Worship – Page 37 – Just Keith Harris

Advent Reading for December 11, 2023 | “Rejoicing in God’s Care: Lessons from Mary’s Song” from Luke 1:46-56

⁴⁶And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
⁴⁹for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
⁵⁰And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
⁵¹He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
⁵²he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
⁵³he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
⁵⁵as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

⁵⁶And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.
Luke 1:46-56

“Rejoicing in God’s Care: Lessons from Mary’s Song”

When thoughts of God occupy our minds, what shapes our perceptions? Each person has their own view of God, influenced by feelings, family, and life. Some see God as distant, others as always present, loving, or serious.

Think about Mary, a big part of the Christmas story. She sang a song about God, not herself. This song came from her heart, filled with feelings. This song, called “The Magnificat,” reflects the reversal of fortunes people will experience through her son, Jesus (vv. 52–55). It shares themes and language with Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2:1–10, foreshadowing God’s acts of deliverance and echoing thanksgiving psalms in the Old Testament (Psalms 30, 34, 138).

In this song, Mary first speaks personally, saying that God paid attention to her, even though she was lowly. She says God chose her, a regular girl, for an important job (Luke 1:46–48). Mary doesn’t only talk about herself but also about God caring for everyone. This connects to God’s big plan for His people, reversing the fortunes of the poor and marginalized, remembering His covenant with Abraham (v. 55).

Mary’s song shows God’s care and strength. It shows that God knows us closely, even when the world might not see it. Despite what the world thinks, God shows His care, promise-keeping, and actions toward His people. He’s the caring God, who knows us deeply despite what people think.

This important truth shows God cares about us and is stronger than us. It changes how society sees things, making proud people humble and surprising rich people. Mary’s song talks about this, showing how God’s strength changes what people think (Luke 1:49–53).

As we think about Mary’s song, look at how it is similar to Nahum 1:7: “The Lord is good. He is a stronghold in the day of trouble. He knows those who are His.” Thankfully, through Mary’s willingness, she gave birth to the One who had come to be all of those things for us too. Let us look at her example of praise and worship Him!

Reflection Question:

How does Mary’s emphasis on God’s attention to the humble and lowly challenge the way society bestows value or attention?
In what ways does Mary’s song reveal the intimate relationship between God and His people? How does this contrast with the way the world views God’s involvement in our lives?

"Kept Through the Trial: Jesus's Letter to the Church at Philadelphia" (The KING is Coming) – Refresh & Restore | A JustKeithHarris.com Podcast

📖 Revelation 3:7–13We’re back!After a few months off, The King is Coming returns in 2026 with one of the most encouraging letters in Revelation — Jesus’s message to the faithful church in Philadelphia. In a world filled with opposition and weakness, Jesus opens a door no one can shut.In this episode, Keith Harris and Jamie Harrison explore:✔️ Jesus’s identity as the Holy One, the True One — God Himself✔️ What the “key of David” means and how Jesus alone opens and shuts✔️ The debated phrase “I will keep you from the hour of trial” — and how to read it biblically✔️ Why “little power” doesn’t disqualify faithfulness✔️ How being kept through the trial glorifies Christ’s strength in us✔️ What it means to be a pillar in God’s presence foreverThis church had no rebuke — only encouragement. And Jesus’s call still stands today: “Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” (Revelation 3:11, ESV)🔗 Missed earlier episodes in the series? You can click here to catch up and listen from the beginning.✍️ If you’d like to see a written version of this podcast, complete with footnotes and cross-references, you can find it here.

Advent Reading for December 10, 2023 | “Leaping for Joy Because Jesus is Coming” from Luke 1:39-45

³⁹In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, ⁴⁰and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, ⁴²and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ⁴³And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Luke 1:39-45

“Leaping for Joy Because Jesus is Coming”

Today’s passage is short, but it paints a beautifully vivid picture of life and worship.

Imagine what it would have been like. Mary had just received the news from the angel (Luke 1:26-38) and had headed out to visit with her cousin Elizabeth. She had no idea that God had similarly blessed Elizabeth until the moment they came into each other’s presence. John, still within Elizabeth’s womb, leapt for joy because the One – the Messiah, Jesus the Christ – he was born to proclaim and be the forerunner for had come near – even though Jesus was still in Mary’s womb, too! Some would say that this was just babies kicking or coincidence, but the Word of God says it was more. The Word says it was the Holy Spirit moving in baby John. The Word says it was joy. And so it was.

Around this time of year, the song “Mary Did You Know?” is very popular, and if you have not heard it yet, you will surely hear it soon. We spend a lot of time speculating what Mary did or did not know. One thing for sure, that young woman must have been scared wondering who in their right mind would ever believe a virgin had conceived a child. What would people say? But the reaction of Elizabeth and her unborn son must have been such a relief! All Mary had to do was give a simple, “Hello”, to prompt Elizabeth to be filled with God’s Spirit and worship.

