Tag: Light the Fire

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Fixing the Pharisees…June 29th

Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase, “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.” But the reverse could be true; if it is broken, it needs to be fixed. Your car doesn’t start so you find out what’s wrong with it and fix it. Your computer is running slow, so do some checking and car repairthen get it fixed. Evaluate what you are having problems with, and then see what needs to be done to fix it.

The Pharisees in Jesus’ day had their idea of how best to ‘worship’ God. But a quick study of the text shows they were missing the mark. Their practices were selfish and based on political partiality. In short, the religious leaders during Christ’s time were broken and needed to be fixed. But how about you and your worship to God? Are you ‘doing it right?’ Join us on Sunday morning as we consider, ‘fixing the Pharisees.’

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, June 29, 2014

You’ll notice the following songs come from the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“To God Be the Glory” – 2

“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear His voice…” What a great song of praise as we open our worship time together.

“God Has Smiled on Me” – 118

A song typically sung slowly to emphasize the blessings we have as God ‘smiles’ us. But this morning we’ll sing this song with a faster tempo to match the level of energy with the previous song. Notice the connection: “…O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son, and give Him the glory great things He hath done.” “God has smiled on me, He has set me free…” Praise the Lord!

“Great is Thy Faithfulness” – 57

Written in the early 1900’s, this hymn of praise echoes our thankfulness to God for His faithfulness. How do we know God is faithful; “…morning by morning new mercies I see…” Verse two gives even more for the Christian to hold on to; “Summer and winter and spring time and harvest, sun, moon and stars in their courses above join with all nature in manifold (multiple) witness to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.”

“Tis Set the Feast Divine” – no bookLord's Supper

“It is set, the feast divine..” We come together on the first day of the week to commemorate our Lord’s death, burial and resurrection. We do that when we partake of the Lord’s Supper, the ‘feast divine.’ But what is being served for this feast? We sing what we read from the scripture, “the bread and the fruit of the vine.”

“Til My Faith Becomes Sight” – 836

A song which I would call a contemporary hymn, written just 23 years ago, provides us with six names for our Lord, Jesus Christ; 1) Bread of Life (John 6:35), 2) Living Water (John 4:10), 3) Lover of my soul (Romans 8:39), 4) Lamb of God (John 1:36), 5) Hope of Glory (Colossians 1:27), 6) Savior crucified (Acts 2:36).

“When This Passing World is Done” – 259

Do you understand all that Jesus has done for you? Can you comprehend the vastness of His compassion on His people? This hymn (prayer) sung to God has been around for more than 150 years, and yet it still holds a true message for us today. When this life is over, when I stand before judgment, when I hear the thunderous praise of heaven…then I’ll know how much I owe for the gift of my salvation. But notice the scripture reference in verse 4; “…for now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face, for I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (I Cor. 13:12). So we sing, “E’en on earth as through a glass, darkly let Thy glory pass.” Don’t wait until you stand before the throne of God, consider all that God has done for you, even while you are here on earth…

“More About Jesus” – 678

Before our lesson we sing this spiritual song about desiring to know ‘more about Jesus.’ If we think we have it ‘all figured out,’ and if we think we’re NOT broken, we run the risk of being Pharisaical…never thinking we need to be fixed.

“Purer in Heart, O God” – 671

Oh to be like Christ (that’s what Christian means), “…we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And hearts on fireeveryone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” We sing this song as our invitation song, calling for us to have pure hearts. How can that be? We sing, “May I devote my life wholly to Thee…”

“Light the Fire” – no book

A contemporary song that calls us to be ‘on fire’ for God. We are all broken and need to be fixed, and one way we can do that is to stand and praise our God. Understanding my position, I should fall to my knees in humility. And so we sing, “…Lord, You know where I’ve been (I’m broken), so light the fire in my heart again (fix me).” Jesus tried to ‘fix’ the Pharisees in their stubborn, broken state, but they resisted. So what about you, will you let Him fix you?

