Affirmations

Whether it is during baptisms, parent commissioning (child dedication), or affirming new elders, our church has been using consistent, repeated affirmations for these times of events in the life of our church. Why?

Although, we have classes, courses, and training for each of these aspects for baptismal candidates, families wanting to dedicate their children in church, and the role of elder - it is not something that every member, attendee, or visitor to our church understands. Affirmations are a way of helping instruct not just the people participating, but the whole Body in the meaning, purpose, and expectation for each of these celebrations in the life of our church. Some of these affirmations we have pulled from the historic church, some we piecemeal together, always there is an aspect of question and response from the candidate, and closing with question and response to the body of Christ.

BAPTISM AFFIRMATIONS

Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God sent to redeem the world, do you love and trust him as the one who saves you from your sin, and do you with repentance and joy embrace him as the Lord of your life?

I do.

Do you believe that the Bible is the Word of God, revealing Christ and his redemption?

I do.

Do you promise to do all you can, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to strengthen your love and commitment to Christ by sharing faithfully in the life of the church, honoring and submitting to its authority; and do you join with the people of God in doing the work of the Lord everywhere?

I do.

Brothers and sisters, we now receive (NAME) into Christ’s church. Do you welcome (HER/HIM) in love, and do you promise to pray for, encourage, and help (HER/HIM) in the faith?

We do, God helping us.

ELDER AFFIRMATION VOWS

Do you reaffirm your faith in Jesus Christ as your own personal Lord and Savior?

Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God; totally trustworthy, fully inspirited by the Holy Spirit, the supreme, final, and the only infallible rule of faith and practice?

Do you acknowledge a call, so far as you know your own heart, to accept the office of elder, with a sincere desire to promote the Gospel?

Do you promise to be zealous and faithful in your promoting the truths of the Gospel and in protecting the unity and peace of the Church, whatever persecution or opposition may arise to you on that account?

Will you seek to be faithful and diligent in the exercise of all your duties as an elder, whether personal or relative, private or public; and to endeavor by the grace of God to adorn the profession of the Gospel in your manner of life, and to walk with exemplary piety before this congregation?

Are you now willing to take responsibility in the life of this congregation as an elder, and will you seek to discharge your duties, relying upon the grace of God in a way that the entire Church of Jesus Christ will be blessed?

Elder Candidate: By God’s grace, I do.

To the congregation:

Do you affirm your confidence in the qualifications and calling of this man?

Do you resolve to love, encourage, and support his family, respecting them always as his first ministry priority?

Do you commit to fervent and regular prayer on behalf of all our elders, our staff, and the ministry of Life Church?

Congregation: By God’s grace, we do.

PARENT COMMISSIONING

Do you recognize that your child is a gift from God, and that you are responsible to train and instruct this child in the things of God?

We do.

Do you this day pledge as parents that you will teach God’s Word to your child and live out His Word in your home?

We do.

Do you commit to loving your child and teaching your child to obey God’s commands and the truths of Jesus Christ in your daily lives so that your child may know Him as Lord?

We do.

Do you commit to the local body of believers to seek accountability and teach your child to seek accountability within the church community?

We do.

Life Church, will you be faithful as brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage and support this family in their Christian walk as parents? Will you be faithful in praying for their children, that they will grow to love Christ and trust in Him?

We will.

18 June: Liturgy + Set List [Mill River]

Good afternoon and Happy Father’s Day - these holidays can often be complicated for us as people, and bring up complicated things in us. And perhaps that is compounded for you when you realize, of all the ways God could have revealed Himself, He has chosen Father. But if you’re here as a follower of Christ, you have a Heavenly Father who has only, ever, and always dealt bountifully with you. Let’s hear God call us to worship from His Word:

Call to Worship: Psalm 116:1-7

• HOLY HOLY HOLY

• LORD, I NEED YOU

• BUILD MY LIFE

  Sermon: Galatians 2:11-14

18 June: Liturgy + Set List

• THE SOLID ROCK

  Good morning, and welcome to worship on this Lord’s Day, and Happy Father’s Day. I said on Mother’s Day, I’ll say again today - these holidays can often be complicated for us as people, and bring up complicated things in us. And perhaps that is compounded for you when you realize, of all the ways God could have revealed Himself, He has chosen Father. So as we focus our hearts, minds, and lives around God together this morning, I want to read this prayer to remind us of our good and gracious Heavenly Father.

