One of the associate ministers at Waterview church of Christ, Robert Taylor, will bring the Sunday morning lesson as he combines the Word of God with a report of his latest mission trip to Nicaragua.

As a disciple of Christ, we are called to take the gospel to the world, whether that ‘world’ is across the alley or across the equator. Giving a quarter on Sunday morning (during our ‘quarterly’ quarter collection) will help feed hungry children in the breakfast program that we support in Nicaragua. So as I give a quarter, or give my time, to show someone Christ I must first be willing to open my eyes to a lost and dying world. Then we must be prepared for what we will see.

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

Sunday morning, February 23, 2014

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

“To God Be the Glory” 4

“Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear His voice…” A beautiful song (hymn) of praise. But ask yourself, ‘how great is YOUR rejoicing?’ We conclude the third verse with the assurance that when this life is over and when we see Jesus, our joy (our rejoicing) will be, ‘purer and higher and greater.’

“Thomas’ Song” – 269

A moving, spiritual song that takes the account of John chapter 20 and recalls what Thomas might have said/thought during the days after Christ’s death. Remembering the death of my parents, I would often think how comforting it would be to see them again. To reach out and touch their hands and talk to them again. Perhaps Thomas had the same thoughts as we sing, ‘…if I could only hold Your hand…’

“I Love to Tell the Story” – 659

Just singing the third verse of this old hymn we’ll be thinking about giving to help the work in Nicaragua. We love to tell the story, but why? This verse makes it clear, ‘…for some have never heard.’

“He Is Able” – 213

New to some, this song accentuates the message from the scripture reading this morning, Ephesians 3:20, 21. “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or think…” Our God is able to take these few small quarters and change the lives of so many lost ones. Robert will report that at least two have been baptized into Christ through this breakfast program. He is able, more than able…

“Open Our Eyes” – 766

Open our eyes that we may see and open our ears that we may hear…a message many of us should do more than just sing. But what am I looking for? What should I be listening to? The simple, short answer: Jesus

“There is a Redeemer” – 287

Before our lesson this morning we’ll echo the praise from this contemporary song. The soprano and tenor voices lead us through the verses, but we all join together in the chorus as we proclaim, “Thank You, oh my Father, for giving us Your Son, and leaving Your Spirit till the work on earth is done!”

“None of Self and All of Thee” – 695

Not under compulsion, but willingly do we sing this commitment. Notice the building of our ‘faith’ (and volume) as we go from all of self to none of Thee, to some of self and some of Thee, to less of self and more of Thee.  But without this final verse the whole song is empty. Our voices ring as we praise our God with a commitment to Him; “Higher than the highest heavens, deeper than the deepest sea, Lord, Thy love at last has conquered, “None of self and all of Thee!”

“The Lily of the Valley” – 548

As we pass the collection plate on Sunday morning we sing a ‘love song’ finding it’s root in Song of Solomon. Perhaps the most stiring of the words within this song come in the second verse. We sing of how He has taken all our griefs and our sorrows to bear for us. And when we’re tempted, He’s our strength. But when you sing the next line notice your resolve, “I have all for Him forsaken and all my idols torn from my heart…” Will you, have you, torn the world out of your life, or does it still hold on?

“Let the Lower Lights Be Burning” – 642

We’ll conclude our time together with a song that encourages us to keep shining our lights to a dark and desperate world. We are the lower lights that direct lost souls to the Lighthouse. The question you have to ask is whether or not you’re keeping the watch for some poor fainting, struggling seaman. Trim your feeble lamp, my brother!