Sometimes, I think it is easy to miss things in brief sections like this – couched between Mary getting the news about Jesus and Mary’s song of worship regarding the whole situation. But one thing for sure, the Spirit wanted to make sure that Elizabeth and John did not miss the significance – that they did not miss Jesus.

What about you? It is only December 10, but I am sure the hustle and bustle of the season are already upon you. There are plays and parties and presents galore. Schedules fill quicker that a Griswold’s eggnog glass. We casually talk about the reason for the season and how easy it is to lose focus. What if we asked God’s Spirit to move in us and ignite worship at the recognition of who Jesus is? What if we spent more time in the Word this Christmas than the Wal-Mart? What if we recognized that Jesus’s coming was imminent?

May God move in our hearts this Christmas and help us fix our eyes on Jesus!

Reflection Questions:

The passage shows Elizabeth and John’s joy that Jesus would be coming soon. In what ways can you cultivate a sense of anticipation of Jesus’s return during this Christmas season?
Today’s devotion ends with a prayer for God to move in our hearts and help us fix our eyes on Jesus. How does this prayer resonate with your own desires?

"Kept Through the Trial: Jesus's Letter to the Church at Philadelphia" (The KING is Coming) – Refresh & Restore | A JustKeithHarris.com Podcast

Advent Reading for December 9, 2023 | “Trusting Our Miraculous God: A Lesson in Faith” from Luke 1:26-38

²⁶In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” ²⁹But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus. ³²He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, ³³and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom there will be no end.”
³⁴And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
³⁵And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy – the Son of God. ³⁶And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. ³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God.” ³⁸And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Luke 1:26-38

“Trusting Our Miraculous God: A Lesson in Faith”
by Portia Weeks Collins

In these treasured verses of Luke, we encounter the angel Gabriel’s visit to Mary in Nazareth. Gabriel brings a message of great joy. Specifically, Gabriel shares with Mary, a young, humble, virgin woman, that she will conceive and give birth to Jesus, who will be called the Son of the Most High. Mary’s reaction combines astonishment and faith, illustrating both an understandable human response to a divine revelation, but also a profound trust in God’s plan.

Gabriel’s announcement to Mary is not merely news for her, but it’s good news for all who will rest the full measure of their faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Gabriel’s message to Mary is, in essence, a revelation of God’s redemptive plan and marks the inauguration of God’s Kingdom. God’s intent to intersect the extraordinary with the ordinary is displayed through his choosing Mary to bear His only begotten Son. God chose an ordinary woman, to navigate an ordinary pregnancy, and ultimately give birth to an extraordinary Savior who would redeem the world. Mary’s response shows her readiness to accept God’s will, even without full comprehension.

As we enter the advent season, let’s reflect on Mary’s example. She embraced God’s plan with faith and humility even when she didn’t quite understand. This is a call we should heed, too. Let us be fully available and submissive to God’s workings, even when they are beyond our understanding. From studying and meditating on this passage, may we be encouraged to trust in the Lord’s greater plan, find joy in the ordinary, and willingly respond to the Lord (in all things), “May it happen to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38).

Reflection Questions:

In what areas of your life do you need to exercise more faith and trust in God’s plan?
How can you cultivate a heart that responds to God’s will with the same openness and humility as Mary?

"Kept Through the Trial: Jesus's Letter to the Church at Philadelphia" (The KING is Coming) – Refresh & Restore | A JustKeithHarris.com Podcast

Advent Reading for December 8, 2023 | “Divine Surprises and Unforeseen Grace” from Luke 1:5-25

          ⁵In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. ⁷But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

          ⁸Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, ⁹according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. ¹¹And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. ¹²And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. ¹³But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. ¹⁴And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, ¹⁵for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. ¹⁶And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, ¹⁷and he will go before him in the spirit of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

          ¹⁸And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” ¹⁹And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. ²⁰And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” ²¹And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. ²²And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. ²³And when his time of service ended, he went to his home.

          ²⁴After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, ²⁵“Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
Luke 1:5-25

“Divine Surprises and Unforeseen Grace”
by Will Goff

Imagine with me for a minute here: you work at a restaurant and at the end of each shift, you draw straws to see who is going to have to stay late and cleanup. Your name gets drawn and so everybody else leaves. You’re alone and you know that nobody else should be in the building, but when you’re cleaning the counter, out of your peripheral vision, you see somebody standing there. Talking about jumping out of your skin! I would probably throw the rag at the person and kick the bucket as I’m scrambling to get away. That’s what it was like for Zechariah when the angel appeared to him.

The angel says, “Do not be afraid,” but it was too late for that. He was already shaking and overwhelmed with fear – like the shock you feel when something really startles you. But then the angel gives Zechariah good news. The angel tells him that they will have a son. This is special for multiple reasons, but the biggest is the fact that Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, well past childbearing age with no children – so at least in their 50s or 60s. Can you imagine having your first child in your 60s? They thought they couldn’t have kids (v. 7). Talk about shock on top of shock!

