let my words be few

Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

1. Happy Day - We worship on Sunday’s as believers because of the fact that Christ defeated death when He rose victoriously on that first Easter morning.  This song shouts that truth.  It was a wonderful way to begin a day of worship in the midst of a series on spiritual warfare by focusing on “the greatest day in history/death is beaten/You have rescued me.”

2. How Great is Our God - It’s been a while since we’ve sung this one, but it’s always a joy to hear this anthem sung by God’s people at ECBC.  This is one song where I can always hear the congregation even with my in-ear monitors in.  I guess it’s because they know that the “Name above all names (is) worthy of all praise.”

3. Blessed Be Your Name - At this point I lead in a time of prayers for those struggling with sickness.  It’s rare that I lead in a time of prayer as specific as this, but I felt that God wanted me to pray for those who were frustrated and discouraged in their illness.  Sickness can often be a way the enemy uses to get our attention off of where it needs to be, which is on the Cross of Jesus.  So, we prayed the words of Job, then sang them.  ”Though there’s pain in the offering, blessed be Your Name.”

4. My Jesus, I Love Thee - I love this text.  It was written by William Featherstone when he was only 16.  Verse 3 was particularly moving today as we had just prayed and sang about the Lord giving and taking away, and in each service I caught the eye of someone I knew was dealing with a difficult sickness or disease.  I knew then why the Lord had lead me to pray that way, and it was with great pleasure that I watched as each of those people sang, “I’ll praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath.”

5. The Lord Is (Psalm 23) - The text of Psalm 23 has been a comfort to people for years as they’ve dealt with sickness and death. I appreciate how Pat Sczebel and Bob Kauflin of Sovereign Grace Music showed in their setting of this song how Christ is our great Shepherd.  Christ healed our greatest disease when He took our sins on the cross and “gave (His) own life for (our) ransom so (we) could rejoice at His side.”

6. Nothing Without You - I chose this song to sing today because of the encouragement it was to me a few years back when I was in the hospital for a week with what the doctors think was meningitis.  I was on my back for a whole week not knowing what was going on with my body.  We had a 9 month old with baby number 2 on the way and the doctors were throwing out some really scary words trying to figure out what was going on.  I remember listening to this song over and over and over, and understanding in a profound way the truth of the words.  

Take my body and build it up
May it be broken as an offering of love
For I have nothing, I have nothing without You

All my soul needs, is all Your love to cover me
So all the world will see, that I have nothing without You.

I’m posting this Sunday’s setlist in collaboration with other worship leaders at FredMcKinnon.com

I apologize for the break last week, but as the 5 of you who read this blog know, Stevo was in the hospital and blogging took a backseat.  He’s all better now, but i had Kelly lead for me this Sunday just in case.  This will be brief and I’ll try to catch back up next Sunday.

9-14-08 Set

1. How Great Thou Art
2. Before the Throne of God Above
3. Blessed is the One (Psalm 32)
4. Jesus, Thank You
5. Son of God
6. As Long as You are Glorified

9-21-08 Set

1. Sing to the King
2. O For a Thousand Tongues
3. Jesus Messiah
4. Mighty to Save
5. If God is For Us
6. Hosanna (Hillsong)

I’m posting this for the first time in collaboration with other worship leaders at FredMcKinnon.com.

Today was a great day of worship.  Everything we did today from the music, Scripture reading, prayers, preaching, recitation of the Apostle’s Creed, and even the announcements all seemed to flow together into a meaningful, significant worship service.  Nothing was special or out of the ordinary.  The music wasn’t any better this week than weeks past, but Buster reminded us in his sermon that the glorious truth of the Cross of Jesus is unchanging.  And so we sing that truth, we pray that truth, we teach that truth week after week and it never grows old.  I’m reminded of the old hymn, “Tell Me the Old, Old Story,” that sum up my feelings about the worship services at ECBC today.  

Tell me the story slowly, that I may take it in,
That wonderful redemption, God’s remedy for sin.
Tell me the story often, for I forget so soon;
The early dew of morning has passed away at noon.

Tell me the old, old story, tell me the old, old story,
Tell me the old, old story, of Jesus and His love.

We didn’t sing it today, but were reminded that we need the Christ of that old, old story every day.  Here is what we did sing:

1. Praise the Lord (Psalm 150) - We taught this song a couple of weeks ago and are trying to work it into our regular rotation.  It’s a great call to praise God for His mighty deeds and awesome majesty, especially as we see that displayed in the Cross of Christ.

2. All Because of Jesus - A great reminder that though we were dead in our transgressions and sins, Jesus has made us alive.

It’s all because of Jesus I’m alive
It’s all because the blood of Jesus Christ
Covers me and raised this dead man’s life
It’s all because of Jesus I’m alive

3. Jesus Paid it All - Here we are reminded once again of the simple, yet glorious truth that Christ has taken our place.  I love singing this song with our church.

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.

O praise the One who paid my debt
And raised this life up from the dead

4. All I Have is Christ - This is one of my new favorite songs.  I learned it at the WorshipGod 08 conference.  It’s the story of every believer:

I once was lost in darkest night, yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life, had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own, a rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first, I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell-bound race, indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state, and led me to the cross
And I beheld God’s love displayed, You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me, now all I know is grace

Hallelujah all I have is Christ
Hallelujah Jesus is my life

Now Lord I would be Yours alone and live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands could never come from me
Oh Father use my ransomed life in any way You choose
And let my song forever be my only boast is You

5. Jesus, Thank You - This is another new one for our congregation.  It’s a simple song of thanksgiving for what Christ has done for us.

By Your perfect sacrifice I’ve been brought near
Your enemy You’ve made Your friend
Pouring out the riches of Your glorious grace
Your mercy and Your kindness know no end 

Your blood has washed away my sin
Jesus, thank You
The Father’s wrath completely satisfied
Jesus, thank You
Once Your enemy now seated at Your table
Jesus, thank You

6. In Christ Alone - We closed our service today at Buster’s request by reciting together the Apostle’s Creed and singing this great modern hymn that celebrates the glories of the Gospel.

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth:

And in Jesus Christ his only begotten Son our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of the Virgin Mary:
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried:
He descended into hades;
The third day he rose again from the dead:
He ascended into heaven,
And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit:
The holy catholic church;
The communion of saints:
The forgiveness of sins:
The resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting.

Amen!

Last night at Exchange, we had Chuck Coward teach for us.  I first met Chuck 2 years ago when I was leading worship for a BCM retreat and he was the speaker.  I was greatly impacted, challenged, and encouraged by his teaching throughout the weekend.  So, when I had the opportunity to pick out men to come teach for Exchange, I knew I wanted Chuck to be there.  The way Chuck teaches on redemption is very compelling and I wish I had the audio from last night.  You’ll have to settle with a brief blog post of his to get the idea.  He calls it “The Soda Bottle Principle.”  Click here to read.

Our song set was short last night to give Chuck more time to teach.  We sang:

1. All Because of Jesus
2. My Jesus, I Love Thee
3. Son of God
4. Take My Life and Let it Be