Ask any parent who has young children and they will assure you the sound of silence is best experienced when those angelic children are sleeping. As the parent of three teens the sound of silence is harder to find, but it’s still best when they sleep. Yet the question remains, are there other times when silence reigns?

This Sunday morning, May 19th, we will talk about another time for silence. Often we’re silent when we are humbled and have nothing say. Other times we hear nothing but silence when we’re wrong or ashamed. But consider those who are righteous; could they demonstrate the sound of silence?

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

Sunday morning, May 19, 2013

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

“Praise Him! Praise Him” – 300
“He’s My King” -166
“O Worship the King” – 144

This three-song medley will open our time of worship as we transition between each of the first verses of these hymns. The intent of placing these three hymns back-to-back is to build upon the message. Notice how we conclude with, “…Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song.” and then begin with “All day long of Jesus I am singing…” Would that we keep a song always in our hearts, ‘all day long.’ The second concludes with “…He’s my Savior He’s my King.” and then fittingly we pick up with, “O Worship the King, all glorious above…” Notice how verse one concludes, “…Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.” Pavilion is a covering and to gird something is to surround or wrap it up. So we conclude this medley as we sing that our ‘Shield and our Defender’ is covered with splendor (majesty) and surrounded with praise. Indeed…”Praise Him! Praise Him!”

“We Give Thee But Thine Own” – 663

As we prepare for an opportunity to give (contribution), we’ll sing this old hymn that echoes the thoughts of First Chronicles 29:14, “We have given You only what comes from Your hand.” You’ll need to listen carefully to the old English in verse one; “All that we have is Thine alone, a trust, O Lord, from Thee.”

“When He Cometh” – 714

This morning the children will bring their quarters to the front as we collect for the Breakfast Program in Nicaragua. We’ll sing “Jesus Loves the Little Children” as they come forward, but then transition to the third verse of the song “When He Cometh.” Written in the 1860’s the sentiment it timeless, “Little children, little children who love their Redeemer are the jewels, precious jewels, His loved and His own…”

An extra song (though not being sung this morning) to help share the idea of how we can experience ‘the sound of silence.’ This song is compliments of the McCoy Family Singers, Have a Quiet Time with God Every Day

Our song before the lesson…
“O Listen to the Wondrous Story” – 496

The questions (conversation) in the chorus remind us that many still don’t know the answer to the basic question of salvation. As the singers remind us, “…Yet, One came down from heaven’s glory, saving us at (an) awful cost… The ladies continue into the chorus: “Who saved us from eternal loss!’ (not a question) But the men do respond with a rhetorical question; “Who but God’s Son upon the cross?” Now listen to the Q&A that goes back and forth… “What did He do? He died for you! Where is He now? Believe it… (in unison) In heaven interceding!” As the voices swell, so does the message!

“Be Still and Know” – 31

As we conclude the Lord’s Supper we’ll sing the words of God from Psalm 46:10, “Cease striving and know that I am God…” Maybe when we do that (stop striving, translated ‘let go and relax’) we’ll hear the sound of silence.

“Jesus is Coming Soon” – 712

“Troublesome times are here filling men’s hearts with fear, freedom we all hold dear now is at stake…” Interesting to note, this song dates back to the early 1940’s, just shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, as our country struggled from an unprovoked attack, R.E. Winsett penned these words. In the face of disaster we so often turn to God. This time in our country’s history was no different. Only with this spiritual song we sing to encourage and remind the listener that, “Jesus is coming soon.”

“Humble Thyself” – 745

Not a typical invitation song, but one that perhaps will help us focus on the message from this morning’s lesson. Another psalm (I Peter 5) that entreats us to turn our busy lives and troubled hearts over to God. When we are humbled and relying on Him (in silence) He will lift us up!

“Sweet Peace” – 115

What is your foundation set upon? Do you take peace in knowing that God is in control? Our closing song tells us that because of Christ’s sacrifice (on the cross) we can have peace. “Through Christ on the cross, peace was made, my debt by His death was all paid. No other foundation is laid, for peace…” Now that’s the sound of silence!

On the first day of the week, every Sunday morning, Christians meet together to worship and fellowship with the family of God.

We sing, we pray, we read scripture and we listen to a message spoken from God’s Word. But our focus, every week, turns solemn as we remember our Savior’s death, burial and resurrection. We partake of the bread, and the fruit of the vine as we understand Christ’s words from Mark 14: 22-24, “While they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, ‘Take it; this is My body’ And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And He said to them, ‘This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.’ ” From the gospel account it is clear what Jesus was saying. He was initiating for us a memorial. A means by which we could remember His sacrifice for our salvation.

Why? Are we so forgetful that we can’t remember something as important as our Savior’s sacrifice? Allow me provide you with a few ‘loose’ illustrations. Gentlemen, when’s your wife’s birthday? Do you always remember to call dad on Father’s Day? What happened on March 6, 1836? (Let me help you with that last one…’Remember the Alamo’) In another time it was not uncommon for families to drive out to the cemetery and place a bouquet of flowers on a loved ones grave. Why?, because we love(d) them? Is it because we miss them, or simply…so we won’t forget them. The point is…we often forget. We remember and partake of the Lord’ Supper for one basic reason…so we won’t forget! Perhaps Paul explains it best when we read I Corinthians 11: 24-26, “and when He had given thanks, He broke it (the bread) and said, ‘This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ in the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, ‘This is the cup of the new covenant in My blood; do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”

We all have busy lives. Our days begin early and end late. The reason we have ‘fast food’ is because we want to eat it fast. We don’t have time to slow down, we’re busy. We don’t even have (more like ‘take’) the time to visit a grave site because we have slowly allowed the world to change our priorities. That’s why we have memorials. Without a constant reminder, our faith can become shallow and our love for God may slowly weaken.

In 1837 (the year after the Alamo fell), John R. Wreford penned a song of memory about our Savior’s death. A song that many still sing today as we meet on first day of the week and commemorate the Lord’s Supper.

When my love to Christ grows weak, when for deeper faith I seek,
Then in thought I go to Thee, Garden of Gethsemane.

There I walk amid the shades, while the evening twilight fades,
See that suffering, friendless One, weeping, praying there alone.

When my love for man grows weak, when for stronger faith I seek,
Hill of Calvary! I go to thy scenes of fear and woe.

There behold His agony, suffered on the bitter tree:
See His anguish, see His faith Love triumphant still in death.

Then to life I turn again, learning all the worth of pain,
Learning all the might that lies in a full self-sacrifice.

Continue to keep Christ close to your heart and always on the front of our mind. Remember the memorial is for us to remember Him, follow His will and prepare ourselves for His return. So let me ask you…

How’s Your Memory?

Tag: The Lord’s Supper

The Sound of Silence…May 19th

This Sunday morning, May 19th, we will talk about another time for silence. Often we’re silent when we are humbled and have nothing say. Other times we hear nothing but silence when we’re wrong or ashamed. But consider those who are righteous; could they demonstrate the sound of silence?

Sunday morning, May 19, 2013

How’s Your Memory?

On the first day of the week, every Sunday morning, Christians meet together to worship and fellowship with the family of God.