And Zechariah did what most of us would do. He had questions and doubt instead of faith, but he gets answers for his questions and then some. Because of his doubt, the angel told him he wouldn’t be able to speak until the child was born. One of the most common verses we use at our house is James 1:19, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry.” We use this at our house because we all are too quick to speak instead of being quick to listen. What is God trying to tell you right now? Maybe you can’t hear him because you won’t stop talking. Silence may feel awkward for us, but many times God speaks in a still, small voice.

Picture this: despite Zechariah’s wavering faith in that divine encounter, God had monumental plans for both him and Elizabeth. The answer to his questioning wasn’t just a clarification; it was a revelation about their son—John the Baptist. Zechariah, entrusted with tending the temple’s incense and interceding for Israel in prayer, seemingly also pleaded with God for a child. Remarkably, both requests were met with overflowing abundance. The child born to them would be “filled with the Holy Spirit” (v. 15), leading many of Israel’s children back to their God (v. 16), and paving the way for a prepared people for the Lord (v. 17). It wasn’t just good news for Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Israel; it resonates with us today.

Zechariah’s response to this revelation resulted in a temporary silence imposed upon him. And Elizabeth? Her words are few, but their impact profound: “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people” (v. 25). Swift to listen, slow to utter. Yet, God removed her shame. He granted her a son destined to ready His people for His imminent arrival. It’s the narrative of God stepping in to remove the reproach of all who turn to Him. Zechariah and Elizabeth’s son’s name would be John – literally translated, “Yahweh has shown grace”. He showed grace to Zechariah and Elizabeth by sending John, and to the whole world by sending Jesus. That, my friends, is indeed good news!

Reflection Questions:

Zechariah was overwhelmed with big news that made his fears and faith clash. What happens (or has happened specifically) when such clashes happen in our lives?
Reflect on Elizabeth’s statement in v. 25: “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.” How does God’s grace in removing shame or reproach resonate with your own experience of God’s power to save?

"Kept Through the Trial: Jesus's Letter to the Church at Philadelphia" (The KING is Coming) – Refresh & Restore | A JustKeithHarris.com Podcast

Advent Reading for December 6, 2023 | “And the Word Became Flesh” from John 1:1-18

¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was in the beginning with God. ³All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through Him. ⁸He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

⁹The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. ¹¹He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. ¹²But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, ¹³who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

¹⁴And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵(John bore witness about Him, and cried out, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because He was before me.’”) ¹⁶For from His fullness we have all received grace upon grace. ¹⁷For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, He has made Him known.
John 1:1-18

“And the Word Became Flesh”
by John Goldwater

The greatness of the incarnation (an important doctrine expressing that Jesus, the only begotten Son of the Father, is God made flesh, emphasizing that Jesus is fully God and fully man^[i])of JESUS Christ cannot be overstated. No one could ever rightly say, “Friend, you are putting too great an emphasis on this passage of Scripture.” John, the beloved apostle, writes concerning the greatest manifestation of all time and eternity when he writes, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with GOD, and the Word was GOD…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:1, 14). We who believe stand at the greatest vantage point, bask in the glory of the grace and truth of this majestic scene.

The Great GOD of creation, the GOD of the beginning, the GOD of light and life, has come to us. His light and life have touched all people, and all people owe their existence to their Creator. His light and life cannot be stopped or altered by darkness or rejection. Further, He has given witness to His to His arrival and His power to animate and regenerate mankind. There is no higher calling than “to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe” (John 1:7). There is no greater promise than to say, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of GOD, those who believe in His name: who were born…of GOD” (John 1:12). This great privilege and great promise are by GOD’s gracious design.

The Word made flesh, the bringer of grace and truth, the only begotten of the Father, is clearly identified as JESUS Christ. This unmistakable identification of the Word with JESUS Christ leads to the greatest of confidence. Not even the Israelites, who followed Moses on dry ground through the Red Sea or stood at the foot of Mt Sinai as GOD’s voice boomed and the Mountain smoked, were afforded such confidence. JESUS is the Word that perfectly exegetes (analyzes/explains what something is by use of the Bible^[ii]) the Father!

Personally, in all my study of the Bible, I don’t know of a more significant passage of Scripture. John 1:1-18 is an Everest among the greatest peaks of GOD’s Word. We who hold our deepest love, loyalty, trust, and hope in JESUS Christ do so for good reason considering this passage. So, this season go big. Go big with your worship. Go big with your witness. And go big with your confidence in JESUS. The all-powerful GOD showed up and showed out, and He will never stop being Him, being the only one, He will never stop being JESUS Christ the Word made flesh!

“Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee, how great Thou art!”^[iii]

Reflection Questions:

Reflecting on John 1:1-18, why is the incarnation of Jesus considered so important?
How does v. 14 calling Jesus the “Word made flesh” help us understand why the incarnation is so important?

"Kept Through the Trial: Jesus's Letter to the Church at Philadelphia" (The KING is Coming) – Refresh & Restore | A JustKeithHarris.com Podcast

[i] Lisa Woicik, “Incarnation,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).

[ii] Douglas Stuart, “Exegesis,” ed. David Noel Freedman, The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 682.

[iii] George Thomas Kurian, Nelson’s New Christian Dictionary: The Authoritative Resource on the Christian World (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001).

Advent 2023 — Reading Guide

“Joy to the World! The Lord is Come!”

Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things! His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him. The Lord has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break into joyous song and sing praises!
Psalm 98:1-4

Did you know that Isaac Watt’s hymn “Joy to the World” was not intended to be a Christmas carol? Watts wrote it with the intention of having a hymn show praise to God for His care for His people with a New Testament perspective, specifically a focus on the return of Christ. But just as the New Testament begins with the birth of Christ – Emmanuel, God with us – “Joy to the World” will forever be associated with Jesus’s first coming. It will forever be associated with Christmas.

Psalm 98 is the inspiration for “Joy to the World” and is a psalm celebrating God’s continual salvation for Israel and all the times that “His steadfast love and faithfulness” were bestowed on them. But all of that – all the times God showed up and moved in Israel’s history, all the powerful examples of His continued care for them – was on display for the Gentiles, on display for “all the earth”. That’s good news!

When we look at the world around us, there is not a lot of good news to be found – and definitely very little “good news of great joy”, and even less good news that is meant “for all the people” (Luke 2:10). But with Jesus comes “Joy to the World”. Jesus makes Psalm 98 true because He is the culmination of the “marvelous things” God has done – God in flesh (John 1:14)! Jesus is God’s salvation “made known”! Jesus is God’s righteousness revealed! God truly “remembered His steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel” by sending them the Messiah, and praise be to God, “all the ends of the earth” can see and experience “the salvation of our God” through Him!

This year’s Advent guide is named after the hymn “Joy to the World”, but it is also – not a subtitle, but another title entirely – named after a line from “O Holy Night”: “a thrill of hope the weary world rejoices”. There seems to be a lot more weary in the world today than joy, but we need to be reminded that the Lord has come, and He is coming again. So, this is our effort to help you be able to rejoice in this weary world – to help you fix your eyes on Jesus rather than the trouble of the day (Hebrews 12:2, Matthew 6:34).

You can download the reading guide here free of charge.

Or you can use the links or podcast player below to listen to the Bible reading and devotion for each day.

"Kept Through the Trial: Jesus's Letter to the Church at Philadelphia" (The KING is Coming) – Refresh & Restore | A JustKeithHarris.com Podcast

Here are the links to the daily Scripture readings & devotions:

HOPE

Lighting the first candle of hope means looking forward to the promised Savior, as foretold in Isaiah 7:14 and Romans 15:12-13. This hope isn’t just a wish—it’s a sure expectation based on God’s promises. Seeing God’s faithfulness in fulfilling ancient prophecies during Christ’s birth offers hope for everyone, not just for personal salvation but for a world seeking restoration that comes from Him.

We find hope in God’s faithfulness to keep His promises. We worship a God who planned to forgive our sins through Jesus Christ long before Bethlehem, as foretold in Scriptures centuries earlier. Advent reminds us of God’s promises fulfilled in Christ, assuring us of His unchanging faithfulness and securing our hope in Him. And Advent reminds us Gd has promised Jesus’s return. “He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).

PEACE

As the second candle of peace shines, consider the profound peace brought by Jesus, the Prince of Peace, mentioned in Isaiah 9:6-7 and Luke 2:14. His birth signifies reconciliation between God and humanity, offering a deep, lasting peace found only in a personal relationship with Christ. His teachings guide us towards peace with God, ourselves, and others. Let this candle inspire a desire for reconciliation and peacemaking in a divided world.

This portion of Advent also draws attention to Bethlehem. Reflecting on Bethlehem’s seemingly insignificant setting reminds us of God’s penchant for using ordinary places for extraordinary purposes. In this portion of Advent, amidst feelings of insignificance, remember that God loves you dearly. Take a moment to pause, acknowledging how God specializes in using the seemingly small and insignificant for His glory. Pray that God uses you for His purpose—to bring peace and reconciliation to those around you, to bring people to Him.

JOY

As the candle of joy, the third candle, shines, remember the angel’s message of “good news of great joy” in Luke 2:10-11. This Gospel isn’t just duty; it’s a reason for deep delight in God’s work through Jesus Christ. It’s a lasting joy rooted in Christ’s hope, surpassing fleeting happiness. This joy invites you to live joyfully, sharing the transformative joy of knowing Christ with others.

