30 April: Tuesday Refocus

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” - Romans 12:9-14

In a world that prides itself on radical individualism, perhaps there is nothing more counter-cultural than intentionally investing yourself into the community of faith - to know and be known. To serve and be served. In humility to count others as more significant than yourself. To contribute to the needs of the saints.

In a world that prides itself on the vilification of anyone who thinks differently, or mistreats us in any way - perhaps one of the most counter-cultural acts is to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. To cross the greater distance of relational divide. To bless and not to curse. To live peaceably with all people as far as it depends on you. Not to cancel people who have hurt us or abandon a relationship over a misunderstanding. Not to hurt people before they hurt us, but instead to seek the good of the other.

For followers of Jesus, when we love our enemies, what we are saying is ‘I know I once was an enemy of God, but because of Jesus, I have been completely forgiven. If God can forgive me of all my sins, how can I not offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me?’

Father, may these things be true of us by the indwelling and empowering work of your Spirit. In Christ’s name, amen.

Amen,

AB

Guest Worship Leaders

Whether leading worship for a specific event, filling in at the last minute because of an illness or joining the rotating of worship leaders for a church I did not attend, I have had the opportunity to lead worship as a guest many times over the years. It is a gift to be reminded that the Church is larger than my church. That the body of Christ is diverse, global, and growing down the street, across the country, and around the world. Here are a few things I have learned that I hope will help worship leaders who are leading as a guest, but also those churches who are hosting guest worship leaders:

A word to the worship leader.

• You are there to serve. I know this might seem obvious, but in serving we must consider others more highly than we consider ourselves. Be willing to be inconvenienced, or to go with the flow of another style, setup, structure, or rhythm to a rehearsal and gathering. Practically, this might mean choosing songs that this body will know that are less familiar to you. Asking good questions about the team, the congregation, and the sermon. Offering yourself whatever is required and expected of others who serve weekly. Engaging relationally with the team - taking time to learn their names, and thank them for serving.

• Be gracious. It can be disorienting and uncomfortable to play music for the first time with someone you have just met. Be as gracious to the team as you hope they will be with you.

• Be a blessing. How can you encourage and speak life to the team, the leaders, and the congregation? How might you leave a blessing behind (Joel 2:14)?

• Communicate ahead of time. What is the gear you need? What is the expectation as far as speaking, leading, prayer, transitions, etc? How can you be prepared walking into rehearsal as well as the service?

A word to the host.

• Set Lists. If you are giving the guest worship leader the freedom to build the set list, provide them a master song list, as well as the last three to five weeks of songs. I once led worship for a church whose worship leader accepted a position and moved between Sundays. This church had no one to lead worship for the foreseeable future and was filling every week during their search for a new worship leader with guest worship leaders. In a situation like that, pair down a master song list to 12 songs or so - the band and the people will have enough change as you fill spots, do not also make them bear the weight of new songs every week in the in-between.

• Over-communicate. What do you want? What do you need? What is the expectation of the worship leader? Will you be giving them access to Planning Center, and communication to the team? Will you distribute songs, keys, communication and all you need to do is have the worship leader plug and play? Are paying the worship leader for their time, or the travel?

• Be generous. This does not necessarily mean financially - but how might you be generous in your encouragement and appreciation? Whether down the road or across the globe, taking time outside of your normal responsibilities, time away from your own community, and family is costly - can you celebrate and honor the people who are serving your community? Several times I have had people thank my wife and children or send me back with gifts for them because of their willingness to allow me to serve.

What would you add?

11 February: Liturgy & Set List

• HOLY HOLY HOLY

  Call to Worship: Psalm 96

  We ascribe to the Lord his value and worth, not because our recognition makes it any more or less true - not because God needs to be reminded of His own character, but because we forget these things are true. Let’s sing about the heart, character, and worth of our God:

• PSALM 134 (BLESS THE LORD)

• LAMB OF GOD

  Sermon: Mark 15:1-39

  Before sin was in the world, salvation was already present. God had sewn redemption and rescue into the story of humanity before the foundation of the world. And even into eternity - if you are a follower of Jesus - we will spend celebrating and worshiping in response to Christ’s completed work on the cross. Let’s put language to that reality as we sing together now. Would you stand if you’re able:

• THANK YOU JESUS FOR THE BLOOD

• ALL HAIL KING JESUS

  Benediction

10 December: Liturgy + Set List

• WONDER AND GIFT

• LIGHT OF THE WORLD (SING HALLELUJAH)

• HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING

  Readings: Joshua 2:8-14, Matthew 1:1-6a

  Sermon: Joshua 2:1-24

  God is so good, so kind, so sovereign, that there is nothing - no sin, no brokenness - that can thwart or derail his plan and His purpose. And I hope that does not make us casual about our sin, but makes us draw near to the One who has first drawn near to us. That God’s kindness would lead us to continual repentance. Would you stand if you’re able, we’ll sing together…

• ALL HAIL KING JESUS/JOY TO THE WORLD

• CROWN HIM (CHRISTMAS)

26 November: Liturgy + Set List

• HOW GREAT THOU ART

  Welcome to worship with us on this Thanksgiving weekend, and this Family Worship Weekend. To all of the boys and girls joining us from the Clubhouse, we are so glad you’re here! This part of our time is called the ‘Call to Worship.’ It’s not called the call to worship because worship starts and stops when we sing, because God has made us to worship and made us worshiping. But because of sin, we celebrate, and love and give our attention - we worship - all of the wrong things. And the call to worship reminds us that it is only God who is worthy of all of our celebration, love, and attention. Let’s hear God call us to worship from His Word:

  Psalm 145:1-9

  If you are an adult in the room, we have a chance to inhabit and model one of our values here are Life Church - ‘We will leave a gospel legacy.’ We can do that by commending the works of the Lord to the next generation - by singing about and from the goodness, grace, mercy, and love you have experienced through Christ. Let’s do that together.

• GOD, YOU’RE SO GOOD

• NO BODY

  Sermon: Mark 12:35-44

  The Apostles’ Creed

  The Lord’s Supper

• O PRAISE THE NAME (ANASTASIS)

  Benediction

Connecting the Gathering

I live and serve in the South. Cultural Christianity is alive and well in the Bible Belt. Having the external appearance of faith without a heart that grasps and truly responds to the Gospel is my short-hand description of cultural Christianity. It has the external appearance of goodness, or morality with a compartmentalized heart and understanding of the way our faith should influence and impact everything about the life of a believer:

Our desires and affections.

The way we view and spend our money.

Our thoughts and actions.

The words we speak, and the way we use social media.

Our interactions with our family, our neighbors, and our enemies.

Our engagement within our communities and around the world.

What we treasure, and what we reject.

To some extent, this is not a unique reality for Americans living in the South. Every human lives a compartmentalized life. We divide ourselves across work, family, friends, free time, money, and faith. But if we are called to be and make disciples, that is a call that must pervade every area and aspect of our lives.

When I started to see worship leading as a place of discipleship, I began to see the gaps between what we do on a Sunday, and how we live the rest of the week.

Sunday worship is the overflow of Monday through Saturday worship.

Sunday worship fuels and propels the people of God to live as worshipers throughout the week.

In gathering with the people of God are reminded that God is much bigger than we are, that we are never alone, and we encourage one another to live as followers of Christ.

In gathering with the people of God we are reminded of our dependence upon God and the gift of His Body.

In gathering with the people of God our attention and affection are refocused around the person and work of Christ rather than the desires of the flesh or the culture.

May our lives, and the lives of those we lead look increasingly less compartmentalized.

Other posts that might be of interest:

All of Life Worship.

How to respond to Current Events.

Growing as a Communicator

Connecting Songs and Sermons

Choosing A Key

Choosing a key is a tricky business in this world of corporate sung worship. Trying to land on a key that allows men and women, young and old, competent and tone-deaf to sing out their praise to the Lord is nearly impossible. Like many things, you can likely find resources online that coach you through the key-to-key range that is best suited for congregational singing, but I am not a theory teacher, and this is not that post. Rather in this post, I want to offer a few points to consider when it comes to choosing a key:

1. What is comfortable for your range? Who is going to be leading this song? If something is out of range (low or high) for the vocalist who will be leading the song, it will automatically become more difficult for the congregation to follow along.

2. The original key. Many worship songs these days end up on the radio, which means they are likely pitched higher than even the worship artist would play or lead them live. Just because you can sing something in the original key doesn’t mean you have to. That being said, sometimes putting something in the original key can make it a lot easier for musicians and vocalists to learn their parts.

