Breaking Up is Hard to Do

God Instructs the People of God

God's People Learn from Prosperity:

God's Promises Fulfilled

Romans 9:1-5 (The Message)

^1-5 At the same time, you need to know that I carry with me at all times a huge sorrow. It's an enormous pain deep within me, and I'm never free of it. I'm not exaggerating—Christ and the Holy Spirit are my witnesses. It's the Israelites...If there were any way I could be cursed by the Messiah so they could be blessed by him, I'd do it in a minute. They're my family. I grew up with them. They had everything going for them—family, glory, covenants, revelation, worship, promises, to say nothing of being the race that produced the Messiah, the Christ, who is God over everything, always. Oh, yes!

For Reflection

Christ knew that following him would mean assuming a great sacrifice.  Here Paul expresses the great sorrow that many Jews did not accept Christ as the Messiah.  To what extent has practicing Christianity produced sorrow for you?

Pray
for those who have rejected the invitation for salvation.

Honor Where Honor is Due

God Instructs the People of God

God's People Learn from Prosperity:

God's Promises Fulfilled

  Acts 26:1-7 (The Message)

"I Couldn't Just Walk Away"

 ^1-3Agrippa spoke directly to Paul: "Go ahead—tell us about yourself." Paul took the stand and told his story. "I can't think of anyone, King Agrippa, before whom I'd rather be answering all these Jewish accusations than you, knowing how well you are acquainted with Jewish ways and all our family quarrels. ^4-8"From the time of my youth, my life has been lived among my own people in Jerusalem. Practically every Jew in town who watched me grow up—and if they were willing to stick their necks out they'd tell you in person—knows that I lived as a strict Pharisee, the most demanding branch of our religion. It's because I believed it and took it seriously, committed myself heart and soul to what God promised my ancestors—the identical hope, mind you, that the twelve tribes have lived for night and day all these centuries—it's because I have held on to this tested and tried hope that I'm being called on the carpet by the Jews. They should be the ones standing trial here, not me! For the life of me, I can't see why it's a criminal offense to believe that God raises the dead.

For Reflection
Paul approached this inquisition as one expecting to be patiently heard as a guest in the household of a Jew.  Agrippa, knowing much of Jewish custom and faith asked for rational argument that could lead to his conversion. Paul, in spite of a long imprisonment for his preaching, spoke without fear,  without bitterness, without anger.  He spoke in defense of his God and his faith.


He begins by honoring the authority of his captor, complementing him on his understanding of the Jewish culture in a way that will guide his understanding of what Paul is about to say.  He then aligns himself with the core of Jewish faith and their hope for salvation.  Paul thus begins his story of how God fulfills his promises. 

Suffering as Paul did could you be as cool and rational under pressure?  How might you speak of how God fulfilled his promises in you life?

Pray
that you remain calm and hopeful in times when your faith is challenged.  Pray for the wisdom to speak of your faith rationally in ways that honor your listener and bring him closer to God.

The Tree of Life

We Worship God
A Guide for Worship Leaders:
All Things New

 Revelation 2:1-7  (The Message)

To Ephesus

 ¹ Write this to Ephesus, to the Angel of the church. The One with Seven Stars in his right-fist grip, striding through the golden seven-lights' circle, speaks: ^2-3"I see what you've done, your hard, hard work, your refusal to quit. I know you can't stomach evil, that you weed out apostolic pretenders. I know your persistence, your courage in my cause, that you never wear out. ^4-5"But you walked away from your first love—why? What's going on with you, anyway? Do you have any idea how far you've fallen? A Lucifer fall!
   "Turn back! Recover your dear early love. No time to waste, for I'm well on my way to removing your light from the golden circle.
 ⁶"You do have this to your credit: You hate the Nicolaitan business. I hate it, too.
 ⁷"Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches. I'm about to call each conqueror to dinner. I'm spreading a banquet of Tree-of-Life fruit, a supper plucked from God's orchard."

For Reflection
Even the most dedicated, the most enthusiastic, the most faithful, step off Righteous Road.  The church at Ephesus seemed to have been a model worthy of emulation.  But over time it deviated from the true path. 

