Category Archives: Worship

Good News of Great Joy: Advent Readings from the Gospel of Luke

I believe that Luke’s words to Theophilus in the beginning of his gospel sum up what we are trying to do with this resource – to present to you “a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word have delivered to us” (Luke 1:1-2). There are twenty-four chapters in Luke’s narrative, and between December 1st and 24th (Christmas Eve), we have time to look at the full account of Jesus’s life.

We want to give you the opportunity to look at the whole Story of Jesus – not just the divine swaddled baby in the manger, but the young boy who taught the teachers in the temple, the man who served rather than being served, and the Savior who died and rose again “in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

Luke addressed his gospel to Theophilus, a name combining the words Theos (God) and philos (love) to mean “lover of God”. Some speculate whether or not Theophilus was an individual or just Luke’s name for those who love God, but it is my hope that whether or not you begin this journey through Luke’s gospel a lover of God, you will find yourself on Christmas day enamored and enraptured in love, “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us” (Titus 2:13-14).

Won’t you join us?

Below, you can find audio for each day’s reading as well as brief commentary if needed for understanding, or you can download a pdf of the entire reading guide here:

Good News of Great JoyDownload

"Worthy is the Lion, the Slain Lamb Who Lives" from Revelation 5 (The KING is Coming) – Refresh & Restore | A JustKeithHarris.com Podcast

📖 Revelation 5:1–14In this episode of The King is Coming, Keith Harris and Jamie Harrison continue into the throne room of heaven—and what unfolds in Revelation 5 is one of the most powerful and familiar scenes in all of Scripture. A scroll appears in the right hand of the One seated on the throne, sealed with seven seals. A mighty angel asks a question that echoes through heaven and earth: Who is worthy to open the scroll?At first, no one is found—and John weeps. But then everything changes. The Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered… and when John turns, he sees not a lion, but a Lamb standing as though slain—and alive.Together, Keith and Jamie discuss:✔️ The significance of the sealed scroll and why only the rightful heir can open it✔️ The difference between ability and worthiness—and why no one but Jesus qualifies✔️ Why John hears “Lion” but sees a slain Lamb—and what that reveals about Christ✔️ How Jesus conquers not by force, but through His death and resurrection✔️ The connection to the Passover Lamb and the redemption of God’s people✔️ The overwhelming worship of heaven declaring Jesus alone is worthyThis chapter is the turning point: the Lamb who was slain is alive—and He alone is worthy to carry out God’s plan.“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:12)🔗 If you would like to see a written version of this podcast, complete with footnotes and cross-references, you can find it here.
  1. "Worthy is the Lion, the Slain Lamb Who Lives" from Revelation 5 (The KING is Coming)
  2. "Before the Throne of God Above" from Revelation 4 (The KING is Coming)
  3. " Lukewarm Yet Not Without Hope: Jesus’s Letter to the Church at Laodicea" (The KING is Coming)

I’m Thankful for the Ministry of the Word of God — Gratitude & Hope Challenge | November 17

I’m thankful for the ministry of the Word of God!

As I sit here and see the way I worded that statement, it makes it sound like I’m thankful for ministry — like preaching ministry. I am, but that is not what I am talking about. What I’m saying here is that I am thankful for the way the Word of God ministers TO us and THROUGH us — for the way the Spirit of God moves through His Word.

Colossians 3:16 is a passage that I think about multiple times a week as I am planning worship services and/or preparing to preach. This verse comes at the end of the section of Colossians where Paul has just taught that we are to take off the old self, putting to death the sins that plague our lives, and putting on the new self “which is being renewed after the image of its Creator” (Colossians 3:10).

Colossians 3:16 flows out of that new life in Christ as much as compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, and love do. Letting the Word of Christ dwell in us richly is part of that new life because God uses His Word to teach us how to live and correct sin, to teach us what to believe and correct heresy, to equip us for His work or rebuke our deviations from His plan for us (2 Timothy 3:16-17). This shows that the place of the Word is more than a 15 minute devotion in the morning or at night and a couple hours on Sunday mornings. It is meant to be integral to the lives of the individual members of Christ’s church and the substance of the gathering when the members come together as a local church.

