The Stand

Let's Go Change the World

Michael W. Smith says "Stand is a call to stand ... outside of the walls of the church rubbing shoulders with the lost. Together, we stand as followers of Jesus sharing a powerful opportunity: To live as a child of God. We must live as though we believe we are loved," he says. "It's time we take a stand believing we are loved," Smith concludes. "And then, let's go. Let's go change the world."

Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy. (Habakkuk 3:2 NIV)

Michael W Smith talks about "The Stand"

The Stand

Sinner Saved By Grace

Wouldn't it have been wonderful to be part of early church? To preach
that new, radical message of the resurrection? But, the early church
struggled with some of the same issues we do today. In Acts 15 is an
account of first church conference. The debate centered around who
can be a Christian? What must you believe? How must you act? Who is
the message of the resurrection for? We still debate this point
today. We are not going to settle the debate today. But it seems to
me there is at least one requirement. You must be a sinner
Acts 15:11 "...We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus
that we are saved..."

George Younce got away from his Christian roots while in the military,
but eventually, he became stronger in his faith as he began singing in
Gospel quartets. Bill Gaither was a fan of one of these quartettes,
and was inspired, after getting to know George, to write "Sinner Saved
By Grace".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gjzg6NLXWgo

Easter Hymn Sing: "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" and "Alleluia"

Alleluia or Hallelujah is an ancient word than means "Praise Yahweh".
It is traditionally what the angels sing around the throne. Singing
alleluia is our way of joining the angles and the saints around the
throne in praise of the risen Christ.

Revelation 19:1 "...I heard what sounded like the roar of a great
multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah!..."

http://catholicism.about.com/od/worship/f/No_Alleluia.htm
http://www.hymnary.org/hymn/UMH/302
http://www.hymnary.org/hymn/UMH/186

Great is thy Faithfulness

Great is thy Faithfulness

The Old Testament Book of Lamentations is a national poem of grief
over the fall of Jerusalem. In the middle of this book of destruction
and defeat...the wall has been torn down, the temple destroyed, their
leaders killed or carried off as slaves... in the middle of all this
is Lamentations 3:22-23 "Because of the LORD's great love we are not
consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness. " Who can come-up with a line like that
in the midst of what appears to be total defeat and destruction?
"...his compassions never fail. They are new every morning..." Look
around Jeremiah. It's over, everything is gone. Who can come-up with
a line like that? People with confidence in something greater than
what is trying to destroy them. People like us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60o3UP4Kjwg&feature=youtube_gdata_player

He's Been Faithful

He's Been Faithful

2 Timothy 2:13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he
cannot disown himself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdO2cRXVHII

Touch Through Me

Touch Through Me

1 John tells us "God is love". Two weeks ago we started worship
singing "they'll know we are Christians by our love". Unfortunately
the first thing many people outside the church think of when you
mention the church or Christians is not love. Wouldn't it be great if
the church was known...if Christians were know ...as those people who
love everyone...people of radical love. But, what can we do? A small
local church surrounded by many churches of different sizes and
denominations. Some much larger and with louder voices. Even media
contracts that allow them to reach millions. What can we do? Jesus
compared the kingdom of God to a mustard seed and to yeast. Both very
small but capable of having a transforming effect on everything around
them. What can we do? What can I do?

1 John 4:16 NIV
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love.
Whoever lives in lovelives in God, and God in him.

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast
Matthew 13 NIV
31 He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a
mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it
is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the
largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the
air come and perch in its branches." 33 He told them still another
parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and
mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the
dough." 34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he
did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was
fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: "I will open my mouth
in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the
world."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RtDSp4B1aA

http://www.brentwoodbenson.com/product.aspx?ProjectCode=457570242

O God, Our Help in Ages Past

O God, Our Help in Ages Past

When Issac Watts, was a teenager in the late 1600s he used to complain
about the old fashioned songs they sang at church. Tired of his
complaining, after church one one Sunday, his father said "why don't
you give us something better to sing?" And so, at age 18, Issac
began writing a new, and at the time. very controversial type of music
hymns. Including this paraphrase of Psalm 90, "O God Our help in Ages
Past".

http://www.hymnary.org/hymn/UMH/117

http://www.suite101.com/content/our-god-our-help-in-ages-past-a63569