Archive for the 'First Christian Church' Category

Sunday Setlist #24

Here’s today’s set list of music at the Awakening Service at FCC.  This will be linked to Fred McKinnon’s blog where other worship bloggers post their setlists.  

Here’s what we did:

Your Grace is Enough

Alive Again (New song for us by Matt Maher…check out what I have to say aboutt his song HERE)

My Savior, My God

Message:  Building Your Life On A Solid Foundation

(during communion) Beautiful the Blood

Glorify Your Name

Alive Again (we normally do a new song twice the first week to learn it)

Let The Praises Ring (Closing) (The band is tired of this song…we’re moving it to the infrequent song list)

New Song Inspiration: Matt Maher’s “Alive Again”

It’s not often that I hear a song the first time and I am competely moved.  Normally I like the music or some lyric and want to listen again.  But recently I heard a song that just broke me.  I was in my office and I got a link to listen to this new song from an online worship organization.  When I say it broke me, I mean to say that I found myself on my knees worshipping God as tears we’re coming down my face.  For some reason, this song just spoke to my soul and gave me words in which to worship.  I thought to myself, “I would love to do this with our worship band…but it breaks so many of my ‘corporate worship song rules.’”  So I put it out of my mind until 2 days later when Jennifer called me while she was driving.  She had just heard this new song on the radio and she said, “I’ve got a new song for the band to do.”  Now you have to understand that my wife rarely asks for or suggests new songs for us (this was probably the second time in many years).  I said, “OK…what is it?”  She said, “Not sure what it’s called but it goes like this….(and she began to sing the song that I had just fallen in love with a few days before).”

So I decided to break my “worship rules” and have the band learn it.  We messed around with it Wednesday…and oh man we loved it.  So I am pumped to see how others respond this coming Sunday when we teach it to the congregation.  In the meantime, below is a video of the song and the bottom one is Matt Maher’s video on what inspired him to write it.

What Are The Top Problems Facing Families?

Another local pastor is trying to be proactive about dealing with the top problems facing families today.  He has someone calling other local pastors to ask them what they think are the top problems.  I think that’s a great idea.  I have my list, but I’d love to hear what others think.

Here’s how I answered it (in no particular order):

1) the lack of solid marriages.  Between divorce and people having children outside of marriage why would we expect the next generation to have secure, enduring, loving relationships with a spouse and children?  Add to that adultery, pornography, the media culture…it’s tough!

2) Busy-Ness.  Why do we think our kids have to play every sport all year-round?  When do they just get to be kids?  I played a lot of sports growing up but there was always a break between seasons and we NEVER played on Sunday!  When do families get time together?

3) Consumerism/Materialism/financial pressures: Again, thank you culture!  We think we need more right now.  Easy credit.  Throw in a recession and job loss and there is some real stress right now, more than ever in our lifetime about money.  That has to effect families!

So what would you add or subtract from this list?

Sunday Setlist #23

Here’s today’s set list of music at the Awakening Service at FCC.  This will be linked to Fred McKinnon’s blog where other worship bloggers post their setlists.  

Here’s what we did:

I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever (the theme this morning was “God is Love” so how could we avoid singing this classic worship song)

From the Inside Out

All Because of Jesus (normally our song order goes from faster to slower tempo but lately I’ve enjoyed changing things up and not doing what has been expected)

Message:  God Is Love

(during communion) How He Loves

Glorious One

Happy Day (Closing)

Do they make a Microwave for “Change”?

There are so many things I want to improve about myself, about how FCC does church, about our community and world.  Of course, I need to start with myself.  That’s the one I have the most control over but it still seems slow.  Don’t they make a microwave or drive-through where I can just “CHANGE” over night?

I have to remember to take a day at a time.  It’s through “winning” each day that I can witness real LIFE-change.  And I have to remember that it ultimately comes through only by being plugged into God.  He’s the vine…I’m just the branches.  What else needs to be pruned? 

Always remember the long view of things like Jesus did, not the short view like Judas.

Sunday Setlist #22

Here’s today’s set list of music at the Awakening Service at FCC.  This will be linked to Fred McKinnon’s blog where other worship bloggers post their setlists.  

Here’s what we did:

Greg, our worship leader, was back after being sick last week.  Glad to have him back. 

O Praise Him (this song has been out of our rotation…but wanted to bring it back for a week)

Marvelous Light

God of This City

Hallelujah Jesus

Message:  God is Great.  God is Good.

(during communion) Your name

You Lifted Me Out (Closing)

Spiritual Malpractice

I recently heard Jorge Acevado say something to the effect,

Spiritual malpractice is offering Jesus as the HEALER but not offering the safe PLACES, SPACES, PEOPLE, and PROCESSES for people to heal.

Wow!  Read that slowly again.  Is our church (your church) guilty of spiritual malpractice?  Why or why not?

Sunday Setlist #21

Here’s today’s set list of music at the Awakening Service at FCC.  This will be linked to Fred McKinnon’s blog where other worship bloggers post their setlists.  

Here’s what we did:

Greg, our worship leader, had the flu…which means we had to make drastic last minute changes.  Fortunately we have an incredible team and Brandon, who normally plays drums for us is able to step up and lead from guitar…but then we don’t have a drummer.  But that’s OK…worship can still happen without drums!

So our song list was cut by a song and we had to go a little more “old school” than usual.  But the Spirit still moved.

Beautiful One

Jesus Messiah

I Will Rise

Message:  Week 4 (and our final week) of our “make love a verb” series on marriage.   (www.makeloveaverb.com)

(during communion) Amazing Grace (These chains are gone)

Blessed Be Your Name (Closing)

Sunday Setlist #20

Here’s today’s set list of music at the Awakening Service at FCC.  This will be linked to Fred McKinnon’s blog where other worship bloggers post their setlists.  

Here’s what we did:

Overflow (we still love doing this Geoff Moore song from 2001)

Another Hallelujah (Brought this oldie back because our people really love it)

Our God Reigns

Message Week 3 of our make love a verb series on marriage.   (www.makeloveaverb.com)

(during communion) How He Loves

As Long As I Have You

My Future Decided (Closing)

Make Love…a verb (part 2) Message Available

You can check out the first 2 messages of the series here:  HERE!

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