Preparing Your Heart for our Worship Gathering - March 12, 2017
Check out the Spotify playlist - go to Spotify, search for "robsigns" under "find friends."
This week, we’ll be looking at “Praying Together.” As we continue to pursue intense, focused exaltation of God, my prayer is that we all come with our hearts prepared to engage in worship with both our minds and our hearts.
It’s truly been a joy to worship together during this time of looking deeper into who we are as a church and all that God has laid out in His Word to guide us in how we are to worship Him in our time together.
We’re beginning our time this week singing the song “Come, Now is the Time to Worship”
Come, Now is the Time to Worship
Some songs are just all about being the first song we sing. This is one of those songs. What a great way to encourage each other as we sing this song together both to each other and to the Lord. (P.S. - ignore the semi-cheesy graphics in the video - don’t let them distract you from the great lyrics calling us to focus on Christ in adoration)
Here I AM to Worship
This is a song that’s well known by almost everyone. I think it’s popularity is due to it’s simplicity and clarity. It speaks of who Christ is, what He has done, and what our response to Him should be. What a great expression.
We have gathered to worship the great I AM. Here’s a way that might help this song take on a new significance in your worship. Think this way: Here to worship the great I AM. Not “hey God, Here I am to worship you...” but, Here, I AM, to worship.
This way of thinking through the song turns the focus from ourselves to God directly.
We come together not to be about me (this is not “meChurch:) but to worship the Great I AM!!
Prayer of Praise
You might have noticed a change in our prayer times in the past few months. We’ll look more in depth at the why and how of this change in the sermon this week.
Meditating on God’s Word
I’m always so encouraged by all of those who memorize Scripture and quote it in the service. This time, including the simple reading of God’s Word, is always a highlight for me.
I Choose Christ
I’m always encouraged by our choir - they work diligently every week to prepare to lead us in exalting God. This week will be no different.
Worship through Giving
Leading into our time of worship through giving this week, we’ll simply come before God to thank Him for His many blessings. Then respond to that in the giving of our offerings. What a privilege it is to be able to give back to the Lord sacrificially from all that He has blessed us with.
Behold Our God
I always love singing this song. The way it lays out some of the attributes of God is just so great. Even the way the song is structured is all about us as the Body of Christ, coming together to worship Our Lord who is always seated on His throne!! How beatiful is that? (I think the Fighter Verse mentions something about the throne of God this week, hmm....)
Speak, O Lord
As we consider what our times praying together should look like, a great starting point is to hear from Him through His Word. We always want to be shaped and fashioned by God’s Word. When that happens, our prayers will become all that they are meant to be.
Sermon: Praying Together
Charles Spurgeon says, if a church be alive, it must pray! I wholeheartedly agree. We’ll be looking at the Lord’s Prayer as a pattern for prayer and how that, along with other Biblical instruction, should inform and guide our times of praying together.
Before the Throne of God Above
Speaking of prayer - Hebrews points out that we can approach God’s throne with confidence. I’m looking forward to concluding our study of prayer by singing of the joy it is to come to our Father in prayer.
Sunday Nights @ Fellowship - this Sunday night, our study is The Letter to the Romans
We start at 5:00 and are done by 6:00 p.m.,
We’ll be singing O Church Arise and He Will Hold Me Fast.
While we’ve only been singing He Will Hold Me Fast for a short time, this song is one that I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of. We’ll be singing the new verse I mentioned this past Sunday. How cool is it that we’ll be singing a song written over 100 years ago, then added to first several years ago, and finally, just a couple of weeks back!!!
As always, be in prayer for:
• Rex and all those who lead the music in our time together
• Pray that we all come together on Sunday with hearts prepared to engage in intense, focused exaltation of God.
• Pray that we demonstrate holiness, unity, and love in both our personal lives as well as together as the Body.
• Pray for me as I prepare to preach this week.
As always, I’m really looking forward to our time together this Sunday - it truly is the highlight of my week.
Rob
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