CELEBRATE the Risen CHRIST!

Preparing Your Heart for Worship - April 9, 2017

Sunday is always the highlight of my week, and this week is no different. As we intensify our focus on the resurrection of Christ this Sunday - we should continually be in awe of His glory, and always increasing in our attitude of thanksgiving to Him in whom we live and move and have our being!

Victory In Jesus

I heard an old, old story - how a Savior came from glory. How He gave His life on calvary to save a wretch like me. He won the victory on the cross on my behalf. He is my Savior FOREVER! HE bought me with His blood. As we gather to celebrate the RISEN Savior, these words so perfectly celebrate what He has accomplished on our behalf!! (I can’t wait to sing this song with everyone!!!!!!! No. Really!!!!!!)

Come People of the Risen King

Psalm 96 tells us to sing to the Lord - declare HIS glory among the nations. As we continue to worship - we can delight in praising His glorious name! 

Rejoice rejoice let ev'ry tongue rejoice

One heart one voice

O Church of Christ rejoice!!!

What a joy and privilege it is each week to join together as God’s people and lift our hearts in one voice to worship Him!

Prayer of Praise

As we continue to celebrate our Risen Lord, we’ll turn our hearts toward Him in prayer. We’ll join our hearts together in prayer – praising Him for His goodness, grace, and mercy toward us. 

See What a Morning

What a wonderful musical our choir presented to us last Sunday evening helping to prepare our hearts for this Sunday. They’ll sing the song “See What a Morning” from the musical. I love this from the song:

As the angels announce, “Christ is risen!” 

See God’s salvation plan, 

Wrought in love, borne in pain, paid in sacrifice, 

Fulfilled in Christ, the Man, 

For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead! 

This song truly excites us to the truth that Christ is risen!! What a wonderful reminder this song is that on that morning history was changed forever. The third verse is a response of praise as we realize the amazing consequence of Christ's resurrection for our lives, drawing us into relationship with the triune God.

Meditating on God’s Word

We’ll hear directly from God as His Word is read. God desires for us to simply hear His Word read when we gather for worship. Let this element of our worship gathering do as the old hymn says “tune my heart to sing Thy praise.” 

Worship through Giving & Behold the Man

Even our giving back to the Lord is an act of worship. As we participate in this, we’ll again have our thoughts turned toward the true reason that we give back to Him - we give in recognition and response to all He did in accomplishing our redemption. As the song says:

it was for our sins He died

for su the Son of God was crucified

in love He bore our sorrow and pain

in love He willingly suffered. 

He did all of this for us! How can we not respond by bringing Him our entire lives, every detail, as an act of worship?

Stronger

This song is a fantastic summary of our reason for gathering together - not just on Resurrection Sunday, but every week. We celebrate His love, the cross, and the fact that He broke our shame and our sinfulness when He rose. He is stronger. Stronger than what? Stronger than who? Well, to begin with - stronger than death. And yes, you can fill in that blank with anything. No matter what, Jesus has demonstrated that He is stronger. 

In Christ Alone

This is another one of those songs that we could sing every single week. This modern hymn is such a beautiful expression of the gospel. It is only in the stronger power of Christ that we stand. 

Sermon: Romans 8:1-11

It’s so amazing to see God working things to His glory. God planned things so that we would come to Romans 8 this Sunday. I can’t think of a better passage to study this Sunday than the majestic beauty of Romans 8. As you prepare for our time together this Sunday, read through Romans 7:14-8:11 a couple of times. 

Amazing Grace

There’s not really much to say here, right? This is probably one of the best, most loved hymns of all time. The reason everyone universally loves this hymn is because of the lyrics. Click here to see the lyrics (not that you need it - you know this song, right?)

Victory In Jesus

We’ll close our time together as we opened. Singing about the victory that Christ won on our behalf!

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.

As always, I’m so excited as I think toward our time together celebrating the Risen Christ this Sunday!!!

Rob