The Nicolatians thought that because the Law was no longer binding they could engage in sinful pleasures with out penalty.  A form of Gnosticism, this philosophy encouraged early Christians to believe in the mercy of God would be delivered no matter how they lived.  They were hearers of the word but not doers. 

I am certain that this business divided the congregations and created much chaos.  To what extent do you contribute to such chaos in your church life? When have you participated unwittingly in chaos?  Examine closely.  You may not be a innocent as you think.

Pray
that in the routine of daily living you see the temptations that lead to chaos.  Pray that you read God's signs and listen carefully to His whispered gentle guidance.

Living Water

We Worship God
A Guide for Worship Leaders:
All Things New

John 4:7-15 (The Message)
 ^7-8A woman, a Samaritan, came to draw water. Jesus said, "Would you give me a drink of water?" (His disciples had gone to the village to buy food for lunch.)
 ⁹The Samaritan woman, taken aback, asked, "How come you, a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?" (Jews in those days wouldn't be caught dead talking to Samaritans.)
 ¹⁰Jesus answered, "If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water."
 ^11-12The woman said, "Sir, you don't even have a bucket to draw with, and this well is deep. So how are you going to get this 'living water'? Are you a better man than our ancestor Jacob, who dug this well and drank from it, he and his sons and livestock, and passed it down to us?"
 ^13-14Jesus said, "Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life."
 ¹⁵The woman said, "Sir, give me this water so I won't ever get thirsty, won't ever have to come back to this well again!"

For Reflection
Christ lived for us all, not just for some -- even for bitter enemies.  What does that say about how we should live with each other.  What is this water that quenches all thirst?

Pray
that you live your life as a peacemaker.  Pray that you accept all people who drink at the living well.  Pray for recognition of the Holy Spirit in yourself and in others.

The Throne of God

A Guide for Worship Leaders:
All Things New

Psalm 47 (The Message)

A Psalm of the Sons of Korah

 ^1-9 Applause, everyone. Bravo, bravissimo! Shout God-songs at the top of your lungs!
   God Most High is stunning,
      astride land and ocean.
   He crushes hostile people,
      puts nations at our feet.
   He set us at the head of the line,
      prize-winning Jacob, his favorite.
   Loud cheers as God climbs the mountain,
      a ram's horn blast at the summit.
   Sing songs to God, sing out!
      Sing to our King, sing praise!
   He's Lord over earth,
      so sing your best songs to God.
   God is Lord of godless nations—
      sovereign, he's King of the mountain.
   Princes from all over are gathered,
      people of Abraham's God.
   The powers of earth are God's—
      he soars over all.

For Reflection
Aretha Franklin sang Amazing Grace on the OPRAH tribute show yesterday.  Listen to this modern day psalmist sing praise. Hallelujah!

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Aretha-Franklin-Sings-Amazing-Grace-Video/topic/oprahshow?page=2

Pray
that your soul sings praise to the Lord.  Sing your best songs to God.  Cry tears of joy. Sing praise extravagantly!

A Glimpse of God's Glory

We Worship God
A Guide for Worship Leaders:
All Things New

Exodus 33:17-23 (The Message)

 ¹⁷ God said to Moses: "All right. Just as you say; this also I will do, for I know you well and you are special to me. I know you by name."
 ¹⁸ Moses said, "Please. Let me see your Glory."
 ¹⁹ God said, "I will make my Goodness pass right in front of you; I'll call out the name, God, right before you. I'll treat well whomever I want to treat well and I'll be kind to whomever I want to be kind."
 ²⁰ God continued, "But you may not see my face. No one can see me and live."
 ^21-23 God said, "Look, here is a place right beside me. Put yourself on this rock. When my Glory passes by, I'll put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with my hand until I've passed by. Then I'll take my hand away and you'll see my back. But you won't see my face."

For Reflection
God knows each of us by name, the good, the bad and even those who know him not.  We are special to Him.  His goodness passes right in front of us each day.  All we have to do is see and listen.  We will see and hear God's Glory.

Pray
long and hard enough to shut the world out so that you may see the back of God passing by.

Bowing Before the Father

We Worship God
A Guide for Worship Leaders:
Tree of Life

Ephesians 3:14-21 (The Message)

 ^14-19My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
 ^20-21God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

   Glory to God in the church!
   Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
   Glory down all the generations!
   Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!