In those gatherings, the Word informs our faith and practice. That’s good news! Too often folks try to twist and turn the Word to make it work for them, but God has given us everything we need to know about Him and how to live in His Word. For example, in Colossians 3:16 alone, we find the substance of what we are to sing and in what mind and heart-set we should sing it. I’m thankful for that because this means we give God what He wants and do not have to wonder whether what we are doing fits that plan.

Furthermore, “the Word” is the term John uses to describe Jesus in John 1:1-14. It does, of course, refer to the written Word, the Scriptures, and to the words of Christ recorded in the gospels, but to John, the Word was/is God. That’s good news for us, too, because we are not being led by some dusty old religious book but instead by the “living and active” Word of God (Hebrews 4:12) — by God Himself by extension.

I’m thankful for the Word of God because I know that I am hearing from Him when I read or listen to it (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12). I’m thankful because I am not at the mercy of some religious official leading me one way or the other because God Himself is leading me — literally speaking to me — through His Word by His Spirit (John 16:13, 1 Corinthians 2:12-13). I’m thankful because God Himself has promised in His Word that He is our teacher (John 14:26, Psalm 32:8). No other religious words, no other religion, works like that. No other God is so powerful and insightful, yet personal and inviting (Isaiah 40:13-14, Psalm 145:18-19).

Lord, thank You for Your written Word. Thank You for revealing Yourself to us through it. Thank You for being the Word and making sure we know how to be saved. Thank You for teaching, correcting, training, and rebuking us. Thank You for ministering to us Yourself and telling us what You want from us and how You want us to interact with You and each other. Amen.

All through the month of November, our Christ Community Church family is focusing on what we are thankful for and expressing our thanks to our “great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us” (Titus 2:13-14).

This, like the #DailyWisdomChallenge we went through in October, is a challenge from our pastor John Goldwater — the #GRATITUDEandHOPEchallenge — where we have the opportunity to post Bible passages that move us to thanksgiving or in which we find hope. May this lead you to be grateful and find your hope in Jesus!

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

Sunday is coming, and I can hardly wait!

Most often, I write the “Songs for Sunday” post on late Friday night or early Saturday mornings because that’s when I get to shift gears in my brain from the weights of the work week to rest and reset on the weekend. That shift helps me get my focus and my priorities back in their proper places. It also serves as a good reminder that Sunday morning worship does not begin on Sunday morning but in the days, and especially the night, before. This week, however, I find myself with surplus time on Friday and a muse to motivate me earlier.

Friday mornings are my favorites of the week because I GET to start with student-led Bible study at school in our FCA/FCS (Fellowship of Christian Athletes/Students). These kids are on fire for Jesus and show it by getting up week after week and sharing testimonies, passages of Scripture, devotions, and sometimes sermons. They challenge me because they are braver than I am. It’s easy to stand up in church and proclaim the Word. It’s a whole other thing to stand up in front of 40-50 peers at school and share your faith. The teachers and staff who show up are superfluous other than getting to silently witness them share their faith. And share their faith they do, compelled to do so by the love of Christ they have experienced and want others to be able to experience, too (2 Corinthians 5:14).

This morning’s devotion stood out to me on two accounts. First, the young lady boldly shared what God had brought her through and the assurance she had in His Word that He would continue to bring her through and would bring others through. Second, she talked about how spending time with God in His Word was a necessity — as vital to maintaining eternal life as oxygen is to life in general. To illustrate that importance she used Colossians 3:16:

“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.”

This is the verse that stays at the forefront of my mind in praying through and planning the Scriptures and songs we will use in our worship gatherings. I have written on it often in these “Songs for Sunday” devotionals. But it hit freshly this morning, and I rejoice in that because I — like we all do — need to be reminded again and again of the grace God gives us.

On Sunday mornings, it is not enough to use the bible, to mention it from time to time, and merely have songs based on it. No, we need it to “dwell in [us] richly”, being the substance of our teaching, our admonishing, and our singing. This is not just for Sunday morning, though. We need to have the Word dwell richly in us throughout the week — Sunday worship spurring us on to continue throughout the week.

We want our songs to be filled with the Word. Psalms meaning that we sing directly from Scripture; hymns meaning we sing and expound the great doctrines found in the Word; and spiritual songs that share our mutual testimony as those who were dead in their trespasses but have been made alive together in Christ.

