Preparing to Gather 1/1/2012

As we ring in the New Year most of us look back in disappointment at resolutions broken and unfulfilled and look in hope to the promises of another year.  Much ink has been shed on new year’s resolutions so I will not seek to reinvent the wheel with my inconsequential thoughts on them, except to say that both our disappointment in not keeping and our hope in keeping resolutions should never be separated from the love of God in Christ that is ours through the gospel.  We can never be disappointed because he has paid for all our failures and mistakes and sins on the cross and we can hope because we know that “it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).  All that to say we gather this week reflecting on the kindness God has shown us in the past and the grace He continues to lavish upon us each new day. 

In light of this we will sing songs that point us toward the good news that God became man to live and die in our place and rise again to the glory of God the Father and Ben will preach from Ephesians 4:11-16.

Glory To God Forever (Beeching/Fee)

God Of This City

Nothing But The Blood (Redman)

Psalm 62 (Townend/Keyes)

Completely Done (Baird/Gunderlock)

See you in 2012!

Preparing to Gather 12/18/11

This week I came across a blog that pointed to Christ and the Incarnation from an unexpected text.  Justin is the pastor at my former church and one of the finest pastors I have ever had the privilege to serve with.  Looking at 1 Timothy 1:15 “This is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance: that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners” he explains the Incarnation and how it relates to redemption and furthermore points to the gospel in all its glory…you can read it here.  All the songs this week will revolve around Christ fulfilling the prophecies in the Old Testament, the salvation that he accomplished, and will end in a doxology of praise for the greatest act in all history.

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

And Can It Be

Jesus Messiah

Mighty To Save

At The Cross

See you Sunday!

Preparing for Sunday 12/11/11

We are nearing the end of Advent season but I am always grateful that the culmination, commonly known as Christmas, is only the beginning!  This week will be the first of two parts on the fulfillment of the Incarnation.  We will sing songs celebrating the season and more importantly the fulfillment of Jesus’ coming.

O Come All Ye Faithful/Sing To The King (Traditional/Foote)

Hark The Herald Angels Sing (Traditional/Maher)

All I Have Is Christ (Kauflin)

Revelation Song (Riddle)

In Christ Alone (Getty/Townsend)

See you Sunday!

Preparing to Gather 12/4/11

As Advent season has officially begun my family and my church continues to look upon the Incarnation and feel the warmth of the countless blessings that this season brings.  This Sunday we will focus on the outcome of the incarnation and will hear Noah Joyner from North Wake Church as he opens God’s Word and points us to Christ.  In light of Advent, and because it is the first Sunday in December and I have been given the thumbs up to sing “Christmas songs”, we will fill our time with a few favorites, some to a new tune, but familiar songs nonetheless.  Songs that point to the eager expectation of Christ we see throughout the Old Testament and the importance of the coming of Immanuel, God with us. 

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus (Wesley)

O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Neale/Helmore)

Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing (Robinson)

Saviour King (Sampson/Fields)

Angels We Have Heard On High (Chadwick/Renstrom)

See you Sunday!