I thought I'd share another look into song choice and how much thought goes into a service some weeks. The theme of this weeks message is "Maniacally Get More Milk" from 2 peter 3-10. I don't know what all Pastor Jack is going to talk about, but obviously we are going to be focusing on the importance of the Word of God. With that in mind, here is my setlist for this Sunday...
- Marvelous Light (Charlie Hall song from a few years ago)
- Jesus, Firm Foundation (the new arrangement of "How Firm a Foundation")
- Standing on the Promises (Baptist Hymnal #335)
- Ancient Words (Lynn Deshazo song made popular by Michael W. Smith)
- Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (Baptist Hymnal #320)
I'll come back to Marvelous Light in a moment. The Hymn "How Firm a Foundation" takes a scriptural promise in each of it's 7 verses (only 4 in the hymnal today). It begins with the premise that there is no greater foundation than the Word of God and Jesus Christ as revealed therein. Because of this, I felt like this was a great way to highlight the importance of God's word even as we sing. Moving from there to "Standing on the Promises" seemed like a great transition. We finish a song that highlights promises from the Word and then declare that we stand on those promises for life.
Ancient Words is a great song (in my opinion) that reminds us that the words we read in the Bible are not new. They are not a passing fad. They have withstood the test of time because they are God's truth as breathed to life by God himself.
As I tried to find a song to end the service with, I struggled. There are several more songs that speak about God's word (obviously) but I felt like we needed more of a vertically charged song. Something to remind us that God is in the room with us. I felt like "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" while not a fully vertical song (one sang directly to God) was a song that helps make the connection between the word of God on paper (or phones, tablets, etc) and the Word became flesh that dwelt among us. The Time of Commitment song will be "Open the Eyes of My Heart" which finishes the focusing by being a truly vertical song asking God to help us receive His truth.
Back to Marvelous Light...this is our new song for the month of September (I know it isn't really new, but it is to our congregation). I had this song in mind for the month, but kept setting it aside as being too youth campy. So I started looking at other songs and had even chosen one. It had a nice feel to it and I thought it would work nicely. However, after looking at it a bit more closely, I began to feel that it wasn't theologically 100% sound. It's not a bad song, but the theology is a tad bit off. So as I came back to square one, Marvelous Light kept coming to mind. I read through the lyrics, prayed about, and realized that the truths contained therein were ideal for this time of year. As we go back to school, work, schedules, what better reminder than the thought that we have been called out of the darkness and into God's marvelous light.
I'm excited to get to lead these songs in our congregation this Sunday. I pray that wherever you worship this week, that the Word of God would speak to you in fresh ways and that you open yourself to receive that truth.