We want all that we read, say, and sing to be centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ — the good news of all He has done (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Colossians 1:13-14), is doing (Romans 8:28-29, Philippians 1:6), and has promised to do (John 14:2-3, Revelation 21:3-4)!

And we want it — no, we need it to be like that every other day, too.

I am thankful to have been reminded of this today. Rather than singing a refrain of George Jones’s “Finally Friday” like I normally do, I find myself singing “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”, thinking about the good news that He has come and looking forward to Him coming again to receive us to Himself.

What about you?

I hope as you have read this you have been encouraged to get into the Word — to have it dwell in you richly and to impact your life and faith. I hope it motivates you to make plans to gather with other believers on Sunday morning as believers have done since the stone was rolled aside from Jesus’s empty tomb.

If you do not have a church home and are in the Grenada, MS area, we would love to have you at Christ Community. John will open the Word to feed us what God has for us. The praise team will lead us in singing and reading from the Word. And the choir, the congregation, will lift praise and worship to an audience of one — the One who died for us and rose again — the One who lives and cares for us even now — the One who has come and is coming again.

Won’t you gather with us?

Here are our Scriptures and songs:

15And I (Paul) said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

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.

I’m Thankful for the Kingdom of God — Gratitude & Hope Challenge | November 13

I’m thankful for the Kingdom of God!

If this world and its squabbling kingdoms were all that there is, how pitiful an outlook we would have. These kingdoms rise and fall. History is littered with powerful kingdoms, empires even, that were cast aside by greater or at least different ones. Museums are filled with relics of their once great splendor and glory, but I think one of my church kiddos from many years ago summed their glory up well when we were looking at some pictures of the ruins of the once great city of Ephesus: they’re ruined (they pronounced it rurnt, ha)!

The writer of Hebrews rightly tells us that we should be “grateful”, and we should. That word translated “grateful” in the ESV is better translated in the KJV as “have grace” because it is a pair of words that are related to the practice of saying grace before a meal, praying to say thanks and give credit to God for providing the food that is about to be eaten.

We are to say grace, praying and giving thanks to God for giving us part in His Kingdom and for His power in saving us and making us right before Him (Colossians 1:12-14, 2 Corinthians 5:21).

We are to say grace, coming before God’s throne in reverence and awe as King of kings and Lord of lords, presiding over His Kingdom eternally and toppling those that are shaken, sifted, and cast away like chaff from wheat (Psalm 2:10-11, Matthew 3:12).

We are to say grace, thankful to God for His strength and might — His consuming fire burning through everything, eventually leaving only His Kingdom (Deuteronomy 4:24, Daniel 7:13-14).

We are to say grace because this great God and king humbled Himself to leave His throne and become flesh for us that we might be saved and enter into His Kingdom (John 1:14, Philippians 2:6-8, 1 Timothy 1:15).

Lord, thank you for being a consuming fire and for that fire purifying those you save rather than burning us up as our sin warrants. Thank you for shaking the lesser kingdoms of this world and reminding us You are God and we are not. Thank you for letting us worship and praise You. I want to say “thank You” like we do over the food, our bodies for Your Kingdom. Amen.

All through the month of November, our Christ Community Church family is focusing on what we are thankful for and expressing our thanks to our “great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us” (Titus 2:13-14).

This, like the #DailyWisdomChallenge we went through in October, is a challenge from our pastor John Goldwater — the #GRATITUDEandHOPEchallenge — where we have the opportunity to post Bible passages that move us to thanksgiving or in which we find hope. May this lead you to be grateful and find your hope in Jesus!

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

Tomorrow is the Lord’s day, and I’m thankful to have the opportunity to gather with my faith family and worship Jesus!

Over the next few days, there will be a lot of fearmongering and confusion as our country heads into a major election. We should all be feeling the weight of this moment in our nation. But this does not have to be a hopeless time. The Lord’s day reminds us that He is alive and well and already victorious no matter the events of this world (Revelation 1:17-18, Colossians 2:15); it reminds us that our ultimate hope is not in earthly governments or leaders but in the King of kings (Revelation 17:14, 1 Timothy 6:15).

As we prepare our hearts to gather and worship Jesus tomorrow, let us reflect on 1 Peter 1:3-5, one of the passages we will be reading in our worship gathering tomorrow. Peter reminds us that, through Jesus, we have been “born again to a living hope”, “to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading”. This promise is a steady anchor in turbulent times (Hebrews 6:19).

