Music Blog

The Coming King

The Prophet Isaiah spoke of the coming Messiah this way in Isaiah chapter 9:

² The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
    on them has light shone.
⁶ For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ Of the increase of his government and of peace
    there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
    to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

The season of Advent is full of imagery and rich reminders to anticipate the return of Christ. It's full of anticipation of the upside-down way He left his majesty and initiated a kingdom on earth built upon sacrifice and humility. The coming of Baby Jesus to the manger in Bethlehem, even with all the miraculous and awesome events of that night, is a dim shadow of the second coming of King Jesus to set all things right and establish his kingdom in a new heavens and new earth. 

The majesty and justice, the never-ending increase of peace...there's nothing subtle, nothing quiet, nothing "out of the way" about his second coming. 

So as we gather together in this season, we should do so with eager anticipation, excitement, joy, and much celebration, not only because Baby Jesus came, died and rose, but also because King Jesus is coming soon. We join in the everlasting celebration of his majesty, his justice, his mercy, his humility, his sacrifice and his reign....all rolled together as we remember and anticipate.

 Here's a Spotify playlist of these songs so you'll know them when you come! 

Founded on the Rock

Matthew 7:24-25 says:

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock."

As we gather this Sunday, we're excited to celebrate welcoming new members into our church body. It's a joyous day to celebrate God building his church. It's a day to celebrate his faithfulness to, first and foremost, save these dear folks and bring them into his family, and then to draw them into fellowship with us.

As christians, we all share both the hope and the charge that is laid out in this passage. We have the shared hope that the words and works of Christ, his Scripture and his Sacrifice, are the foundation upon which we build our lives. We also have the shared hope the He is the one building us on that foundation. He is the one that keeps us from slipping or sinking in the midst of the storm.

The charge to build our lives on the rock...to be founded on the Rock is not a charge to earn God's favor or to work harder for the stability that comes from being founded on the Rock. It's a charge to hope in, trust in, believe in the very words of God...and to obey them from that place of hope and trust.

Christ is our sure and steady anchor, he is our Foundation, he is our faithful Provider. And he is the Rock on which our lives our built both personally and corporately. 

Here are the songs and Scriptures that will make up our services this Sunday: