Worship leaders have the blessing/responsibility to lead us in joining the heavenly hosts in worship. Here are three things to keep in mind.
By Dr. Kathleen Horwood, Business Manager for GCI Canada and Pastor for Saskatoon.
From Genesis to Revelation, we see that God’s people have been worshippers. We worship God for his faithfulness, his protection, his provision, his love. We worship because he is Father, Son and Spirit. Worship has never been confined to gatherings in the temple or church gathering. Rather, it can—and should—occur from the rising of the sun to the setting. Our Sunday gatherings, however, provide a time when God’s people can gather to worship him in concert with “our psalms, hymns, spiritual songs”... Read the article
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A healthy church worship service is centered around Jesus. He is the center of our gathering, preaching, sharing communion, and dismissal.
By Bill Hall, National Director, Canada
I recently started to read A Lay Preacher’s Guide: How to Craft a Faithful Sermon, by Karoline Lewis. (She is the associate professor of biblical preaching at Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota.)
In the introduction to her book Lewis makes the following statement about what a faithful sermon should accomplish:
Preaching assumes and then invites an actual encounter with God. How it creates an experience of God is the focus of this book. But first, the preacher has to believe that the Greeks were right when they pleaded, “Sir, we wish to see... Read the article
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November marks the end of one worship year with Christ the King Sunday, and the beginning of another worship year with Advent.
The title of this article is a play on words. Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end—and this month gives us the opportunity to celebrate with the end and work back to a celebration of the beginning. The worship calendar gives us constant reminders that all our worship centers on Jesus. We can’t make him the center of the center—he already is. The GCI worship calendar keeps us focused on him. So let’s start with the end.
Christ the King Sunday
Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom... Read the article
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Listen in as host, Anthony Mullins and guest, Ted Johnston, unpack the lectionary passages for the first Sunday of Advent, November 29, 2020:
Isaiah 64:1-9 “The Master Potter”
Psalm 80:1-7; 17-19 “Mighty to Save”
1 Corinthians 1:3-9 “Blameless”
Mark 13:24-37 “Stay Awake!”
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Labor of Love with Dishon Mills
Listen in as host, Anthony Mullins and guest, Dishon Mills, unpack these lectionary passages:
November 1 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 “Labor of Love”
November 8 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 “Don’t Plead Ignorance”
November 15 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 “Is the Lord a Thief?”
November 22 Matthew 25:31-46 “Least of These”
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“Well, when we are coming together in worship. We are coming to share the good news of Jesus. The gospel is good news! Even if we are personally having a hard time, we are coming together because of the hope we have in him. And so, coming together is transformative! … singing the same truth next to brothers and sisters, even if I’m not believing it. Hearing other people say those words, with conviction, helps me borrow hope and have conviction too.”
Michelle Fleming, GCI Media Director
Main Points:
What does it mean to craft a worship celebration and why is it important? (2:55)
When should a Hope Venue Champion begin to craft the weekly worship gathering and what are the important steps during the week? (4:16)
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Psalm 80-1-7, 17-19 • Isaiah 64:1-9 • 1 Corinthians 1: 3-9 • Mark 13:24-37
The theme this week is all passes away, mercy endures. In the call to worship in Psalm 80, the poet pleads with God to bring mercy on them and reclaim them as his people. In Isaiah 64, the prophet begs for mercy for God’s people who are clay in the hands of the Potter. In 1 Corinthians, Paul talks to this troubled community about how God will keep them and hold them until the last day. Our sermon is based on Mark 13, which gives the terrifying apocalyptic image of the temple’s destruction in AD 70, an early signal that God’s glory no longer rests there, but with the new community in Christ.
A Seat at the End of the World
Mark 13:24-37 ESV
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Psalm 100:1-5 • Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 • Ephesians 1:15-23 • Matthew 25:31-46
This week’s theme is Christ the King. This week’s “call to worship” Psalm invites the sheep of the pasture to sing praises to the Lord who is worthy of universal glory. The text of Matthew governs the other lectionary texts as it focuses on Christ’s coming enthronement to glory. Matthew’s text calls along as a companion the text in Ezekiel where the Lord likens himself to a Shepherd taking care of his sheep. The New Testament passage will provide the majestic opening text of Ephesians that culminates with the exaltation of Christ reigning in full dominion.
The Shepherd King
Matthew 25:31-46
Are you the type of person who doesn’t mind... Read the article
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Psalm 123:1-4 • Judges 4:1-7 • 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 • Matthew 25:14-30
The theme this week is God is in charge. Psalm 123 calls us to worship, and it sings of God’s mercy that we depend on. Judges 4 gives us an account of God sending Israel victory when they depend on him. 1 Thessalonians 5 talks about the end of days when God re-establishes his rule on earth in Christ. Our sermon, “Royalty in Exile,” is based on this reading. Matthew 25 tells us how God is in charge and we should make the most of the life he gave us because our time is finite.
Royalty in Exile
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 ESV
Begin by reading 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 ESV.
Falling in love. Getting bit by the love bug. Taking love potion number 9. Puppy love.... Read the article
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Psalm 78:1-7 • Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 • 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 • Matthew 25:1-13
The theme for this week is hope and promises, which encourages us to consider God’s promises and allow them to fuel our hope. The “call to worship” Psalm reminds us to tell the generations of the “praiseworthy deeds of the Lord.” Joshua reminds the Israelites of the many times God delivered them and he encouraged them to base their commitment on this evidence of God’s faithfulness. This week’s sermon outline is based on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, where Paul addresses the big question about God’s promise of resurrection to us. Lastly, Matthew tells the parable of the foolish bridesmaids who weren’t ready, thus encouraging us to wait... Read the article
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