 For ReflectionThe question is not, "How perfect is my prayer?  The question is. "Do I pray?"  Some times we get so tied up in the need to pray perfect prayers we use our feeling of inadequacy in prayer as an excuse to avoid prayer.  God hears all prayers, good and bad.  He wants us to pray deeply, and often.  Prayer is a sign that we truly recognize the power of God.  Prayer is a major practice that binds us to our faith.  How do you pray?

Pray
to the glory of God in the church.  Pray to God in the Messiah. Pray prayers of glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus! Pray so that all generations will hear.  Pray prayers that will speake through all millenni.gh all millennia!  Oh Yes!

The Shepherd's Steadfast Love

We Worship God
A Guide for Worship Leaders:
Thankful Worship

Psalm 107:1-9 (The Message)
    Oh, thank God—he's so good! His love never runs out.
   All of you set free by God, tell the world!
      Tell how he freed you from oppression,
   Then rounded you up from all over the place,
      from the four winds, from the seven seas.

 ^4-9 Some of you wandered for years in the desert,
      looking but not finding a good place to live,
   Half-starved and parched with thirst,
      staggering and stumbling, on the brink of exhaustion.
   Then, in your desperate condition, you called out to God.
      He got you out in the nick of time;
   He put your feet on a wonderful road
      that took you straight to a good place to live.
   So thank God for his marvelous love,
      for his miracle mercy to the children he loves.
   He poured great draughts of water down parched throats;

For Reflection

God's love never runs out.  It is never conditional.  God provides the endless second chance to all who ask (and some who don't.)  What more could you want?  How could you not praise and thank the Lord each hour of each day.

Pray
that you never take God's gift of steadfast love for granted.  Offer a prayer of praise and thanksgiving for His endless love.

The Shepherd's Judgment

We Worship God
A Guide for Worship Leaders:
Thankful Worship

 Matthew 25:31-40 (The Message)

The Sheep and the Goats

 ^31-33"When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left. ^34-36"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why:

   I was hungry and you fed me,
   I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
   I was homeless and you gave me a room,
   I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
   I was sick and you stopped to visit,
   I was in prison and you came to me.'
 ^37-40"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'

For Reflection
God's standard of judgment is clear.  Love one another.  Sacrifice for one another. Serve one another.  How is this working for you?

Pray
that others see in you the evidence of the Good Shepherd.

The Shepherd's Compassion

We Worship God
A Guide for Worship Leaders:
Thankful Worship

Matthew 9:35-38 (The Message)
 ^35-38Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. "What a huge harvest!" he said to his disciples. "How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!"

For Reflection
The shepherd metaphor continues.  Confused, aimless and leaderless, we like sheep wander aimlessly.  In what way are you working for the Shepherd?

Pray
for more opportunities to serve the Lord than you can possibly complete in a life time.  Pray to work diligently to accomplish a holy harvest.

The Good Shepherd

We Worship God
A Guide for Worship Leaders:
Thankful Worship

John 10:11-16 (The Message)
 ^11-13"I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary. A hired man is not a real shepherd. The sheep mean nothing to him. He sees a wolf come and runs for it, leaving the sheep to be ravaged and scattered by the wolf. He's only in it for the money. The sheep don't matter to him.
 ^14-18"I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me. In the same way, the Father knows me and I know the Father. I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing myself if necessary. You need to know that I have other sheep in addition to those in this pen. I need to gather and bring them, too. They'll also recognize my voice. Then it will be one flock, one Shepherd. This is why the Father loves me: because I freely lay down my life. And so I am free to take it up again. No one takes it from me. I lay it down of my own free will. I have the right to lay it down; I also have the right to take it up again. I received this authority personally from my Father."

For Reflection
Jesus Christ is not just the shepherd to Israel.  He is also the shepard of all others. We, humans are his flock.  He will and has and will continue to offer his life for us.

Pray
thank God daily for he gift of his son Jesus.  Pray to be worthy of His sacrifice.

The Lord Is My Shepherd

We Worship God
A Guide for Worship Leaders:
Thankful Worship

Psalm 23 (The Message)

A David Psalm

 ^1-3 God, my shepherd! I don't need a thing.
   You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
      you find me quiet pools to drink from.
   True to your word,
      you let me catch my breath
      and send me in the right direction.