In the same way, the Gospel reminds us to find our joy in Christ rather than in temporary pursuits. Embrace the deep joy found in knowing Christ, sharing this good news of great joy with those around you.

LOVE

As the fourth candle, the candle of love, shines, ponder God’s profound love revealed through Christ’s birth and sacrifice, echoing 1 John 4:10. Reflect on John 3:16 and Romans 5:8, recognizing the Gospel as the ultimate display of God’s unconditional love. This divine love calls for embracing it fully and extending it sacrificially to others, as highlighted in Ephesians 5:2. Let Christ’s love inspire you to practice radical love in your relationships, mirroring His example.

The heart of Christmas lies in God’s immense love shown by sending His Son, Jesus, as the ultimate gift. This Advent phase illuminates the depth of the Father’s love, echoing the truth found in 1 John 4:10. Amidst the festivities, remember that Christmas revolves around God’s extraordinary love revealed through the sacrificial gift of His beloved Son for unworthy sinners like us.

CHRIST

The Christ candle marks the culmination of Advent, embodying hope, peace, joy, and love of Jesus. He is the heart of the Gospel message, representing hope for humanity’s reconciliation with God. Embrace His presence, allowing His light to shine through your life, illuminating the world with the Gospel’s transformative power.

Jesus’ birth led to His sacrificial death, offering us new life through His resurrection. He is our sole hope, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Amid the Christmas hustle, ponder the profound impact of Christ’s birth in history, changing humanity forever.

This Christmas Eve, reflect on His birth, mourn the necessity of His death, celebrate His resurrection, and gather with fellow believers to worship Him.

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Songs for Sunday, November 26 @ Christ Community Church

Tomorrow is Sunday, and I’m excited!

I have been thinking a lot about the Church over the past few weeks, and since this past week has been Thanksgiving, I have been thanking God for the Church.

I genuinely am thankful for the Church. I am genuinely thankful for the local church, Christ Community in Grenada, MS, God has called me and my family to join. I am not talking about a building or traditions or religious rites. I’m not even talking about worship services. No, the Church is more than all of that. You can have all of those things without Christ, but there is no Church apart from Him.

Without Christ, there is no body. The parts, the people, that make up the Church would still be dead in their trespasses and sins without Christ (Ephesians 2:1-2), but “God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4-5). The “together” there in those verses is not talking about the Church but the way that God in Christ saves people, giving them new life – the life that Jesus has to give us because of His resurrection. The unity of the Church, the togetherness if you will, comes from all believers of all of time being knit together into a body, a “spiritual house” made of “living stones” (1 Peter 2:5) – that is the Church. And Jesus loves the Church in such a way that He calls her His Bride (Ephesians 5:32, Revelation 21:9).

A bride is someone special, someone to be treasured. I have a picture of my wife on our wedding day on my phone and in our home. I even have one at work. I officiated a wedding ceremony this past weekend, and as the groom and I were standing in place waiting for the time when we would walk up to his place, I told him to look for the moment when his bride came out of the doors – I told him that would and should be a moment engrained in his memory for the rest of his life. I still remember the moment that the back doors of Duck Hill Baptist opened and showed me Candice adorned in her wedding dress. Now, I have a pretty vivid memory of most things, but this is different. I can smell the flowers. I can remember the feeling of my breath catching in my chest, the heavy thumping of my heart. I can hear the sound of the creaking wood of the pews as people rose. But most of all, I remember our eyes meeting across the room and being afraid to blink because I was afraid I would miss something. I am thankful for that memory – more so, I am thankful for my bride.

If that is such a powerful memory for a foolish and fallible husband, how much more powerfully does Christ feel about His Bride, the Church? How should we feel about her?

First, if we are Christ-followers, we should be thankful for the Church, too — thankful that God has made us a part of His Bride (Romans 12:3-5). Jesus saving us is no little thing. This is why religion fails to capture what it is to know Christ.

Second, if we are Christ-followers, we should be a member of a local church. This is the embassy from which we serve the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:20). When the Bible uses the term “member” like in Romans 12:4-5 and 1 Corinthians 12:12, it is not talking about members of an organization like the Burger King Kids Club or Kiwanis or something. This ain’t that. This is member like a part of a body. It is an attachment religion or organization cannot imitate. You’ve heard folks talk about being the hands and feet of Jesus? Well, the local church is where those hands and feet are connected to the head, Jesus (Ephesians 4:15-16).

Lastly, if we are Christ-followers, we should love the Church (and our local church). Yes, there are problems that stem from sinful people. But Jesus saved all the members of His Bride. He loved us and died for us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8). What if we lived among our brothers and sisters in Christ – our fellow members of the body of Christ – with the love He shows to us? What about with the forgiveness and forebearance? Religion is not about that. Religion is about rules and regulations. Jesus is about grace.

