Sunday Setlist June 19th

The illustration I like to use that defines the praise team's role in a worship service is that of a newly built house. The foundation and structure is in place, but there is nothing on the walls. No paint, pictures, or anything like that. The praise team's job is to create space for the Spirit to do His work. Houses aren't built over night. It takes time. Our team is continually on a journey into finding newer and deeper ways to welcome the Holy Spirit and have everyone in attendance, believer or not, changed in some way.

Maybe they come forward during an altar call. Maybe they make a decision within themselves that day to make a change. Whatever it is, that is what we want. That is what we are after. Not to impress people with our musicianship or get their emotions stirred up artificially. We want lives changed so that the Church will in turn go outside the walls of the building and influence this world for Christ.

Made to Worship (F)
I Will Give You All My Praise (F)

Offertory

Holy, Holy, Holy (C/D)
Healer (G)
Kindness (G)--this song was played during our altar call. A few women came down and prayed. While I was playing, and this is something I've noticed over the years (not necessarily in our church, but the current Church as a whole,) no men came down. While attending some classes at a Seminary years ago, the discussion of a woman's role in the church came up. There was a small faction of men who thought that a woman couldn't teach or direct a grown man in any way. Teaching kids was ok, but not men. The topic of female song leaders came up and some guys said that it wasn't scriptural because they would be telling the men which page to turn to. Ridiculous, right?

Well, my thought on the topic is this--where are the men? Where is the man volunteering to lead singing or teach a Sunday school class for adults? Why are there so many married women who come by themselves to church? Seems to me like the women are stepping up where the men have not.

So, as I noticed that it was all women down front praying, God started giving me thoughts. As we neared the end of the song, I spoke up. I don't remember everything I said, but it was to the effect of, "men...come down here. Come pray for your family, job, church, country....don't be too prideful, be a leader...." And sure enough, when I got through, we played the chorus a few more times and some men came down and prayed. It may have had something to do with what I said, but instead I'd like to think that I simply followed the Spirit and laid the foundation for them to respond.


Praise God.

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Sunday Setllist 6/12

Here's the set we worshiped to today:

To God Be the Glory (G)
Today (G/A)

Offertory

Open Hands (D)
Hosanna (E)
We Exalt Thee/Altar Call (E)

It was a great service that started out by offering thanks to God for everything He has given us. Open Hands is a wonderful song about making your life available for His purposes. We did the Hillsong version of Hosanna, but missed having a bass & electric guitar to really build the intensity the song deserves. Finally, we finished with a very powerful chorus, We Exalt Thee. It's technically "I Exalt Thee," but we change it for corporate worship purposes. Maybe it's my Church of Christ roots, but I love whenever we break out an acapella part to a song as we did during one of the choruses. Nothing gives me chills like the whole congregation belting out WE EXALT THEEEEEE!!!! Can't wait 'til Heaven!!

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http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/sunday-setlists-151/

Sunday Setlist and Sermon Thoughts 6/9

Here are the songs we used to glorify God this morning:

Today is the Day
Blessed Assurance

Offertory

How Great is Our God
Til I See You--This is a fantastic worship song by Joel Houston and the Hillsong team. Enjoy:


Awesome in This Place (altar call)

Pastor Robert continued his sermon series on Counterfeit Christianity. Today's message was regarding false teachings and what can lead you to become a victim of them:
--Ignorance of God's Word
--Boredom and complacency
--Seeking the approval of men, not God
2 Peter 2:1
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

Pastor Robert has taught us that a counterfeit is made to look like the real thing. The enemy can use people, themes, and messages that seem Biblical, but are in fact distorting the Gospel to meet their own needs. As the Bible says, the Gospel is an offense. It's supposed to "offend" you into realizing that YOU are the one who needs Him.

You can view this and every other service live or whenever you want on our UStream page



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Sunday Setlist May29th

You never know what you're gonna get on a holiday weekend, but we had very good attendance at church today. Some new faces and that's always encouraging. Sometimes I tend to glance at the new people and see what the Spirit does with someone who isn't used to being with us. Sometimes they worship openly as if they've been there for years, sometimes they kinda mouth the words, and sometimes they stand there and watch. And there's nothing wrong with any of those reactions, it's just interesting to see from a perspective where you can see everyone.

Our set for today was:

Arise (E)
Everlasting God (A)

Offertory

I'd Rather Have Jesus (Bb)
Here I am to Worship (F)
Healer (F)


You can view this and every other service live or whenever you want on our UStream page



http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/sunday-setlists-149/

Sunday Setlist May 22

We added a new wrinkle to our service today. In his prayer time, Pastor Robert heard from God that he needed to provide a chance for Christians to come forward during the music service to the altar. Sometimes, the invitation at the end of the service ends up being aimed at those dealing with salvation. Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course, but he felt that we needed a specific time for the Christians.

Hymn Medley--
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms (F)
Are You Washed in the Blood (G)
There is Power in the Blood (A)
Our God Reigns (A)

Offertory

Your Name (A)
From the Inside Out (A)
**alter call
Break Our Hearts (G/A)


We had a wonderful response during the alter call. Many people came forward to pray, sing, worship, bow down, whatever their hearts felt. It's very humbling to be leading during a time like that.


You can view this and every other service live or whenever you want on our UStream page



http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/sunday-setlists-148/

Sunday Setlist 5/15

On a beautiful, un-seasonably cool East Texas morning, here was our set:

Just a Closer Walk with Thee (A)
Blessed Be Your Name (A)

Offertory

What Can I Do? (F)
More Love, More Power (Fm)
(In My Life) Lord, Be Glorified (F)

Pastor Robert is beginning a series entitled COUNTERFEIT CHRISTIANITY. Today's message was entitled "Was Jesus Rich?" and just scratched the surface about what our culture considers "wealthy." One point referenced this passage in Paul's first letter to Timothy, chapter 6:

3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Where is your focus? Are the things that you strive for going to one day crumble? Good questions to ponder.


You can view this and every other service live or whenever you want on our UStream page




http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/sunday-setlists-147/

Sunday Setlist--May 8th

Sunday Setlist for Mothers Day, May 8, 2011

Melissa was on vacation this week, so Skip led the singing and did a wonderful job. For instruments, it was just me on guitar and Bo on drums. More importantly, the Spirit was there and took over, so that it didn't really matter who was leading the songs because the focus was on Him.

Holy is the Lord (G)
Hallelujah (Your Love Sets Me Free) (G)

Offertory--Skip played a recording of his quartet singing a special song called "Mother." It spoke of the wonderful love and many, many things our mothers do for us.

Offering (F)
He is Lord (F)
Draw Me Close (Bb)

The sermon's title today was "Mothers Asking Divine Direction." Pastor Robert used the story from Matthew 15:21 of the woman who's daughter was demon possessed. She was so committed and driven by love that she persevered until Christ rewarded her faith by granting her request. I'm blessed to have a mother who would do the same.

Be in prayer for our church, as we are seeking to reach out and grow and affect our community for Christ. The Lord is moving in our people and giving them desires to take on responsibilities and step out in faith. It's an exciting time because we know He is faithful.

You can view this and every other service live or whenever you want on our UStream page

http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/sunday-setlists-146/