SO GOOD TO BE BACK!

It feels like it has been FOREVER since I’ve written an article about worship! As most of you know I was in India the last few weeks on a mission trip. I had the opportunity to preach the Word of God and worship through song with many believers. It was such a joy to sing with these Christians and hear their songs of worship (although I couldn’t understand the language!). God taught me so many things, and I believe He used me in many ways for the good of the church and His glory. I am so thankful for your prayers and support. God is faithful and He answered your prayers!

I am also so thankful to our worship team for leading our congregation the last few weeks. I hope you are also grateful for the talented, capable, and servant-hearted people we have serving in the worship ministry. I was able to leave with complete confidence that they would bring all of you before the Lord in genuine worship each week. God has really blessed our church in this way, and I am so grateful.

Finally, I am so glad to be back! I missed you all so much. I missed singing with you. I missed sitting with you, and hearing God’s Word together. I missed the joy of fellowship with you. And I’m thankful God brought me back! I’m excited to continue to worship and grow in the Lord with you in the coming days.

SUNDAY SONGS

This week we will have the choir join us for worship and lead us in a few songs they’ve been working on. You can listen to the songs ahead of time this week by following the links below for the Youtube and Spotify playlists. I encourage you to join me in worshiping the Lord this week as we listen to and sing these songs. You can also click here to see the lyrics for these songs.

1. Rejoice The Lord Is King (Choir)
2. The Majesty & Glory of Your Name (Choir)
3. Lamb of God
4. There Is A Fountain
5. Lord I Need You

Listen on YOUTUBE
Listen on SPOTIFY

I also encourage you to read and study 1 Peter 1 this week and ask the Lord what He wants you to understand and apply from His word.

THERE IS A FOUNTAIN

This hymn was written by a poet named William Cowper (pronounced “Cooper”) in 1771. He was a close friend of John Newton who helped him to publish his hymns. Cowper based this song on Zechariah 13:1. “In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity.” Cowper often struggled with deep depression, but continued to write hymns and poetry that honored the Lord throughout his life. This song is a powerful reminder about the redemption we have through Christ’s blood.

Verse 1
There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains
Lose all their guilty stains
Lose all their guilty stains
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains

Verse 2
The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in His day
And there have I, though vile as he
Wash all my sins away
Wash all my sins away
Wash all my sins away
And there have I, though vile as he
Wash all my sins away

Verse 3
Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its pow’r
‘Til all the ransomed church of God
Be saved to sin no more
Be saved to sin no more
Be saved to sin no more
‘Til all the ransomed church of God
Be saved to sin no more

Verse 4
When this poor, lisping, stamm’ring tongue
Lies silent in the grave
Then in a nobler, sweeter song
I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save
I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save
I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save
Then in a nobler, sweeter song,
I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save

Believe it or not, this is a song that was sung at one of the churches I visited in India. It was a Baptist church that had services in both English and Telugu. During the English service they sang many well known hymns, including this one. I was again reminded of this song last Sunday as we heard about the precious blood that purchased our redemption in 1 Peter 1:18-19. This precious blood paid for our sins so that all who believe “lose all our guilty stains.” Praise the Lord!

Can’t wait for Sunday!