Saturday, January 18, 2025
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Urban Living 2 WORSHIP SERVICE
HOUSE OF THE LORD
We worship the God who wasWe worship the God who isWe worship the God who evermore will beHe opened the prison doorsHe parted the raging seaMy God, He holds the victory
There's joy in the house of the LordThere's joy in the house of the Lord todayAnd we won't be quietWe shout out Your praise
There's joy in the house of the LordOur God is surely in this placeAnd we won't be quietWe shout out Your praise(Oh-oh, oh) we shout out Your praise(Oh-oh, oh)
We sing to the God who healsWe sing to the God who savesWe sing to the God who always makes a way'Cause He hung up on that crossThen He rose up from that graveMy God's still rolling stones away
There's joy in the house of the LordThere's joy in the house of the Lord todayAnd we won't be quietWe shout out Your praise
There's joy in the house of the LordOur God is surely in this placeAnd we won't be quietWe shout out Your praise
We were the beggarsNow we're royaltyWe were the prisonersNow we're running freeWe are forgiven, acceptedRedeemed by His graceLet the house of the Lord sing praise
'Cause we were the beggarsNow we're royaltyWe were the prisonersNow we're running freeWe are forgiven, acceptedRedeemed by His graceLet the house of the Lord sing praise
There's joy in the house of the Lord (there is joy in the house)There's joy in the house of the Lord todayAnd we won't be quiet (oh, yeah)We shout out Your praise (I wanna shout out Your praise)
There's joy in the house of the Lord (there is joy, there is joy)Our God is surely in this placeAnd we won't be quietWe shout out Your praise (we gonna shout out Your praise)
There's joy in the house of the LordThere's joy in the house of the Lord todayAnd we won't be quietWe shout out Your praise (we gonna shout out Your praise)
There's joy in the house of the Lord (there is joy, there is joy)Our God is surely in this place (joy in this place)And we won't be quiet (we won't be quiet)We shout out Your praise
We shout out Your praiseThere is joy in the house, there is joy in the house todayWe shout out Your praiseWe shout out Your praise
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Jonathan Smith / Phil Wickham
House of the Lord lyrics © Be Essential Songs
Matthew 5:43-48. Living Bible
43 “There is a saying, ‘Love your friends and hate your enemies.’ 44 But I say: Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way you will be acting as true sons of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust too. 46 If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even scoundrels do that much. 47 If you are friendly only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even the heathen do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!
2
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!
3
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!
© 1923. Ren. 1951 Hope Publishing Co., Carol Stream, IL 60188
www.hopepublishing.com
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The Beatitudes influenced by Dr Tim Mackie translation
Leader: The Good Life comes to those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Congregation: Lord, have mercy on us.
Leader: The Good Life comes to those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Congregation: Lord, have mercy on us.
Leader: The Good Life comes to those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth.
Congregation: Lord, have mercy on us.
Leader: The Good Life comes to those who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they will be satisfied.
Congregation: Lord, have mercy on us.
Leader: The Good Life comes to those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Congregation: Lord, have mercy on us.
Leader: The Good Life comes to those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
Congregation: Lord, have mercy on us.
Leader: The Good Life comes to those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
Congregation: Lord, have mercy on us.
Leader: The Good Life comes to those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Congregation: Lord, have mercy on us.
Leader: God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.
Congregation: Lord, have mercy on us. May we always bring honor to Your Name!
GREAT ARE YOU LORD
VERSE 1
You give life You are love
You bring light to the darkness
You give hope You restore ev'ry heart that is broken
And great are You Lord
Chorus
It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
We pour out our praise
It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise to You only
Bridge
And all the earth will shout Your praise
Our hearts will cry these bones will sing
Great are You Lord
(REPEAT)
SongSelect Logo
CCLI Song # 6460220
David Leonard | Jason Ingram | Leslie Jordan
© 2012 Open Hands Music; So Essential Tunes; Integrity's Praise! Music; Little Way Creative
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License # 11176923
TESTIMONY: WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DID YOU HAVE THIS WEEK TO JOIN GOD ON HIS MISSION?
