This week our family pastor, Brian Tryhus, shared some biblical wisdom regarding parenting, as we continued our fourth week in our series called "Can You Relate?". In his message, Brian called us to be intentional at every opportunity with our parenting. He challenged us to the standard that Moses communicated with the Hebrew people in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, calling us to make it personal, to fight for the heart of our children, to imagine the end (know where we want to see our kids in the end), to create a rhythm, and to widen the circle (inviting others that we trust to be a part of influencing our kids). These concepts have been adapted from a great book, Parenting Beyond Your Capacity by Reggie Joiner and Carey Nieuwhof. You can listen to or watch the entire message and service here. For our singing this week, we focused on the redemption and the future that we have because of Christ. Just as the people of Israel, we walk most closely with the Lord when we remember what He has done for us, and live in response to that.
Here's our service plan from this weekend:
"Sing To The King" (E) [Billy Foote, Charles Sylvester Horne] Welcome/Greeting Time Call To Worship/Confession "Hallelujah To My King" (C) [Brenton Brown, Paul Baloche] "One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)" (Bb) [Brian Johnson, Jeremy Riddle, Christa Black] "Your Great Name" (Bb) [Michael Neale, Krissy Nordhoff] Message - "Can You Relate? - Parenting" [Brian Tryhus] Offering Intro "10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)" (G) [Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman] Announcements/Dismissal
"Sing To The King" - This was our opening song this week, setting the stage for the service for us by focusing on the redemption, the future, and the victory that is in Christ. He has bought us with His precious blood, and we are His. All we are, and all we have is His. He is worthy of our everything. Sarah Oldberg did an awesome job leading on this one, as always.
"Hallelujah To My King" - After our time of reflection and confession, we continued with this song. This is another song along the lines of "Sing to the King," in that it recalls the finished work of Christ and the future hope that we have because of it. As John says in 1 John 3:3, everyone who has this hope purifies himself. Sarah led us on this song as well, and singing it in the key of C rather than the key of E or F gave it a very different feel, and it was great to hear the ladies singing out so well along with Sarah.
"One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)" - This was the second week of teaching this song to our congregation. I think it really connecting with many people in our congregation. I love the message of this song, as it inspires our confidence in the Lord and what He has done for us. He, and His love, never fails! I think this is another song that will be a part of our regular worship vocabulary here at Fellowship, because it is something we need to believe, sing, and remember.
"Your Great Name" - This was the last song we sang before the message, and it remains one of our congregation's favorite songs. I love how powerfully it exalts the name of Jesus. We sang this because it focuses on who Jesus is and what He has done, and continues to do, for us. He is good, and He is worthy of all praise.
"10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)" - This was our response song this week, and it was a great fit with the focus of the message. As I said earlier, it is easier for us to follow closely with the Lord when we remember who He is and all He has done and is going to do. He is with us, and we can trust Him with everything we are. I love how the church sings out together on this one.
This weekend was as great weekend of worship. The team did a solid job, and Jesus was the focus of it all, which is the way it should be. We had two of our NextGen team members, Chandler Klamm and Hannah Deardorff, playing with us, and they did a great job. I am so proud of our NextGen team and the leadership that their director, Erik Oldberg, is giving them. God is doing great things in our young people here at Fellowship! God is so good, and it is awesome to be a part of His working and moving in our church. I know that our best days are ahead of us!
I hope you had a great weekend of worship wherever you were!
What were your thoughts or experiences on your worship experience from this weekend?
p.s. don't forget to check out The Worship Community!