For Peter and his original audience, the Roman empire was becoming increasingly more dangerous for Christians. Persecution was about to begin a steady incline that would end up killing thousands upon thousands of Christians in the empire, even Peter and the apostle Paul. This “living hope” was what carried them through the persecution to the arms of their Savior in eternity. For us, Jesus is still our “living hope” and untouchable by politics, economies, and any uncertainties in the world.

That’s good news!

And that’s what we are singing about tomorrow as we take the time to pause, lift our eyes to Jesus, and be reminded that our hope is in Him. We’ll remind ourselves of the goodness and faithfulness of our Lord (Psalm 145:13), the power of His Kingdom (Daniel 7:14), and the mercy He’s shown us and will continually show us every day no matter what troubles come our way (Lamentations 3:22-23). We can take this time, like our brothers and sisters in Peter’s day and the centuries of terror and persecution that followed, to lift our voices in worship and trust to the One who truly holds the future and has already “overcome the world” (John 16:33)!

So, today in preparation for gathering to worship Jesus with our faith family tomorrow, let’s approach the throne of God in prayer (Hebrews 4:16) and lay down all of our worries, what-ifs, and the weight of the world before the King of kings (Psalm 55:22). He is sovereign, good, and faithful (Psalm 100:5). Let us do so with the knowledge that whatever Tuesday’s election outcomes, King Jesus will be just as sovereign, just as good, and just as faithful on Wednesday — and all the days until the Day He returns to bring us to Himself (Hebrews 13:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)!

What about you?

Do you have a church home? Are you planning on gathering with your faith family?

If you are in or around Grenada, MS, we at Christ Community Church would love to invite you to gather with us and to point you to Jesus!

Here are our Scriptures & songs:

  • Scripture | Titus 3:1-7 —

1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 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.

  • Scripture | 1 Peter 1:3-5 —

3 Blessed 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, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Songs for Sunday, October 27, 2024 @ Christ Community Church

Tomorrow is Sunday — the LORD’s Day!

I don’t know about y’all, but I can’t wait because I need it.

I need to be reminded fresh that we gather in remembrance of Jesus’s resurrection (Luke 24:1-6). The reason we gather on the first day of the week is because that is when the stone was rolled away from the tomb, and Jesus, the Man of Sorrows (Isaiah 53:3), rose from the dead by His own divine power (John 10:17-18, John 2:19-21). He fulfilled His promises to return, and His body just stopped being dead (Matthew 28:5-6, Romans 6:9). As Peter put it, “God raised Him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it” (Acts 2:24).

I need to be reminded that I am not the only one struggling with sin and this fallen world (Romans 7:18-25). Part of gathering together is reminding each other that the God who saves and raised from the dead — who promised that He would save, die for our sins, and rise from the grave — is faithful to keep His promises (2 Corinthians 1:20, John 10:28-29, Hebrews 10:23). Part of gathering together is having my brothers and sisters “stir me up” to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24-25). I need to be stirred up or else I will get stuck like a noodle to a hot pot, so I need my faith family to stir me — to lift me — up (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, Galatians 6:2).

I need to be reminded that none of this is all about me. Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11). Jesus is God (John 1:1-3). All that there is belongs to Him (Colossians 1:16-17, Psalm 24:1). In fact, I belong to Him (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). But rather than be humbled to despondency or insignificance, I get reminded that the King of kings and Lord of lords, God Most High, set His affections on me and saved me because He loves me (Deuteronomy 7:7-8, Ephesians 2:4-5). We all get reminded that He looks upon the weak and lowly with compassion and saves all who call upon the name of the Lord (Psalm 34:18, Romans 10:13).

I need to be reminded that all of this — my life and this world and everything in between — belongs to Jesus (Colossians 1:16-17, Psalm 24:1). I need that specific time set apart specially to worship and focus on Jesus to remind me that all my times should be so set apart (Psalm 46:10, Colossians 3:1-2). I need my focus reoriented. I need my eyes lifted up from the mire and the weights of this world and set on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2, Psalm 121:1-2). I need this reorientation turning my life back toward Him like a compass to the north (Psalm 25:4-5, Isaiah 26:3).

