20 August: Tuesday Refocus

“The wonderful thing about praying is that you leave a world of not being able to do something and enter God’s realm where everything is possible. He specializes in the impossible. Nothing is too great for His almighty power. Nothing is too small for his love.” - Corrie Ten Boom

I am convinced that we do not pray enough - that I do not pray enough. And maybe that is in large part because we view prayer as a passive activity where we run through a laundry list of requests to God hoping that he will hear, a finger-crossed hope that he will be conformed to our will. But what if prayer looked more like wrestling with God (Genesis 32:22-32), laying our case (Job 23:4), and placing all of our longings before the Lord (Psalm 38:9)? What if prayer looked more like turning our lives and faces toward the one who knows a word before it is on our tongue (Psalm 139:4), and entrusting ourselves to the One who knows our needs (Matthew 6:32)? What if prayer looked more like calling to mind - and therefore having hope that the love and mercies of the Lord are steadfast and never ceasing, new every morning (Lamentations 3:21-23)?

If that is how we viewed prayer it is likely we would pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Father, thank you that we can come to you - the One who knows us and delights in us. In Christ’s name, amen.

Amen,

AB

The Influences Of History

One of the clarifying realities I was able to articulate from reading Worship and the World to Come (Glenn Packiam) is that my own history both in church and beyond have shaped my theological convictions. I think this kind of recognition allows me to loosely hold my own preferences, to be less defensive, and more charitable toward brothers and sisters whose history has also shaped their theological convictions.

But history also shapes the modern Church.

Our church is in the process of affirming a new statement of faith, and to that end, our elders have preached through the various tenets of the proposed statement of faith. Much of the conversation we have as a staff team around secondary issues - is how the church has historically wrestled and resolved their own questions. This can be a comfort: Christians have believed, celebrated, and affirmed these specific truths for generations. Smarter Christians than me have given their lives to read, study, embody, and articulate these truths. But this can also become an excuse: Christians have believed, celebrated, and affirmed these specific truths for generations. Therefore we can rest in their understanding rather than grapple with our own.

Hear me, I am speaking of second-tier issues. I make no claim that we should diverge from the historic church in orders of first importance. Those truths which all followers of Jesus - regardless of denomination - must hold in true faith and that would be defined as historically orthodox. I am speaking of second-tier issues - those things which brothers and sisters can hold loosely with a variety of conviction and expression, and still be in fellowship with one another.

Similarly to acknowledging that no one is neutral, and that everyone carries their own preferences, when we can acknowledge the visible and invisible ways history has shaped us, our people, our denomination, and our churches, we can honor that which is worthy of honor, and we can lean into the sanctifying work of semper reformanda.

2 July: Tuesday Refocus

In 2024 so much of our lives are mediated through a screen: computers, smartphones, and social media. Perhaps this is not all bad, but one of the functions of the digital age seems to be the ease with which we stay vigilant: looking for people and opportunities for correction, condemnation, or cancellation. But followers of Jesus are called to something other than this kind of disembodied disintegration:

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” - Colossians 3:15-17

We are called to live:

…with Christ’s peace ruling our hearts, recognizing our identity as one body. 

…with thankfulness.

…with Christ’s Word living so deeply in our hearts that it overflows in teaching, wisdom, and song.

…with everything we do aimed toward the glory of God and thankfulness to God.

May this paradigm be increasingly true in our lives - in person and online.

Spirit, we need your help to grow these things in our lives, would you work deeply in the people of God to that end? Amen and amen.

Amen,

AB

14 May: Tuesday Refocus

“Your natural gifts draw attention to yourself while brokenness draws attention to your Lord. With this in mind, power is dangerous in the hands of an unbroken vessel.” - Frank Viola

This is an upside down kingdom. Here the first will be last, the last will be first, to find your life you must lose your life, the humble will be exalted and the high will be brought low (Matthew 20:16, Matthew 10:39, Matthew 23:12). In this kingdom, our weakness is met by the strength of God (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). He breaks us not to crush us, but to bring forth praise (Psalm 51:8), He tears us that he may heal us (Hosea 6:1).

