Jesus

Come to Jesus

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Today was the next to last Sunday of “Knowing Jesus” series, and it was one of my favorite Sundays ever.  We concluded our “Ni Zan Je” testimonies from this summer in a pretty special way.  As we took up the offering, we watched an International Mission Board video talking about the connection between financial support and our foreign missionaries.  And who was feature in the video?  Our very own partner, Greg, in West Africa!

Kara gave her testimony after that.  It was powerful to hear all that she learned and all that she did over the summer.  When she concluded, another one of our missionaries, Heather led worship with the choir to the song “He’s Always Been Faithful.”  As they sang, we played a video of our mission teams in West Africa.  There could not be a more appropriate song!  It honestly was one of the most powerful moments for me as a worship leader as I stood in the back of the auditorium worshiping along.

Today, we worshiped to:

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“Words of Life” – Storytellers

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The song “Words of Life” focuses on the teaching ministry of Jesus.  As we developed the “Knowing Jesus” project, we knew that we needed to designate one sone specifically to display the power of Jesus’ preaching.  He was known as teaching with authority, and His lessons are still discussed 2000 years later after their origination.  That is something unique!

We wrote this song in a different way than the others.

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Jesus & Thomas

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Wonderful time of worship at North Side today!  We are nearing the end of our “Knowing Jesus” CD as we studied the Gospel of John for over a year.  The message on Thomas was great.  I loved how Jeff said that the church needs to stop defining people by their past.  So true!

McFadden did a great monologue from Thomas’ perspective.  As he spoke of that moment when Jesus appeared in the disciples’ midst, he led in worship with “I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder how He could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean.”  The song worked out so well between the monologue and the message, it was almost as if Thomas himself wrote it!

Today, we worshiped to:

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Bad Church Sign: No, Luke, I Am Your Father

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Thankful to Karen Erskine for sending this sign to me.  This week’s bad church sign of the week has the Jesus character telling Luke Skywalker that, in fact, Darth Vader is not his father.  Instead, he is. This one isn’t that bad per se, but is quite hilarious on one side.  On the other side, I really wish I knew

“Risen” – Storytellers

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The song “Risen” off of our “Knowing Jesus” project was 1 of the 2 original group writing sessions we did.  John, Jamie, Laura, and Phillip camped out in my playroom and studied the 4 gospel accounts of Jesus’ resurrection.  After a while, they had a pre-chorus section and a few different chorus ideas.  The “come and see, the tomb is empty, He is risen” was the first section written.

We knew we wanted minor verses, major choruses.  We also decided that we wanted the mood to carry over from “It Is Finished” before it.  We wanted to convey at the beginning a sense of hopelessness and confusion.  So the song starts out with just pad and vocal.  Was the cross the end?  Now what?  We wanted people to experience what the disciples must have felt.

The rest of the song is a rowdy celebration of the power over death found in Jesus’ resurrection.

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Knowing Jesus Recap (And What’s Next)

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I know I am two weeks behind to give you a “Knowing Jesus” recap, but things have been a tad busy as of late.  In short, the event exceeded my expectations which were very large.  After all the prayer, study, work, and preparation into this event and resource, I set the bar high in my mind.  I never imagined what would happen that night.

I thought the entire roof was about to blow off the building.  When God’s people responded to the revelation of Jesus Christ, it was beyond intense.  As the storyline unfolded as we told the life and ministry of Christ through song, genuine, passionate worship erupted among us.

I had many comments (some of them were very sup rising), and here are the most repeated ones:

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Risen

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Focusing on missions and the power of the resurrection – what a Sunday!

Samantha Vickers did a fantastic job sharing her “Ni Zan Je” testimony and showing what faithfulness to the call looks like.  It was great for her to commission our mission team leaving out this Saturday in Hausa.  “I will follow Jesus anywhere no matter the roughness of the road.”

Today, we worshiped to:

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Man Up

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Scripture is full of servants who took a stand to confront evil. Look up these passages and learn from these examples. When the prophet Nathan heard about King David’s adulterous relationship with Bathsheba, what did he do about it (2 Samuel 12:7-9)?  He confronted and rebuked the King. When Nehemiah heard that God’s people were taking financial advantage of others,

It Is Finished

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What a wonderful day to be a part of North Side!  I got the privilege to lead worship and preach today.  It is always a humbling thing to be in the room when God saves people.  We got to be in His presence when He did just that for a good crew of people at the 9:30 and 11:00 services.  I got to speak with some wonderful people and received some great emails today of people who Jesus saved today.  Absolutely amazing to see how God is transforming lives!

I preached from John 19 on the crucifixion of Jesus and the 3 greatest words I ever heard: it is finished.  We do not need to keep fighting a battle that has already been won by Christ.  He has offered the final sacrifice and has sat down at the right hand of God – it is finished!

Hebrews 10:11Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD

Today, we worshiped to:

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Pilate’s Judgment

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Powerful time of worship this morning at North Side.  The above picture was a pretty special moment as Jeff served as both pastor and father to some missionaries we commissioned.  Jeff’s daughter, Emily, Scott, and Baby Lucy are leaving this week to serve as missionaries in Africa.  It has been amazing to watch this father be so proud of his family for a decision that will keep them far from the comforts that we take for granted and yet so much closer to Jesus through their obedience.  It was an honor to pray for them – will continue to do so!  We have some prayer cards at the church for you!

Today, we worshiped to:

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