AmyLuvz2Worship

Worship 1/22/12

2012-01-18T08:54:00.000-10:00

DCF Worship Team: Worship Set for 1/22/12

Our God Saves
All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name
Blessed Be Your Name
Wonderful Merciful Savior
Agnus Dei

Here's the songs we're doing this week. If you don't know them, listen below. There are other songs too for your listening enjoyment. Rejoice!

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

Worship 12/25/11

2011-12-19T13:10:00.001-10:00

DCF Worship Team: Worship Set for 12/25/11

Glory to God
Joyful Joyful (modern version)
Go Tell It On the Mountain
How Many Kings
Offering (Christmas version)
You Alone

Here's the songs we're doing this week. If you don't know them, listen below. There are other songs too for your listening enjoyment. Rejoice!

"Joyful Joyful" will play automatically, then when it's done you can listen to the other songs on the player below by clicking the play button.

I didn't add "Go Tell It On the Mountain", figuring everyone knows this :)

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

Worship 10/23/11

2011-10-19T09:44:00.000-10:00

DCF Worship Team: Worship Set for 10/23/11

O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing
Famous One
You Are Holy
Waiting Here For You
Your Great Name
You Alone

Here's the songs we're doing this week. If you don't know them, listen below. There are other songs too for your listening enjoyment. Rejoice!

Click below to hear O For a Thousand Tongues...

Click below to hear Famous One...

Create a MySpace Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Worship 9/25/11

2011-09-21T07:37:00.006-10:00

DCF Worship Team: Worship Set for 9/25/11

God Of Wonders
All Hail The Power of Jesus' Name
Glory to God Forever
Your Great Name
Waiting Here For You
I Lift My Hands

Here's the songs we're doing this week. If you don't know them, listen below. There are other songs too for your listening enjoyment. Rejoice!

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

Have you ever noticed there are 31 Proverbs? That's a Proverbs for each day of the month. What a great place to start if you're looking for a daily devotion to add to your reading! And so this is where this idea comes from for "a way to worship" for today:

BOAST:

Psalm 34:2 NKJV

"My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad."

*the following devotion is provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org :

Getting Connected

Posted by Roy Clark in Blog on September 21st, 2011 | no responses

A passage of Scripture in Titus 2 encourages older women to train younger women: “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the Word of God” (Titus 2:3-5).

So the mature are called to train (mentor) the younger generation. Throughout the Bible, we discover excellent examples of this. We think of Moses and Joshua, Naomi and Ruth, Elijah and Elisha, and Paul and Timothy. In my ministry, as I seek to encourage mentoring, the first question I hear is: “How do I get connected?” Here are some suggestions:

If you’re considering a mentor: Once you have selected a potential mentor, in your own way and time approach that person and say something like this: “I would like you to consider being one of my life mentors. What I mean by that is simple: I’d like to be on your lifelong prayer list. Every time we meet, I’ll come prepared with specific priorities and tell you exactly what kind of help and advice I need. A mature person like you will help me to realize my full God-given potential over a lifetime.”

If you want to take the initiative as a mentor: Meet with a potential protégé and say something like this: “I’d like to be one of your life mentors. What I mean by that is simple: I’d put you on my lifelong prayer list, and I’d like to be there when you enjoy success and when you go through difficult times. Every time we meet, I’ll ask mentoring questions such as: What are your priorities? How can I help? How can I help you realize your full God-given potential?”

Good questions to ask as a mentor include the following:

What would you like to do with your life?
What are your major interests?
What are you good at?
Tell me something of your life story.
Tell me about your family.

You will discover that the time you give to mentoring will be richly rewarding as you witness life-change.

Worship 7/24/11

2011-07-21T07:42:00.002-10:00

DCF Worship Team: Worship Set for 7/24/11

I Could Sing of Your Love Forever
Our God Saves
Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus
Glorious Day
Your Great Name
Revelation Song

Here's the songs we're doing this week. If you don't know them, listen below. There are other songs too for your listening enjoyment. Rejoice!

Get Your Own Free Hypster.com Playlist.

BOAST: Psalm 34:2 NKJV

"My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad."

*the following devotion is provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org :

Tornados and the Story of Job
Posted by Roy Clark in Blog on June 28th, 2011 | no responses

Several days ago I watched a weather forecast which included tornado watches stretching from Buffalo, NY, to Dallas, Texas—2,000 miles!
In the wake of the heart-breaking devastation in Joplin I’ve been thinking about the insurance industry’s category for claims known as “acts of God.” That phrase has led me back to the Old Testament story of Job. One of Job’s losses is described in this way: “While he was still speaking, another also came and said, ‘Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!’ ” (Job 1:18-19 NKJV).
No doubt, Job would weep with those who lost their homes and loved ones. He lost both and suffered other great losses. But a careful reading of the story reveals a focus not on Job but on the challenge Satan brings to God. The devil charged: “People are followers of God because You are good to them. You build a hedge of protection around Your people. Dismantle the wall, withdraw Your goodness, and Your followers will curse You to Your face!” Job’s losses were all a part of God’s permissive will. God drew a line in the sand and said, “This far and no further.” Would Job’s tornado of losses be enough to push him over the edge so that he would doubt God’s goodness and power?
Will the spring of 2011, with its multitude of storms resulting in losses of life and property, be enough to cause us to say, “Where is God in all of this?” Hopefully we will answer, “Right where He was in the Job story.”
Where are we? Can we join Job in saying: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15)? Do we have that kind of faith in our own seasons of tornadoes?

2011-06-14T09:08:00.010-10:00

DCF Worship Team: Worship Set for 6/19/11

Everlasting God
Trading My Sorrows
Your Great Name
We Fall Down
I Exalt Thee

Here's the songs we're doing this week. If you don't know them, listen below. There are other songs too for your listening enjoyment. Rejoice!

Have you ever noticed there are 31 Proverbs? That's a Proverbs for each day of the month. What a great place to start if you're looking for a daily devotion to add to your reading! And so this is where this idea comes from for "a way to worship" for today:

BOAST: Psalm 34:2 NKJV

"My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad."

Something Fun For Father's Day!

This week I'd like to re-post the following from CCLI's Worship Corner:

About Laura Story Once an aspiring symphony conductor, Laura Story didn’t even know she could sing – much less write songs – until she was in her early twenties. Today, Laura Story is not only a gifted vocalist and worship leader but also the composer of one of the most beloved worship songs of our generation – “Indescribable.”

Bless the Lord: Psalm 103:1-5

Posted 1/5/2009

“Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with loving kindness and compassion;
Who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.”

Do you ever have days when you don’t feel like worshipping? As someone who leads worship for a living, I have to admit that sometimes I don’t feel like worshipping. Some days I am tired and my throat hurts; other days, I am feeling down or distracted by other things. Sometimes life just seems too hard. Though I am ashamed to admit these thoughts and feelings, I know that they are more common than we would like to admit. How do we come before the Lord of Lords in all His splendor and majesty when our hearts feel so apathetic?

It is in times like these that I look to the Psalms, one of my favorites of God’s gifts to us. The Psalms provide an entire arsenal of prayers and petitions that we can use when we find ourselves in a spiritual drought. Take David for example; certainly his life was no picnic. Between his bouts with sexual sins, murder and seasons of even running for his life, there must have been times when he felt reluctant to worship God. But still we see him faithfully proclaiming the greatness of our Lord. For David knew that the very quality of his worship was not based on his own volition but on the object of his worship - the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Though our affections for God may wax and wane, His character is unchanging! We even see David speaking to his own soul, demanding of it, “Bless the Lord!” He reminds himself even in the harshest of circumstances how good God is, recounting blessings that the Lord has bestowed upon him.

I think God knows that worshipping Him can be a discipline at times. And like any other relationship in our lives, our relationship with the Lord takes work. But on those days that are hardest to praise His name, that’s when I find worship to be the sweetest. Though I may enter feeling tired or disconnected, I find joy and peace in the presence of God and the Holy Spirit sustains that worship, renewing my mind and restoring my heart. All I have to do is show up. God is not only the author of worship, but His radiance inspires us and enables us to bring Him the adoration due His name.

So, next time you are tired and feel as though you have nothing to give to God in worship, know that you are right. There is nothing we can bring before Him that He hasn’t first given to us. And on those hard days, we must confess that we don’t want to worship Him but we want to want to worship Him. Over time, He will cultivate that desire in our hearts and souls to say, with the great psalmist, “I will bless the Lord at all times.” (Ps. 34)

Worship 5/22/11

2011-05-11T18:06:00.000-10:00

DCF Worship Team: Worship Set for 5/22/11

All Creatures of Our God and King
Our God Saves
Famous One
Mighty to Save
Your Name

Here's the songs we're doing this week. If you don't know them, listen below. There are other songs too for your listening enjoyment. Rejoice!

Get Your Own Free Hypster.com Playlist.

SACRIFICE: Jonah 2:9 NKJV

"But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord."

This week I'd like to re-post the following from CCLI's Worship Corner:

About Paul Baloche Paul Baloche is a worship leader and prolific songwriter of many top CCLI songs, including “Open The Eyes of My Heart,” “Above All,” “Hosanna,” “Offering” and “Your Name.”

A Creative Lifestyle

Posted 4/29/2011

There’s a lot of discussion these days about what it means to live a life of worship. Many explanations turn to vague and mysterious answers all focused on one’s heart being tuned to God. It is true that we should all strive for a continual communion with God throughout our daily lives by the attitude of our hearts, but in practice, what does this mean?

Worship in a congregation is the most common form of worship. Music can bridge the gap between our everyday lives and the supernatural. Music can be divine and inspiring. Something happens when a longing heart is combined with music in worship of God. Perhaps the Lord delights in the sound, but my guess is that He delights in the creativity behind the sound. After all, we worship a very creative God. To be the ultimate Creator, the inventor of creativity itself, He must delight in our expressions of this creativity.

As a musician, a lifestyle of worship includes playing music for the Lord – not necessarily hymns and popular worship songs, but simply the playing, the creating, the expression of the heart through the instrument. The musician worships by creating beautiful new sounds. Worship at church is marked by music perhaps because it is the creation that other people share in. Singing together is this same creativity pouring from the mouths of the congregation.

But what about other forms of expressing our worship to God? A friend of mine who is a calligrapher finds solace and harmony in creating letters during a worship service. Another is a writer who, instead of audibly speaking his prayers and concerns during the worship service, will write them in a notebook while sitting in stillness with the music surrounding him.

As the woman slides her paintbrush across the canvas, or as the young man composes a poem or a short story, this can be worship. As a striving businessman imagines new ways of organization, this is worship. As a new mom dances with her child to the sound of the day, this is worship. Often we get in the mindset that worship should be structured and specific. In the same way that God delights in our individuality, I believe he also delights in our diverse expressions of worship.

As worship leaders, how should we encourage a congregation to explore these aspects of worship? Depending on the style of the worship service, an encouragement to spend the time of worship writing down prayers, sketching in a notepad, moving about the room, raising hands, singing – anything that will express what is on their hearts. It’s possible that people only need permission to do something other than stand facing the stage and watching the worship leader lead. Encourage them to find their own expression even during the service. Doing so is bound to ignite a freshness to the worship experience. After all, this is the ultimate responsibility of a worship leader – to guide people into a many-faceted life of worship.

Ladies Retreat 2011

2011-04-25T11:26:00.006-10:00

DCF Ladies Retreat: Worship Set for 4/29 - 5/1/11

Sweet Sweet Spirit
In the Secret
Here I Am to Worship
Shout to the Lord
My Redeemer Lives
Search My Heart
This Little Light of Mine
Lord I Lift Your Name on High
Create in Me a Clean Heart
Above All
Come, Now is the Time to Worship

***new additions***

Hosanna (Praise is Rising)
Desert Song

Here's the songs we're doing this week. If you don't know them, listen below. There are other songs too for your listening enjoyment. Rejoice!

Get Your Own Free Hypster.com Playlist.

Looking forward to it, Ladies!

