From One Degree to Another

Phil Auxier's Blog

Connect

Music Review – Folk Angel’s All the Earth Rejoice

by

Been listening A LOT to Folk Angel’s All The Earth Rejoice.  If you don’t know Folk Angel, according to their website, they “write and rearrange traditional Christmas songs, and through that creative process, retell the Gospel story that illuminates all things.”  I have most all of their projects, but this most recent one has been getting a lot of play, mainly because I enjoy the stylistic diversity.  There are traditional songs redone in fun ways, new songs that help us glorify Christ and songs that I anticipate using in the local church.  My favorite track features Isaac Wimberley and is entitled He Knows.

I can’t say enough to recommend this to you.  But, don’t just take my word for it…go over to the All The Earth Rejoice page and sample each of the songs.  And, then, give them support by purchasing it for your holiday worship and enjoyment.

Folk Angel is also on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram



Weekend Recap – It’s Christmastime…

by

My 12/8/13 sermon, Christmas In Revelation, is now online.  In it, I try and unpack the meaning of Christmas in the book of Revelation, showing how the eternal GodMan took on flesh, brought salvation to all and is coming again.  We had a great morning looking at these things.

I mentioned Jared Wilson’s blogpost Don’t Let Christmas Distract You From Jesus, so go over there and read it…

And, I was encouraged by 2 ladies singing Born Is the King.  Here’s the track with lyrics:
 

Small Group Prep – Saving Grace

by

Had some time this AM to think about our upcoming small group session which, for my group, will include looking at what has been called “the most important paragraph in the Bible”: Romans 3:21-26. 

With Advent on the mind, I read these words:

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Also, encouraging, though, were the notes from the Gospel Transformation Bible: 

If previous verses might lead to despair, Paul now sets forth grounds for rejoicing. What Abraham set his hope on by faith, so that God granted him a righteous standing (Gen. 15:6), Jesus Christ has accomplished “for all who believe” the gospel promise as Abraham did (Rom. 3:22). Yes, the sinful human condition is universal and terminal (v. 23). But believers “are justified” by God’s “grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (v. 24). The term “redemption” suggests a picture of slaves being purchased and freed. God sent his Son to be a “propitiation”: he satisfied the demands of God’s wrath by his death on the cross in the place of sinners. When he “passed over former sins” (v.25) prior to Jesus’ coming, God did not merely dismiss the charges against the guilty. Rather, God’s righteous demands were met in Jesus’ death. God proved to be “just” in not overlooking sin, and he also freely chose to act as “justifier” for “the one who has faith in Jesus” (v.26).
Our hearts are moved as we marvel at the wisdom of God in providing a righteous way of rescue for guilty sinners that does not in any way compromise his justice and holiness. We marvel, too, at God’s great love in sending his own Son to accomplish this salvation.

So, as we prep (at least my group prepares) for Sunday’s Small Group, let’s marvel at God sending His Son to accomplish these things for us.  Ask God for a heart that treasures and boasts in this one great focus.  

CrestviewKids: Parent’s Night

by

At CrestviewKids tonight, we are having a Parent’s Night at 6PM.  This means a meal followed by singing the songs we’ve taught the children, the memory verse and summarizing the lessons under one big heading with a craft that supports it.  I love Parent’s Nights.

This night, in particular, we are looking at two months: November and December.  The November verse was 2 Corinthians 9:7 on giving and the December verse was 2 Corinthians 13:14, a clear verse on the Trinitarian flavor of the Bible.

The five lessons we will summarize are:
The Triumphal Entry – Jesus entered as a king; people plotted to kill Him.
The Widow’s Offering – Man looks outward; Jesus knows our hearts.
Jesus Washes The Disciples’ Feet – Jesus came to serve and calls us to do the same.
The Last Supper – Jesus is our Passover Lamb to be slain.
Jesus Promises to Send The Holy Spirit – The Holy Spirit reveals to us who Jesus is.

There’s a lot that can be said about all of these lessons, but if we take their message together what rings true is that Jesus came on a mission to serve by giving His life.

His Triumphal Entry positioned Him to be in Jerusalem and even though He was hailed as a king, people were plotting His death.  His dealing with the Widow’s Offering assures us that He’s God and He knows our true selves, pointing us to our need of atonement.  His washing the disciples’ feet shows His life was meant to serve.  The Last Supper clearly connects Jesus’ work to dying.  And in promising to send the Holy Spirit, we’re shown that God wants us to understand why Jesus came to earth.

I hope you will look to Jesus this holiday season and find Him to be the One worthy of your belief and worship.

Weekend Recap – Sympathizing

by

My 12/16/12AM sermon, Sympathizing, from Hebrews 4:14-16 not only continued our Christmas in Hebrews series, but also helped orient us in light of the amazing tragedy of last Friday.  You see what we most desperately need is the solid foundation that God is not apathetic or aloof from the troubles of this world and this life.  We have a Savior, in Jesus, who was tempted in all ways as we are yet without sin.  We have a throne of grace that we can access because of Christ and receive mercy and find grace to help in times of need.  We don’t have to raise our fist and wonder at God, but humble ourselves before Him, for He surely knows the pain of searing loss.  He knows the cries of the hurting.  And, He responds by actually doing something to remedy this for eternity.  I hope you were encouraged in these things this Lord’s day and have a blessed week.