AN INTRODUCTION

Hello everyone! This is the first in a series of weekly articles that will be posted to our website and app, as well as emailed at the beginning of each week. I am hoping that this provides encouragement and edification for you as you begin your week walking with the Lord.

For those who don’t know me, (Joe Leinen) I have been part of The Bridge Bible Fellowship for many years. From Awana to College Ministry this is where I learned God’s word. I grew up coming to Bridge Youth and eventually became one of its leaders. There have been countless memories, friendships, and landmarks that have happened right here, at The Bridge. All that to say–this is my home. This church is my family, and you are part of that. 

I am so honored and humbled to have an opportunity to fill in for the LEGENDARY Steve Lively in leading worship on Sunday mornings. Of course, I could never take his place, but my hope is that I am able to worship God with you, my family. My joy is to worship God and I cannot wait to do that each week. 

I have much to learn, and so I pray that you will be patient with me, but I also encourage you to come to me any time with questions, concerns, and ideas (Encouragement would be nice too!). I would also ask you to pray for me and the worship team (by the way, this team includes the tech team who are often behind the scenes–sound, video, slides, lighting, greeters, ushers, and more). Please pray that we would honor God in all we do and that His joy would fill us as we celebrate His glory.

WEEKLY MUSIC

I would love for the whole congregation to participate in singing out loudly and declaring God’s glory in one voice on Sunday morning. To help familiarize you with the songs we’ll be singing and also to encourage you to worship and sing throughout the week I am going to include the songs in this article (SPOILER ALERT!) that we’ll be singing the upcoming Sunday morning. If you have Spotify you can listen to the playlist below, or you can listen to the music on Youtube as well.

My hope is that you enjoy singing to the Lord each week in a variety of different settings. Maybe in your car, while you’re doing the dishes, at home in front of the fireplace, or on a walk in the neighborhood. Wherever it is that you listen to music, I hope you’ll be joyfully reflecting on God’s goodness this week. 

LISTEN ON YOUTUBE

LISTEN ON SPOTIFY

Songs this Sunday (2/5)

• The Lion and The Lamb

• Same God

• Be Thou My Vision

• Lamb of God

• Christ Be Magnified

“SAME GOD”

Another thing I’d like to include is a short devotion on one of the songs we’ll be singing. For this week, I’d like to tell you about a new song we’ll be singing together called, “Same God” by Elevation Worship. 

VERSE 1

I’m calling on the God of Jacob
Whose love endures through generations
I know that You will keep Your covenant
I’m calling on the God of Moses
The one who opened up the ocean
I need You now to do the same thing for me

This first verse reminds us of two old testament characters, Jacob and Moses. The author of this song reminds us that we worship the same God that Jacob worshiped. Jesus himself points out this truth to the Sadducees in Mark 12:27. Jesus says “He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” The author mentions God’s love for his people and his faithfulness to his covenant. (Ps. 136; Deut. 7:9)

CHORUS

O God, my God, I need You
O God, my God, I need You now
How I need You now
O Rock, O Rock of ages
I’m standing on Your faithfulness
On Your faithfulness

This song echoes the prayers of many psalmists and saints who cried out to God in the midst of trouble (Ps. 63:1; Ps. 130:1; Luke 18:13; Ps. 51:1). Psalm 71:3 says that God is our “rock and our fortress.” And Isaiah instructs us that we should “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” (Isaiah 26:4) There is so much hope here, isn’t there? God not only hears us, but he is our rock who loves us and will faithfully care for us, forever. 

The next verse continues to remind us of God’s care and working in the lives of Mary and David. The bridge of the song brings the past faithfulness of God to the present. “You heard your children then; you hear your children now. You answered prayers back then, and you will answer now. You were providing then; you are providing now. You were a Savior then; you are a Savior now. You are the same God.” We worship the same God, who has always been faithful, loving and kind, and always will be. 

My hope is that you will reflect on God’s goodness and faithfulness this week as you worship along with me. I can’t wait to sing these praises to our God on Sunday! I’ll see you then.