16 April: Tuesday Refocus

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” - Romans 12:1-2

In view of everything that has come before in Romans 1-11: the saving work of Christ, the power of God, God’s righteousness, our justification through faith, the reality that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, that God has united us to Christ, that we have been adopted as sons and heirs, and that there is future glory, in view of the heart, and character of God, in view of what God has done and will do, in view of the entire counsel of Scripture and God’s revelation of Himself - offer yourself as a spiritual act of worship.

In a world that on both sides of the political spectrum chants ‘my body, my choice,’ in a world that says ‘as long as you are not hurting anyone else, you get to use your body however you’d like, Scripture says, no. You have been bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body (1 Corinthians 6:20). Scripture says, no, in view of God’s mercy offer yourself as a spiritual act of worship. Offer your body - all that you are - as an act of worship to God. Not just your ‘Christian activities,’ but your very life as a spiritual act of worship.

God may we offer all in response to all of You, in Christ’s name we pray, amen.

Amen,

AB

7 January: Liturgy + Set List

• PROMISES

  Call to Worship: Psalm 16

  Good morning and welcome to worship on this first Sunday of the new year. We are here to set the Lord always before our mind’s attention and our heart’s affection. We look to the one who leads us in the way of life, and regardless of the year ahead will not abandon you. Let’s sing of his heart and character together:

• THE GREATNESS OF OUR GOD

• ABIDE

  Sermon: Mark 13:1-37

  Christ has come, and he is coming again. Let’s not grow indifferent toward our sin, but use this time to once again set Christ before our gaze, and confess our sins to God and one another. Would you stand if you’re able:

  BCP Corporate Confession

  Brothers and sisters, hear the good news. God does not treat you as your sins deserve. Christ has come and He is coming again. Let’s sing to him now…

• HYMN OF HEAVEN

• YET NOT I, BUT THROUGH CHRIST IN ME

  Benediction

Advent Devotional

The Advent and Christmas season can accelerate an already full, and busy life. Our attention can be scattered, our hearts divided, and our prayers infrequent and indifferent. Is this just the reality of life? As followers of Jesus, how do we recenter our hearts, minds, attention, and affection on the person of Jesus - particularly at this time of year?

Prayer and praise anchor the people of God. And the invitation of prayer and praise during the season of Advent is to be present with and to the God who is with us.

Worship and prayer do not flow exclusively from the heart and life of believers.

Everyone prays. Everyone worships. Christian and non-Christian alike. But because of sin, it is not that we cease to worship and pray, but that we aim our worship and words in all the wrong directions. If right worship is to occur, it is first a work of the Holy Spirit - lifting our eyes to behold the beauty, wonder, and work of Jesus. If we are to rightly receive the gift of prayer and praise in the season of Advent those realities must move intentionally from the outskirts and margin of our lives to the deep down center.

This devotional contains the prayers of the saints - those in the story of Scripture, as well as those through the generations. My hope and prayer is that their words become our own as we seek to recenter our prayers and praise this Advent season.

Teaching Concepts

So many things seem normal and common when they are familiar. If you have grown up in church, or at least been in a church long enough to sense the rhythms and liturgy, to use context clues with language and word choice, you likely know this to be true. There are so many aspects to the gathering of the local church that might seem confusing if you have no context.

Why do we sing?

Why do we lift our hands?

Who leads us into God’s presence?

Why should we gather with the people of God?

Why do we sing and celebrate so much about the cross and blood of Christ?

Worship leaders are more than musicians or vocalists, we are theologians, and teachers. Sometimes I wonder if worship leaders do not lean into the responsibility to teach our people why these things matter, because we do not understand why these things matter. But everything becomes more meaningful when you know the story, the history, the intention, and the direction behind what is happening and why.

We cannot force people to worship rightly. We cannot lead well enough, or competently enough to will someone to worship. But we can shepherd people’s attention and affection toward Christ by teaching the truth in our songs, in our transitions, in our prayers, and in our liturgical choices. We can work to provide the context to make sense of raised hands, the purpose of singing, the power of the gathered people, and the only hope that is ours through Christ.

For a worship leader, teaching does not (and perhaps, nor should it) look like spending 20-45 minutes walking through a text of Scripture. But maybe it does look like spending 20-45 seconds thoughtfully articulating the concept behind a song, the definition of words, or a deeper theological truth that through the power of the Holy Spirit could open up the hearts and minds of our people to respond in wholehearted worship, wonder and praise.

29 January: Liturgy + Set List

• ALL CREATURES OF OUR GOD AND KING

  Call to Worship: Psalm 95:1-7

  The One who created and sustains all things is the One who keeps promises, keeps covenant, and keeps faithfulness forever. Let’s sing these truths about God to God, and to one another:

• PROMISES

• O PRAISE THE NAME (ANÁSTASIS)

  Sermon: Mark 2:1-12

  The Apostles Creed

  Communion

• HOLY (JESUS YOU ARE)

  Benediction

September 24: Tuesday Refocus

‘No matter how much we suffer

No matter our doubts

No matter how angry we get

No matter how many times we have asked in desperation, ‘how long?’

Prayer develops finally into praise.

Everything finds its way to the doorstep of praise.’ – Tim Keller

We maneuver, strive, fight and expend ourselves hoping to strong-arm our circumstance into submission.  Hoping that our changing circumstance will give birth to praise.

But the doorstep of praise can be this very moment. 

Because the doorstep of praise is an altar of revelation and response:

‘…I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up… And I said: ‘Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!’ (Is 6:1,5)

This is an altar where we offer our whole self – not just the best parts of us – but even our suffering, doubts, anger and desperation (Rom 12:1, Matt 22:37).

We come to this doorstep of praise, this altar, when we recognize who God is and who we are:

‘…God is in heaven, and you are on earth, therefore let your words be few.’ – Ecc 5:2

Lord, help us to cease from our striving and offer everything back to You upon the altar, the doorstep of praise.  You are worthy of no less than all we are, and all we have, even the hidden places of contempt can be offered back in view of Your mercy.  Here we are, Lord.  In Christ name, amen.

Offering,

AB