

  • Song | How Deep the Father’s Love for Us —

***NOTE: We are revising the lyrics of this song to better reflect the love of God — that which we read about all through Scripture, that which was “made manifest” as we read in the verses above. Many might be familiar with the Greek word agape that describes the unique love of God; the Hebrew word for that type of never-ending, never-failing, never-stopping, never-giving-up love is chesed. It is often translated “steadfast love” in the Old Testament. This is a word God uses to describe Him and His love over 500 times!

This is an opportunity for the theology of what we sing to more specifically reflect the Scriptures, and therefore more accurately reflect the love of God as He shares it with us in His Word. The word “reckless” in the original lyrics was meant to show that God lavishly pours out His love for us. He does! He has poured out His love on us and made it manifest through the gift of Jesus Christ for our sins. Let’s praise God for and sing about His steadfast love!

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Songs for Sunday, March 3, 2024 @ Christ Community Church

Sunday is coming, and I’m excited!

This Sunday, we are celebrating the Lord’s Supper together at Christ Community Church. This is a beautiful part of Christian worship that was instituted by Jesus Himself (Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:18-20) and intended to help us to look toward His return (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

Rather than write out something to point our hearts toward Jesus, I would like to share with you a prayer from Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan prayers, on the Lord’s Supper. Lord willing, this will help you to prepare your heart to eat of the bread, drink of the cup, and look forward to the Day we commune with our resurrected King, Jesus Christ, face to face!

“The Lord’s Supper”:

GOD OF ALL GOOD,

I bless You for the means of grace;
    teach me to see in them Your loving purposes
      and the joy and strength of my soul.
You have prepared for me a feast;
  and though I am unworthy to sit down as guest,
  I wholly rest on the merits of Jesus,
  and hide myself beneath His righteousness;
When I hear His tender invitation
  and see His wondrous grace,
I cannot hesitate, but must come to You in love.
By Your Spirit enliven my faith rightly to discern
  and spiritually to apprehend the Saviour.
While I gaze upon the emblems of
    my Saviour’s death,
  may I ponder why He died, and hear Him say,
    ‘I gave My life to purchase yours,
    presented Myself an offering to expiate
      your sin,
    shed My blood to blot out your guilt,
    opened My side to make you clean,
    endured your curses to set you free,
    bore your condemnation to satisfy
      divine justice.’
O may I rightly grasp the breadth and length
    of this design,
  draw near, obey, extend the hand,
  take the bread, receive the cup,
  eat and drink, testify before all men
    that I do for myself, gladly, in faith,
      reverence and love, receive my Lord,
    to be my life, strength, nourishment,
      joy, delight.
In the supper I remember His eternal love,
    boundless grace, infinite compassion,
    agony, cross, redemption,
  and receive assurance of pardon, adoption,
    life, glory.
As the outward elements nourish my body,
  so may Your indwelling Spirit invigorate
    my soul,
  until that day when I hunger and thirst
    no more,
  and sit with Jesus at His heavenly feast.

What a beautiful picture of what Jesus has done for us! What a beautiful picture of how our hearts should yearn for Him in worship — every day and not just on Sundays.

Won’t you gather with us to worship Him?

Here are our Scriptures & songs:

  • Scripture | 1 Peter 2:4-10 —

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”

8 and

“A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

  • Scripture | Philippians 2:5-11 —

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Songs for Sunday, February 18, 2024 @ Christ Community Church

Tomorrow is Sunday, and I need to gather with my faith family.

Normally, I would describe my feelings toward the Lord’s Day as excitement or expectant anticipation, but I think need is a better descriptor.

I need to hear their voices lifted up and reading the Scripture passages that are pointing us to our “blessed hope, the appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13) and how He saves and redeems us from sin and rescues us from this sin-sick and fallen world.

I need to hear their voices singing the “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Colossians 3:16), reminding me of the good news of Jesus in the midst of the truly bad news of the world.

I need to hear my pastor open up the Word of God for teaching, reproving, training, and correcting (2 Timothy 3:16).