 ⁴ Even when the way goes through
      Death Valley,
   I'm not afraid
      when you walk at my side.
   Your trusty shepherd's crook
      makes me feel secure.

 ⁵ You serve me a six-course dinner
      right in front of my enemies.
   You revive my drooping head;
      my cup brims with blessing.

 ⁶ Your beauty and love chase after me
      every day of my life.
   I'm back home in the house of God
      for the rest of my life.

For Reflection
Familiar, no?  Not my favorite version.  But yet, what a marvelous statement of complete confidence in God.  How can one escape total thankfulness for such a gift.  How literally does this passage reflect your experience with God?

Pray
prayers of gratitude.  Pray that you have the courage to trust in God in the manner of this passage.

A New Jerusalem

We Worship God
A Guide for Worship Leaders:
All Things New

Revelation 21:9-14 (The Message)

The City of Light

 ^9-12One of the Seven Angels who had carried the bowls filled with the seven final disasters spoke to me: "Come here. I'll show you the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb." He took me away in the Spirit to an enormous, high mountain and showed me Holy Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God, resplendent in the bright glory of God. ^12-14The City shimmered like a precious gem, light-filled, pulsing light. She had a wall majestic and high with twelve gates. At each gate stood an Angel, and on the gates were inscribed the names of the Twelve Tribes of the sons of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, three gates on the west. The wall was set on twelve foundations, the names of the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb inscribed on them.

For Reflection
Revelation!  How does one interpret it?  It is a book filled with fantastic images and symbols many of which are peculiar to the time it was written. It is a book of lavish worship.  One thing is sure.  Revelation shows us the grandeur of living in the hollow of God's hand and the promise that our relationship with God holds for those who worship Him.

Pray
that you participate with all your mind, heart and soul in New Jerusalem, the foundations of which are built by the hand of God.

A New Way of Life

We Worship God
A Guide for Worship Leaders:
All Things New

Ephesians 4:17-24 (The Message)

The Old Way Has to Go

 ^17-19And so I insist—and God backs me up on this—that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd. They've refused for so long to deal with God that they've lost touch not only with God but with reality itself. They can't think straight anymore. Feeling no pain, they let themselves go in sexual obsession, addicted to every sort of perversion. ^20-24But that's no life for you. You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.

For Reflection
Eye for an eye.
You got to go along to get along.
You can't let them get away with that!
Everybody does it.
Rules are rules.
What is everyone going to say?
You can't do that, Its unpatriotic.
Loyalty is what we expect.
He deserves what he got!

There is a truism for almost every culturally based  behavioral norm.  These codified sayings are the symbols of our culture's attempt to regulate our behavior.  It is what Christ died to save us from.  It is the tyranny that sanctions racism, the tyranny that justifies murder in the name of righteousness.

God, through Jesus Christ, offers us a new way of life, a life centered on love and reconciliation. He offers a life in conflict with the temporal, material cultures which we so earnestly guard.

Pray
for a life renewed from the inside.  Pray that you open yourself so completely that God steps in to reproduce His character in you.  Pray for the wisdom to differentiate among choices influenced by cultural norms and those centered in your faith.  Pray for the courage to participate fully in God's revolutionary counter culture.

A New Covenant

We Worship God
A Guide for Worship Leaders:
All Things New

Luke 22:14-23 (The Message)

 ^14-16When it was time, he sat down, all the apostles with him, and said, "You've no idea how much I have looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you before I enter my time of suffering. It's the last one I'll eat until we all eat it together in the kingdom of God."
 ^17-18Taking the cup, he blessed it, then said, "Take this and pass it among you. As for me, I'll not drink wine again until the kingdom of God arrives."
 ¹⁹Taking bread, he blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, given for you. Eat it in my memory."
 ²⁰He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant written in my blood, blood poured out for you.
 ^21-22"Do you realize that the hand of the one who is betraying me is at this moment on this table? It's true that the Son of Man is going down a path already marked out—no surprises there. But for the one who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man, this is doomsday."
 ²³They immediately became suspicious of each other and began quizzing one another, wondering who might be about to do this.