Simply put, I need Jesus, and my brothers and sisters in Him need Jesus, too.

Tomorrow, at Christ Community Church, that is what our focus and effort will be aiming at: pointing people, pointing each other, to Jesus.

Our songs will be focused on seeing Jesus as the Bible presents Him. We will see Him as God and be overwhelmed by His magnitude and magnificence (Colossians 1:15-17, Hebrews 1:3). We will see Him as the prophesied man of sorrows who bore our sin and shame to give us life (Isaiah 53:3-5, 1 Peter 2:24). We will see Him as the reigning King who promised to return to rescue us in power and finality (Revelation 19:11-16, Matthew 24:30). We will Him lifting us up and fighting our battles (Romans 8:37). We will see that He has a frightening level of power that humbles us and moves us to worship Him all the more, in awe of what He has done, can do, and will do (Job 26:14, Revelation 5:12-13).

Our time in the Word will see our pastor, John Goldwater, open God’s Word and point us to Jesus.

Our time spent in worship together will remind us of the solidarity that comes from being in a family — dysfunctional as we be — who is bound together by love and common-purpose. I cannot wait to stand to raise my voice in the crowd and hear my brothers and sisters singing to Jesus and proclaim His gospel to me.

What about you?

What are your plans for the LORD’s day?

If you are in or around Grenada, MS, we at Christ Community would to invite you to gather with us and allow us to introduce you to King Jesus.

Here are our Scriptures and songs:

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2 For He grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

4 Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Daily Wisdom Challenge — Proverbs 21

For the month of October, we are answering the challenge John Goldwater, pastor of Christ Community Church in Grenada, MS, laid out — the #DailyWisdomChallenge. Each day, we are going to read through a chapter of Proverbs corresponding to the day of the month.

This fits with what we have studied in Colossians, specifically Colossians 3:1-2, namely that we should seek “the things that are above, where Christ is” and set our minds like a thermostat “on things that are above, not on things that are on earth”. Imagine what a month meditating on God’s Word daily can do for us.

Won’t you join us on this #DailyWisdomChallenge and set your minds on Christ?

Proverbs 21:2 reminds us of how easy it is to assume our actions are good just because they feel right to us. We want to believe our choices are pleasing to God, but we often judge ourselves too favorably. Yet, while we look at our outward actions, God sees deeper. He knows our true motives and attitudes, seeing through any attempts to justify or excuse ourselves. Scripture tells us that God “weighs the heart”—a reminder that He alone discerns our intentions, even when we might not fully understand them ourselves (1 Samuel 16:7, Jeremiah 17:9).

In Proverbs 21:3, God shows us what truly pleases Him: a life lived with justice and righteousness. He values sincere obedience over empty ritual. Even in the Old Testament, God reminded His people that religious ceremonies and sacrifices weren’t enough on their own. These rituals were only meaningful when done with a heart dedicated to love, mercy, and truth (Isaiah 1:12-17, Hosea 6:6). Jesus echoed this when He criticized religious leaders who focused on appearing righteous rather than practicing true compassion. They missed the heart of worship, going through the motions while failing to love others as God commanded.

For us, this means worshiping God with our whole lives, not just through outward actions. True devotion goes beyond attending church or saying prayers; it’s about living each day with a heart that desires to honor God and serve others.

As we strive to follow Jesus, let’s invite God to examine our hearts and guide us to live in ways that reflect His love and justice. May our worship be more than words or rituals, but a genuine expression of our love for God and commitment to His ways. In living this way, we bring true honor to the Lord, fulfilling His desire for righteousness and justice in the world.

Daily Wisdom Challenge — Proverbs 14

For the month of October, we are answering the challenge John Goldwater, pastor of Christ Community Church in Grenada, MS, laid out — the #DailyWisdomChallenge. Each day, we are going to read through a chapter of Proverbs corresponding to the day of the month.

This fits with what we have studied in Colossians, specifically Colossians 3:1-2, namely that we should seek “the things that are above, where Christ is” and set our minds like a thermostat “on things that are above, not on things that are on earth”. Imagine what a month meditating on God’s Word daily can do for us.

Won’t you join us on this #DailyWisdomChallenge and set your minds on Christ?

Today’s proverb is such a beautiful picture of what what Paul describes as being found in Christ, “not having a righteousness of [our] own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith” (Philippians 3:9).