3. What else are you playing? A larger consideration for me in choosing a key to a song is the other songs surrounding it in the setlist. Now, this is not something I have to worry about as much using tracks and pads to smooth transitions, but I want to be able to move seamlessly from one song to another. As a guitar player this means thinking about things like - will I need to change a capo? Retune my guitar? If it is not in the exact same key, what are the transition chords I need to play to move me into the next song?

4. What key will be on the edge? Where can I pitch this song to encourage people to be right on the edge, and have to really sing out, but still be singable enough that they simply stop singing because it feels completely out of reach. I think about this with lighting in the worship gathering as well - I want it to be bright enough that people can see one another, but dark enough that they don’t feel exposed in their worship.

5. Consider the song. People will often give modern songs a hard time about the anthemic octave jump from one part to the next, but truthfully, if you sing a lot of hymns, the melody range can be just as significant. The only difference is that we have become familiar with these melodies in such a way we do not notice the jumps.

Ultimately, there is trial and error involved. One of the reasons I like Co-Leading, especially with men and women on the team, is that you can choose keys for a man to lead that will be comfortable for men, and choose keys for a woman to lead that will be comfortable for women. We need to be willing to serve our congregations, serve the song, and be willing to sacrifice some artistry - just because you can sing that high doesn’t mean this is the right place to make that known.

The Most Important Part Of The Gathering

What is the most important part of the worship gathering?

My Anglican friends would likely say the Eucharist.

My extroverted friends would likely say the time of fellowship.

My musical friends would likely say sung worship.

My worship-leading friends would likely say sung worship as well.

My reformed, gospel-centered friends would likely say the preached word of God.

Most pastors would likely say the sermon.

My charismatic friends would likely say what is unexpected, or surprising.

Whether we realize it or not, every portion of our corporate gatherings is formative. We are shaped in subtle and significant ways by years of repetition. What we emphasize, and where we place the most resources (time in the service, staff, money, etc) is likely what the churches we serve value most. But if everything portion of our gathering is retelling the gospel story, if every part of our gathering is intentionally placed to form our people, then each component has a role to play in the importance of our formation.

What is the most important part of the corporate gathering? It all is important.

6 August: Liturgy + Set List

• REJOICE

  Call to Worship: Psalm 17:15

  We live in a world that says ‘If I had just a little bit more, I would be satisfied. A little bit more money, a little bit more time, circumstances that we’re just a little different, a few more vacations, then I would have enough.’ If you are here this morning as a follower of Jesus, my hope and prayer are that you would behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus, and be fully, completely, and eternally satisfied. Let’s sing to him:

• ALL I HAVE IS CHRIST

• ABIDE/I’VE WITNESSED IT

  Because of Jesus, the invitation of God is always to cease from striving and rest and abide in the person and work of Christ. And as we prepare for a new academic school year many teachers, staff, students, and parents feel the opposite pull of rest. And as we continue in worship we are going to pray for the new school year - and we will specifically name the four local schools we support as missions partners at Life Church. If you don’t fall into one of those categories, if you are here this morning as a follower of Christ, God has sovereignly placed you in a time and place and given you a responsibility to love, serve, and live on mission within your community. Let’s pray this together:

Almighty God, by your gift alone we come to wisdom and true understanding. Look with favor, we pray on our universities, colleges, and schools, especially: Salisbury High, Isenberg Elementary, Koontz Elementary, and Overton Elementary, that knowledge may be increased among us, and wholesome learning flourish and abound. Bless those who teach and those who learn; and grant that in humility of heart they may ever look to you, the fountain of all wisdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Occasional Prayers, For schools, colleges, and universities

The Book of Common Prayer

Sermon: Exodus 20:17

Scripture says eternity is written on every human heart. You and I will never find satisfaction for our eternal souls looking to temporary, or created things. Let’s fix our desire, affection, and attention on the person and work of Christ as we sing. Would you stand if you’re able:

• A THOUSAND HALLELUJAHS

• BE THOU MY VISION

  Benediction

23 July: Liturgy + Set List

• PROMISES

  Call to Worship: Psalm 36:5-9

  One of the lies we are tempted to believe is that everything hangs on us. That we feast on the abundance of our own house. That we feast on the abundance of our own effort, labor, and work. And one of the reasons it is essential to make gathering with the people of God a weekly habit is because God in his kindness uses His Word, His Spirit, and His people to confront and expose the lies that we believe, and the lies that we live. We gather this morning acknowledging that in God there is no lack, no need, and He invites His people to feast on the abundance of His house, and drink from the river of God’s delights. He is good, and generous, and kind. Let’s sing to him together…

