This past Sunday, we had the privilege of worshiping with a new group of people.
In recent weeks, the Lord connected Beck and I with the Genesis Church in Lillian, AL. We had the opportunity to lead them this weekend as part of an interviewing (or candidating) weekend.
They have been journeying through the life of David on Sunday mornings. This weekend was focused on 2 Samuel 7 when David wants to build a temple. God tells David that it won’t be him. David has some disappointment about this, but also experiences a promise and blessing in another direction. David responds by affirming his trust in God with worship. The exact thing I’ve personally learned about worship from David.
Here’s the service order:
Video: He Is Here by Amena Brown
Great spoken word poetry piece about God. Unfortunately we didn’t end up using it due to format issues in a new setting.
Philippians 2:9-11
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name (Perronet/Holden)
Welcome/Announcements
Greeting/Dismiss Kids
Isaiah 59:16-17
Everlasting God (Brown/Riley)
Blessed Be Your Name (Redman)
Prayer
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) (Newton/Excel/Rees/Tomlin/Giglio)
Congregational Prayer
Offering
Message
Nothing But the Blood (Redman)
This was done as a special music.
Testimony
I shared a little bit about disappointments in our own life and what God has (and is) taught us through those situations.
Prayer/Reflection
Invited folks to quietly pray and acknowledge disappointments they’ve experienced before God (since He knows anyone) and allow God to speak to their hearts.
Isaiah 43:1-3a and brief summary of Horatio Spafford story
It Is Well with My Soul (Spafford/Bliss)
Closing
(Then an outstanding church luncheon.)
This weekend was unique for a couple of reasons. Obviously, there was the fact that we were the new people and also there for the purpose of interviewing. Sometimes that can create awkward dynamics. If you’ve ever been there, you know what I mean. However, that really didn’t seem to be a factor. We were able to focus on Christ together as a group.
Another unique factor was that the worship team was basically Beck and I. It’s a little smaller congregation right now, and we will be starting from the beginning. It had been a while since we’ve ministered in that capacity. It went really well, though.
There was also a factor of the congregation. It is smaller and a unique blend of people and demographics. That greatly influenced the song selection specifically as we wanted to honor that group while declaring Jesus together. I know that the Lord really guided us in that as both young and older were engaged in worship.
The final unique thing was that God really spoke to Beck and I through the pastor’s sermon. We had thought it kind of humorous that the topic was disappointment, and God saying no, on a weekend like this. But in God’s great wisdom (why am I ever surprised anymore?), He affirmed His leading.
It was a great time together. In addition, we will be having many more weekend with them as we’ve accepted the opportunity to join this church and serve as Associate Pastor. Be sure to come back tomorrow, as I will be giving a bit more detail about this new season.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope that your time together with your church was a God-honoring experience.
To see what other churches did this past weekend, be sure to check out Sunday Setlists at The Worship Community.