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The Mystery of Marriage…Jan 19th

wedding ringsWhy is it some marriages last for decades while others wither months after the honeymoon?  Is there a secret formula that provides longevity to the marriage covenant?  Maybe there’s a mysterious formula only the ‘lucky’ have discovered?  We can better understand how marriages find success when we understand the phrase “I DO”…

The man and woman face each other and the preacher asks the long awaited question, “Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”  Without hesitation the bride’s response is clear, “I do!”  At the same time the penitent one stands before the Lord and is asked a similar question, “Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God?”  That response echoes the bride…”I DO!”  A wedding and a baptism, is there a connection?  Join us as we look at the mystery of marriage.

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, January 19, 2014

The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“You Are the Song that I Sing” – 238

What do we sing on Sunday morning?  Is it a song to praise and glorify God?  The Psalmist gives us a good starting point when it comes to singing, look to God first and foremost. “You (God) are the words and the music.  You (God) are the song that I sing.  You (God) are the harmony, You (God) are the melody, praise to Your name (God) I will sing…”

“Let Me Live Close to Thee” – 831

This chorus has a strong alto lead and an incredible message.  Giving this hymn it’s title we sing together the chorus; “Let me live close to Thee, take my hand, dear Lord, and guide me all along the rugged way; O let me live close to Thee, let me walk and talk with Thee, dear Lord, each day.”   Do you want to live close to Him?  Does a husband want to be with his wife or a wife with her husband?  They should, and so should the Christian long to be with his Savior.

“In Memory of the Savior’s Love” – 335

Our reading before the Lord’s Supper is I Corinthians 11:23, 24 when Paul reminds us of Christ’s sacrifice and His words. “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”  We’ll sing Lords suppertogether, and remember our Savior’s love.  Let’s ‘keep the sacred feast’ and be sure we come with humble, contrite (repenting) hearts.

“By Christ Redeemed” – 366

Notice the last three words in each verse of this song conclude with the same words Paul wrote in I Corinthians 11:26.  Remembering Christ’s death, burial and resurrection we partake of the Lord’s Supper; “…proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”

“Sweet Adoration“ – 253

A beautiful contemporary song we’ll sing following the Lord’s Supper expressing our ‘adoration’ to God.  But ask yourself, will I honor Him with my words (my lips) and yet keep my heart far from Him (Matthew 15:8)?  Understand we should give God, “…glory and honor and praise…a part of our constant devotion.”  Husbands and wives, loving your spouse goes beyond just saying “I love you.”

“Wonderful Words of Life” – 543

How many times have you heard the message of salvation?  For some it would be many, many times.  But still our hearts would say, “Tell me the story of Christ’s love…again.”  Sunday morning, before our lesson, we’ll ask each other to “Sing it over again to me, wonderful words of Life…words of Life and beauty (that) teach me faith and duty…”

“Trust and Obey” – 915

Marriages succeed when the husband and wife trust each other.  As their marriage grows with the years, so their relationship becomes stronger and happier.  If they walk with each other, share each others burdens and trust and obey God’s word they find comfort.  In like manner, when we trust in God’s guiding hand, what should be our concern?  When we obey His holy word, what is there for us to fear?  We sing, “never fear, only trust and obey!” 

“Light the Fire” – no book

The contribution plate will be passed after the lesson this morning, but as we give back what already belongs to God, we’ll sing a song of restoration.  Asking, as it is, for God to light the fire in our hearts that we would serve and honor Him more.

“How Sweet, How Heavenly” – 709

Closing our worship time together we’ll sing this traditional spiritual song (220 years old) encouraging each other to ‘feel each others sigh’, to cry with each other (‘sorrow flows from eye to eye’) and to overlook each others faults (‘each can his brother’s failings hide’).  As a husband and wife do we feel each others sigh?  Husband’s, do you cry with your wife?  Wives, are you able to over look your husband’s faults?  There are some clear similarities with the marriage relationship and the Christian walk.  The mystery to marriage might well be found in the walk with Christ.