And when we inhabit this kingdom (rather than attempting to construct our own kingdom) we see that all things entrusted to us - gifts, pain, blessings, and loss - are not just for us, but are for the glory of God, and the good of His Church.

“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.]’ - Psalm 145:13

Amen,

AB

"I Can't Worship": Worship Leader Edition

“I can’t worship…” If you’ve been leading worship for any length of time, you have probably heard that statement. But perhaps, you too have felt the same way. There are endless lists floating through my mind as I am leading worship - am I distracted? There are endless realities (and alternate realities) floating through my heart as I am leading - am I worn down, frustrated, hurt, steeling myself? Airtight theology is good, but it is of little use if we are not transformed by its presence in our lives. We can believe and teach that all of life is worship, and still struggle to ‘enter in’ to worship in this moment as we lead.

But what do we do in this moment when we are leading but in fact do not feel that we are able to worship?

Pray. Ask that God would unite your heart to fear his name (Psalm 86:11).

Think of the throne room of heaven. Day and night the saints and angels and living creatures never stop singing, saying, and shouting - the holiness, glory, and worth of God. This present reality will be an eternal reality for all who are in Christ. View the temporal in light of the eternal.

Think of my brothers and sisters around the world. We are a part of a diverse, global body of believers stretching through generations into eternity. We are caught up in a story larger than this moment, and many of our brothers and sisters face real and acute danger from their families, friends, neighbors, and governments for gathering with the people of God or professing faith in Christ at all. May the perseverance of the saints fuel your own perseverance.

Think of someone else worshiping. One of my youth pastors told a story about how when he would struggle to fully enter into worship, he would think of a specific family member (who expressed outright hostility toward faith in Christ) face down, arms raised in worship… The reality is this will one day be the posture of all people (Philippians 2), but does it stir your heart, does it fan the flame of wonder in you when you consider enemies becoming worshipers?

It is all normal. It is normal that some days our worship flows freely and easily - from a heart and cup that overflows. It is normal that some days our worship is labored and mismatched to the worth of the One whom we worship. Worship is costly, and Christ is worth the cost - press on.

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Serving.

Resurrection Sunday: Liturgy + Set List

• FOREVER NOW A CROWN

  Call to Worship: 10th Presbyterian Church Call to Worship

• CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY

• LAMB OF GOD

  Let’s confess what we celebrate as followers of Jesus. I will read the parts marked ‘Leader,’ together we’ll read the parts marked ‘All’:

  LEADER: Alleluia! Christ is risen.


  ALL: He is risen indeed. Alleluia!


  LEADER: Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  ALL: He has given us new life and hope.
 He has raised Jesus from the dead.


  LEADER: God has claimed us as his own.


  ALL: He has brought us out of darkness.
 He has made us light to the world.


  LEADER: Alleluia! Christ is risen.

  ALL: He is risen indeed. Alleluia! 


  —based on 1 Peter 1:3-5, the Worship Sourcebook

  Sermon: Hebrews 2:14-18

  If God in Christ had never stepped down from heaven, laying aside his glory, taken on his flesh and blood, lived the perfect life, died the death we deserve, become our sin, if none of those things had ever happened, God would still be worthy of our worship, adoration, and obedience. How much more, as followers of Jesus should we respond with worship, adoration, and obedience in light of the propitiation of Christ? We’re going to respond now as we sing about how Jesus is, what He has done, and who He has called us to be. Would you stand if you’re able…

• THANK YOU JESUS FOR THE BLOOD

• NO BODY

  Benediction

31 December: Liturgy + Set List

• WONDER AND GIFT

  The Church calendar says that Christmas is more than a day, it is a season. So we are still in the season of Christmas, remembering Christ’s coming, and anticipating His return. As we sing together this morning, I want to encourage you to look back over the past year and search for ebeneezers - remembrances of God’s care, help, and provision. Hold those things in your heart and mind, and sing from that place, sing from that remembrance this morning.

• BEHOLD

• HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING

Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarate Word: Grant that this light, kindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one god, now and for ever. Amen.