~Amy

2011-03-23T08:43:00.004-10:00

DCF Worship Team: Worship Set for 3/27/11

Our God Saves
Christ Is Risen
Revelation Song
You Are My King (Amazing Love)
Above All

Here's the songs we're doing this week. If you don't know them, listen below. There are other songs too for your listening enjoyment. Rejoice!

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

WAIT: Isaiah 40:31 MSG

"But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind."

*the following devotion is provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org :

The Right Place and The Right Time
Posted by Dennis Moles in Blog on March 23rd, 2011 | one response

The reality of my upbringing can be summarized this way: if life is a five-step race, by virtue of my parents, I had a four step head-start. Mom and Dad (Linda and Delmas to their friends) loved the Lord authentically, they loved each other passionately, and they loved Chris – my younger brother – and me unconditionally. Mom and Dad worked hard to model good morals and ethical behavior for us and they, as much as any two people I have ever known, really desired to live lives which conformed to the image of Christ and the standards of the Scriptures.
One of the ways Mom and Dad attempted to model the Christ-life for Chris and me was to diligently be in the “right” place, at the “right” time, with the “right” people, for the “right” purpose. What I caught from my parents and other important people God has subsequently brought into my life is that the “right” place isn’t just church and the “right” time isn’t always convenient and the “right” person isn’t always clean or sober or morally principled.
It’s hard to explain but Mom and Dad – Mom especially – had a capacity for turning the wrong place into the right place and the wrong time into the right time. They had a knack for living out the principles which Jesus models via His Samaritan missional adventure in John 4 and in so doing taught Chris and me something about God’s perspective on right and wrong.
Over the next few days let’s see what we can learn from Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan Woman. Let’s observe how Jesus
Turned the wrong place into the right place
Was right on time by arriving at the wrong time
Exuded the love of God by being willing to compromise His ability to participate in religious rituals for the sake of a less-than-desirable person
Kept His mission the main thing in the midst of temptation and misunderstanding
Saw the harvest in spite of religious and racial prejudices
Ready or not, here we go down the irreligious rabbit whole.
How does this idea that Jesus’ message was irreligious make you feel? Are you uncomfortable with it? Are you challenged by it? Does it make you afraid or do you get a strange sense of freedom from it?

Worship for 2/27/11

2011-02-22T16:22:00.002-10:00

DCF Worship Team: Worship Set for 2/27/11

Love the Lord
All the Earth Will Sing Your Praises
My Redeemer Lives
Revive Us Again
Revelation Song

Here's the songs we're doing this week. If you don't know them, listen below. There are other songs too for your listening enjoyment. Rejoice!

Get Your Own Free Hypster.com Playlist.

Have you ever noticed there are 31 Proverbs? That's a Proverbs for each day of the month. What a great place to start if you're looking for a daily devotion to add to your reading! And so this is where this idea comes from for "a way to worship" for today:

VOW: Deuteronomy 23:23 MSG

"If you say you're going to do something, do it. Keep the vow you willingly vowed to God, your God. You promised it, so do it."

*the following devotion is provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org :

Truth or Love. Must We Choose? (Part One)

Posted by Knute Larson in Blog on February 21st, 2011 | no responses

This is a three-part look at II John, one of the shortest letters in the Bible, but also at one of the most important controversies in the church and on the street. It is a crucial issue which has many pastors fooled. We must get it right.

Many people think love comes way before truth. Some sincerely pursue love but never chase truth, at least God’s revealed truth.

It is discussed at Starbuck’s and in theology books. Over a latte an amateur theologian says he thinks the Beatles were right: “All you need is love.” Some add, “I don’t need any more of the strait-jacket teachings of the church – where has that brought us? We need people who will learn how to love each other.”

No word on where they will learn that.

Some in the new mood of inclusivism theologically have said it more academically; stating that the world has heard enough of the church’s pronouncements of truth – those outside the church simply need to feel our love, especially by our embrace of all.

A lot of this thinking has come into the church also. I don’t mean just by writers who are followers of Christ – some of them simply call for love instead of doctrine, as if there were a choice – but also with the habits of people.

Many of them simply do not take time to study what the Bible teaches about both love and doctrine, actions and belief. There is no room for debate about which of the two we should major on!

As with the two wings of an airplane, both! II John makes it clear.

II John was written as a personal letter to a woman who might as well have been named Church. She is indeed “the chosen lady,” and as John addresses her he immediately gets into the emphasis on truth. And love.

Truth is central ^1-4

Relationship

The lady is chosen – is this a reference to the sovereign election of believers by God? And John loves her (the church?) “in the truth.” Already he is showing how truth guides love. The “lady” is related to God, who is truth, and therefore also to John, who is committed to the truth.

Commonality

John reminds pastors why we should talk about love and truth in the same breath: “all who know the truth” love this lady! It is because as believers they have the truth in them, and the truth always gets us to love!

We just cannot separate the two – not at Starbuck’s in the discussions, not in the new books, not in the established churches. Not in our own hearts! The two are twins.

Objectivity

“Truth is whatever you believe for yourself – that is truth for you” – I was told this by a medical doctor who saw me reading the Bible on an airplane. I did ask her if she practiced that in medicine.

“Of course not.”

John is excited that some of the children of the women (church?) were “working in the truth, just as the Father commanded us” (4). Obviously truth is a place to be. It can be walked in!

Jude speaks of “the faith once delivered to the saints” (Jude 4). Paul said he had “kept the faith” (II Timothy 4:7). Clearly there is a content of faith. It is objective, not just a feeling or a warm spot.

From this it is clear that love and truth are inseparable.

Why we should understand this

And the first reason of course is that it is true. The Bible is clear about the call to proper doctrine, “sound” or healthy doctrine, and the call to love our neighbors as ourselves. Saved or unsaved neighbors. So this is part of the mandate and part of the gospel that God has delivered to us.

But it is also important because we choose every day how we will live, and we should choose the ways of love based on the doctrines of love. We must choose how we relate to people and show God’s kind of holy love on the basis of what God has revealed about how we should treat others.

So it is not promiscuous love. It is not feeling love that we make up as we go. It is a clearly defined righteousness shown in relation to others and this includes doing good for them, helping the poor and needy, showing love, forgiving.

Do you do this? It is essential that people in the church see this kind of love and truth modeled in their pastor’s lives and also their leaders’! While we are all fellow strugglers, we can still teach and practice this balance.

We would also have to say this is important because of the way the world or the non-churched analysts see how believers live. So many of them have stayed away ostensibly because of “the hypocrites” as they call them. That is, people who say they believe the right things and follow the Bible but don’t show it with a consistent love and obedience to God. So they are bad models.

And then there is the confusion of people who are just nice to everybody and very inclusive about all morality and all people, in the theological sense of that inclusiveness, and that just can confuse people who are wondering what the Christian stands for.

So someone who has balance about love and truth is going to clearly show exactly (just about) what a Christian should look like in this world. He and she should be people of love, guided by truth.

Truth or Love. Must We Choose? (Part Two) and Part Three will be available 2/23/11.

2011-01-18T11:59:00.004-10:00

DCF Worship Team: Worship Set for 1/23/11

Love the Lord
All the Earth Will Sing Your Praises
I Lift My Eyes Up
O For a Thousand Tongues To Sing
The Wonderful Cross

"Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing."
"Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into His presence."

*the following devotion is provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org :

The Church and Social Justice (Part One)

Posted by Roy Clark in Blog on January 17th, 2011 | no responses

Social justice is being widely discussed in the evangelical church today. Some avoid involvement fearing that the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20 will no longer be the passion of their church. Others consider social work as “sharing the gospel.” Timothy Keller, the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, has authored a thought-provoking book on the issue that focuses on the need for balance. He believes that the gospel of God’s grace is the basis of doing justice. Notice:

“There are many great differences between the small southern town of Hopewell, Virginia, and the giant metropolis of New York. But there was one thing that was exactly the same. To my surprise, there is a direct relationship between a person’s grasp and experience of God’s grace, and his or her heart for justice and the poor. In both settings, as I preached the classic message that God does not give us justice but saves us by free grace, I discovered that those most affected by the message became the most sensitive to the social inequities around them. . . . This book, then, is both for believers who find the Bible a trustworthy guide and for those who wonder if Christianity is a positive influence in the world. I want the orthodox to see how central to the Scripture’s message is justice for the poor and marginalized. I also want to challenge those who do not believe in Christianity to see the Bible not as a repressive text, but as the basis for the modern understanding of human rights” (Generous Justice, pp. xix-xxi).

This week, we will look at some biblical lessons on this mater.

Lessons from Jesus at Nazareth

“So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:16-19).

If we are looking for a description of the ministry of Jesus, this is it. Not many years ago it was in vogue for Christians to wear a bracelet with the letters WWJD? (What would Jesus do?) The passage in Luke tells us. As Jesus’ followers, we should be caring for the poor, helping the brokenhearted (the sorrowful), and proclaiming liberty to the captives. Who are the captives today? They include those in bondage to addictions. Who are the 21st-century oppressed? Certainly numbered among them are those sold into sex slavery by evil men. This is a part of our ministry today.

We’ll see more tomorrow…

The Church and Social Justice (Part Two)

Posted by Roy Clark in Blog on January 18th, 2011 | no responses

This week we are considering the social elements of a church’s biblical mission, yesterday seeing Christ’s own model in this area. Today we continue with:

A Model from the Story of the Good Samaritan
Jesus told the familiar story of the Good Samaritan to a lawyer wanting to know about eternal life (Luke 10:25-36). If Jesus would just list his neighbors, he would go on his way. Instead of a list, Jesus countered with a story:

A Jew was walking along the Jericho road and was attacked by thieves. The beating was so bad that he was left to die. A priest and then a Levite, men of “the cloth,” passed by and did nothing. Then the parable took a dramatic turn. A despised Samaritan came along, saw the man, and showed mercy. The depth of his love was remarkable. He poured on oil and wine and bandaged the wounds. But he did even more. He took the wounded man to an inn for recovery. This was still not the length of his compassion. He told the innkeeper that if the money he left for the man’s care was insufficient, he was ready to give more.

There is a line in this story we sometimes miss. At the close of the parable, Jesus asked the lawyer: “Who do you think was the neighbor?” This was not about a list. It was about an attitude of love. Who was neighborly? Of all people to get the point across, Jesus chose a Samaritan.

Are we concerned about victims today? Robert Lewis wrote that for years their church in Little Rock, Arkansas, struggled with a purpose statement. Their final draft said: “We exist to manifest the reality of Christ to the world by equipping Christians to live lifestyles of spiritual integrity which are . . .

Passionately committed to Christ
Biblically measured
Morally pure
Family centered
Evangelistically bold
Socially responsible

. . . and to equip Christians for influential works of service in our community and the world” (The Church of Irresistible Influence, p. 62). The symbol of their ministry is the bridge. Not a moat surrounding the church to play it safe, but a bridge of incarnational living into the community!

We’ll wrap us this discussion tomorrow…

Worship for 1/2/11

2010-12-29T09:35:00.003-10:00

DCF Worship Team: Worship Set for 1/2/11

Open the Eyes of My Heart
Holy is the Lord
How Great is Our God
Offering (with Christmas Offering)
How Deep the Father's Love for Us

"I bless God every chance I get; my lungs expand with His praise."

*the following devotion is provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org :

The Glory of Celebration (Part One)

Posted by Bill Crowder in Blog on December 27th, 2010 | no responses

At Christmas, perhaps as much as any time of the year, our celebration is marked by our music. The songs we sing at Christmas time (usually for the only time during the year) are powerful expressions of the joy and the wonder of what we celebrate! Consider…

“How Great Our Joy”

“Joy to the World”

“The Birthday of a King”

“O Come, All Ye Faithful”

Each song adds its voice to the celebration, and our hearts, like spiritual tuning forks, resonate with the sound. We understand it. We get it. And, every year, once again, we are affected by the simple splendor of these wonderful songs of celebration.

