The past couple of weeks I haven't had the chance to fire off a "Preparing for Sunday" post, but as I've thought about it, I think an occasional post-Sunday reflection might be in order. I often have (along with many of you too, no doubt), new thoughts after Sunday has come and gone; after we've actually sung the songs together as a congregation, and sat under the preaching of the sermon, there just might be unique things to think and talk about that we wouldn't have had leading up to Sunday.
So here goes!
Pastor John brought the sermon to us, preaching from Colossians 3:18-21, on the marks of a spiritually healthy family. I've been struck, as Jenny have become parents recently, by the calling Christ makes on us to be genuine with our kids, and to be concerned about the right things. I'm convicted that we shouldn't be as concerned with their actions as we are with their heart condition before God. And that we shouldn't exasperate or discourage our kids by being false or hypocritical in our living.
The "college/young adult" band led the music, which is always a fun change. We had a longer practice Thursday night, and we threw together all the instruments/amplification. And I'll just say we cranked the volume in the choir room a little more than usual - it was a good, worshipful time. It's also great to have these folks be a more regular part of our corporate worship on Sunday mornings - we've often referred to groups like this as the "youth band" or the "college band," but maybe we actually shouldn't do that. They're a part of our church, and can capably lead us all in singing on Sunday morning, just like the "regular" band can. So really, it was just a version of the "worship team" that led our church music on Sunday.
We sang the following songs together:
1. Blessed Be Your Name - a staple song of our church, that declares faith that only God can give - a faith that will trust and treasure God through good times, and through intense suffering. "You give and take away/My heart will choose to say, 'Lord, blessed be Your name.'"
2. How Great is Our God/How Great Thou Art - a blend of favorites that rejoices in the greatness of God as Creator and Sustainer of all things, and also as Savior (the Lion and the Lamb).
3. How He Loves - we brought this song in to share, since it's been an influential song among the college/post-college group at our church over the past year-or-so. We may end up bringing it in more for main service - we'll have to see. The song has some tricky poetry, but it communicates some foundational truths about the Gospel in some fresh, creative ways. For instance: "[God] loves like a hurricane, I am a tree bending beneath the weight of [His] wind and mercy." Click on the link and give it a listen!
4. Because of Your Love - a great newer tune, expanding on the theme of the love of God in our order of service, helping us think through how the "Maker of the universe" was "broken for the sins of the Earth."
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