This weekend, we began a series called "Everything!" Joe is talking through the concepts of a generous life and stewardship with all that we have. It was a really fresh and challenging perspective on generosity, beginning this weekend with a focus on the true owner of the things in this world - God owns everything, and we are stewards of what He owns. You can listen to the entire message here. Here's our service plan from this weekend:
"All Because Of Jesus" (Bb) [Steve Fee] Welcome/Greeting Time Call To Worship "Unchanging" (G) [Chris Tomlin] "You Have Overcome" (A) [Bill Horn, Erik Oldberg] "God Is Able" (A) [Reuben Morgan, Ben Fielding] Message - "Everything: Everything Comes From God" [Joe Hishmeh] "10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)" (G) [Matt Redman, Jonas Myrin, Jason Ingram] Offering/Announcements Dismissal
"All Because Of Jesus" - We opened our services with this song, as it tied last week and this week together. We celebrate the life that we have because of Jesus Christ - because He died in our place and was raised from the grave for us - and we also thank Him because He is the giver of all that we have, even our very breath. As James 1:17 says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change" (ESV).
"Unchanging" - Because of the focus of the message series, and the fact that this week was foundational for the whole thing, I wanted us to sing songs that help us to trust God more in all areas of our lives. This song comes from Hebrews 13:8 - "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" and Revelation 1:8, "'I am the Alpha and Omega,' says the Lord God, 'who is and who was and is to come, the Almighty.'" Jesus is unchanging, and that is the reason we can stake our lives on who He is and what He says. He will never change, and we can trust Him.
"You Have Overcome" - This is the third week that we have taught this new song to our congregation. They are singing it well, and I believe this will be a song that we will sing for many years together. This song did not have a specific tie-in to this weekend's message, other than being a simple, gospel-centered song that helps us exalt Jesus for what He has accomplished on our behalf. He has rescued us. Therefore, He is worthy of everything we have to give in response to His goodness and mercy.
"God Is Able" - This song furthered the idea of "Unchanging," in that it spoke to God's faithfulness and trustworthiness. He will never leave us or forsake us. He will never fail. We have nothing to fear in Him.
"10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)" - I felt that this song was a fitting response to Joe's message this week. God has blessed us so much, and the proper response is that we would worship God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength for all of our days. He is worthy!
This weekend was a solid and very enjoyable weekend of worship. We had our 12-year-old drummer, Anthony, on the team (he always does a fantastic job), and a first-time singer who filled in at the last minute. The team did a great job, and I believe the Lord was glorified by our times of worship. I am really excited about how it all came together. I pray that the content of what we sang together and studied together will take root in our lives outside these walls, because it will be a game-changer in our church, our community, and our world!
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!