I would like for us to recognize this week that this is also an expression of what heaven will be like. It will be an awesome celebration—and one that will be punctuated by majestic anthems of praise and glory to the living God! What does that do with Christmas? This week we want to see the celebration in heaven—and it is a celebration made possible in eternity because the Son of God came at Christmas to let us join the eternal celebration!

In Revelation 4-5, we see the worship in heaven, and it revolves around three songs of celebration. Each one begins with the word Worthy—a declaration of the greatness and glory of God. And, each one of these songs deserves our best thoughts today—-

Celebrating the Creator (4:11)

Notice how the celebration begins…

“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God”
“To receive glory and honor and power”

Why? What is at the root of the celebration? As they celebrate the One seated on the Throne of heaven, what is driving their praise?

“For You created all things”
“Because of Your will they existed”
“And were created”

They extol the attributes of their Creator and Sustainer. They praise Him eternally and present their crowns to Him as an expression of the offering of their faithful service. Now, these crowns (received at the bema) are given in gratitude and celebration to Him! As we gave our gifts to one another yesterday, they desire to give their gifts to him in the heavenly celebration.

Above all else, heaven is a place of worship where the song of celebration echoes the theme,

“O worship the King, all glorious above

And gratefully sing His power and His love.

Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,

Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise!”

The Glory of Celebration (Part Two)

Posted by Bill Crowder in Blog on December 28th, 2010 | no responses

This week, we are joining the multitudes around the throne in celebration of the greatness of our God. Yesterday, we celebrated the Creator (Rev.4:11). Today we join in…

Celebrating the Cross (5:8-10)

The Lamb is the central character of the Book of Revelation (appropriate for One born in a stable). In fact, the word “Lamb” appears 28 times in the book! Here, however, the key is that this Lamb was slain and is now alive (v.6), and it is that which forms the heartbeat of the second song of celebration…

“Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals”- Notice that the same word (“worthy”) is used to describe the Lamb as was used to describe the Father! It means that the Lamb is equal to, comparable, deserving of worship as the Father is. Why?

1. “For You were slain”- remember that His worthiness was not won on the Cross it was merely evidenced there. He did not become worthy by dying on the Cross, His death on the Cross had meaning and merit because He was, and is, worthy!

2. “Purchased for God with Your blood…”- it is the word “redeemed” (agorazo- to purchase off the market). The purchase price was His own blood, and the market to which we had sold ourselves was the slave market of sin. Yet, like Hosea and Gomer, he out of great love and forgiveness, purchased us from that slavery and set us free!

3. “Made them a kingdom of priests…”- Notice He did not redeem us for no purpose. His redemption achieves the loftiest of goals- taking us from the pits of slavery, to actively ruling and reigning with Him! Amazing!

Now, fully and finally, at the foot of the Throne and the Lamb, we see the cause of the celebration- and the fruit, not only of the victory of the Cross, but of the mystery of the manger as well.

It is only here that we see the true wonder of Christmas and the power of the Incarnation and what it accomplished!
It is only here that we embrace the depth and perfection of the divine redemptive plan that invaded earth at Bethlehem that first Christmas.
It is only here that we understand the depths of divine love- a love that sent a redeemer, paid a redemptive price, and gave the redeemed an eternal role!

The celebration in heaven reveals the power and the glory of the Cross- and the manger that made that Cross possible. What a wonderful thought!

The Glory of Celebration (Part Three)

Posted by Bill Crowder in Blog on December 29th, 2010 | no responses

This week, we are joining the multitudes around the throne in celebration of the greatness of our God. Monday, we celebrated the Creator (Rev.4:11) and yesterday we celebrated the cross (Rev.5:8-10). Today we conclude by…

Celebrating the Glory (5:11-14)

A. The Glory of the Lamb- as He receives…

1. Power- “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.’” (Matthew 28:18).

2. Riches- “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

3. Wisdom- “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.” (1 Corinthians 1:30).

4. Strength- “Who is the King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle.” (Psalms 24:8).

5. Honor- “YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS; YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET… But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.” (Hebrews 2:7,9).

6. Glory- “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:24).

7. Blessing- “Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits;” (Psalms 103:1-2).

B. The Glory of the Father (and the Lamb) (v.13) The worship now crescendos, and the celebration rises to its heights! To God be the glory- and they give Him all the glory by ascribing to Him…

Blessing- we offer Him our praise and worship from a heart’s desire to bless the Lord!
Honor- the respect and acclaim due to the conqueror of hearts- and of sin.
Glory- enhanced glory as we live lives of worship and adoration and commitment and devotion!
Dominion- absolute rule of the King of kings, not just over our world, but over our lives, hearts, homes, church- everything! Jesus Is Lord Of All!
Forever and ever!- the key is that His dominion lasts forever, never again to be disrupted by the power of sin or the forces of darkness. The final victory of the Cross is so complete that, when fully implemented, will create a celebration that will encompass forever!

What a celebration in Heaven—all made possible by a celebration on a Judean hillside 2000 years ago declaring that the Lamb had arrived in a stable! Years later, John the Baptizer would see this One and declare, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” So it is, and so it must have been, because…

In the Garden of Eden- lamb for a man
In the Passover- lamb for a family
In the Tabernacle- lamb for a nation
In Bethlehem (and Calvary)- the Lamb for the world!

“O come, let us adore Him!” We will in heaven, so let the celebration begin now!

Worship 6/27/10

2010-06-21T06:29:00.002-10:00

PCC Worship Team: Worship Set for 6/27/10

Sing Sing Sing
All the Earth Will Sing Your Praises
Enough
Blessed Be the Name of the Lord

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IMITATE: Ephesians 5:1

"Watch what God does, and then you do it (imitate), like children who learn proper behavior from their parents."

*the following devotion is provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org :

What Does Your Church Value? (Part Two)

Posted by Roy Clark in Blog on June 8th, 2010 | no responses

This week we are considering the values expressed by the early church. These basic values drove the life and ministry of that church family, and were captured by Luke in Acts 2:42. Notice:

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42)

Yesterday we saw the first value—the apostles’ doctrine, or teaching. We continue there with…

2) Fellowship. Here is this great word koinonia, “to have in common.” At first, they had spiritual blessings in common: one faith, one body, one Lord, one God, one baptism. And then they had all things in common. They even sold real estate and brought the proceeds to be shared with those who were needy.

3) The Breaking of Bread. From the beginning, two church ordinances were practiced: baptism and communion. These practices continue to our present day. Since there were no church buildings, the Lord’s Table was observed in their homes.

4) Prayer (Acts 3:1). They prayed for each other. As I go from church to church in my ministry, pastors often want to talk about the declining attendance at their church’s prayer meetings. What can we do to revive interest in prayer among our church family? It’s a key question since it was a major component of the dynamic early church.

Those are terrific values, and obviously important. But to merely embrace values without living them out is unfortunate, indeed. Tomorrow we will see the practical ways the early church exhibited these important values.

Worship 6/20/10

2010-06-14T13:33:00.002-10:00

PCC Worship Team: Worship Set for 6/20/10

Here I Am To Worship
All the Earth Will Sing Your Praises
Holy Is The Lord
How Great Is Our God

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REJOICE: Phillipians 4:4

"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!"

*the following devotion is provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org :

What Does Your Church Value? (Part One)

Posted by Roy Clark in Blog on June 7th, 2010 | no responses

What is really important in your church? What do you value? Sometimes an honest look at your bulletin and budget is a good answer. Are they focused on missions, youth ministry, worship, or outreach?

After a recent study of Acts 2, I rediscovered verse 42 and an ancient response to my question. Notice:

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42)

The new Christians, who were saved on the day of Pentecost, were continuing steadfastly in four major areas: doctrine, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. The expression “continued steadfastly” literally means they were “strong” in these four areas. It would be good for us to reexamine our values in the light of this first-century church. They were not perfect but even their enemies said they were turning “the world upside down” (Acts 17:6). Let’s take a look at these ingredients of a healthy church.

The Apostles’ Doctrine. J. M. Stifler writes in his great book An Introduction to the Book of Acts, that it is remarkable that the church embraced these 12 men as their spiritual guides. “First, the thousands accepted new spiritual guides. They ‘continued in the apostles’ doctrine.’ The full meaning of this can be gained only by reflection. Who were these apostles who in an hour won so large a following, and one that could not be drawn from them afterward? They were untutored men from a distant province. They were unknown in Jerusalem, were without credentials, and, unlike the scribes, carried the diploma of no school. No one would for a moment think of saluting them as Rabbi. And yet the thousands took them for instructors in questions pertaining to eternal life, and refused henceforth to be led by those qualified and recognized by their own law as moral guides” (pp.28-29).So, first in the list is teaching. Peter’s sermon on Pentecost is the first teaching from a man filled with the Holy Spirit. New Christians were daily instructed in doctrine and began their spiritual growth.

We’ll pick up here tomorrow…(next week for PCC worship blog)

Worship 6/13/10

2010-06-07T00:00:00.003-10:00

PCC Worship Team: Worship Set for 6/13/10

All the Earth Will Sing Your Praises
Open the Eyes of my Heart
Better Is One Day
How Deep the Father's Love For Us

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KNEEL: Psalm 95:6 MSG

"So come, let us worship: bow down before Him, on your knees before God, who made us!"

*the following devotion is provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org :

“Psalm 19- The Song of Words and Works” (Part Three)

Posted by Bill Crowder in Blog on May 26th, 2010 | no responses

This week we are considering Psalm 19, and the witnesses stand to declare the glory of God. We began Monday by seeing the testimony of creation and then yesterday looked at the scriptures. Today we close by adding…

The Testing of God’s Child (vs.12-14)

Now comes the real test- the quintessential “so what.” You see the glory of creation, consistently reflecting and obeying God. You see the Word of God extolling the character built into the lives of those who obey God’s Word. Is there any doubt as to what follows? David has preached his sermon, and now gives the invitation. The facts are irrefutable, the examples undeniable. Now, the application is inescapable.

Am I bearing witness to Him and His glory?
Am I consistently modeling obedience?
Am I displaying the character of God and His Word?

David’s desire is to live a life that is blameless before God (not sinless, blameless). His questions penetrate with blinding clarity, and call us to a necessary moment of…

Self-Examination (v.12)

Look within- who can understand his own sinfulness? The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it? We cannot depend on our own judgment, and must be willing to examine ourselves in the light of the Word of God (James 1- mirror)- for only then will we get an accurate grasp of the true condition of our soul.

Submission (v.13)

David looks within and long sot be be clean before the Lord, so he asks God’s help in two strategic areas-

Secret sins- sins he is even unaware of need to be cleansed, for God is NOT unaware of them. This is not necessarily so because the sins are too small to see, but because they have become too characteristic to even register on the scale (“conscience seared with a hot iron”). Has sin gained such a comfort zone in our hearts that we don’t even feel its sting anymore?

Presumptuous sins- this is the opposite end of the spectrum. These willful, intentional, deliberate sins are personified as tyrants that seek to enslave the servant of God.

This is the spiritual counterpart of v.6, “nothing is hidden.” Contemplating the Word of God has done its work, “piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Heb 4:12). Having been so penetrated by truth, David responds with repentance.

Supplication (v.14)

“Meditation”- David closes this wonderful song with a sweet prayer. He asks that his words and thoughts be equal, for the words of the mouth are an empty sham unless backed up by the reality of the heart.

“Acceptable”- David’s greatest concern is to know that his heart and service are acceptable to his Master. Paul agreed in the NT, “Therefore also we have as our ambition… to be pleasing to Him.” (2 Cor 5:9).

David ends with a full recognition of his responsibility to respond to the Word of God, yet with joy and blessing not just guilt and shame. He comes to His God, not as the sinner’s accuser and judge but as his refuge (rock) and rescuer (redeemer). It is for this cause that, even in dealing with his failures, David can still celebrate the privilege of being God’s servant (vs.11,13).

David has surveyed the heavens that declare the glory of God, and has looked into the Word of God that declares His glory. The result? He has seen himself in the light of these two expressions of divine revelation. He has recognized…

The completeness of God’s creation
The perfection of God’s Word, and
The sinful condition of his own life.