• ONLY A HOLY GOD

  Readings: Luke 1:26-33, Matthew 1:1, 12-16

  This is the word of the LORD. The kind of people Jesus came from reveals the kind of people Jesus came for. Thanks be to God. Thanks be to God.

  Sermon: Luke 1:26-56

  Writer Frederick Buechner says, ‘The grace of God means something like: "Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are, because the party wouldn't have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us... I love you." If you are here this morning as a follower of Jesus, as you look back over 2023 and as you look ahead to 2024 you have nothing to fear, because the Lord who loves you says in His Word: ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ God is so kind, so good, so gracious, he can work all things for our greater good, and His greater glory. As we close out our morning and our year, we’re going to sing about God’s glory with a song that will have a familiar melody, but maybe words which are unfamiliar. Would you stand if you’re able…

• All Glory Be To Christ

Tuesday Refocus: November 7

“Glory to the Father who created us; glory to the Son who redeemed us; Glory to the Spirit who sanctifies us; glory to the most high and undivided Trinity, whose work is inseparable, whose kingdom abides, world without end. Amen.” - Augustine

We created beings have no glory of our own in which to boast. 

No saving work of our own in which to trust.

No ability of our own to grow up into godliness.

And what a comforting reality that should be!

“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,

    for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!” - Psalm 115:1

Father, forgive our attempts at earning, achieving, or possessing our own glory. All glory belongs to You, and You alone. Amen.

Amen,

AB

Tuesday Refocus: September 26

“We must not become people who denounce but do not weep. Nor those who weep but never denounce. Too much is at stake both ways.” - D. A. Carson

Ours is a culture quick to denounce. In some ways, this is a good thing. Christians should be at the forefront of seeking to see “…justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:24).” Because we know what is good, and what is required by the Lord: to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8). Christians should be quick to denounce racism, sexism, exploitation, injustice, and sin in all its forms and locations. And in this way be about the business of seeing “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matt 6:10).”

But simply denouncing without weeping fails to enter into the brokenness of our world. Without weeping, we keep brokenness at a distance. Without weeping, anger feels like action.

Jesus, you wept at the tomb of your friend, and you wept over Jerusalem. You grieve and groan over the brokenness of our world, and have yourself been broken for our sake. You did not keep our brokenness at a distance, but stepped into it, and took it upon yourself. May we be people who model this kind of self-giving sacrifice to the world around us. For Your glory, and for the good of the whole world. Amen.

Both/and,

AB

Tuesday Refocus: September 19

"I want the presence of God Himself, or I don't want anything at all to do with religion... I want all that God has or I don't want any." - A.W. Tozer

My theology should not just shape my thoughts, but shape my life. Not just shape my ideas about God, but inform the practices, habits, aim, and direction of my daily life. If I am not being conformed to the image of Christ, experiencing a renewed mind, and being deeply transformed by the work of the Holy Spirit - then why even bother? 

My life - your life - does not need any more accessories, activities, or excuses. I need - we need - whole life discipleship.

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” - Romans 12:1-2

Father, we are too easily satisfied. Give Your people a greater longing for Yourself. In Christ’s name, amen.

Amen,

AB

Tuesday Refocus: September 12

“Lord, though I possess outward things, yet let outward things never possess me.” - Puritan George Swinnock

I am always struck by the reality that ‘…the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head (Matt 8:20).’ The One who holds the universe together by the word of His power, claimed no possession over His own creation (Heb 1:3).

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:25-33

Father, You know my need before I ask, You clothe and provide, You sustain and fill, and may all things from Your hand be received with grateful dependence upon You. Amen.

Amen,

AB

Tuesday Refocus: August 29

"Be so preoccupied with good that you have no room for ill will." - E. Stanley Jones

Right worship leaves no preoccupation for self in the same way that filling our minds, hearts, and lives with good leaves no room for ill:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” - Philippians 4:8

May our minds, words, actions, and lives be marked with nothing other than a preoccupation with the only One who is good. “You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.” - Psalm 119:68

Father, fill our minds and mouths with things that are good, beautiful, and true. May our hearts be an overflowing cup of life-giving love in response to the love we have received through you, in Christ’s name, amen.

Preoccupied,

AB