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Song for September 2018 – Living Hope

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In the month of September at Crestview, we’re teaching the song Living Hope by Phil Wickham.  Here are the details:

Lyrics:
How great the chasm that lay between us
How high the mountain I could not climb
In desperation, I turned to heaven
And spoke Your name into the night
Then through the darkness, Your loving-kindness
Tore through the shadows of my soul
The work is finished, the end is written
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Who could imagine so great a mercy?
What heart could fathom such boundless grace?
The God of ages stepped down from glory
To wear my sin and bear my shame
The cross has spoken, I am forgiven
The King of kings calls me His own
Beautiful Savior, I’m Yours forever
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Chorus:
Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free
Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There’s salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Then came the morning that sealed the promise
Your buried body began to breathe
Out of the silence, the Roaring Lion
Declared the grave has no claim on me
Jesus, Yours is the victory, whoa!
Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free
Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There’s salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Oh God, You are my living hope
Songwriters: Phil Wickham / Brian Johnson
Living Hope lyrics © Essential Music Publishing, Bethel Music Publishing

Weekend Recap – Suffering Leads To Glory

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My 9/9/18AM sermon, Suffering Leads To Glory from 1 Peter 4:12-19, is now online.  This sermon introduced (and dug in) to this big final section of the book of 1 Peter.  And, the theme of this big final section is about suffering leading to glory.  This sermon dug in to the reality of suffering and what God might be up to in the midst of it.  I hope it encourages you.

Weekend Recap – God Glorified

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My 9/2/18AM sermon, God Glorified in Everything from 1 Peter 4:7-11, is now online.  The sermon sought to engage the way we live.   There’s a tension between the two realities of Christ’s return and how we can glorify God in everything.  In the middle of this tension, we prepare ourselves to live by preparing for prayer, sin, the family, and grace.  I hope this sermon encourages you.

Books I Read in August 2018

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Like I mentioned in July, I’m trying to do a better job this year of keeping track of books I’ve completed reading.  As usual, there are some books/things, I’m always working in like the Bible (praying through the Psalms of the Day and doing lots of reading in  Ecclesiastes in different translations), Sonship, as well as Crestview’s Leadership Pipeline material.

Some titles I worked through in August:

Peril and Peace (Vol 1: Chronicles of the Ancient Church) – Mindy and Brandon Withrow
Childhood Disrupted – Donna Jackson Nakazawa
Lost Connections – Johann Hari
My reading pace slowed a bit with another sermon series looming on the horizon.  How’s your summer reading gone?

Weekend Recap – Encouragement in Suffering

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We had another baptism yesterday morning and my sermon, Encouragement in Suffering from 1 Peter 3:18-22 is now online.  This section of Scripture is challenging.  Most commentators do not agree on the meaning.  But, I think we found some clear truths that encourage us.  Specifically, we saw that Jesus’ victory and our salvation are sure things.  I hope this day encouraged you.

Weekend Recap – Ready to Suffer

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My 8/12/18AM sermon Ready To Suffer for Doing Good from 1 Peter 3:13-17 is now online.  It’s difficult to preach a sermon like this.  The heart of the passage is that we should expect suffering.  But, the passage didn’t leave us there.  It showed us a compelling way to live in light of suffering.  We are realize we’re blessed.  We set Christ apart, utmost in our affections.  And, we voice the hope we have with humility.  Finally, this passage called us to trust God, who can deal with our “opposition.”  I hope this sermon encourages you.

Weekend Recap – Living as the Church

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My 8/5/18AM sermon, Living as the Church from 1 Peter 3:8-12, is now online.   Peter has called his readers to live as exiles and sojourners (out of the identity they have as God’s people).  This passage shows how we can forsake sin and do good, for effect.   Specifically, there are sins of speech, a drift towards revenge, and evil we are called away from.  Positively, we’re called to do good, seeking brotherly love, blessing others, and pursuing peace.  The effect?  This leads to blessing, or as v.12 puts it: God’s eyes seeing and His ears being attentive.  I hope this sermon encourages your living with others in the body of Christ.

New Song For August 2018 – A Christian’s Daily Prayer

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In August 2018, Crestview will be learning the song A Christian’s Daily Prayer from Sovereign Grace Music.  Part of what drew me to this song is where we’re headed in 1 Peter, with all the realities of doing good in the face of suffering.  We need God’s help to live this way.  And, this song shows our need for God in the morning, during the day, and at night.  Here are the lyrics:

VERSE 1
As morning dawns and day awakes,
To You I bring my need
O gracious God, my source of strength,
In You I live and breathe
Each hour is Yours by wisdom planned,
Each deed empowered by sovereign hands
Renew my spirit, help me stand;
Be glorified today

VERSE 2
As day unfolds, I seek Your will
In all of life’s demands
And though the tempter tries me still,
I cling to Your commands
Let every effort of my life
Display the matchless worth of Christ
Make me a living sacrifice;
Be glorified today

VERSE 3
As sun gives way to darkest night
Your Spirit still is here
And though my strength fades like the light
New mercies will appear
I rest in You; abide with me
Until our trials and suffering
Give way to final victory
Be glorified, today; be glorified, I pray

Music and Words by Matt Merker, Jordan Kauflin, and Dave Fournier © 2017 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)/Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP) Sovereign Grace Music, a division of Sovereign Grace Churches. All rights reserved. Administrated worldwide at www.CapitolCMGPublishing.com, excluding the UK which is adm. by Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family. www.SovereignGraceMusic.org

I hope this song helps give language to your need of God as you strive to live as a sojourner and an exile here in this world.

Books I Read in July 2018

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Like I mentioned in June, I’m trying to do a better job this year of keeping track of books I’ve completed reading.  As usual, there are some books/things, I’m always working in like the Bible (praying through the Psalms of the Day and doing lots of reading in  Ecclesiastes in different translations), Sonship, as well as Crestview’s Leadership Pipeline material.

Some titles I worked through in July:

In His Image – Jen Wilkin
Pastoral Leadership Is – Dave Earley
Easy Chairs, Hard Words – Douglas Wilson
Ministry By the Book – Derek Tidball
Redemptive Participation – Mike Cosper
Before the Lord, Before the Church – Megan and Jared Kennedy
Perfect Sinners – Matt Fuller
Identity Theft – Melissa Kruger (Editor)
I Would Die For You – Brent and Deanna Higgins
Preacher’s Catechism – Lewis Allen
I hope you’re enjoying a summer of reading, as well.