October 11, 2020

LUKE: The Narrow Door

Preacher: Mike Polson Series: LUKE Scripture: Luke 13:22–35

Worship Notes
As the seasons change, I always become more observant of creation and in awe of God’s creativity, so you will see our praises reflect that a little more at the beginning of the service this week. I obviously love music, but I’m overwhelmed by the truth from the words more than any melody or harmony. I hope you will have time to listen to these songs anew and consider the texts as we prepare to gather this week.

As always, excited to worship with you this Sunday!

  • Chris

How Great Thou Art – Hymnal #8

Of course, most of you already know this song. In fact, it is such a big deal in Christian hymnody that it is #8 in our hymnal. I love the imagery of this song. It is hard not to think of times when I have been in the mountains gazing at a sky full of stars like we never get to see around here. In fact, the story goes that the first three verses were composed while the writer was caught in the mountains during a thunderstorm. We sing this song mainly as a spectator and not necessarily a participant. We see the skies, we hear the thunder, we see the woods abundant with life, we consider what Jesus did for us on the cross and there is no other response than for our soul to cry out. There is no other work required. God has done it all. It is simply up to us to turn to Him and praise Him. 

Listen to this song here (no lyrics, but I’m a big Vince Gill fan and just had to share this version):

https://youtu.be/nxyP0Xgx5xE 

What a Beautiful Name

We regularly pray, “In Jesus’ name.” I often end corporate prayers that way, but I rarely actually pause to consider the full depth of what I am saying. When we call on the name of Jesus we are speaking of:

  • The Word at the Beginning, through whom all things were created
  • The Great I Am
  • God with us
  • The Way, the Truth, and the Life
  • The Word become flesh
  • Son of God and Son of man
  • The Savior on a cross
  • The Risen Lord
  • The Light of the World
  • The One who was, and is, and is to come

Now imagine if every time we called on the name of the Lord, we had all of that in mind. There is power in that name. There is everything in that name.

Listen to this song with full text here:

https://youtu.be/r5L6QlAH3L4

Who You Say I Am

John 1:12-13

"12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." 

I heard an analogy from a Methodist minister last year that really stuck with me. She told a story about a gold coin that fell out of a man’s pocket and was lost and dirty in the mud. The man searched and searched for the coin until he found it and was able to clean it up and put it back in his pocket. The thing about the coin was that no matter how lost or dirty it was, to the man it always had the same value. He simply had to find it and clean it off. What do you think about when you hear someone say that you are a child of God? Is there a better title that we can ever claim? Especially when we consider what that means. We are granted that title by a loving creator, the God of everything, who knows us as we are, and wherever we are, but still has sent His Son to clean us up so that we could live with Him as a born again member of His family.

Listen to this song with full text here:

https://youtu.be/sBTWBQe_UB0

other sermons in this series

Apr 18

2021

LUKE: The Early Gathered

Preacher: Jeff Flanagan Scripture: Luke 24:13–35 Series: LUKE

Apr 4

2021

LUKE: Because Christ was Raised

Preacher: Jeff Flanagan Scripture: Luke 23:50– 24:12 Series: LUKE

Mar 28

2021

LUKE: The Silent, Suffering, Servant of God

Preacher: Jeff Flanagan Scripture: Luke 22:63– 23:25 Series: LUKE