I need to be reminded that this world is not my home (Philippians 3:20) and that there is coming a day when Jesus will return and end the tyrannical reign of Satan and of sin in this world forevermore (Revelation 21:1-4).

Over the past few months, it seems like members of our church family have faced tragedy after tragedy. Our town has been plagued with shootings. Our community has been wracked with grief over tragic loss of life that leaves deep rooted questions and sadness. Our families have received diagnoses and prognoses that paint a bleak future of sickness and pain. But in the midst of all of that sadness, all that tragedy, all that pain, God is sill “good, a stronghold in the day of trouble”, and He still “knows those who take refuge in Him” (Nahum 1:7).

Read that again. God is good despite the evil of this world. There would be no good apart from Him. God is a stronghold in the day of trouble. He is a mighty fortress in which we can retreat from pain and sorrow and discord and fear and danger and can know that He is able and willing to protect and comfort. God knows those who take refuge in Him. He is not an idle or passive fortress. He is active in comforting those who seek Him.

So, let us do that tomorrow. Let us seek Him in our sin and sadness and strife. Let us turn to Him and long for the Day that is coming when all things will be made new and all the sad things will come untrue (Revelation 21:5).

Tomorrow at Christ Community, we will not be ostriches who stick our heads in the sand and ignore the happenings of the world around us. No, we will lift our eyes to the hills and seek refuge with the God of the universe, the God who saves (Psalm 121:1, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 7:10).

Won’t you join us?

Here are our Scriptures & songs:

  • Scripture | Isaiah 61:1-4 —

1 The Spirit of the LORD GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. 4 They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

  • Scripture | Romans 6:4-7 —

4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.

  • Scripture | 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 —

51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Songs for Sunday, February 11, 2024 @ Christ Community Church

This weekend was our youth’s CCNow – our very own D(isciple) Now weekend filled with service and worship and studying God’s Word. I love to get to watch these kiddos and their leaders worship and serve the Lord and to get to share in that with them.

The messages this weekend have been from the book of Daniel and looking at what God did in and through four young men who suffered much but worshiped God more! As John was preaching through Daniel 1 and in the young men’s small group after, emphasis was given to the fact that these young men were faithful in the small things before there was faithfulness in the big things — that their relationship with God did not begin in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3) or in the lion’s den (Daniel 6) but before Babylon and at the king’s buffet.

It is clear in the Bible that persecution and suffering have been historically and are still being “experienced by [the] brotherhood throughout the world” (1 Peter 5:9) and that “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). What Daniel, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael went through was clear, too (Psalm 34:10, Isaiah 43:2). This can be a scary prospect — truthfully, it is a scary prospect. But here is the foundation of Daniel’s faithfulness, the foundation of the boldness to turn down the lavish buffet of forbidden food at the king’s table for vegetables and worship (Daniel 1:8-16), the boldness to respectfully refuse to bow to the king rather than God (Daniel 3:16-18), the boldness to walk freely into the burning fiery furnace with assurance in the worthiness of their God (Daniel 3:23-26), the boldness to kneel in prayer as he always had even though the powers-that-were decided to make it illegal (Daniel 6:10), the boldness to descend into the den of lions rather than kneel to forsake the God who had been faithful for decades and onward into eternity (Daniel 6:16-23): the foundation is God’s faithfulness. Those four young men could stand or kneel — whatever the need called for — because they could be sure that the LORD their GOD, “the Holy One of Israel”, their Savior had redeemed them (Isaiah 43:3). He alone is worthy of praise. He alone is worthy of service. He alone saves. He alone sustains. He alone strengthens.

These young women and men who follow Christ will indeed face persecution. The older women and men who are leading and discipling these younger ones will, too, and already are facing some. But the worship of Jesus in the little things – in the random Mondays and CCNow weekends and regular, everyday life – will lead to worship when the chips are down and the call to bow to false gods is raised and the furnace is stoked and the angry jaws of our adversary who is already prowling “around like a roaring lion, seeking” to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Jesus is worthy now. He is already worthy for then. Let us desire Him and seek Him and serve Him. Let’s lift our hearts and bow our knees to Him now and remember – just as Daniel and his friends did – that “He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).

