This weekend, we continued our Romans series, focusing on Romans 12:1-21. In his message, our adult ministries pastor, David Hinkle, taught about the appropriate response and sacrifice to our great God because of all He has done for us. It was a challenging message with a strong call to renew our commitment to follow Christ with all that we are. You can listen to the entire message here. Here's our service plan from this weekend:
"Our God's Alive" (Em) [Andy Cherry, Jason Ingram, Dan Muckala] Welcome/Greeting Time Call To Worship - Congregational Scripture Reading - Romans 12:1-2 "Let Me Sing" (Bb) [Todd Fields] "Glory To God Forever" (Bb) [Steve Fee, Vicky Beeching] "Your Great Name" (Bb) [Michael Neale, Krissy Nordhoff] "The Wonderful Cross" (D) [Isaac Watts, Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, J.D. Walt, Lowell Mason] Prayer Message - "Romans 12:1-21" [David Hinkle] "Take My Life And Let It Be" (D) [Frances Ridley Havergal, Henri Abraham Cesar Malan] Offering/Announcements Dismissal
"Our God's Alive" - This is a new song that we are teaching in advance for our Easter weekend. This song is by a new artist named Andy Cherry on his newly-released album, Nothing Left To Fear. I highly encourage checking it out. It has many great songs on it, of which we'll probably be singing a few in the future here at Fellowship. I love this song. It's a power anthem about Christ's victory over sin and death, and the hope that we have in Him. Also, it feels very different from most other worship songs I have heard. It has great energy, and it's fun to sing together. I'm really looking forward to singing it together for Easter!
"Let Me Sing" - We sang this song because it sings very clearly about living a life of worship in response to the sacrifice that Christ made for us. Worshiping with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength is the only fitting response for who Christ is and what He has done for us. When we were enemies and still in our sin, Jesus demonstrated His love for us as the cross, to purchase us with His blood, and to rescue us from sin and death. This song expresses the desire to give an offering of worship that is worthy of our King. This really connected with our focus passage this weekend because of this emphasis.
"Glory To God Forever" - This is a staple for our congregation, although it has been a few months since we sang it together. We sang this song this weekend mainly because of the second verse and the bridge. The second verse sings, "So let my whole life be a blazing offering/ A life that shouts and sings the greatness of our King." The bridge, of which I have written many times before, sings a prayer of offering to God: "Take my life and let it be/ All for You and all Your glory/ Take my life and let it be Yours." I love how this song tied in with the message this week.
"Your Great Name" - This was our third week teaching this song to our congregation. I think this will be a staple for us here at Fellowship, because it is a great song of worship, exalting the name of Jesus Christ above every other name - where it rightfully belongs.
"The Wonderful Cross" - This song focused heavily on the sacrifice that Jesus made for us, and how anything less than our everything is lacking as an offering to Him. He has given us everything, and He suffered torment and pain on our behalf for our sin, and the only right response is our everything. It "demands my soul, my life, my all."
"Take My Life And Let It Be" - This hymn was our response song this weekend. We also took up the offering as we sang together. I like how this song goes through the different areas of our lives and offers each specifically as an offering to God for Him to use for His kingdom and His glory. He is worthy of all that we are and all that we have.
This weekend was a great weekend of worship. It was good to be feeling better again. I'm excited about some of the new songs we have added recently, and I am really looking forward to a great celebration of Christ's resurrection on Easter. God is doing great things in our midst, and I am thankful to be a part of it.
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!