Tomorrow is the Lord’s day, and as I said above, I’m excited. I’m excited to worship our resurrected King, Jesus Christ. I’m excited to gather with my brothers and sisters around the world as the Church gathers, but I’m also excited to gather with my brothers and sisters in the local church. I’m excited to sit under the preaching of our pastor, John Goldwater. I’m excited to hear the voices of my brothers and sisters in the praise team and congregation teaching and admonishing me with psalms hymns and spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19).

Won’t you join us?

Here are our Scriptures & songs:

Scripture | Isaiah 53:1-6 —

¹Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? ²For 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. ³He 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. ⁵But 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. ⁶All 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.

Song | There Was Jesus —
Scripture Inspiration: Colossians 1:15-21, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 7:24-27, Matthew 11:28-30, Psalm 51:7-8, Hebrews 13:8, John 14:6, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 2:1-5, Hebrews 11:9-14, Colossians 3:16, Psalm 23, Isaiah 43:2, Revelation 1:8

Song | Man of Sorrows —
Scripture Inspiration: cf. Isaiah 53 and John 1:11, 29; also Galatians 3:13, 21; 1 Peter 2:24; Mark 14:16-62; Matthew 26:39-44, 26:67-68, 27:26-30; John 3:16; Romans 5:6-10; Psalm 145:3; Revelation 4:11; Philippians 2:5-8; Matthew 20:28; Titus 2:13-14; Colossians 2:13-15; Romans 6:23; John 8:36; John 20:1-7; Matthew 28:1-20; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8

Scripture | Isaiah 53:7-12 —

⁷ He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. ⁸ By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? ⁹ And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

¹⁰ Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. ¹¹ Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. ¹² Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Song | Jesus Paid It All (O Praise the One) —
Scripture Inspiration: Matthew 11:28-30, John 19:30, Colossians 2:13-14, 2 Corinthians 4:15, Hebrews 12:28-29, Isaiah 1:18, Jeremiah 13:23, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ezekiel 11:19, Revelation 4:10-11, Romans 6:4, Revelation 5:9-10

Song | Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me) —
Scripture Inspiration: Daniel 7:13-14, Psalm 51:3-5, Isaiah 7:14, John 1:14, Romans 15:1-3, John 1:4-5, John 3:16, Romans 5:8, John 10:11, Romans 6:6-7, Psalm 103:12, Romans 3:21-26, Revelation 22:20, Luke 23:33-34, Colossians 2:13-14, Psalm 22:16, Isaiah 53:3-4, Isaiah 53:12, John 20:1, Matthew 28:7, 1 Corinthians 15:16-20, Acts 1:9-11, Acts 2:24, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, Revelation 11:15-19, Matthew 24:27, Revelation 1:7

Invitation | Gratitude —
Scripture Inspiration: 2 Corinthians 9:14-15, 1 Chronicles 16:34, Job 36:26, Psalm 86:12, Psalm 119:10, Psalm 138:1, Psalm 51:17, Isaiah 66:2, 1 Chronicles 29:11, 2 Chronicle 20:6, Revelation 19:7-16, Psalm 43:5, Isaiah 64:8, Luke 9:23, Philippians 2:5-8, John 14:15, 1 John 5:1-5, Psalm 47:1, Psalm 66:1, Psalm 98:4, Psalm 100:1, Isaiah 44:23

Offertory | Thank You, Lord —
Scripture Inspiration: 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Psalm 107:1, Colossians 3:17, Philippians 4:6, Psalm 63:4, Psalm 134:2, Psalm 28:2, Isaiah 53:4-5, Psalm 30:2, Psalm 103:2-4

"Kept Through the Trial: Jesus's Letter to the Church at Philadelphia" (The KING is Coming) – Refresh & Restore | A JustKeithHarris.com Podcast

Songs for Sunday, November 12, 2023 @ Christ Community Church

Here are our Scriptures & songs:

Scripture | Romans 5:15-21 —

¹⁵But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. ¹⁶And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. ¹⁷For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

¹⁸Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. ¹⁹For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. ²⁰Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, ²¹so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Song | Grace Wins —
Scripture Inspiration: Romans 3:23, Romans 5:6-8, Romans 5:16-18, Romans 8:1, 1 Timothy 1:13-14, Ephesians 1:6-7, 2 Corinthians 9:8, John 1:16, Ephesians 2:7, Ezekiel 36:26, 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, Luke 15:11-32, John 4, Matthew 9:27-31, John 9, Luke 16:19-31

Song | Death Was Arrested —
Scripture Inspiration: Ephesians 2:1-5, Romans 5:6-8, Revelation 20:14, Revelation 21:1-5, Galatians 2:19-20, 1 Peter 3:18, Romans 5:1-8, Romans 6:15-23, Colossians 2:13-14, John 19:28-30, 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Revelation 1:18, Luke 15:11-32