So often, talk of the righteousness and wickedness fuels complaints about religious people thinking they are better than others or even fuels the self-righteousness of some church folks. I wish I could say this never has applied to me, but as I wrote in the #DailyWisdomChallenge post for Proverb 11, it is too easy to forget we are all sinners — all wicked, as many of the Proverbs say.

If it were not for Jesus saving me, I would have no righteousness to speak of (Romans 3:10); all I would have is my sin and the death that my sin has earned (Romans 6:23). To clarify, I am not a righteous man. My heart is wicked. And, well, not to be a downer, but yours is too. All of us sin and “fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). He is righteous. He is perfect. He is sinless. The rest of us are not.

There will come a day when I will stand before this righteous, perfect, sinless God and be faced with my wickedness and sin. Everything I have ever done will be evidence of that. Everything I have ever said will make the case for my guilt. The Bible tells us that Satan is the Accuser — one who accuses us day and night “before our God” (Revelation 12:10). He is bringing to God’s attention, and not having to lie despite his great knack for deception, our sin and failures. And, scarier still, none of this is news to God, because He knew all that we would do and all that we would say before the foundation of the world.

For those who have been saved, however, a “guilt offering” has been made on our behalf. Those who confess Jesus as Lord and believe in His resurrection are saved (Romans 10:9), and God places our sin and guilt on Jesus, His sinless Son, in order that we can be made righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus paid our sin debt “by cancelling the record…that stood against us with its legal demands” by “nailing it to the cross” — by allowing the sinless Savior to be nailed to the cross that we deserved (Colossians 2:14).

That’s good news!

What’s more is that God did not merely satisfy some legal demand. He did not issue some writ or declaration that can be passed to the accuser who is trying to prosecute us and shame God with our failures. No, the Bible tells us that we have an “advocate” who has taken our case, and his name and credentials are “Jesus Christ the Righteous” (1 John 2:1)! Think of every dramatic courtroom drama you have ever watched or read about, and know that they pale in comparison to the rich finality with which Jesus handles the case of those He has saved. When the accuser taunts and mocks, reminding us of sin and failure, Jesus answers with His own righteousness! He declares that by His blood and sacrifice — and the fact that He died and is now living and interceding on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25, Romans 8:34) — our sin has been removed “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12) and “cast…into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19)!

Before the Accuser can plead his case any further, God smacks the gavel with finality and declares innocent based on the righteousness of Christ!

Proverbs say that fools “mock the guilt offering”. One thing I can surely testify to here today is that I “enjoy” God’s “acceptance” BECAUSE I know how serious my sin is and how eternally grateful I am that He would save a wretch such as me.

How about you?

Do you see Jesus’s death and resurrection as necessary, or do you find it silly and unnecessary?

Do you think you will stand before God and have acceptance through any other means — wealth, prosperity, good works?

Let me plead with you today to look to Jesus to save you!

And, if you have, rejoice in the acceptance that will never be taken away, and do not fear the accuser. He knows “his time is short” and is lashing out in anger, trying to hurt those God has saved and thereby hurt Him (Revelation 12:12). Be encouraged and fear not, because the same proclamation that brings news of the accuser also proclaims God’s victory and Satan’s doom:

“Now the salvation and the power and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers HAS BEEN THROWN DOWN, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have CONQUERED him BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB and the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” (Revelation 12:10-11)

Hallelujah! Worthy is the Lamb!

Daily Wisdom Challenge — Proverbs 8

For the month of October, we are answering the challenge John Goldwater, pastor of Christ Community Church in Grenada, MS, laid out — the #DailyWisdomChallenge. Each day, we are going to read through a chapter of Proverbs corresponding to the day of the month.

This fits with what we have studied in Colossians, specifically Colossians 3:1-2, namely that we should seek “the things that are above, where Christ is” and set our minds like a thermostat “on things that are above, not on things that are on earth”. Imagine what a month meditating on God’s Word daily can do for us.

Won’t you join us on this #DailyWisdomChallenge and set your minds on Christ?

Proverbs 8:10-11 makes me think of King Solomon — the writer of the bulk of Proverbs — and his life.