No wonder he closes with a prayer of repentance and a cry for help! In all these things, he has discovered afresh how much he needs this God- His strength and redeemer! This is the true spiritual result of the study of the Word of God. It moves us to a consciousness of sin and a sensitivity to holiness. It is the wonderful ministry of the Word to our hearts that makes this possible, and enables us to live the concern of Paul…

“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Cor 10:5).

Worship 6/6/10

2010-05-31T17:37:00.002-10:00

PCC Worship Team: Worship Set for 6/6/10

Desert Song
Mighty Save
Our Great God
Revelation Song

Get Your Own Free Hypster.com Playlist.

EXALT: Psalm 99:9

"Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy."

*the following devotion is provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org :

“Psalm 19- The Song of Words and Works” (Part Two)
Posted by Bill Crowder in Blog on May 25th, 2010 | no responses

This week we are considering Psalm 19, and the witnesses that stand to declare the glory of God. We began yesterday by seeing the testimony of creation and today we add…
The Teaching of God’s Word (vv.7-11)
The heavens, however, are not the only witness God has given us of His power and glory. As God has dramatically and broadly revealed Himself in the creation, He has intimately revealed Himself in a detailed way in His inspired, inerrant Word.
Spurgeon wrote, “He is wisest who read both the world-book and the Word-book as two volumes of the same work, and feels concerning them, ‘My Father wrote them both.’” This cannot be minimized, and the psalmist understands it. Look at the creation and see the wonders of God, then look into His Word and see the majesty of the living, holy, omnipotent, personal God behind that creation!
1) Triplets of Truth (vv.7-9)
Again (as in Psalm 1) the writer uses a series of triplets to express the comprehensive worth and value of the Word of God. In each statement, he considers three different aspects of the Word by means of nouns, adjectives, and verbs…
1. The Titles of the Word (nouns)-
Law- not just the law of Moses, but the whole body of scriptural truth. It is a comprehensive term for God’s revealed will.
Testimony- the aspect of the Word in which it is truth attested to by God Himself.
Precepts- indicates the precision with which the Word is given.
Commandment- reflects the authority of God’s Word
Fear- indicates the appropriate human response to the Word, for the purpose of the law is to put that reverential fear into human hearts (Deut 4:10).
Judgments- the judicial decisions He has recorded as His response to various human situations.
Together these words show the practical purpose of revelation- to bring God’s will to bear on the hearer and generate intelligent reverence for God, well-founded trust and detailed obedience.
2. The Character of the Word (adjectives)-
Perfect- flawless. It reflects a perfect harmony between God and His Word, for it affirms God’s integrity and uprightness.
Sure- not just what is firm, but what is confirmed (verified, as in Gen. 42:20). In essence, they are trustworthy, for His statutes are not only true in principle, they are verifiable in the situations of life.
Right- Morally right. God’s commands are founded in His righteousness, and therefore are righteous themselves. As a result, it is straightforward and just, and there is no hypocrisy in it. (ILL: JVM sociology professor, “Who will determine what is right?” There is only one eternally consistent standard of truth and right and good- God’s Word.
Pure- it has no alloy, polluted, adulterated or diluted. It is the pure, sincere milk of the Word of God. See David’s comment in Psalm 12:6, “The words of the LORD are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.”
Clean- Corrupt things decay and rot, but that which is clean has an enduring quality to it.
True- literally, “truth.” It applauds the Word for its dependability and consistency. The Word is forever settled in heaven, so it can always be trusted in the here and now!
These descriptors all move in a different world and a different value system from the compromise, insincerity and half-truths of discourse in a fallen world.
3. The Effects of the Word (verbs)-
Restoring the soul- the word here means to restore from decay (80:19), from sorrow (Ruth 4:15) or even death (1 Kings 17:21-22). The Bible has a restorative quality by bringing healing, forgiveness and life to the one that turns to God.
Making wise the simple- it is the source of true wisdom for all who are ready to hear it. Both the inexperienced (simple) and wise can develop and grow and embrace God’s will revealed in His word.
Rejoicing the heart- this heartfelt joy is the equivalent of inner peace and tranquility, for it teaches us to love God with all our heart, our innermost being.
Enlightening the eyes- This “lighting of the eyes” speaks of a life that has discernment and wisdom by the Word.
Enduring forever- the truths of God are not like today’s ideas, locked into situations or circumstances. God’s truth does not waffle or vary, but rather it stands solid and firm- timeless is in its and implications. Boice wrote, “People today have a relative idea of truth today, believing that truth changes from generation to generation and from one person’s individual perception to another person’s individual perception. Nothing is certain. But by contrast, the Bible teaches that truth is absolute and unchanging and that it is grounded in the character of God, who is likewise unchanging.”
Righteous altogether- Matthew Henry wrote, “They are all one piece.” Literally they are woven into one garment, one fabric. It is the “plenary” aspect of inspiration, for all the Word of God is equally inspired and altogether right.
B. Treasure of Truth (vv.10-11)
Valuable like gold- it was the most valuable commodity in the ancient world, and the more pure it was the more valuable it was. Here, the value of God’s Word eclipses even the most pure gold.
Sweet like honey- the sweetest substance in the ancient world. The point? The Word of God is not a burden to believers who long to please God with their lives. It is the sweetness of life.
Rewarding obedience- Although the wicked may seem to prosper on every hand, we can be assured that keeping the commandments of God’s Word will be to our ultimate good.
I wonder how much we really view the Word this way. I wonder if we really see the eternal value of its divine truth, and the difference it can make in our hearts, lives, homes, etc. David did- and look how he responded!
Tomorrow we’ll close our look at Psalm 19. (next week for PCC worship blog)

Worship 5/30/10

2010-05-26T09:53:00.002-10:00

PCC Worship Team: Worship Set for 5/30/10

My Redeemer Lives
Your Grace Is Enough
Desert Song
I Will Rise

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YIELD: 2 Chrn. 30:8 MSG

"Don't be pigheaded as your ancestors were. Clasp God's outstretched hand. Come to His Temple of holy worship, consecrated for all time. Serve God, your God. You'll no longer be in danger of His hot anger."

*the following devotion is provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org :

“Psalm 19- The Song of Words and Works” (Part One)
Posted by Bill Crowder in Blog on May 24th, 2010 | no responses

“Space- the Final Frontier?” No, the greatest frontier of all is that in which we explore the infinite, incomprehensible character of the true and living God. For that purpose, we come today to Psalm 19, and few psalms can compare to it in terms of majesty and power of ideas. It embraces the ideas of
“General Revelation” (God speaking through the world) and
“Special Revelation” (God speaking through the Word)
It then combines them together in a pointed challenge to us to examine the quality of our living. Strong stuff, indeed! Many have argued that in reality this is two psalms put together rather arbitrarily, without any compatibility between them. Nothing could be further from the truth!
The two major portions of the psalm are actually the two sides of the same coin- look at how God has marvelously revealed Himself! He displays Himself in the wordless revelation of the universe as eloquently as He does in the clarity of His written Word. No wonder C. S. Lewis wrote of Psalm 19 that it was, “The greatest poem in the psalter and one of the greatest lyrics in the world!”So, grab your Bible, and let’s look at Psalm 19 together…
The Testimony of God’s Works (vv.1-6)
A. The Witness of Creation (v.1)
“The Heavens”- plural because there are various spheres represented- atmosphere, stars and moon and sun, third heaven (2 Cor 12) where God dwells.
“The glory of God”- this speaks of the sum of all of God’s perfections (Ps. 24:7-9). The vastness of space declares the magnitude of our God. The energy of a thousand suns is but a token of His divine energy. The perfect timing of planetary movements reveal His precision. Yet, with all of that, the the multifaceted declaration of the heavens only touches the hem of the garment when it comes to declaring the great glory of God. The majestic creation is evidence merely of an even more majestic God!
B. The Consistency of Creation (vv.2-4a)
“Day after day”- there is never a moment when creation is not singing its song of praise to the Creator. Every pasing moment, without exception, the continual expression of witness goes forth. Though creation doesn’t speak with an audible voice, there is never a time that its message is not being declared.
“No speech or language”- not only is creation bearing witness at all times, it also does so in every place. Just as there is not a moment when creation declares God’s glory, the declaration is being made in every corner of the world, for all to see and hear. This message about the glory of God reaches all the nations- and is equally intelligible to them all.
C. The Obedience of the Sun (vv.4b-6)
The psalmist now zeros in on one particular body of the heavens- the sun. As the dominant element in our solar system and world, the psalmist is making his argument from the greater to the lesser. If the sun, with all its significance, obeys the Creator, then all the lesser elements of creation are likewise subject to His will.
Sunrise- like the bridegroom excitedly leaving his house on his wedding day;
Sunset- like a runner running his course, and making its circuit, then ending its day.
These statements not only show the consistent control of God over the creation, it is expressed in such a way as to undermine the pagan teachings of the day. David uses the same kind of imagery that the pagans used in speaking of the sun, but with one glaring addition- it is all under the sovereign power and control of the living God!
God’s “General Revelation” in creation is both continuous and abundant! What a powerful testimony creation gives! We mentioned it last week, but it bears repeating. The testimony of creation bearing witness to the existence, power, and glory of God is so rich that it should cause people to bow before God! Notice
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. (Rom. 1:20).
Whether it is in the majestic splendor of the universe, the precision of the function of that universe, or the unquestioning obedience to God of that universe- it is undeniable, and it points to God! “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.” That is why Robert Jastrow, founder and director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies wrote of evolutionists…
“For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scales the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries!”
We’ll pick up here tomorrow. (next week for the PCC worship blog)

Worship 5/23/10

2010-05-19T09:14:00.004-10:00

PCC Worship Team: Worship Set for 5/23/10

Arise
Desert Song
Holy and Anointed One
Hungry

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SERVE: Psalm 100:2 NKJV, MSG respectively

"Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing."

"Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into His presence."

This week is ministry Sunday. I thought the above term for the week fit appropriately. Interesting how that worked out! For those of you new to this blog, each week I feature one way to give praise to the Lord from "31 Ways 2 Praise", a list of terms for every day of the month in which we can give praise. This Sunday is the 23rd, so for the 23rd of the month, the term is SERVE. This week I chose to display both NKJV and MSG translations because the first is a well-known 'memory' verse, and the latter being a fresh new interpretation that brings new meaning. At different times in our lives, we'll read a verse and it will be like new to us, revealing something that we can relate to in that particular season. Exciting!

Worship 5/16/10

2010-05-11T22:04:00.002-10:00

PCC Worship Team: Worship Set for 5/16/10

Everlasting God
O For A Thousand Tongues
From the Inside Out
Hosanna (HU)
Sing Sing Sing (after Dale's sermon)

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(draw) NEAR: James 4:8a NKJV

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."