For Reflection
His blood, was shed for each of us, to seal a new covenant.  To this point in the history of God's people, God's covenant was a corporate one.  The people of Israel were treated as a single unit as an example of God's power, mercy and grace.  The new Covenant is an individual one.  God's invitation is to all people, not as a singled out group, but rather, an individual call to serve him and to be freed from selfish endeavors.  Each of us is free to choose a life in Christ.  How has that choice affected you?

Pray
prayers of thanksgiving for God's invitation to commune with the Lord.  Pray that the choices you make in daily living reflect the choice God made to reconcile you to his Kingdom.

A New Commandment

We Worship God
A Guide for Worship Leaders:
All Things New

John 13:31-35 (The Message)

A New Command

 ^31-32When he had left, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is seen for who he is, and God seen for who he is in him. The moment God is seen in him, God's glory will be on display. In glorifying him, he himself is glorified—glory all around! ³³"Children, I am with you for only a short time longer. You are going to look high and low for me. But just as I told the Jews, I'm telling you: 'Where I go, you are not able to come.'
 ^34-35"Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other."

For Reflection
Over two thousand years have passed since the Christ event. His life on Earth was brief, His ministry even briefer.  Yet in that short period He made the truth knowable.  Today we can not see Jesus directly.  However, we know what is not seen and we of faith hope that we see Him in each other and that others see Him in us.

Pray
that others will see the love of Christ in you.  Pray that you will act according to the new covenant of love.  Pray for courage to respond to the to the Throne of God.

God Will Do a New Thing

We Worship God
A Guide for Worship Leaders:
All Things New

Isaiah 43:15-21 (The Message)

 ^14-15God, your Redeemer,
   The Holy of Israel, says:
"Just for you, I will march on Babylon.
   I'll turn the tables on the Babylonians.
Instead of whooping it up,
   they'll be wailing.
I am God, your Holy One,
   Creator of Israel, your King." ^16-21This is what God says,
   the God who builds a road right through the ocean,
   who carves a path through pounding waves,
The God who summons horses and chariots and armies—
   they lie down and then can't get up;
   they're snuffed out like so many candles:
"Forget about what's happened;
   don't keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new.
   It's bursting out! Don't you see it?
There it is! I'm making a road through the desert,
   rivers in the badlands.
Wild animals will say 'Thank you!'
   —the coyotes and the buzzards—
Because I provided water in the desert,
   rivers through the sun-baked earth,
Drinking water for the people I chose,
   the people I made especially for myself,
   a people custom-made to praise me.

For Reflection
God is always turning the tables -- this time something new.  God sacrifices for the redemption of our sins and to show the world His power to restore life.  Through Jesus Christ, He gives us not a threat, but rather, a promise.  God is now undeniable.

Pray
prayers of gratitude.  Pray that we reject the needs to conquer.  Pray that we fulfill our holy mission of self-sacrifice for His sake. Pray that we show His love abundantly.

A Plea for Help Answered

We Worship God
A Guide for Worship Leaders:
Heavenly Worship

Psalm 10:12-16 (The Message)

 ^12-13 Time to get up, God—get moving.
      The luckless think they're Godforsaken.
   They wonder why the wicked scorn God
      and get away with it,
   Why the wicked are so cocksure
      they'll never come up for audit.

 ¹⁴ But you know all about it—
      the contempt, the abuse.
   I dare to believe that the luckless
      will get lucky someday in you.
   You won't let them down:
      orphans won't be orphans forever.

 ^15-16 Break the wicked right arms,
      break all the evil left arms.
   Search and destroy
      every sign of crime.
   God's grace and order wins;
      godlessness loses.

For Reflection
The psalmist pleas for help.  It came in the form of Jesus Christ.  No arms on the enemy broken in the making of this transformational event. God gave not what was expected, but what was needed.  God will do the same with you.  He will supply not always what you want, but always what you need.

Pray
that you will be open to listen to God's instruction.  Pray that you will respond to His gentle nudge.

