The Gathering - Part Sixteen

As we prepare to gather and to celebrate Christ's incarnation, let's remember . . .  

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. - John 1:1

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’” For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. - John 1:14-18

When we gather, we are called to give attention to God's Word. We do that through singing God's Word, reading God's Word and listening to God's Word being taught. But let never forget that Jesus Christ is the Word of the Father now in flesh appearing! He has come and dwelt among us in order to show us the glory of the Father. We do well at this time of the year (and any time of the year) to give attention to Him. He should be the central focus of our gatherings. He should be the One we praise!

"Father, we thank You for sending Your son, Jesus to dwell among us and to speak to us about who You are. May we be strengthened by Your Holy Spirit to give Jesus our undivided attention in the midst such a busy time of the year that is full of so many distractions. May You be the center of our gatherings! Amen."

Songs for Our Gathering this Week:

Joy to the World
     by Isaac Watts 

Angels We Have Heard on High

     Traditional Carol

O Come All Ye Faithful

     by J. F. Wade

My Soul Magnifies
     by Chris Tomlin | Daniel Carson

Hark the Herald Angels Sing
     by Charles Wesley

Good Good Father
     by Patt Barrett | Anthony Brown

What Child is This
     by William C. Dix

Jesus, Son of God
     by Chris Tomlin | Matt Maher | Jason Ingram

Glory in the Highest
     by Chris Tomlin | Ed Cash | Jesse Reeves

The Gathering - Part Fifteen

We are told in Colossians 3:16-17 to  . . . 

"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."

We stated last time that one very important reason that we gather each week is to give attention to God's Word. Paul tells us in this Colossians passage to let the Word richly dwell in us and to teach and admonish one another with singing. When we gather we are not only called to speak the Word to one another, but to sing it. So what songs should we be singing? Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs! There is much speculation on what Paul meant by these three categories. Are we to be singing from the book of Psalms or is this just a category of songs? Which hymns? What is a spiritual song? We don't have space to take this discussion up in detail here. But let me make one point. The songs we sing ought to be sung not only to God, but to one another in a way that teaches and encourages. They must therefore either contain the Word or help illuminate the Word. The lyrics that we sing are very significant. We take that responsibility at our FBC worship gatherings very seriously. In one sense, our songs are our "sung theology." If there were never any time spent teaching God's Word through a sermon and all we had was singing, what would we know about God? What would we know about our salvation? Hopefully, our songs are a good compliment to the time we do have studying His Word. And let me encourage you that when we do gather and sing to allow your mind, emotions and will be engaged in the process. Allow the words to dwell in you richly and allow God to sing through you to those nearby.

"Father, we thank You for music. Thank you for those you have given the ability to craft songs that teach us about You in ways that are creative and memorable. May we gather together with the purpose to glorify You and to encourage one another! Amen."

Songs for Our Gathering this Week:

Angels From The Realms of Glory 
     by James Montgomery 

The First Noel

     Traditional English Carol

My Soul Magnifies the Lord

     by Chris Tomlin | Daniel Carson

Glorious Day
     by Michael Bleecker | Mark Hall

Christ is Come
     by Mike Weaver

Who Would Have Dreamed
     by Bob Kauflin | Jason Hansen

The Gathering - Part Fourteen

     One very important reason that we gather each week is to give attention to God's Word. This becomes extremely significant when we understand the context of the Gathering. We are God's called out ones who He exhorts to gather together regularly and to not forsake that gathering (Heb. 10:25). It is therefore not our idea to hold church services, but God's. He calls us together and the common element we have amongst so many different people is Christ. He is the One who makes a relationship with the Father possible. Our gatherings each week are an opportunity for His people to meet with Him and with one another. And during these times He desires to speak with us. 
     We see in scripture that when God's people gather together, God's Word is always central. When God gathered the Israelites to Himself at Mt. Sinai, the giving of the Ten Commandments was the focus (Ex. 19-20). When the Israelites returned from captivity and sought to restore the Temple worship they read from God's Word (Neh. 8:1-8). The early church devoted itself to the teaching of God's Word through the apostles (Acts 2:42). Paul urged Timothy to make sure that he gave attention to the public reading of God's Word (1 Tim. 4:13). When we gather, we are to do the same. Over the next few weeks we want to consider what this looks like for us in our gatherings today.

"Father, we thank You for Your Word. It is a lamp to our feet and a light to our paths. May we as Your Church continue to hold Your Word in high regard and give attention to it every time we gather. When Your Word is read, sung and taught may we recognize that it is You speaking to us, Your body, and may we be faithful to respond in worship to all that You speak to us. Amen."

Songs for Our Gathering this Week:

O Come All Ye Faithful

     by J. F. Wade

Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee

     by Edward Hodges | Henry Van Dyke | Ludwig van Beethoven | add. lyrics M. Lukens

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

     by Charles Wesley

God With Us
     by Jason Ingram | Leslie Jordan

Good, Good Father
     by Patt Barrett | Anthony Brown