In 1 Kings 3, the Bible records a unique encounter between Solomon and the LORD. Solomon “loved the LORD” and went to the high places to make offerings for the people himself (1 Kings 3:1). He went to Gibeon to sacrifice regularly, but on this particular occasion, God came to him in a dream at Gibeon and gave Solomon an opportunity that would tempt so many of us to respond selfishly: “Ask what I shall give you” (1 Kings 3:5).

Solomon could have asked for anything — money, fame, literally whatever his heart desires. But here’s what Solomon said:

“You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” (1 Kings 3:6-9)

Instead of asking for a gift from the LORD that would serve himself or advance his own desires or agendas, Solomon asked the LORD to give him the wisdom he needed to lead God’s people well — wisdom in fact, we are benefiting from in this #DailyWisdomChallenge journey through the Proverbs.

Look at the way the LORD responded to Solomon’s request:

“Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” (1 Kings 3:11-14)

Solomon desired the wisdom of the LORD more than silver or choice gold or jewels, and the LORD granted that request.

What do you desire?

Where does God’s Word — the knowledge and wisdom He gives in it and through it — rank compared to lavish riches? Or do you consider His Word a treasury in and of itself?

The good news is that the treasury of God’s wisdom is open and available to us if we will but read and meditate on it!

Songs for Sunday, October 6, 2024 @ Christ Community Church

Tomorrow is Sunday, and Lord willing, we will have the opportunity to gather and worship Him!

Let me say that again — we will have the OPPORTUNITY to worship Him, gathered with other believers and pointing to Him with all that we do.

Why?

God is worthy! Revelation 4:11 says, “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.”

God is holy! Psalm 29:2 says, “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.”

God is the mighty Creator! Psalm 95:6 says, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, out Maker!”

God is good, steadfastly loving, and eternally faithful! Psalm 100:4-5 says, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thank to Him; bless His name! For the LORD is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.”

God is great and powerful — worthy to be praised! Psalm 96:4-5 says, “For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens.”

God is worthy to be praised because He is the Savior! In Isaiah 43:11, He tells us, “I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior.”

Our God — Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords — is worthy to receive worship and praise and honor because He is the Redeemer! In Titus 2:13-14, Paul tells us that we are “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works.”

So, about that OPPORTUNITY tomorrow where, should the Lord let us wake, we GET to worship Him: what will you do with it?

We saw in the verses above that our God is not like the “worthless idols” of this earth — the vain things that charm us and distract us from Him. He is good and loving and sovereign and mighty, and He saves and redeems us. We can be sure that there are many frightening and concerning things going on around the world today, but none of them — NONE of them — frighten or concern our God because He has already won the victory and is undefeatable!

The words of Jesus’s words to His disciples at the end of John 16 when I think of the things that frighten me in the news and in my social media news feed of late — and these words move my heart to worship despite fear — they move me to comfort despite rising anxiety and unsurety. Listen to the words of our King:

I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

I feel those words in my soul — “take heart; I have overcome the world.”

That’s my God.

That’s my King.

He cares for us and has provided for us.

He has already — that’s right, past tense — “overcome the world”.

And tomorrow, we are going to celebrate Him and worship Him and praise Him and read His Word and preach His Word and make much of Him because He is God and He is worthy to be praised.

Won’t you gather with us?

Here are our Scriptures & songs:

  • Scripture | Romans 6:4-8 —

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. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

  • Song | Washed Clean —
    Scripture Inspiration: 2 Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 1:17-18, Matthew 11:28-30, Romans 8:2, John 8:34-36, Psalm 51:2, Psalm 51:7, Jeremiah 33:8, 1 John 1:9, Titus 3:4-5, Proverbs 16:18, Proverbs 3:34, Ephesians 2:1-2, Acts 26:18-19
  • Scripture | Romans 6:23 —

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

  • Song | What He’s Done —
    Scripture Inspiration: Matthew 7:33, Mark 15:22, Luke 23:33, John 19:7, Matthew 26:26, Colossians 1:19-20, 1 Peter 1:19, John 8:36, Isaiah 53, Psalm 147:3, John 3:16, John 15:13, Romans 8:5-8, 1 John 1:9-2:2, Acts 4:12, 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, Hebrews 2:14, Philippians 2:5-11, 1 Corinthians 15:50-57, Revelation 4:1-11, 1 John 5:4, Revelation 17:14, Revelation 5:12, Philippians 4:8