It's Our Turn

We Worship God
A Guide for Worship Leaders:
Heavenly Worship


Psalm 96  (The Message)

    Sing God a brand-new song! Earth and everyone in it, sing!
   Sing to God—worship God!
 ^2-3 Shout the news of his victory from sea to sea,
   Take the news of his glory to the lost,
   News of his wonders to one and all!
 ^4-5 For God is great, and worth a thousand Hallelujahs.
   His terrible beauty makes the gods look cheap;
   Pagan gods are mere tatters and rags.
 ^5-6 God made the heavens—
   Royal splendor radiates from him,
   A powerful beauty sets him apart.
 ⁷ Bravo, God, Bravo!
   Everyone join in the great shout: Encore!
   In awe before the beauty, in awe before the might.
 ^8-9 Bring gifts and celebrate,
   Bow before the beauty of God,
   Then to your knees—everyone worship!

 ¹⁰ Get out the message—God Rules!
   He put the world on a firm foundation;
   He treats everyone fair and square.

 ¹¹ Let's hear it from Sky,
   With Earth joining in,
   And a huge round of applause from Sea.

 ¹² Let Wilderness turn cartwheels,
   Animals, come dance,
   Put every tree of the forest in the choir—

 ¹³ An extravaganza before God as he comes,
   As he comes to set everything right on earth,
   Set everything right, treat everyone fair.

For Reflection

"Come Thou Fount"  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uslytyVrWFw&feature=related

Pray
Some things can only be said and experienced well in music.  Listen quietly and in prayer.

Symbol of Salvation

We Worship God
A Guide for Worship Leaders:
Heavenly Worship


Matthew 26:1719, 26-30 (The Message)

 ¹⁷On the first of the Days of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Where do you want us to prepare your Passover meal?" ^18-19He said, "Enter the city. Go up to a certain man and say, 'The Teacher says, My time is near. I and my disciples plan to celebrate the Passover meal at your house.'" The disciples followed Jesus' instructions to the letter, and prepared the Passover meal.

The Bread and the Cup

 ^26-29During the meal, Jesus took and blessed the bread, broke it, and gave it to his disciples:

   Take, eat.
   This is my body.
Taking the cup and thanking God, he gave it to them:

   Drink this, all of you.
   This is my blood,
   God's new covenant poured out for many people
      for the forgiveness of sins.
"I'll not be drinking wine from this cup again until that new day when I'll drink with you in the kingdom of my Father." ³⁰They sang a hymn and went directly to Mount Olives.

For Reflection
We surround ourselves with many symbols of the salvation story.  One of the most powerful symbols of our comitment to a transformational rebirth in Christ is Holy Communion.  What other symbols of your faith remind and encourage you to be faithful?

Pray
prayers of thanksgiving for the gift of Christ Jesus.

What Does God Expect of Us?

We Worship God
A Guide for Worship Leaders:
Heavenly Worship

 Titus 3:1-7(The Message)

He Put Our Lives Together

 ^1-2Remind the people to respect the government and be law-abiding, always ready to lend a helping hand. No insults, no fights. God's people should be bighearted and courteous. ^3-8It wasn't so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God's gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there's more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this.

For Reflection
Paul understands that this new faith is powerfully transforming.  He also knows that it will be the focus of great conflict as the believers begin to practice a faith that will alter the cultures in which it is practiced.  Put this passage in your own words according to how you think God wants others to see us.

Pray
That you follow the way in humility.  Pray that your actions are always pleasing to God.

Faith Heals

We Worship God
A Guide for Worship Leaders:
Heavenly Worship


Acts 3:11-16 (The Message)
 ¹¹The man threw his arms around Peter and John, ecstatic. All the people ran up to where they were at Solomon's Porch to see it for themselves.

Turn to Face God

 ^12-16When Peter saw he had a congregation, he addressed the people:    "Oh, Israelites, why does this take you by such complete surprise, and why stare at us as if our power or piety made him walk? The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his Son Jesus. The very One that Pilate called innocent, you repudiated. You repudiated the Holy One, the Just One, and asked for a murderer in his place. You no sooner killed the Author of Life than God raised him from the dead—and we're the witnesses. Faith in Jesus' name put this man, whose condition you know so well, on his feet—yes, faith and nothing but faith put this man healed and whole right before your eyes.

For Reflection
OK, here's the question.  Does the Apostle have the power to heal or is he telling the literal truth, the man had such great faith that he was healed directly by God?

Pray
that your faith is as strong as that which allowed God's power to enter this man and heal his affliction.  Pray for a faith that allows the Spirit to enter and heal your soul.