This Sunday, we will be singing many hymns and songs that focus on Jesus and His sacrifice for us on the cross. We will also be observing the Lord's Supper, in remembrance of Him. Little did I know, the Lord would open my eyes to two new websites that focus on returning the church to its roots - THE CROSS. Both of the following blogs offered ways to turn your eyes back to the Lord. Both are written by experienced worship leaders that reveal the best way to lead music is to simply "Lead Me to the Cross."
The first is written by Bob Kauflin, director of Sovereign Grace Music, one of my newer favorite groups. I find their music refreshing because it offers great, focused, and biblically-based lyrics. (And I love the "modern day hymn writer" style of it.) I listed their website below, as well, with a link for a song I just listened to this evening entitled "Jesus Died for Me." Sovereign Grace's newest release is entitled "Grace Has Come: Songs from the Book of Romans." In Bob's post entitled "Idolatry on Sunday Mornings", he addresses different forms of idolatry we can have in our lives that even pervade our Sunday Morning services. He points out that our music can become an idol to us, leading us away from Christ instead of toward Him. Many more good posts can be found on his site www.worshipmatters.com.
The other blog is written by a veteran worship leader named Jim, who serves in the American Evangelical Church. He offers the challenge that many of today's churches have lost their focus on the cross, instead focusing on bringing in people with things exterior to the Gospel message. I find his thoughts on coffee interesting...
WARNING! These blogs will challenge you to think about your faith! I know they challenged me!
"Whatever happened to the message of the cross?" - http://notforitchingears.com/2010/11/09/the-cross-versus-coffee-and-the-winner-is/
"Idolatry on Sunday Mornings" - http://www.worshipmatters.com/2005/11/29/worship-service-idolatry-on-sunday-mornings/
Also, check out http://www.sovereigngracemusic.org/. There is even free music to download. I definitely look forward to getting my new CD sometime in the next week or so, entitled "Before the Throne" by Steve and Vikki Cook, Sovereign Grace songwriters. Their song "Jesus Died for Me" I also learned about from the Worship Matters website (I had a terrible time finding a CD with it, as they are no longer on Sovereign Grace's website. Thank you Amazon!) Listen to it and follow the lyrics at http://www.worshipmatters.com/2008/01/29/new-song-%E2%80%94-jesus-died-for-me/.
That's all for now. Thanks be to God for the Cross!
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Friday, August 23, 2013
What "Who Am I" says about "Who I Am"
It has been a while since Casting Crowns released their song "Who Am I", but we will be singing it this Sunday morning for the first time during our service.
The words to the chorus tell the whole story behind the meaning of the song:
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done.
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are.
To further answer the question of who we are, the closing to the chorus states, "You've told me who I am. I am yours."
Ephesians 2:8-9 reads, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."
John 1:12 states, "Yet to all who receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God."
And finally, Galations 3:26 states, "So in Christ you are all children of God, by faith."
It is not who we are or what we have done that causes God to love us. In fact, it is in spite of ourselves that God loves us. Romans 5:8 says Christ gave himself for us while we were yet sinners. It was His action that caused us to become who we now are. We are no longer sinful creatures by birth, through Adam. We are saved in Christ, and through Him we can be made righteous (Romans 5:19). Taking that thought further, our new identity in Christ is now so much more than we ever were when we counted on our own devices. Our own glory and faithfulness is fading (I Peter 1:24 and Isaiah 40:6-8) and our time here is earth is but a vapor - gone quickly (James 4:14). However, through God and His Word, which endures forever (Isaiah 40:8), we can become His own, His sons and daughters, children of God, heirs to His kingdom. First, however, we must receive Him, and actively believe, though faith, that He is our saving grace. It is then and only then that we can finally say, "I am Yours."
The words to the chorus tell the whole story behind the meaning of the song:
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done.
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are.
To further answer the question of who we are, the closing to the chorus states, "You've told me who I am. I am yours."
Ephesians 2:8-9 reads, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."
John 1:12 states, "Yet to all who receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God."
And finally, Galations 3:26 states, "So in Christ you are all children of God, by faith."
It is not who we are or what we have done that causes God to love us. In fact, it is in spite of ourselves that God loves us. Romans 5:8 says Christ gave himself for us while we were yet sinners. It was His action that caused us to become who we now are. We are no longer sinful creatures by birth, through Adam. We are saved in Christ, and through Him we can be made righteous (Romans 5:19). Taking that thought further, our new identity in Christ is now so much more than we ever were when we counted on our own devices. Our own glory and faithfulness is fading (I Peter 1:24 and Isaiah 40:6-8) and our time here is earth is but a vapor - gone quickly (James 4:14). However, through God and His Word, which endures forever (Isaiah 40:8), we can become His own, His sons and daughters, children of God, heirs to His kingdom. First, however, we must receive Him, and actively believe, though faith, that He is our saving grace. It is then and only then that we can finally say, "I am Yours."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)