Hallelujah, and amen!

Here are our Scriptures and songs:

  • Scripture | Psalm 34:1-10 —

1I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. 3Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together!

4I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. 5Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. 6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. 7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them.

8Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! 9Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him have no lack! 10The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

  • Song | Jesus Messiah —
    Scripture Inspiration: 2 Corinthians 5:21, Philippians 2:8, Psalm 136:1, Acts 17:3, Luke 2:11, Philippians 2:9, Job 19:25, Isaiah 44:24, Matthew 1:23, Matthew 28:20, Isaiah 61:1, 1 Timothy 2:6, Philippians 2:10, Luke 22:19-20, Romans 5:5, Matthew 27:51, John 3:16, Romans 5:3-4, 1 Peter 1:3, Jude 25, John 8:12, Isaiah 59:1-2
  • Song | The King of My Heart —
    Scripture Inspiration: Isaiah 9:6, John 12:15, 1 Timothy 6:13-16, Revelation 17:14, Revelation 19:11-16, Deuteronomy 33:29, Psalm 3:3, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, John 4:10, John 7:37-39, Psalm 40:3, Psalm 91:1, Matthew 20:20-28, 1 Chronicles 16:34, Psalm 23:6, Lamentations 3:25, Nahum 1:7, Luke 18:19, Psalm 19:12-13, Psalm 139:1-4, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Acts 2:3-4, Romans 5:4-8, 2 Peter 3:9, Psalm 30:5
  • Scripture | Isaiah 43:1-3a —

1But now thus says the LORD, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, you Savior.

  • Song | Forever Reign —
    Scripture Inspiration: Psalm 73:1, Nahum 1:7, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, 1 John 4:8, Romans 5:8, 1 John 3:16, John 1:4-5, John 8:12, 1 Peter 1:3, 1 Peter 2:24, Deuteronomy 33:27, Luke 15:20, Ephesians 2:4-5, Proverbs 3:15, Philippians 4:6-7, John 14:6, Philippians 4:4, Habakkuk 3:18, Psalm 13:6, Job 23:11-12, Psalm 16:2, Romans 1:19-20, Colossians 2:9-10, Matthew 28:20, Psalm 138:1, Acts 4:12, Philippians 2:9-11
  • Song | King of Kings —
    Scripture Inspiration: Proverbs 4:19, John 3:19-21, Ephesians 2:1, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 5:17, Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:31, Isaiah 9:6-7, Luke 2:7, Psalm 3:3, Psalm 8:1, John 1:14, Psalm 136:3, Matthew 28:18, Revelation 19:16, Matthew 13:24-52, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, Isaiah 53, John 3:16, Romans 5:6-10, Galatians 3:13, Colossians 2:14, Titus 2:14, Acts 4:33, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Matthew 27:52-53, Luke 15:7, Acts 2:1-4, Matthew 24:35, Ephesians 1:7, Galatians 5:1, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11
  • Invitation | Battle Belongs —
    Scripture Inspiration: Romans 8:37, Matthew 17:20, Matthew 21:21, Psalm 23:4, 1 John 4:18, Joshua 1:9, Psalm 27:1, 2 Corinthians 10:4, Ephesians 6:18, Hebrews 12:2, 1 Corinthians 15:57, 2 Corinthians 2:14, 1 John 5:4-5, Revelation 12:10-11, Romans 8:31, Genesis 18:14, Jeremiah 32:17, Jeremiah 17:9, Isaiah 61:3, Galatians 2:19-20, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Corinthians 15:14-17, Ruth 2:12, 2 Samuel 22:3-4, Psalm 3:3, Nahum 1:7, Psalm 107:10-16, Luke 1:79, Romans 5:3-5, James 1:2-4