We are celebrating graduating seniors this week! We have 3 members of our worship team that are graduating. I will miss you all being a vital part of our worship if you choose to go away and leave us :). I picked this week's devotion especially for you, Alex, Riana, and Chloe. Don't stop seeking hard after God or a deeper relationship with Christ: one that's personal, real, and effective. When I start off my day in His Word and talking to him over my cup of coffee, life is way better; the day goes smoother. Not to say that my day is all tulips and bon bons; rather, I can have a better perspective of things through God's eyes, plans, and grace in my life. I can choose to react, behave, and love as Jesus did, and still does. Go out into the world as productive young adults shining the love of Christ, evident in the life you lead, and never stop seeking hard after God's own heart! ~Love Amy

*the following devotion is provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org :

Bringing Every Need to God
Posted by David Roper in Blog on February 19th, 2010 | no responses

The wife of a man from the company of the prophets
cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you
know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to
take my two boys as his slaves.”
Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you
have in your house?”
—2 Kings 4:1–2
This woman’s story is one of accumulated grief: Her husband died and
left her destitute and deeply in debt; then her creditors came knocking
at her door, demanding that she pay up or sell her two sons into slavery to
compensate them.
Immediately and with sound wisdom she went to Elisha, the embodiment
of God’s presence in the land. Her words are a reminder that even those who
“fear the Lord” may find themselves in deep trouble.
When Elisha heard the woman’s plea, he didn’t rush to meet her need as
we’re inclined to do. Had he done so, she might have gained a little comfort,
but not from the highest source, and she would have gained it too soon for
her own good. No, instead Elisha asked the woman what she had at hand.
“Nothing,” she said, “except a little oil.”
His response? “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t
ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons.
Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side” (4:4).
When I first read the prophet’s words, I thought of Jesus’ words, “When
you pray, go into your room [in the interior of the house], close the door and
pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done
in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:6). Nothing is said about prayer in the
Old Testament account, but it’s significant to me that Jesus’ phrase, translated
“close the door,” corresponds roughly to the Greek translation of this
Old Testament text, which Jesus himself read and frequently quoted.[1] Could
it be that He had this story in mind?
If so, I suggest that prayer is a matter of shutting ourselves away from all
other dependencies—from background, experience, training, and
past accomplishments, from all the props of reason and intellect, closing
everything and everyone out, and closeting ourselves with God alone (see also
2 Kings 4:33). We detach ourselves from all outward things and
attach ourselves inwardly to the Lord alone. This is where God works His wonders.
So, as the story goes, Elisha directed the widow to “shut the door behind
her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When
all the jars were full, she said to her son, ‘Bring me another one.’
“But he replied, ‘There is not a jar left.’ Then the oil stopped flowing” (4:5–6).
Then the widow sold the oil, paid off her debts, and lived on what remained.
The widow’s needs were met, but something more important occurred:
She learned to carry everything to God in prayer, or so I believe.
It seems that the early church asked its senior members to take on a particular
ministry of love and prayer. This has now become my special work. I
grieve with a friend over a prodigal son and can think of nothing hopeful to
say. And so I pray. I listen to a pastor whose heart is broken by criticism and
disapproval, and I can do nothing to change others’ perceptions of him and
his ministry. And so I pray. I stand by the bed of a desperately ill child, and I
have no power to heal. And so I pray.
I pray, but more important, by my praying I teach others to pray. I may not
be able to bring help to those in deep and desperate need, but I can encourage
them to bring every need to the One who gives “grace to help us in our time of
need” (Hebrews 4:16). This is my deepest joy. Elisha could have met this woman’s
dearth by giving her a gift of money or gathering food from her friends,
but he gave her a greater gift—the gift of a lifetime: He taught her to pray.
1. The only difference is that the Greek translation of 2 Kings 4:4 uses an intensified
form of the verb and puts it in the future tense: apokleiseis tân thuran (You shall shutthe door tight!). Jesus uses the simple form of the same verb and states the action as participle, kleisas tân thuran (having shut the door).
Taken from Seeing God, © 2006 by David Roper. Used by permission of Discovery House Publishers, Box 3566, Grand Rapids MI 4950l. All rights reserved.

Worship 5/9/10

2010-05-05T07:44:00.005-10:00

PCC Worship Team: Worship Set for 5/9/10

Tis So Sweet
Trading My Sorrows
I Lift My Eyes Up
I Will Rise

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HONOR: Proverbs 3:9 MSG

"Honor God with everything you own; give Him the first and the best."

This week is Mother's Day! It's a time we traditionally remember our moms. But what about those "other mothers" that have had a key role in our lives? Have you ever stopped to realize that God strategically placed those "other mothers" in your life for a purpose? "I thank my God every time I remember you." Philippians 1:3 (NIV)

Proverbs 31:25-30 tells us:

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;

she can laugh at the days to come.

²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:

²⁹ "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."

³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

I encourage you this week to ponder the "other mothers" who have been instrumental in shaping your character and/or faith and simply bless them with a note or email telling them how much you thank God every time you remember them. If they're no longer living, try to send the note to their living family members; it will especially bless them and her memory.

*the following devotion is provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org :

“Ministry On Display” (Part Two)
Posted by Roy Clark in Blog on April 13th, 2010 | no responses

This week we are considering Jeremiah as a helpful model for ministry in our generation. Today, we’ll look at Jeremiah’s commission as seen inJeremiah 1:6-10. What was his response to God’s call? How did God reply?
His hesitation: Young Jeremiah was not the first or the last to react with reluctance to God’s calling. Moses had many excuses at the age of 80 for why he was not God’s man. Jeremiah appealed to his youth and inexperience and lack of speaking skills.
In my own call to ministry, I was 17 years old and had responded publicly in my home church. It was a life-changing night for me. I was finally focused on a career with Jesus! But my father triggered hesitation as he questioned my public speaking ability. How I wish he had said that Sunday night, “With God’s help, you will be a good servant of God”!
God’s reassurance: God quickly responded to Jeremiah’s excuses with a twofold promise:
I am in charge of where you will minister. The day after our public ordination, we start a journey with Jesus. Mine has led to Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and overseas. Jeremiah’s led to a spiritually backslidden people. He would be considered a failure today. Imagine preaching for 40 years and not being able to recall a day when people repented and turned back to God. Instead, we receive an inward look into the struggles of this prophet:“Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?” (Jeremiah 15:18 ESV).“O Lord, you know; remember me and visit me, and take vengeance foe me on my persecutors” (15:15).
“I did not sit in the company of the revelers, nor did I rejoice; I sat alone, because your hand was upon me, for you had filled me with indignation” (15:17).
I am in charge of your message. God told him: “Whatever I command you, you shall speak” (1:7). And then, as He did with the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 6:7), He touched his mouth. This was a special personal touch for his preaching that seemed to say: “This will not be easy. Don’t be afraid of them or take heed of their faces when you preach.” Every pastor knows the significance of body language and frowns as we preach. Looks of disapproval are something that “goes with the territory.” And there are times when we search for the proper theme for the next series of sermons. God says, “Come to me for your messages.”
On Wednesday, a final look at Jeremiah 1 and this man’s model for ministry.

Worship 5/2/10

2010-04-27T09:13:00.005-10:00

PCC Worship Team: Worship Set for 5/2/10

I Will Rise
Arise
Love the Lord
I Love Your Grace

I know track #1 is new; it was a good suggestion and it fits with the theme pastor has been speaking on. So, we'll give it a try...we can do it! :D

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BLESS: Psalm 34:1 MSG

"I bless God every chance I get; my lungs expand with His praise."

*the following devotion is provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org :

“Ministry On Display” (Part One)

Posted by Roy Clark in Blog on April 12th, 2010 | no responses

Charles Dickens wrote in his well-known novel A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Jeremiah could have borrowed those words as a summary of his 40-year ministry as a prophet in Judah.
When he sets the historical boundaries, he begins with the good King Josiah and finishes with the horrible king Zedekiah. He ministered in a time of moral decline in his nation, and a review of the last 40 years in our nation reveals that we have witnessed a similar moral decline. So what can we learn from this man who might be considered the greatest of the prophets that could give us a model for ministry in our generation?
Let’s take a look at Jeremiah 1:1-5…
His home life: He was raised in a small village just outside of Jerusalem. Anathoth was a city for priests. In fact, his father was a priest. So Jeremiah was immersed in an atmosphere of godliness. My father was a banker and wanted me to be an agricultural scientist, but God had a different plan. What was your home like?
His influencers: In addition to his father, God placed significant people in Jeremiah’s life to help shape him for a challenging ministry, which began in the 13th year of Judah’s godly king Josiah. When his nation was backslidden, Josiah launched a spiritual reformation. With Josiah governing and Jeremiah preaching, they made a powerful team. Jeremiah also had his Aunt Huldah, who was a prophetess, and Shaphan and Baruch, who were godly boyhood friends. Who influenced you spiritually as you were on life’s journey? For me, it was a godly grandmother who lived next door, prayed for me, and gave me my first Bible.
His preparation: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet in the nations” (Jer. 1:5). Jeremiah was young when he heard these words, and they must have been astonishing to his ears. Let’s look more closely at these powerful words:
I knew you—not before you were born, but before you were conceived.
I formed you in the womb. This reminds us of Psalm 139:13-16, where the psalmist adds (to the thoughts in Jeremiah) that God is not only the designer of our physical appearance, but also decided on a plan for our lives.
I sanctified you. Jeremiah, you were set apart for ministry before you were born.
I ordained you. You were to be my prophet and spokesman in one of the most critical times in the nation’s history. When our season of ministry is especially hard, how encouraging to read these words! On Wednesday, we learn more from the life of Jeremiah.
I found this cute 'rap' that uses icons from today's pop culture:

Worship 4/25/10

2010-04-20T22:29:00.000-10:00

PCC Worship Team: Worship Set for 4/25/10

Lord Reign In Me
Let It Rise
Arise
Hallelujah We Will Sing

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TELL: Psalm 9:1 NKJV

"I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works."

*the following devotion is provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org :

“The Power of the Empty Tomb” (Part Three)
Posted by Bill Crowder in Blog on April 7th, 2010 | no responses

This week, in the aftermath of Easter celebrations, we are looking at a great resurrection text—1 Corinthians 15:1-4. To this point, we have examined the power, history and doctrines of the Gospel. Today, we end with…
The Authority of the Gospel (vv.3-4)
“According to the Scriptures”
The authority of the gospel message is that it is rooted in the Scriptures. Not only is it history and theology, it is also the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy as well…
Christ’s Death is predicted in Psalm 22, Isaiah 53, Lev.16 (in the pictures of atonement)
Christ’s Resurrection is predicted in Psalm 16:10 (“For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.”)
The Old Testament prepared the way for the resurrection and showed its necessity. Why is it so important? Because we are dead in trespasses in sins (Eph.2). We don’t simply need forgiveness, we need to be raised from the dead. It’s the life-giving power seen:
in the passion of Christ,
in Jonah’s deliverance from the belly of the fish,
in Aaron’s rod that budded.
All point to the fact that dead people need life. The authority of the Gospel is that it is God’s declared—and only—solution to that problem.
Without the resurrection, there is no salvation, no messiah, no gospel, no life. D. A. Major wrote:
Had the crucifixion of Jesus ended His disciples’ experience of Him, it is hard to see how the Christian church could have come into existence. The church was founded on faith in the messiahship of Jesus. A crucified Messiah was no messiah at all. He was one rejected by Judaism and a curse from God. It was the resurrection of Jesus, as Paul declares in Romans 14, which declared Him to be “the Son of God with power.”
Church historian Kenneth Scott Latourette wrote:
It was the conviction of the resurrection of Jesus which lifted his followers out of the despair into which his death had cast them and which led to the perpetuation of a movement begun by him. But for their profound belief that the crucified had risen from the dead and that they had seen him and talked with him, the death of Jesus and even Jesus Himself, would probably have been all but forgotten.
For the follower of Christ, today and every day of the year is a celebration the victory of our Lord over death and the grave. That is the power of the gospel. That is the power of an empty tomb.

Worship 4/18/10

2010-04-12T20:26:00.001-10:00

PCC Worship Team: Worship Set for 4/18/10

Arise
Indescribable
Shout To The North
Be Unto Your Name

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PRAISE: Psalm 35:18

"I will give You thanks in the great congregation; I will praise You among many people."