Scripture | 1 Peter 2:24 —

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Song | Your Great Name —
Scripture Inspiration: Acts 4:12, Luke 19:10, Psalm 106:8, John 3:17, Romans 8:1, 1 John 4:18, James 4:7-8, Revelation 5:9-10, Philippians 2:9-11, 2 Corinthians 12:9-11, Psalm 107:9, Psalm 68:5, Matthew 4:24, John 11:1-44, Job 19:25, Psalm 103:3, Revelation 11:17, Proverbs 23:11, Revelation 17:14

Song | Come Ye Sinners —
Scripture Inspiration: Matthew 11:28-30, Luke 5:27-32, Romans 3:21-26, 1 Timothy 1:15, James 4:6-10, Luke 15:11-32, Romans 8:18-30, Luke 9:51, Luke 22:39-46, Galatians 4:4-5, Isaiah 53, 1 Peter 1:3-9, 1 Peter 1:17-21

Invitation | Come as You Are —
Scripture Inspiration: Matthew 11:28-30, Psalm 147:3, Luke 18:13, Isaiah 55:1-3, Job 11:15-16, Luke 9:23-25, Romans 5:3-5, Psalm 34:8, Luke 13:29, Luke 15:11-32

Offertory | Wonderful, Merciful Savior —
Scripture Inspiration: Psalm 17:1, Psalm 145:8, Isaiah 44:24, John 15:15, John 1:29, Isaiah 9:6, John 14:16, Psalm 42:1, Psalm 42:11, Romans 5:3-5, Isaiah 53:6, Psalm 47:6, 1 Chronicles 29:11, Hebrews 4:16, Job 8:5, 1 Timothy 1:17, 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

"Kept Through the Trial: Jesus's Letter to the Church at Philadelphia" (The KING is Coming) – Refresh & Restore | A JustKeithHarris.com Podcast

Songs for Sunday, October 29, 2023 @ Christ Community Church

Today, I have been contemplating a somewhat odd question: what if all of this Jesus stuff really matters?

*Spoiler Alert* It does!

So often, we approach “church” stuff with a religious bent. Worship ends up feeling like work. Praise is treated like penance to balance the scales of our wrongs and rights. Like so much of the activity in our lives, we can kind of go on autopilot and just go through the motions. But if Jesus is real, and He absolutely is, the religious use of His name to kind of stamp it on is a sad lifeless form or idolatry at best, and at worst, it is a stinging dart of the evil one distracting us from the God who saves.

This past week, I have had the privilege to see God move. I am blessed to see Him move often as He saves people — bringing them from death to life (Ephesians 2:1-5) — and changes their lives by working in them through His Spirit and producing fruit in their lives (Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 4:22-24). This week has shown me the power of what genuine faith in Jesus produces in people’s lives. I saw a group of high school students volunteer their time to pray for God to move in the lives of students, teachers, administrators, and parents. I saw them study and prepare to share their faith and God’s Word, willingly standing in front of their peers. I saw kids and adults hand-in-hand and heart-in-heart praying and crying out to God together asking Him to move in our community. I saw adults volunteer their time and money without any desire for recognition. I saw the difference between religion and relationship, real and artificial, and it is beautiful.

The Scriptures and songs we will, Lord willing, read and sing tomorrow point toward real moments in heaven around the throne. They show the worthiness of God. Creatures we cannot imagine are crying out in song, reveling in the righteousness and holiness of the Living God. Elders are casting their crowns down before the King, recognizing He is more worthy than they are. Recognition and honor and worship are poured out toward the Lamb, celebrating and rejoicing in His finished work on the cross, His empty tomb, and all He is still doing and will do.

How will what we offer tomorrow morning stack up? What if all of this Jesus stuff really matters?

First, it affects our hearts today! I remember a friend of mine preaching at a BSU gathering many years ago say that too many of us treat Jesus like a fuzzy bearded guy whose lap we sit on Sunday to ask for things and act good while we live like hell the rest of the week. If you are saved, you have been brought from death to life. Dead people and living people carry themselves quite differently! If you are saved — alive in Christ, prepare your hearts for gathering to worship Him tomorrow. We often cite Hebrews 10:23-25 to nudge people not to neglect attending worship, but there is more to it. We need to “hold fast the confession of our hope” (Hebrews 10:23) today. We need to trust in God’s promises today. We need to “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24) today. And we need to prepare and plan to “meet together” (Hebrews 10:25) today.

Second, it anticipates His working now and in the worship gathering tomorrow! In my years serving in churches, I have heard many joke that preachers only work on Sundays and Wednesdays. God is never off — never on vacation or sabbatical or taking a sick day. Are you praying to ask Him to save people today? That might disrupt your Saturday plans because He might give you opportunities to share His gospel. Are you praying for Him to save people in our worship gathering tomorrow? That might disrupt your status quo, too. Good. May we see Him work and change us and grow us and build up His church — on Saturdays as well as Sundays!