GRATITUDE
Verse 1
All my words fall short
I got nothing new
How could I express
All my gratitude
Verse 2
I could sing these songs
As I often do
But every song must end
And You never do
Chorus
So I throw up my hands
And praise You again and again
‘Cause all that I have is a hallelujah hallelujah
And I know it’s not much
But I’ve nothing else fit for a king
Except for a heart singing hallelujah
Hallelujah
Verse 3
I’ve got one response
I’ve got just one move
With my arms stretched wide
I will worship You
Bridge
Come on my soul
Oh don’t you get shy on me
Lift up your song
‘Cause you’ve got a lion inside of those lungs
Get up and praise the Lord
Friday, October 25, 2024
Worship for October 27
 |
| ChangeMaker students making dog toys |
All Hail The Power of Jesus Name
1 All hail the power of Jesus' name!
Let angels prostrate fall.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all!
2 O seed of Israel's chosen race
now ransomed from the fall,
hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all.
Hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all!
3 Let every tongue and every tribe
responsive to his call,
to him all majesty ascribe,
and crown him Lord of all.
To him all majesty ascribe,
and crown him Lord of all!
4 Oh, that with all the sacred throng
we at his feet may fall!
We'll join the everlasting song
and crown him Lord of all.
We'll join the everlasting song
and crown him Lord of all.
Psalter Hymnal (Gray), 1987
Build My Life - Hillsong
Worthy of every song we could ever sing
Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe
We live for You, oh, we live for You
Jesus, the Name above every other name
Jesus, the only One who could ever save
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe
We live for You, we live for You
Holy, there is no one like You
There is none beside You
Open up my eyes in wonder
And show me who You are
And fill me with Your heart
And lead me in Your love to those around me
Jesus, the Name above every other name
Jesus, the only One who could ever save
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe
We live for You, oh, we live for You
Holy, there is no one like You
There is none beside You
Open up my eyes in wonder
And show me who You are
And fill me with Your heart
And lead me in Your love to those around me
And I will build my life upon Your love
It is a firm foundation
And I will put my trust in You alone
And I will not be shaken
And I will build my life upon Your love
It is a firm foundation
And I will put my trust in You alone
And I will not be shaken
Holy, there is no one like You
There is none beside You
Open up my eyes in wonder
And show me who You are
And fill me with Your heart
And lead me in Your love to those around me
I will build my life upon You
Lead me in Your love
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Matthew James Redman / Kirby Kaple / Brett Steven Younker / Joseph Patrick Martin Barrett / Karl Felix Martin
Build My Life lyrics © Worshiptogether.com Songs, Sixsteps Music, Said And Done Music, Thankyou Music Ltd., Thankyou Music, Capitol Cmg Genesis, Bethel Music Publishing, Vamos Publishing, Housefires Sounds, Kaplemusic
 |
| Caffe Vita Group |
All my words fall short
I got nothing new
How could I express
All my gratitude?
I could sing these songs
As I often do
But every song must end
And You never do
So I throw up my hands
And praise You again and again
'Cause all that I have is a hallelujah
Hallelujah
And I know it's not much
But I've nothing else fit for a King
Except for a heart singing hallelujah
Hallelujah
I've got one response
I've got just one move
With my arm stretched wide
I will worship You
So I throw up my hands
And praise You again and again
'Cause all that I have is a hallelujah
Hallelujah
And I know it's not much
But I've nothing else fit for a King
Except for a heart singing hallelujah
Hallelujah
So come on, my soul
Oh, don't you get shy on me
Lift up your song
'Cause you've got a lion inside of those lungs
Get up and praise the Lord
Oh come on, my soul
Oh, don't you get shy on me
Lift up your song
'Cause you've got a lion inside of those lungs
Get up and praise the Lord
Come on, my soul
Oh, don't you get shy on me
Lift up your song
'Cause you've got a lion inside of those lungs
Get up and praise the Lord, hey
Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord
So I throw up my hands
Praise You again and again
'Cause all that I have is a hallelujah
Hallelujah
And I know it's not much
But I've nothing else fit for a King
Except for a heart singing hallelujah
Hallelujah
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Benjamin William Hastings / Michael Brandon Lake / Dante Bowe
 |
| The Match Market |
In Christ Alone
In Christ alone, my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live, I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Traditional / Keith Getty / Stuart Townend
In Christ Alone (My Hope Is Found) lyrics © Thankyou Music Ltd., Thankyou Music, Thank You Music Ltd.
