Saturday, August 31, 2013

The Message of the Cross

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!

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