*the following devotion is provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org :

“The Power of the Empty Tomb” (Part Two)
Posted by Bill Crowder in Blog on April 6th, 2010 | no responses

As a post-Easter study, this week we are looking at 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 to see the impact of Christ’s resurrection. Yesterday we began by looking at the power of the gospel. Today we add two more pieces to this consideration:
The History of the Gospel (vv.3-4)
(3) For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, (4) and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
In the historical sense, what are the facts of the Gospel?
“Of first importance”- in the order of priority, this comes first all the time!
“Paul received”- where? On the Damascus Road (Acts 9) where he met the Savior, “I am Jesus.” Paul received Christ for his own personal salvation, and for his ultimate proclamation of the gospel. He was sent to tell (debtor to both Jew and Greek).
“Delivered”- God gave it, it didn’t start with Paul.
What is the Gospel? Here it is in its key elements of historical facts:
Christ died for our sins- the significance of Christ’s death on the cross moved beyond the great anguish and suffering. It was a criminal’s death, taken by the innocent on behalf of the guilty.
Was buried- burial verified and showed the reality of Jesus’ death. It also establishes the tomb that would be found empty.
Rose again the third day- the empty tomb reminds us that it is a literal, physical resurrection—not just a spiritual one.
According to the Scriptures- Previewed by OT.
This statement of the gospel was so clear and so profound that it was used as a baptismal confession by the early church. How important is the historical reality of the gospel?
It was the focus of Christ’s preaching (Mk.8:31, Jn. 11:25)
It was the focus of Paul’s preaching (Acts 2:14-36, 3:12-26)
In fact, John Locke said, “Our Savior’s resurrection is truly of great importance in Christianity, so great that His being Messiah stands or falls on it.”
The resurrection is the cornerstone of the Gospel (Rom. 10:9). It’s historicity is vital! As are…
The Doctrines of the Gospel (vv.3-4)
Now, let’s look at vv.3-4 again from a different angle. Here is where history and theology interfaces. Notice how the facts of history are foundational to what we believe.
Christ Died- “for our sins”! His was a substitutionary sacrifice (Rom.3:23-26) because He himself was sinless. Notice Paul doesn’t cite witnesses here, because the cross is not in question. His death as necessitated by our sins, and was the satisfaction of the just demands of the righteousness of God against sin. Many were crucified—only one of them for the sins of others.
He was buried- evidence of the total reality of His death. It was necessary, again, top show that His death was actual and definitive.
He rose again the third day- there is much debate on “third day”— is it three full days? The third day? Parts of three days?
That can be debated, but what is not debatable is that He rose again. The term “rose” is perfect tense, meaning that He was raised from the dead and continues in that living state! It is stated in that way to stress the nonnegotiable certainty of the fact that he rose! The most integral part of the salvation story is resurrection—why? Because a dead Savior can’t save Himself (compare to the mockery Christ endured on the cross). Jesus did better than come down from the cross—He came back from the dead!
These verses are so critical, because they constitute the heart of the gospel. He died, He rose! These realities are:
linked in the gospel,
linked in theology,
linked in history,
linked in prophecy.
We’ll close this week’s discussion tomorrow.

Worship 4/11/10

2010-04-07T11:04:00.004-10:00

PCC Worship Team: Worship Set for 4/11/10

Sing Sing Sing
My Redeemer Lives
O, For A Thousand Tongues To Sing
I Could Sing of Your Love Forever

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IMITATE: Ephesians 5:1 MSG

"Watch what God does, and then you do it (imitate), like children who learn proper behavior from their parents."

*the following devotion is provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org :

“The Power of the Empty Tomb” (Part One)
Posted by Bill Crowder in Blog on April 5th, 2010 | no responses

With Resurrection day just past, this week we will engage in considering one of the most exciting passages in the New Testament—1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
It is a passage rich in theology, yet with practical implications that affect all aspects of the Christian life. It is in this passage that the apostle Paul gives the greatest New Testament apologetic for the doctrine of the resurrection of Christ—a particularly valuable subject for consideration on this particular Monday.
As Paul writes to Corinth, he has been dealing with a variety of problems there—personality cults, spiritual arrogance, sin in the assembly, lawsuits between brothers in Christ, problems regarding marriage, food offered to idols, abuse of the Lord’s table, tongues, and more.
Apparently the church at Corinth had a problem here as well. All the other problems in the book were practical in nature—wrong attitudes, division, sin, false worship. But now Paul makes his only doctrinal correction in the book. They had struggles with the resurrection and thought it was all about the here and now.
We don’t know all of the historical factors behind their struggle, but we do know that the Greek philosophical schools did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. They believed that the human body was a prison and welcomed death as liberation from that bondage. Was this at the root of the church’s struggle? Or, was it perhaps the result of the influence of converted Sadducees?
We don’t know—but we do know that Paul deals firmly and completely with the problem and it is vital that he does so. Just as the heart pumps life-giving blood to all the body, the truth of the resurrection gives life to every other area of gospel truth. Today we will look at the front-end of his argument.
The Power of the Gospel (vv.1-2)
Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, (2) by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
“I declare to you the already declared gospel”—the key at the outset is the consistency of the message. Compare this to the struggles at Galatia (Gal.1:6-10). The Gospel Paul had preached upon his arrival in Corinth (Acts 18) had not changed!
Their own testimony was evidence of resurrection power (see Phil.3). What does Paul say were the results of their contact with the gospel of the resurrection? Link this back to 1 Cor.1: 17-18:
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void. For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
The message of the cross and the empty tomb link up to form the gospel! How had it hit them in Corinth?
Received- heard and accepted (the past tense of salvation)
Stand In It- the result of it is permanent standing before God (the future tense of salvation)
Are being saved through it- This is the present tense of salvation, the ongoing sanctification process in the life of the believer.
Warning: “unless you believed in vain.” To reject the resurrection is to dilute the gospel and make faith empty, because without the resurrection the object of our faith—Christ Himself—is unworthy.
Key: “Hold fast the Word.” The key here is the difference is between professing faith and saving faith. Paul is not warning about losing salvation but about empty faith that does not redeem.
The redeemed are marked by changed life—the life of faith—and are eternally secure. He warns against believing without genuine saving faith. So what is the issue? The reliability of the Gospel itself!
We will pick up our thoughts here tomorrow. [or for the case of this PCC blog, next week ~amy :)]

Worship 4/4/10

2010-03-29T17:23:00.002-10:00

PCCC Worship Team: Worship Set for 4/4/10

He Is Exalted
My Redeemer Lives
You Are My King (Amazing Love)
Above All

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COME: Psalm 100:2 NKJV

"Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing."

This is a well-known "memory" verse from childhood, but read it again from the Message translation:

"Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into His presence."

*the following devotion is provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org :

The Tongue of a Learner
Posted by David Roper in Blog on March 26th, 2010 | no responses

The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.
—Isaiah 50:4–5
Jesus said we shouldn’t worry too much about what to say or how to say it.
“At that time you will be given what to say” (Matthew 10:19). That’s not to
say that God fills our minds with thoughts we’ve never had before but rather that He takes from a reservoir of accumulated truth those things that He
wants us to say. “Oration follows meditation,” the old spiritual masters said.
Jesus said to His disciples, “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight;
what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs” (Matthew
10:27). These words are applicable to all of us. Our Lord speaks to us in solitude.
There He tells us eternal and infinite secrets. There our eyes begin to
see what only He can see; there our ears begin to detect the subtle undertones
of His voice.
I listen to the Lord’s word to Ezekiel: “Open your mouth and eat what I
give you.” Then Ezekiel looks and sees a hand stretched out to him, thrusting
a scroll into his hand. Then the Lord says, “Son of man, eat what is before
you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel.” Ezekiel responds,
“I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat” (2:8–3:2).
Isaiah put it this way, speaking of the Servant of the Lord, the Messiah.
What an intriguing image! Every morning God drew near His Servant, calling
Him by name, awakening Him, inviting Him to sit at the Father’s feet,
giving Him His message for the day, preparing Him for each day’s duties and
demands. Every morning our Lord listened “like one being taught.”
That’s what enabled Jesus to speak such wise and gracious words to those
in need. He knew the source of His wisdom. He said of Himself, “I . . . speak
just what the Father has taught me”; I am “a man who has told you the truth
that I heard from God”; “These words you hear are not my own; they belong
to the Father” (John 8:28, 40; 14:24).
And so it is with us. Every morning our Lord invites us to sit at His feet, to
listen like one being taught, to take what words we need for that day. That’s
how He gives us a wise, instructed tongue. That’s how we “know the word
that sustains the weary.”
Some of the older translations render Isaiah 50:4: “The Lord God has given
me the tongue of the learned.” But the text actually speaks of “the tongue
of a learner.” We must be taught before we can teach others; we must learn
before we can ever be “learned.” And the more we receive, the more we have
to give.
Ambrose, Augustine’s mentor, wrote in the fourth century AD: “I desire
. . . that, in the endeavor to teach, I may be able to learn. For one is the true
Master, who alone has not learnt, what He taught all; but men learn before
they teach, and receive from Him what they may hand on to others.”
It’s through prayerful, thoughtful Bible reading and quiet meditation that
our Lord speaks from His depths to ours. It is when we give ourselves time
for prayerful contemplation that His heart is revealed and our hearts are exposed.
We must listen until we know what He feels, what He wants, what He
loves, and what He hates. Then we can give that word away.
“Hide yourself in God,” George MacDonald said, “and when you rise before
men, speak out of that secret place.” When we speak out of the secret
place, we have the overwhelming authority of God. We are saying again what
God has said—nothing more and nothing less.
In our relativistic and subjectivist world, the notion of a decisive and final
word from God sounds presumptuous. Discovery, dialogue, and debate are
more in vogue. But we must never forget that God’s word is exactly that—
God’s word. Behind every word we speak lies the infinite power and authority
of God Himself, an authority mediated through every utterance. Thus
Peter wrote, “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words
of God” (1 Peter 4:11, emphasis added).
Taken from Seeing God, © 2006 by David Roper. Used by permission of Discovery House Publishers, Box 3566, Grand Rapids MI 4950l. All rights reserved.

Worship 3/28/10

2010-03-22T12:19:00.004-10:00

PCCC Worship Team: Worship Set for 3/28/10

Jesus Paid it All
Hosanna (Praise is Rising)
How He Loves
Hosanna

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WAIT: Isaiah 40:31 MSG

"But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind."

*the following devotion is provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org :

“A Call To Community” (Part Three)
Posted by Bill Crowder in Blog on March 10th, 2010 | no responses

We are looking this week at a “Call to Community” with strong counsel on how to deal with relationships in the family of God, and to that end, Paul issues three distinct calls in Romans 15:1-7. We have already considered the calls to compassion andendurance. Today we close with a…
A Call to Relationship (v.7)
Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Key Word- “welcome” (receive) Let the strong receive the weak, and let all receive each other into full fellowship, even as “Christ has received us”. It means to welcome with a warm embrace of the heart—to grant someone access to your heart. If Christ received us, and bears with all our weaknesses, well may we receive and be compassionate one with another, and by so doing God will be glorified. We do not have the luxury of living the Christian life in isolation—we are called to and built for relationship!
The Call to Relationship: This is COMMUNAL- and portrays goodness.
This all matters because there are many people in our community and even in our churches whose lives are marked by a distinct loneliness and despair. Nowhere should this be less possible than in the church of Jesus Christ—but it happens constantly. May we respond to Paul’s call to community—and reach out to those who are alone and in need.

Just for fun. Thanks, Uncle Tod! (heehee)

Worship 3/17/10

2010-03-17T10:46:00.005-10:00

PCCC Worship Team: Worship Set for 3/17/10

How Can I Keep From Singing
How He Loves
The Wonderful Cross
The Heart of Worship

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OFFER: Hebrews 13:15 MSG

"Let's take our place outside with Jesus, no longer pouring out the sacrificial blood of animals but pouring out sacrificial praises from our lips to God in Jesus' name."

WELCOME PASTOR JACK!! On behalf of the worship team, I extend our gratitude and aloha. We look forward to working with you! :)

*the following devotion is provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org :

“A Call To Community” (Part Two)
Posted by Bill Crowder in Blog on March 9th, 2010 | no responses

This week we are considering Paul’s challenge to the church. It forms a “Call to Community” with strong counsel on how to deal with relationships in the family of God, and does so by issuing three distinct calls in Romans 15:1-7.
Yesterday we saw the call to compassion. Today we consider:
A Call To Endurance (vv.4-6)
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (5) May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, (6) that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So, what does this have to do with endurance? Everything, because Paul describes the very nature of what that endurance needs to look like and how it needs to work!
A. From the Scriptures (“what was written”)- we have been given this wonderful, fabulous, indescribable resource in the Bible to instruct us—why? So that we can endure in life with encouragement and hope! This is a reinforcing of what Paul had already written in 5:3-5:
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
As we examine the scriptures, we can see the witness of lives that have suffered far more than most of us ever will, yet they endured—that drives us to hope in God’s ability to work on our behalf as well!
B. For harmony- with one another, in accord with Christ. And what will it take for the average group of average believers with average issues and average attitudes to live in harmony? Paul says it—it can only come from the God of endurance and encouragement! That tells us two critical things:
It is absolutely impossible for us to simply “man up” and “just get along”
It is absolutely possible for God to so dramatically work in the lives of His people so that, in His endurance and encouragement, we can get along!
We just have to make some choices—beginning with what our attitude will be toward the other people (other than ourselves) that Christ died for!
C. With unity- together, one voice glorifying God! Now, Paul really starts meddling. He is not content with us to just live in harmony because God makes us—he is determined that we be the Body of Christ. He is determined that we become this marvelously diverse assembly of people who all speak with one voice—and God is glorified by that voice! We tend to dismiss that voice when it doesn’t serve our purposes, but that is not an option to the child of God. We are called to endure—with one heart, one mind, and one voice.
The Call to Endurance: This is INTERNAL—and produces glory. We’ll see the final element of this call tomorrow.