All lyrics for use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License #11176923
Thursday, May 23, 2024
Worship for 05/24/2024
Opening Praise Music - Robert Payne
This Is Amazing Grace
Verse 1
Who breaks the power of sin and darkness
Whose love is mighty and so much stronger
The King of Glory the King above all kings
Verse 2
Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder
And leaves us breathless in awe and wonder
The King of Glory the King above all kings
Chorus
(Yeah) (Oh) This is amazing grace
This is unfailing love
That You would take my place
That You would bear my cross
You laid down Your life
That I would be set free
Oh Jesus I sing for all that You've done for me
Verse 3
Who brings our chaos back into order
Who makes the orphan a son and daughter
The King of Glory the King of Glory
Verse 4
Who rules the nations with truth and justice
Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance
The King of Glory the King above all kings
Bridge
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy worthy worthy
Jeremy Riddle, Josh Farro, Phil Wickham
CCLI Song #6333821
© 2012 Phil Wickham Music; Seems Like Music; Sing My Songs; Bethel Music Publishing; WC Music Corp.
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License #11176923
______________
Come Thou Fount
Come Thou Fount Come Thou King
Verse 1
Come Thou Fount of ev'ry blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount I'm fixed upon it
Mount of Thy redeeming love
Verse 2
I was lost in utter darkness
'Til You came and rescued me
I was bound by all my sin when
Your love came and set me free
Now my soul can sing a new song
Now my heart has found a home
Now Your grace is always with me
And I'll never be alone
Chorus
Come Thou Fount come Thou King
Come Thou precious Prince of Peace
Hear Your bride to You we sing
Come Thou Fount of our blessing
Come Thou Fount come Thou King
Come Thou precious Prince of Peace
Hear Your bride to You we sing
Come Thou Fount of our blessing
Verse 3
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be
Let Thy goodness like a fetter
Bind my wand'ring heart to Thee
Prone to wander Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart Lord take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above
SongSelect Logo
CCLI Song # 4775010
John Wyeth | Robert Robinson | Thomas Miller
© 2005 Gateway Create Publishing
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License # 11176923
_____________
Holy Spirit
Verse 1
There's nothing worth more that will ever come close
No thing can compare You're our living hope
Your Presence
Verse 2
I've tasted and seen of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free and my shame is undone
In Your Presence Lord
Chorus
Holy Spirit You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory God is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your Presence Lord
Interlude
Your Presence Lord
Interlude
Your Presence Lord
Your Presence
Oh God how we love Your Presence Lord
Bridge
Let us become more aware of Your Presence
Let us experience the glory of Your goodness (Lord)
SongSelect Logo
CCLI Song # 6087919
Bryan Torwalt | Katie Torwalt
© 2011 Capitol CMG Genesis; Jesus Culture Music
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License # 11176923
_____________
Question w/prayer: How have YOU practiced your love of the Lord this week? -Molly
______________
Scripture Reading /application intro: - led by Kelly
*Luke 23 (The Voice)
44 At this point, it was about noon, and a darkness fell over the whole region. The darkness persisted until about three in the afternoon, 45 and at some point during this darkness, the curtain in the temple was torn in two.
Jesus (shouting out loudly): 46 Father, I entrust My spirit into Your hands!
And with those words, He exhaled—and breathed no more.
47 The Centurion—one of the soldiers who performed the execution—saw all this, and he praised God.
Centurion: No doubt, this man must have been innocent.
_____________
Explanation: The tearing of this heavy curtain in the temple is highly symbolic. Because this curtain separated the holiest place in the temple from the rest of the temple, some see in this act a symbol of God opening the way for unholy humans to enter into His holy presence: Jesus’ death brought forgiveness and opened the way for all to come to God. Others see in the curtain being torn the opposite meaning: God’s presence can no longer be confined to any single geographical place. The suffering and death of Jesus ended one age of human history, and now a new era has begun. Now God is on the move, at large, invading the whole world. Or perhaps this graphic image means both.
The overturning of the old-covenant infrastructure prepares for a new era. The torn curtain reveals that all believers - both clergy and laity - have fresh, unparalleled access to God.
We glimpse this wonderful reality in the apostle’s explanation of Jesus’s ominous words against the Jerusalem temple: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). The religious leaders pushed back, for it took 46 years to build Herod’s temple (John 2:20). But John comments, “He was speaking about the temple of his body” (John 2:21). Jesus himself is the new temple—the new Most Holy Place—with no curtain barring anyone from intimacy with him.
The living God, through His Spirit, now indwells not in a physical structure but in the lives of ALL HIS SAINTS.
__________________
Responsive reading & Lord's Prayer - led by Micah
Leader: The temple curtain was woven to be as thick as a man's hand… 4 inches or more!
Congregation: Lord, you destroyed every barrier and now invite us face to face into your presence.
Leader: The Sun gave up shining for three long, frightful hours.
Congregation: The Heavens declare the glory of the Lord! Without your presence holding a spot, darkness rushes in and removes all light!