• GOODNESS OF GOD

• I SHALL NOT WANT

  Sermon: Exodus 20:14

  The Apostles’ Creed

  Communion

• NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD

  Benediction

9 July: Liturgy + Set List

• REJOICE

  Call to Worship: Psalm 19:1-6

  Scripture tells us ‘…out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.’ So often people believe faith, or religion is about doing the right things and avoiding the wrong things. But the truth our actions and behaviors flow from our hearts. And here, the Psalmist beholds the glory of God in creation, and from His heart flows this final verse:

  “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
      be acceptable in your sight,
      O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

  This is my hope and prayer for you and me this morning - that we would behold the glory of God, and from our hearts would flow worship and obedience in all of life. Let’s sing:

• THE GREATNESS OF OUR GOD

• ALL HAIL KING JESUS

  Sermon: Exodus 20:13

• HYMN OF HEAVEN

• COME THOU FOUNT

  Benediction

Affirmations

Whether it is during baptisms, parent commissioning (child dedication), or affirming new elders, our church has been using consistent, repeated affirmations for these times of events in the life of our church. Why?

Although, we have classes, courses, and training for each of these aspects for baptismal candidates, families wanting to dedicate their children in church, and the role of elder - it is not something that every member, attendee, or visitor to our church understands. Affirmations are a way of helping instruct not just the people participating, but the whole Body in the meaning, purpose, and expectation for each of these celebrations in the life of our church. Some of these affirmations we have pulled from the historic church, some we piecemeal together, always there is an aspect of question and response from the candidate, and closing with question and response to the body of Christ.

BAPTISM AFFIRMATIONS

Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God sent to redeem the world, do you love and trust him as the one who saves you from your sin, and do you with repentance and joy embrace him as the Lord of your life?

I do.

Do you believe that the Bible is the Word of God, revealing Christ and his redemption?

I do.

Do you promise to do all you can, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to strengthen your love and commitment to Christ by sharing faithfully in the life of the church, honoring and submitting to its authority; and do you join with the people of God in doing the work of the Lord everywhere?

I do.

Brothers and sisters, we now receive (NAME) into Christ’s church. Do you welcome (HER/HIM) in love, and do you promise to pray for, encourage, and help (HER/HIM) in the faith?

We do, God helping us.

ELDER AFFIRMATION VOWS

Do you reaffirm your faith in Jesus Christ as your own personal Lord and Savior?

Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God; totally trustworthy, fully inspirited by the Holy Spirit, the supreme, final, and the only infallible rule of faith and practice?

Do you acknowledge a call, so far as you know your own heart, to accept the office of elder, with a sincere desire to promote the Gospel?

Do you promise to be zealous and faithful in your promoting the truths of the Gospel and in protecting the unity and peace of the Church, whatever persecution or opposition may arise to you on that account?

Will you seek to be faithful and diligent in the exercise of all your duties as an elder, whether personal or relative, private or public; and to endeavor by the grace of God to adorn the profession of the Gospel in your manner of life, and to walk with exemplary piety before this congregation?

Are you now willing to take responsibility in the life of this congregation as an elder, and will you seek to discharge your duties, relying upon the grace of God in a way that the entire Church of Jesus Christ will be blessed?

Elder Candidate: By God’s grace, I do.

To the congregation:

Do you affirm your confidence in the qualifications and calling of this man?

Do you resolve to love, encourage, and support his family, respecting them always as his first ministry priority?

Do you commit to fervent and regular prayer on behalf of all our elders, our staff, and the ministry of Life Church?

Congregation: By God’s grace, we do.

PARENT COMMISSIONING

Do you recognize that your child is a gift from God, and that you are responsible to train and instruct this child in the things of God?

We do.

Do you this day pledge as parents that you will teach God’s Word to your child and live out His Word in your home?

We do.

Do you commit to loving your child and teaching your child to obey God’s commands and the truths of Jesus Christ in your daily lives so that your child may know Him as Lord?

We do.

Do you commit to the local body of believers to seek accountability and teach your child to seek accountability within the church community?

We do.

Life Church, will you be faithful as brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage and support this family in their Christian walk as parents? Will you be faithful in praying for their children, that they will grow to love Christ and trust in Him?

We will.