This weekend, we continued our Romans series, and focused on Romans 5:1-10. In his message, Joe shared about what the life of a believer looks like because of what Christ has done. He talked about how we are now reconciled to God, and as a result we have peace and rest with Him. You can listen to the entire message here. Because of the focus of Joe's message, we emphasized our new standing with God because of His great love for us. We have hope and life because of Him. Here's our service plan from this weekend:
Time of Preparation/Prayer "Jesus You" (E) [Bill Horn] Welcome/Greeting Time Call To Worship - Psalm 33:1ff "Your Grace Is Enough" (G) [Matt Maher] "I Stand Amazed" (G) [Charles H. Gabriel] "Because Of Your Love" (G) [Phil Wickham] Message - "Romans 5:1-10" [Joe Hishmeh] Communion Song - "In My Place" (Eb) [Michael Bleecker, Matt Boswell] "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" (Eb) [Edwin O. Excell, John Newton, Louie Giglio, John P. Rees, Chris Tomlin] Offering/Announcements Dismissal
"Jesus You" - We sang this song as our preparation song this weekend, because it was written partially from chapter 5 of Romans. The certain hope that we have because of what Jesus has accomplished on our behalf is the focus of this section of Romans and is also the ultimate focus of this song.
"Your Grace Is Enough" - This song remains a staple for us at Fellowship. We don't sing it as often as maybe we once did, but it is a great song of celebration as we express our confidence in the finished work of Christ on our behalf. His grace is sufficient for us, and we look nowhere else for our salvation. Jesus is the one who has saved us; we did not save ourselves.
"I Stand Amazed" - This song was fitting for this weekend, because it points to our previous status of condemnation before God, our redemption through the work of Christ, and the future hope we have when Christ returns. Our church sings this song well. We may have set the click a little fast early in the weekend, but it was still a great song with which to celebrate our Savior's great and marvelous love for us.
"Because Of Your Love" - I love how this song declares that living our lives for God's glory is the fitting response to what He has done for us through the cross. We only have true life because of what Christ has accomplished for us. He endured our pain and our penalty in our place as our substitute, giving His life up selflessly, and now we can give our own lives selflessly for Him and for others.
"In My Place" - This was a new song that wanted to introduce for our communion time this weekend. I have been listening to this song for the past year or two, and I finally found my opportunity to introduce it here at Fellowship. I love the lyrical focus and the beauty of this song about the cross. We brought it down from G to Eb, and I think it was much more singable for our congregation in that range. I'm still not sold on whether this song could work in our setting for a congregational song, because there are lot of implied notes that the melody pulls out, such as starting on a major 7 (G)of the chord that the rest of the band is playing (Ab). I think it will still be at least a fantastic communion and preparation song in the future. We'll see how else we can use it. Here's the lyric:
"In My Place" Michael Bleecker, Matt Boswell
In my place He stood condemned He who knew no sin Became sin for us That we might become His righteousness
Bearing all my sin and shame The punishment and blame He conquered the grave That we might become the heirs of grace
In my place, Jesus died The spotless Lamb laid down His life The wrath of God was satisfied In my place, Jesus died
Nail-pierced hands, bleeding side, His body bruised, my God crucified Crown of thorns, dying cries, His flesh was torn, my God crucified
Hallelujah, what a Savior! Hallelujah, what a Savior! Hallelujah, what a Savior! Hallelujah, what a Savior!
CCLI # 5181287
"Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" - This was our response song this weekend. This is another great song that we haven't done very often, and it was a great fit for this weekend. I love singing of our chains being gone and of our newfound freedom in Christ.
On a side note, my wife and I were talking about 2 Chronicles 20 this weekend, and how God called Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah to merely stand before their enemies, who were on their doorstep and about to attack. The people of God went out to face their attackers, and they worshiped the Lord. As they did, God won the victory for them, and their enemies destroyed themselves without the people of Judah lifting a finger against them. They merely trusted in the Lord, and He fought for them. In this passage, there is an interesting correlation between worship and prayer and trusting in the Lord. Really, when we are doing the first two things sincerely and with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, it is because we are also trusting God. When we depend and trust in Him, we get the opportunity to see Him move in powerful ways, and He gets all the glory. I pray that we, as the people of God through Christ Jesus, would trust in the Lord so completely that our worship and prayer together would reflect that. He is worthy of our trust, and He is worthy of our worship--ALL of it.
This weekend was a great time of celebrating the life, hope, and peace that we have because of Christ, and then celebrating through communion together as well. Praise God for the love that led Jesus to the cross in our place to save us!
I hope you had a great weekend of worship wherever you were!
In the Son, Bill
p.s. don't forget to check out The Worship Community!