Lastly, it means that attending the worship gathering tomorrow will be different than the norm for you and yours. I urge you to truly consider this. Pray for God to prepare your heart. Ask Him to show you things in His Word — and read it! Ask Him to help you approach the Lord’s day like it truly matters. Ask Him to grant you repentance for all the times it hasn’t mattered to you. Then, come and gather. Sing the songs. Read the Scripture. Actively listen. Ask God to move on your heart and bring lasting change.

I warn you, though: He might grant what you ask! Your status quo will be turned upside down, but you will be in communion with the King of kings! Your life will be changed — for the better, with eternal ramifications!

My prayer for you — and for me and mine — is that God will move on our hearts and show us He is real, for Him to impress on us just how holy and worthy He is.

I hope to gather with you tomorrow!

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.”

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

Scripture | Revelation 5:6-10 —

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.”

Song | Worthy of It All —
Scripture Inspiration: Revelation 4:10-11, Revelation 7:9-17, Isaiah 53:7, John 1:29, Revelation 5:6-13, Romans 11:36, Malachi 1:11

Song | Holy, Holy, Holy (Jesus Reigns) —
Scripture Inspiration: Isaiah 6:1-7, Revelation 4:5-11, 1 Peter 1:15-16, Genesis 17:1, Revelation 1:8, Psalm 59:16, Psalm 86:5, Lamentations 3:22-23, 1 John 4:19-20, Job 36:26, Psalm 48:14, Psalm 90:2-4, Revelation 11:17, Revelation 22:13, John 3:20, Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalm 92:15, Philippians 2:10-11 (Help/guidance from Scripture with the doctrine of the Trinity: Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed, Baptist Faith and Message (2000), Westminster Confession of Faith (Chapter 2), Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry)

Scripture | Revelation 5:11-14 —

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.

Song | Revelation Song —
Scripture Inspiration: Revelation 5:6-12, Revelation 1:8, Revelation 4:8, Romans 3:25, Hebrews 9:5, Revelation 5:13, Revelation 17:14, John 15:5, Psalm 33:8-9, Revelation 4:2-3, Revelation 4:5, Luke 5:17-26

Invitation | 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

Offertory | That’s My King (S. M. Lockridge) —

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Thank you for your response. ✨

"Kept Through the Trial: Jesus's Letter to the Church at Philadelphia" (The KING is Coming) – Refresh & Restore | A JustKeithHarris.com Podcast

Songs for Sunday, October 15, 2023 @ Christ Community Church

Here are our Scriptures & songs:

Scripture | Jeremiah 17:12-18 —

¹²A glorious throne set on high from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary. ¹³O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be put to shame; those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living water.

¹⁴Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise. ¹⁵Behold, they say to me, “Where is the word of the LORD? Let it come!” ¹⁶I have not run away from being your shepherd, nor have I desired the day of sickness. You know what came out of my lips; it was before your face. ¹⁷Be not a terror to me; you are my refuge in the day of disaster. ¹⁸Let those be put to shame who persecute me, but let me not be put to shame; let them be dismayed, but let me not be dismayed; bring upon them the day of disaster; destroy them with double destruction!

Song | Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing —
Scripture Inspiration: Jeremiah 17:13, Zechariah 14:8-9, John 4, Revelation 22:1-5, Ezekiel 36:26, Jeremiah 31:33, Hebrews 8:10, Lamentations 3:22-23, Psalm 33:3, Psalm 95:1-2, Psalm 40:3, Isaiah 53, John 1:29, John 3:15-16, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, Romans 5:6-10, Romans 6:15-23, Colossians 2:14, Hebrews 9:22, 1 John 1:7-2:2, Revelation 5:9, Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 1 Peter 2:24, John 1:12-13, Romans 8:14-23, Romans 9:1-8, Galatians 4:5-7, Matthew 25:34, Galatians 3:29, Titus 3:7, 1 Peter 1:4, 1 Samuel 7:1-12, Philippians 2:5-11, Mark 10:29-30, Romans 5:21, Revelation 21:3-4, Matthew 11:28-30, Jeremiah 17:9, James 1:14-15, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

Scripture | Colossians 1:19-20 —

¹⁹For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Song | At the Cross (medley) —
Scripture Inspiration: John 4:14, Romans 5:21, 1 Timothy 1:16, Galatians 2:19-20, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Mark 10:29-30, John 3:15-17, John 5:24, John 5:39-40, John 6:27, John 6:40, John 10:28, John 17:3, John 20:31, Romans 6:22-23, Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Galatians 6:8, 1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 2:11, Hebrews 5:9, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 John 2:23-27, 1 John 5:10-13, 1 John 5:20, Jude 20-21, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 7:16-17, Revelation 21:3-4, Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, 1 Peter 2:24, Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 9:22, 1 Peter 1:2, Matthew 28:16-17, Revelation 5:6-10, Revelation 19:1-6
- Hymn:

Love Ran Red:

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.