Leader: The Earth quaked and rocks split open as the Son of Man breathed his last.
Congregation: Lord, all Creation speaks loudly to proclaim your glory!
Leader: And the tombs opened up and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised!
Congregation: Lord, you have given us a foretaste of what will come at the end of time, the final resurrection, when all your saints will awaken!
ALL: Look! Everyone can see it!
God’s glory is on tour in the skies,
God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.
Madame Day holds classes every morning,
Professor Night lectures each evening.
The revelation of God is whole
and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
and easy on the eyes.
*Scripture taken from Matthew & 27 Psalm 19
The Lords Prayer
Our Father who art in Heaven hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen
________________
Prayer for our continuing God-Mission/ Missio Dei - led Katie
Testimony - led by Robert Payne
Communion/music - led by Rachel
_____________________
Music during Communion
Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)
Verse 1
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now I'm found
Was blind but now I see
Verse 2
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
Chorus
My chains are gone I've been set free
My God my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love amazing grace
Verse 3
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures
Verse 4
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine
Chris Tomlin, John Newton, Louie Giglio
CCLI Song #4768151
© 2006 Rising Springs Music; Vamos Publishing; worshiptogether.com songs
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License #11176923
Saturday, August 26, 2023
Summarizing Galatians since we began
LESSON ONE:
LEAVING GRACE?
Paul writes: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all.” GALATIANS 1:6–7
Big Picture: To avoid confrontation, we often accept someone else’s “truth” based on their stubborn insistence. Don’t be afraid to pause to consider how “grace” sets Christianity apart from every religion in the WORLD.
Question: Why do you think “grace” is so easily dismissed when considering our relationship to an Eternal God?
LESSON TWO
DEFENDING THE GOSPEL
Paul writes: “But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. . . . It came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.” GALATIANS 1:11–12 NKJV
Big Picture: Paul reminds us that the Gospel, the story of an Invitation to Redemption didn’t come by any man. It came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Note: Paul’s previous life was full of murder and torture. Guilt would easily have crippled him. But God’s invitation to experience Grace dominated the story of the gospel).
Question: Why do you think it’s important to grasp that this whole concept of ‘grace’ came from Jesus?
LESSON THREE
RIGHT WITH GOD
Paul emphasizes: “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” GALATIANS 2:21
Big Picture: LESSON THREE reminds us that any attempt at following a check list of goodness would only serve to exalt those who claimed success and defeat those who second-guessed their actions. The Grace that Christ invites us to is the only true “absolute” to how to live righteous.
Story: Jumping the Grand Canyon
*The Law is the context for the powerful promise of grace given to us by God through Jesus Christ. 3:1-29
LESSON FOUR
FAITH ALONE!
Paul asks: “This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
GALATIANS 3:2 NKJV
Big Picture: LESSON FOUR reminds us of the power that comes through our faith in God - God’s power; God’s love; God’s forgiveness; God’s sovereignty. And ultimately it is our acceptance of God’s gift and not our own works that will bring us right before God. Just like Abraham, we are made right with God by FAITH alone.
Question to ask yourself: Where are you struggling to find the faith to believe?
LESSON FIVE
THE LAW AND THE PROMISE
Paul writes: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us . . . so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” GALATIANS 3:13–14
Big Picture: Christ not only offered us a gift of grace, but also took our place by taking on the penalty of sin for all of us.
Question: What causes us to reject such a gift?
LESSON SIX
THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW
Paul explains: “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.” GALATIANS 3:24–25 NKJV
Big Picture: Okay. So now LESSON SIX answers an obvious question: If people are not saved by trying to follow God’s rules, what was the purpose of those rules in the first place? Galatians 3:19 Why, then was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come.
Conclusion: Through Jesus Christ we are given the gracious gift of becoming God’s children and heirs of his promises. Galatians 4:1-31
LESSON SEVEN
CHILDREN OF GOD
Paul points out: “So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”
GALATIANS 4:7
Big Picture: LESSON SEVEN works to relate that we are “heirs” with Jesus. We now have the privileges and rights that come by being joint-heirs with Jesus ; no longer a slave but God’s child.
Conclusion: God is indeed building a family.
LESSON EIGHT
BECOMING LIKE CHRIST
Paul reflects: “My infirmity which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. GALATIANS 4:14 NKJV
Big Picture: LESSON EIGHT tries to teach us that the goal of the Christian life is not about gaining more knowledge, memorizing large chunks of the Bible or comprehending a boatload of theology. It’s not about activity or a “to-do” list. Christ’s ultimate desire for each of us is to make us like himself.