Just for fun...

Worship 3/14/10

2010-03-09T21:56:00.002-10:00

PCCC Worship Team: Worship Set for 3/14/10

Lord I Lift Your Name on High
Awesome God
In Christ Alone
How Deep the Father's Love for Us

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LOVE: Psalm 31:23 MSG

"Love God, all you saints; God takes care of all who stay close to Him, but He pays back in full those arrogant enough to go it alone."

John Hu is blessing us this week with words that God has laid on his heart for our church. John hand-picked the above set to tie into his theme for Sunday.

*the following devotion is provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org :

“A Call To Community” (Part One)
Posted by Bill Crowder in Blog on March 8th, 2010 | no responses

Tom Hanks’ tour de force performance in the film “Castaway” raises the question—which is harder, living in isolation or living in relationship? Certainly each has its challenges, but the question remains—which is tougher?
Richard Wurmbrand (Sermons in Solitary Confinement) would no doubt say that isolation is the greater struggle and the greater hardship, and I would not fault his thinking, given his own experience in prison. Maybe that’s why, in his isolation, Tom Hanks’ castaway created a companion out of a soccer ball.
I wonder, though, if, in its own way, relationship isn’t just as hard. When you are in isolation there is no need for concerns about others or their needs, there is no social etiquette to maintain, and there is no need to feel like you need to impress anyone.
With relationship comes challenge, and I think Paul understood that as he wrote to the 1^st century church at Rome. I suspect that this was in part the motivation for the portion of the Roman letter we wish to consider today. It forms a “Call to Community” with strong counsel on how to deal with relationships in the family of God, and does so by issuing three distinct calls in Romans 15:1-7. We see the first today:
A Call to Compassion (vv.1-3)
We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. (2) Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. (3) For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”
Compassion can take many forms, but it is ultimately the commitment to seek the welfare of another by living inside their experience in life. Notice Paul identifies three groups, and uses different verbs to describe the appropriate actions in regards to each group:
A. Weak (v.1- bear)- the same word is used in Gal. 6:2, “Bear one another’s burdens”—what is the weakness? The root word for “weak” speaks of someone who is unable to stand on their feet, and may be a metaphor for someone who does not have the strength to stand alone for Christ. The challenge to the strong is to stand with them—sharing with them the strength to endure for Christ.
B. Neighbor (v.2- please)- remember that Jesus sets before us the definition of a neighbor and it is anyone for whom we can show kindness and do good. When he says to “please” them, it is not a surrender of values or convictions but rather a carrying of those convictions in a way that will be seen as appealing and winsome, reflecting on Christ in a positive way.
C. Antagonist (v.3- reproaches)- this quotes Psalm 69:9, and seems to make the whole of the psalm a portrait of the suffering Savior. When faced with the reproaches of the very people He had come to love, Christ dramatically put compassion on display—by refusing to please Himself, working rather for their needed benefit, regardless of their treatment of Him!
The Call to Compassion: This is EXTERNAL—and proclaims grace to those who need it. We pick up here tomorrow.

Worship 3/7/10

2010-03-02T22:43:00.003-10:00

PCCC Worship Team: Worship Set for 3/7/10

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
How Deep the Father's Love For Us
In Christ Alone

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FEAR: Psalm 34:9 NKJV

"Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him."

This is our last Sunday of worship with Bob Thompson as our pastor. These three songs are his favorites from our repertoire. It will be a difficult worship service for many. But we can all look forward to the day when we will all be together again, united in worship, singing to the One who Was, Is and Is to come! I'll miss working with you, Pastor Bob. Thank you for your gentle insight and direction. ~Amy :D

*the following devotion is provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org :

The Fairest
Posted in Worship Devotionals on March 1st, 2010

When I first became a Christian and started attending church at age nineteen, I immediately fell in love with singing the great hymns of the faith. My heart overflowed with joy and thanksgiving as we sang of God’s love for us in Christ. Soon one of my favorite hymns (from the late 1600s) became “Fairest Lord Jesus!” I love the simplicity of the melody and the awesomeness of the One exalted in these words:
Fair is the sunshine,
fairer still the moonlight,
and all the twinkling starry host: Jesus shines brighter,
Jesus shines purer than all the angels heaven can boast.
Beautiful Savior!
Lord of the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration
now and forevermore be Thine!
God’s Son, whom we sing about in this song, came to this earth, lived a perfect life, and gave Himself for us on the cross (Luke 23:33). He arose from the grave (Luke 24:6) and is now seated at God’s right hand (Hebrews 1:3). One day we’ll join in worship with thousands upon thousands and say: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13). Maybe we’ll sing “Fairest Lord Jesus!” too.
Until then, let’s allow Jesus to be “the fairest” above all in our personal lives by seeking wisdom from His Word and following in His ways.
— Anne Cetas

Worship 2/28/10

2010-02-24T14:25:00.003-10:00

PCCC Worship Team: Worship Set for 2/28/10
Friend of God
Mighty to Save
Hosanna

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WAIT: Isaiah 40:31 MSG
"But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind."

So, this is a long one, but it was good for me to read in it's entirety and thought you would benefit from it, as well.

*the following devotion is provided byResourcesForYourMinistry.org :
What Is The Heart of Forgiveness? (Part 1)
Posted by Bill Crowderin Blog on March 30th, 2009 | no responses

How do we view forgiveness? To many it is simply a way to feel better about the difficult interpersonal moments in life.
But, is that right? Is forgiveness merely a method for making us feel better a situation, or is forgiveness an issue that is intended to lead to reconciliation, restoration, and (when appropriate) restitution?
This week I’d like for us to think together about the issue of forgiveness, and I would suggest that the discussion must begin with a very important word, and concept—conditionality.
When we speak of conditionality, we are talking about something that is dependent upon something else. That is the condition of conditionality. For example, in the Bible we talk about the promises of God—but not all promises are created equal. Some are:
Conditional: Dependent upon the actions of the individuals receiving the promise
Unconditional:Dependent only upon God’s trustworthiness
In fact, most promises in the scriptures tend to be conditional—not unconditional. However, because God is a God of grace and mercy we tend to be more drawn to that which is unconditional, and that begins to drive our thinking in areas both appropriate and inappropriate. For example:
What Is Unconditional Love?
Appropriately, unconditional love is love that is given simply because the heart of love must express the love it carries. This is seen in two areas:
A. God’s Love (John 3:16)
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
God’s love expressed in sending Jesus was not based on anything that we did, would, or could do to earn such love. It was the expression of the heart of God to a rebellious world in order to reach out to us and express His passion for our hearts. It was absolutely independent of any response or action on our part—either before or after His coming. God sent Christ because God is love—not because we deserved that love, asked for it, or in any way met the requirements of the law so as to receive it. It was and is unconditional.
God loves everyone unconditionally, but (and it is a really BIG “but”) He only enters into relationship with those who repent of sins and accept His gift of grace. Similarly, we are likewise to love people unconditionally…
B. Our Love For Others (Luke 6:26-36)
“(26) Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way. (27) But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, (28) bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (29) Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. (30) Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. (31) Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. (32) If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. (33) If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. (34) If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.(35) But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. (36) Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
Now we are into it. Notice, Jesus is very clear. Anyone (v.32) can love their friends in a significant way, but unconditional love isn’t that way. Unconditional love expresses itself in a heart response that shows the mercy of the Father to all. The challenge is to love people regardless of how they treat you—because that is what God does!
Now comes the challenge. If we are to love unconditionally, would that not then naturally imply that we are to forgiveunconditionally? Not necessarily. We’ll see that on Wednesday…
What Is The Heart of Forgiveness? (Part 2)
Posted by Bill Crowderin Blog on April 1st, 2009 | no responses

This week we are thinking together about the issue of forgiveness. To do that, we began by looking at the difference between conditional and unconditional, then looked at how love can be expressed unconditionally. How does that relate to forgiveness?
What Is Unconditional Forgiveness?
A. The Question:
But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. (Matt.6:15)
But, what does that mean? How are we to respond to mistreatment in a way that pleases God, honors the scriptures, and protects relationship?
B. The Answer:
The answer is that forgiveness is not a casual, superficial act so that I feel better. “Forgive and forget” is a myth that only leaves both sides of the disagreement unsatisfied. We may say we forgive, but we do not forget. The only way to resolve is to recognize the biblical pattern for dealing with mistreatment, and part of it is here:
(15) If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. (16) But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. (17) If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. (Matthew 18:15-17)
This is a serious process because relationships need to be taken seriously. It involves the discomfort of confrontation, and sometimes the greater discomfort of the weight of the church being thrown at the situation.
C. The Model:
Just because we are challenged to love unconditionally, and we see that love modeled by God, does not equate to forgiving unconditionally. Even God doesn’t do that! Notice:
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
God is faithful and just to forgive—but only once we have confessed! Even God does not unconditionally forgive (in salvation that would lead to universalism), and I find it impossible to believe that He would require us to do that which He Himself does not practice.
On Friday we’ll examine what love requires in the area of forgiveness.
What Is The Heart of Forgiveness? (Part 3)
Posted by Bill Crowderin Blog on April 3rd, 2009 | no responses

This week we have been looking at the issue of forgiveness. We began with the idea of conditionality, then moved to how love can be unconditional, but forgiveness cannot. So, what do we do when we have been hurt? How do we counsel people who have been mistreated by others? This brings us to a third critical question:
What Does Love Require?
We are called to modelagape love—the love that reflects God’s love. By definition, it is a self-sacrificing love that seeks the welfare of the one loved. What then, in forgiveness, does that look like? In other words, what does love require?
A. Maintain a Forgiving Spirit
“Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” (Luke 17:3-4)
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. (Eph.4:32)
We are to be people of mercy and grace, ready to forgive—like our heavenly Father.
B. Seek the Highest Good of Another
Sometimes this involves pain—but the desire is not to punish or gain revenge or retribution. The intent must ever be to correct and restore (like child discipline or church discipline).
(5) and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; (6) FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.” (7) It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? (8) But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. (9) Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? (10) For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for ourgood, so that we may share His holiness. (11) All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. (Heb.12:5-11)
C. Be Honest
Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE OF YOU WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. (Eph.4:25)
The fact is that, uncomfortable as it may be, we are not being honest with one another if we sweep mistreatment under the rug and refuse to deal with it.
D. Maintain Accountability
Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each onelooking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. (Gal.6:1)
All of us have a responsibility to remain accountable. Lack of accountability produces extraordinary opportunity for spiritual failure. We need this done for us, and we need to do so for one another as well!
E. Trust God for Outcomes
(19) Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. (20) “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” (21) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Rom.12:19-21)
(35) Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, In due time their foot will slip; For the day of their calamity is near, And the impending things are hastening upon them.’ (36) For the LORD will vindicate His people, And will have compassion on His servants, When He sees that their strength is gone, And there is none remaining, bond or free. (Deut.32:35-36)
(22) WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; (23) and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously (1 Peter 2:22-23)
There it is… the key to forgiveness. While we may not be able to forgive when someone is unwillingly to make things right, we are not allowed to hang onto that hurt and the bitterness it so easily and inevitably produces. Remember the warning of Hebrews:
looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled (Heb.12:15)
So, are you willing to forgive? An are you willing to do the hard work forgiveness requires if we are to have a chance of seeing broken relationships required?
What has your experience been in this area? Good? Bad?

