Zac Hicks and Coral Ridge Worship just released a new EP called “The Magnificent Three.” I knew the heart and premise behind the album and had been waiting for it for a while, so when I visited Zac’s blog and saw it was available to listen to I had to stop what I was doing and listen. When I got to “Before the Father” something happened to me that hasn’t happened for a very long time while listening to new music:

By the end of the song, I was speechless, and in tears in my office, and in fact, while listening to it again just now, had to stop typing and stand with arms raised in worship.

The concepts in the song are so specific and so complete when looking at the nature of our hearts, the nature of God’s mercy, and the nature of how and why His Son and Spirit were given to us.

I would strongly, strongly recommend singing this song, and will be using it soon at Living Word. Hear the song below, head to Zac’s blog to learn more about the EP, purchase the EP and find the free songbook for all the songs here.

I’ve been inspired for quite a well by Bobby Gilles’ weekly recap of the songs, readings, prayers, and liturgy of Sojourn Community church’s services. So…I thought I’d steal it. With his permission, of course. 🙂

These serve as a great reminder of how, in the recent word’s of Bob Kauflin, we “remembered, rehearsed, reveled in and responded to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as our only hope and the means by which we come to know God as our Father.”

You can find links to the set lists of this church and many other churches each week in the Worship Set Lists at theworshipcommunity.com.

Gathering Song: Psalm 62, written by Aaron Keyes and Stuart Townend

Call to Worship: Titus 3:4-8

God has saved us through His mercy, poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior. We gather today to remember and respond. Remember who God is and what He’s done, and respond by preparing each other for His work in this place and outside these walls.

Song: Your Grace is Enough, written by Matt Maher

Song: Lord, I Need You, written by Jess Reeves, Kristian Stanfill, Matt Maher, Christy Knockels, and Daniel Carson

Confession of Sin:

That song of confession declares our need for a Savior. Let’s continue to dwell on that thought.

Savior, we indeed confess we that we need you. Not because of any human understanding of desire, but because we are broken with sin and without hope. You alone can save. Without You, we cannot stand. We run to You as our source of security. Guard and guide our heart’s desires as only You can.

May we trust in You alone for help, hope, and rescue.
May we delight ourselves in You, receiving our pleasures from You.
May we commit our ways to You, place our trust in You, and believe You will act.
(adapted from Psalm 37:3-5)

Song: Forever Reign, written by Reuben Morgan and Jason Ingram, made known by Passion and Kristian Stanfill

Declaration of Grace

God welcomes us into His embrace through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ, rich in love and mercy.

“Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

In light of God embracing us into His family, let’s greet each other and welcome one another within our family today.

Confession of Faith

Announcements

Tithes and Offerings

Scripture Reading:
John 1:1-5

Message
Nick Schulz, an active youth leader and a philosophy enthusiast, taught on the response of the believer to the payment Jesus gave us through His blood, and how John was specifically battling gnostic teaching that since the body is evil it doesn’t matter what we do with it by declaring the truth in 1 John 1-2:2.

The Lord’s Supper

We sang Psalm 62 again during the Lord’s Supper, to continue to teach the congregation as it was a new song this week, and to continue to declare the great truths in the lyrics.

Benediction:
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord lift his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.

The Church is a beautiful thing when properly functioning.  One of the most beautiful things about the early Christian church in the book of Acts was the freely generous nature of the people.  Acts 2:44-45 says this:

And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

I’ve been privileged to get to know a new acquaintance (who I hope will eventually turn into a good friend) who understands how to put this verse into practice.  Bobby Gilles and his wife Kristen have been faithfully serving the Church in many ways, from writing an outstanding blog encouraging artists and songwriters in the church to taking time out of a busy schedule to spend on a Skype call with me, although we’ve never really had a whole lot of contact.

Today, Bobby and Kristen released a free 4-song EP (and they really are releasing it for free, another example of putting the functioning Church into practice) that you should download and enjoy. The EP also addresses the issue of a “one-size-fits-all” liturgy that our American Church falls into so often.

These worship songs feature focused lyrics that consistently point us to the Cross and remind us of our rescued condition in Christ.  Some lyrical highlights that have already impacted me include:

• “Bold before God’s throne, yet unworthy to be there”
• “I stand condemned by my own heart, deserving just to die; but still I do not hesitate to stand before the King, a paradox to all but God who gave His son for me”

I am so thankful for Bobby and Kristen and their willingness to bless, encourage, and equip church worship leaders and musicians with this new music.  You can download the songs through the Noise Trade widget below, head to Noise Trade to download them, or visit Bobby and Kristen’s blog.