Conclusion: We are being transformed into the image of God’s Son.
Lucado, Max. Life Lessons from Galatians. HarperChristian Resources. Kindle Edition.
Friday, April 21, 2023
Does God Need our $$ ??
IF GOD DOESN’T NEED OUR MONEY, WHY DO WE EVEN BOTHER TO GIVE
God’s speaking “I don’t want your sacrifices—I want your love; I don’t want your offerings—I want you to know Me.”
Hosea 6:6. Living Bible
REFLECTION
Our God is not a weak, poor God who needs stuff. He made everything with a word. He has a limitless supply of resources. He has no needs; he’s never had one. And even if he did have one, he wouldn’t come to us with it! So why are we encouraged to include a concept of Giving and Generosity in our Spiritual growth?
SITUATION
To obey is better than sacrifice, and to love God and our neighbor better than all burnt-offerings. We are here warned not to rest in these performances. And let us beware of resting in any form. God demands the heart, and how can human inventions please him, when repentance, faith, and holiness are neglected? In the day of distress we must apply to the Lord by fervent prayer. Our troubles, though we see them coming from God's hand, must drive us to him, not drive us from him. We must acknowledge him in all our ways, depend upon his wisdom, power, and goodness, and refer ourselves wholly to him, and so give him glory. Thus must we keep up communion with God; meeting him with prayers under trials, and with praises in deliverances.
(Matthew Henry Commentary)
Psalm 50:7-15 (The Voice)
“Listen, My people, I have something to say:
O Israel, My testimony comes against you;
I am God, your God.
8 I am not going to scold you because of your sacrifices;
your burnt offerings are always before Me.
9 I will not accept the best bull from your fields
or goats from your meadow,
10 For they are already Mine, just as the forest beast
and the cattle grazing over a thousand hills are Mine.
11 Every bird flying over the mountains I know;
every animal roaming over the fields belongs to Me.
12 I would not come to you if I were hungry,
for the world and all it contains are Mine.
13 Do you really think I eat bull meat?
Or drink goat’s blood?
14 Set out a sacrifice I can accept: your thankfulness.
Be true to your word to the Most High.
15 When you are in trouble, call for Me.
I will come and rescue you,
and you will honor Me.”
EXPLORATION
1. What does it mean when God says He is not going to scold us for bringing our sacrifices to Him in verse 8?
2. But verse 9 seems to reverse that attitude (of not scolding us) when, in vs 9 He won’t accept the best bull or goats. What’s the difference in attitude when we are sacrificing an offering as opposed to paying off someone for their favor?
3. What does the Psalmist mean when he writes that God (vs 12) says He would not even bother to come to us if He were hungry?
Scripture seems to remind us over and over: God does not need our money. Heartfelt Giving represents something else. What does it represent? See next:
This Scripture begins to show us how David wanted to leverage his money for God’s eternal kingdom. And God said that was a good thing. Why? Because David realized that what God was building on earth was more important than what David was building. David did not give to God because God was in need, but because he wanted to leverage his earthly resources for God’s eternal kingdom.
2. Offerings of gratefulness
David saw all that God had done for him and he wanted to give in response. When he went to set up the plot of land the temple would be built on, he insisted on buying it, even though the owner wanted to give it to David for free. David said, “I will not give unto the Lord my God that which cost me nothing” (2 Sam 24:24). David insisted on paying because he knew the issue was not providing a need (the field would be provided either way), but was the statement the gift made about David’s heart.
If David was grateful to God because of what he’d seen God do, how much more should we be grateful to God? David was blessed with a temple, but we have been blessed with Jesus, the true temple whose flesh was torn so that we could enter the presence of God.
4. Does that not that do something to your heart? Do you not want to pour yourself out for God in gratitude? Pause and reflect on your own gifts to God in the last year. (Time, offerings) Is there anything you can share about how you feel about God and about his worth to you?
3. Obedience to God’s Spirit
David did with his money exactly what God instructed of him. This is an overlooked element in giving—the involvement of the Holy Spirit. When you look at a lot of the biblical stories about giving, you find statements like, “God stirred up so-and-so’s heart to give” (Exod 36, 2 Cor 9). Giving is supposed to be a Spirit-thing, a Spirit-driven thing, in which the Spirit moves in your heart and you listen to him and obey as he directs.
From: J.D. Greear's article
https://jdgreear.com/if-god-doesnt-need-our-money-then-why-do-we-give/
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