Worship 2/21/10

2010-02-17T10:32:00.003-10:00

PCCC Worship Team: Worship Set for 2/21/10

Your Name
Sing Sing Sing
Freedom

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REMEMBER: Psalm 105:5 MSG

"Remember the world of wonders He has made, His miracles, and the verdicts He's rendered-"

*the following devotion is provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org :

Soul Music
Posted in Worship Devotionals on February 16th, 2010

Soul music is a term adopted to describe popular black music in the United States as it evolved from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. It’s a style heavily influenced by gospel music. Soul music is known for its intimacy, passion, intensity, rhythmic sounds, and spiritual roots. In essence, it’s an expression of the soul. I believe this is what David had in mind when he wrote Psalm 103, a soulful ballad that took the people of God into the beautiful place of sincere expression of worship to the Lord.
David began this soulful song with “Let all that I am praise the Lord” (v.1). This phrase was an expression of the intimate relationship between David and Yahweh, the covenant-making and promise-keeping God of Israel. David’s soul music was an intimate expression of love and gratitude to the God who loved him first. David’s soul music was intense. He praised the Lord with his innermost being, which for him was a physical, emotional, and spiritual experience. He didn’t hold back anything in the worship and praise of his God. David’s soul music was intentional. It found its power and passion in constantly remembering God’s blessings. When David thought about God’s provision, he couldn’t keep from singing and giving Him praise.
Biblical soul music starts from within our hearts and expresses itself outward. If we want to experience the journey of intimate, intense, and intentional worship of God, we need to get close to Him. This happens as we spend time talking to Him and listening to Him. Don’t hold anything back. Relish how gracious, merciful, and loving God is as you offer up a sacrifice of praise.
~from Marvin Williams, Our Daily Journey (www.odj.org), January 3, 2010

Here's an awesome worship song for you to listen to and watch. Thank you, God, for being my friend, my safe refuge, my King.

Worship 2/14/10

2010-02-09T13:08:00.003-10:00

PCCC Worship Team: Worship Set for 2/14/10

Holy, Holy, Holy
Revive Us Again
Shine, Jesus, Shine

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LOVE: Psalm 31:23 MSG

"Love God, all you saints; God takes care of all who stay close to Him, but He pays back in full those arrogant enough to go it alone."

*the following devotion is provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org :

Magnifying Our Master
Posted in Worship Devotionals on February 8th, 2010

As a man of unwavering steadfastness, the apostle Paul had a fixed ambition. He spelled it out in his letter to the Philippians: “Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death” (1:20).
No matter what Paul might be called upon to suffer, no matter what hardships he might undergo, he was determined that his life would be a means of magnifying Jesus. And without flinching, he held tight to that determination through peril, pain, and imprisonment, and even willingly offered his body as a sacrifice.
Some of us may not be able to see how Jesus could be magnified in our bodies. We may think that it can be done only during times of persecution for our faith. But that is not the case.
Our hands can magnify the Lord as we write letters of encouragement. Our feet can magnify Him as we go on simple errands of helpfulness. Our voices can magnify Him as we give our testimony and sing His praises. Our hearts can magnify Him as we express in prayer our love for the redeeming Christ. Our ears can magnify Him as we gratefully listen to sermons exalting His grace.
If we know Jesus, we can lift Him up to others in our daily lives.
~Vernon C. Grounds

Worship 2/7/10

2010-02-02T22:37:00.003-10:00

PCCC Worship Team: Worship Set for 2/7/10

All Hail the Power of Jesus Name
Holy Holy Holy
We Remember You

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GLORIFY: Romans 15:6 MSG

"Then we'll be a choir - not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!"

"We Remember You" is a hymn that Pastor Bob would like us to lead the congregation in singing. It's communion Sunday, so he thought this would be a nice song to tie into that theme.

*the following devotion is provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org :

“A 21st-Century Checkup For Ministry” (Part 2)
Posted by Roy Clark in Blog on August 26th, 2009 | no responses

On Monday, we began revisiting the church-planting ministry of Paul and his team in Macedonia recorded in Acts 16. The Philippian church was the fruit of that ministry. In Growing Spiritual Redwoods, William Easum and Thomas Bandy referred to the founding of this Macedonian church as a worthy template for our 21^st-century church work. We are challenged with seven questions as we read about the beginning of the church at Philippi. On Monday, our questions were: (1) Do we have a workable vision statement? (2) Is that vision statement shared broadly? Today, I want to add two more:
Are we practicing indigenous worship? (Acts 16:13). After sizing up their new challenge in Philippi, they chose the riverside prayer meeting as their launching pad. This was venturing into something new. After many months of beginning in the local synagogue, they had to adjust. Worship was led by women and was held out-of-doors. Yet they did not quit and go home because it was different. They joined in and soon gained the opportunity to share the gospel. Lydia was saved and a church was birthed. What a lesson for the church today! Can we appreciate the legacy of our past and also embrace the challenge of reaching a new generation?
Do we have effective outreach? (Acts 16:14-15). What was effective at this riverside prayer meeting was networking. Lydia listened intently, her heart was opened, and she was saved. She must have been eager to share the good news of the gospel, because when she was baptized so was her household. That is networking. It was not only modeled by Lydia but also by the converted jailer (see 16:31-34). Networking was effective in the Acts 16 story, but the pressing question in this 21st-century checkup is this: What have you and I found effective where God has planted us?
It seems that these topics are being discussed everywhere I speak in my RBC ministry. I welcome your thoughts!

Worship 1/31/10

2010-01-26T23:23:00.003-10:00

PCCC Worship Team: Worship Set for 1/31/10

Freedom
Glory Glory Lord
Forever
From the Inside Out

*note: there is no recording for 'Glory Glory Lord'.

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ZEALOUS: Titus 2:14

"...who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself his own special people, zealous for good works."

I posted some new songs, tracks 4-6. These are exciting and I can't wait to be able to introduce them to our church!

Our Weekly Devotion Provided by ResourcesForYourMinistry.org

A Heart for Outreach

Posted by Roy Clark in Sermon Outlines on August 4th, 2009 | no responses

Text: Luke 19:1-10

Introduction: When we think about our mission as Jesus-followers, we usually go to texts like Matthew 28:19-20 or Acts 1:8. But there is a succinct command found in the parable of the pounds that is sometimes overlooked: “Occupy until I come” (Luke 19:13 kjv). Other translations help us to get our job description: “Do business . . . until I come” (nasb); “Put this money to work . . . until I come back” (niv); “Invest until I come back” (tlb). The text is casting evangelism in a commercial format. Jesus the master teacher also gives us a masterful example of what the text means in the story of the conversion of Zacchaeus found in Luke 19:1-10. Jesus was doing “gospel business.”

1. Profile of Zacchaeus (19:1-4). Luke crams an amazing amount of information about Zacchaeus into four short verses.

· His name: Zacchaeus means “the righteous one.” We have to imagine the proud Jewish parents of baby Zacchaeus bringing him to the temple for his dedication. When the priest asks for his name, they answer Zacchaeus, with a prayer that throughout life he would be righteous. They were in for a disappointment!

· His job: “a chief tax collector.” Zacchaeus “must have been considered a very prominent individual. He had been placed at the head of the entire tax district of Jericho and vicinity, one of the three main Palestinian tax offices, the other two being located at Caesarea and Capernaum” (William Hendricksen,New Testament Commentary: Luke, p. 855).

· His finances: He was rich. You became rich as a tax collector by working for the Roman rulers and overcharging your fellow citizens. Anything over the designated tax fee could be pocketed personally. This is why Zacchaeus would be considered Jericho’s most hated man and labeled a sinner.

· His appearance: “He was short of stature.” He may have battled feelings of inferiority. I imagine him being nicknamed “Shorty.” Perhaps he tried to compensate for his short stature by obtaining a position to prove his worth. Maybe this is how Zacchaeus became chief!

· His temperament: He was curious and clever. He made his way behind the crowd and climbed a sycamore tree to get a glimpse of Rabbi Jesus.

2. Lunch with Zacchaeus (19:5-7). The two individuals Jesus paid special attention to during his trek through Jericho were Bartimaeus and Zacchaeus. They are viewed in stark contrast. One was poor, the other rich. One needed physical sight, the other spiritual sight. Both were marginalized in the culture of the day. The crowd told Bartimaeus to be quiet (18:39), but Jesus stopped and listened and healed. Passing through Jericho, Jesus focused on the most unpopular man in town—Zacchaeus, “a sinner.” There is something for us to learn from observing Jesus. He had time for those on the fringes of society—a blind man and a despised tax collector.

When we think about doing gospel business in the 21^st century, will we follow the lead and heart of Jesus? Will we reach out to the handicapped? What about those despised by society? In the outstanding text in Luke 4, Jesus defines where His heart lies: “He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (vv.18-19).

3. Conversion of Zacchaeus (19:8-9). How I wish I could have been “a fly on the wall,” to eavesdrop on that conversation! The speech of the new Zacchaeus leaves us in no doubt about the topic of conversation. Zacchaeus, who was a son of Abraham racially, was learning about becoming a son of Abraham spiritually. The apostle Paul provides us with more teaching in his letter to the Galatians: “Just as Abraham ‘believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed.’ So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham” (3:6-9). The new believer, Zacchaeus, gave dramatic evidence of the spiritual change in his life. He was ready to restore what he had wrongfully charged in the Jericho tax bills.

“The loving concern Jesus had shown for Zacchaeus made the latter a changed man. So deeply impressed is he that, in response, he rises, and states that here and now he is giving half of his possessions to the poor. That is his thank-offering. Has he at times been guilty of exacting too much money from anybody? He has. . . . In the presence of all he now declares that he is returning whatever he has unlawfully taken away. Not only that, he is going to add something to it. The law (Lev. 6:1-5; Num. 5:7) required that in certain cases one-fifth . . . of the overcharge had to be added when making restitution. Zacchaeus, however, has just now decided to restore not double but fourfold the amount overcharged” (Hendricksen, New Testament Commentary: Luke, p. 856).

4. The mission of Jesus-followers (19:10). “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” I see intentionality in Jesus’ style of evangelism. He seeks! He found Zacchaeus up a tree, the Sychar woman by a well, and Levi in his office. He is on the lookout. Winning the lost is on His heart. Is it on mine? Is it on yours? Let’s follow His lead by not overlooking the Bartimaeuses and Zacchaeuses of our day.

Worship 1/24/10

2010-01-20T11:27:00.002-10:00

PCCC Worship Team: Worship Set for 1/24/10

Sing Sing Sing
Better is One Day
Hosanna

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SUBMIT: James 4:7 MSG

"So let God work His will in you. Yell a loud no to the devil and watch him scamper."

Glory Deflectors

Posted in Worship Devotionals on January 18th, 2010

Barbara Mertz has a complaint about Egypt’s Pharaoh Ramses II. In her bookTemples, Tombs, and Hieroglyphs, archaeologist Mertz writes, “One gets so tired of Ramses; his face, his figure, and/or his name are plastered over half the wall surfaces still standing in Egypt—at least it seems that way.” Insatiably thirsty for glory, Ramses reveled in Egyptian religion, which taught that the pharaoh was divine.

Contrast Ramses’ desire for glory with the attitude of Paul and Barnabas. On one of their missionary journeys, they faced a situation during which they refused to accept vainglory. When a crowd in the idolatrous city of Lystra saw them heal a crippled man, the people exclaimed, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” (Acts 14:11). They immediately prepared animals to sacrifice in honor of Paul and Barnabas. But the two quickly objected, saying, “We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God” (v. 15).

We do not rival the apostles in our accomplishments for God, but we all have things we do for Him. It’s then that we must be “glory deflectors,” making sure God gets all the glory for everything we have done.

— Dennis Fisher