Father’s Day Prayer

God, You are our Father

We are the sheep of Your pasture

The work of Your hand

You have loved us with an everlasting love

You have welcomed us into Your family

We are Your dearly loved children

Nothing can separate us from Your love

You discipline those You love

Your anger is for a moment,

But Your favor lasts a lifetime

You have called us by name, we are Yours

You know us for You have made us

You have shown us Your love in sending Your Son

Nothing is hidden from You

You quiet us with Your love

And You delight over us with singing

You comfort us in our distress

You are the giver of every good and perfect gift

No good thing do you withhold

See what kind of love the Father has given

That we should be called children of God,

And so we are

From Is 64:8, Ps 100:3, Ephesians 5:1, Heb 31:3, Eph 1:5, Rom 8:38-39, Pr 3:12, Ps 30:5, Is 43:1, Rom 4:8, Heb 4:13, Zeph 3:17, Ps 86:7, Jam 1:17, Ps 84:11, 1 Jn 3:1

We have heard who our God is, let’s hear Him call us to worship through His Word:

Call to Worship: Psalm 116:1-7

Whatever your experience of your earthly father, if you are here this morning as a follower of Jesus, You can return to rest, because your Heavenly Father has dealt bountifully with you. Let’s sing:

• GOD, YOU’RE SO GOOD

• ABIDE

  Sermon: Exodus 20:7-11

  Theologian and Philosopher Dallas Willard was once asked ‘How would you describe God in one word?’ He thought about I for a moment and said ‘…Relaxed.’

  Perhaps one of the most offensive and subversive realities of keeping the Sabbath is how it forces us to reckon with the reality that we are not God. That we are not self-sufficient, and we are so much more limited than we would like to admit. But every night as you put your head on a pillow to go to sleep, and every time you break in your day to eat, you are admitting to yourself, your body, and the world that you are limited and dependent. We are called to be conformed fully to God, in our labor and in our resting. Let’s sing to the God who is holy, set apart, and calls us to the same…

• HOLY FOREVER

• LIVING HOPE

  Benediction

Leading In Different Cultures

I think and write about culture regularly. I am fascinated by the way our families, cities, countries, and the age in which we live shape our lives, values, priorities, and the things that we celebrate and demonize. As worship leaders we carry our own cultural background into every environment where we serve - this is true even if you were born, raised, and lead in your hometown. We bring our own unique culture into the collective culture of a team, and a church, as we attempt to shepherd all of these cultures - including our own - to more faithfully embody the person and work of Christ.

My family lived in England for four-plus years, and I have had the chance to lead worship internationally and cross-culturally a number of times. While these opportunities have been gifts of kindness toward me, they have also shaped how I lead worship week in and week out at my home church in North Carolina. Maybe some of these thoughts will help you in your leading as well:

I bring my own culture. Every person has been uniquely wired by God, uniquely shaped by their family of origin, their country of origin, and the people and times in which they come up. If I want to effectively serve in any space, I must first realize that I have a specific way of seeing and being in the world. And that way is different from other people.

It’s just different. One culture or way of seeing the world is not right and the other wrong - they are just different. And in all things, there are pieces of our culture that need to be received, redeemed, or rejected. Truthfully, I believe this is one of the hardest parts of leading cross-culturally. You do not realize how many things you have turned into ‘gospel issues’ that are mere preferences, or cultural norms. Often I am first aware of a growing frustration - ugh, why are they doing that? Why did they say that? Clearly, they don’t care about… One of the things I am learning is that frustration can be an indicator light that I could be bumping up against cultural differences. And if I can invite the Holy Spirit to help me see specifics rather than a cloud of annoyance and frustration, in the Spirit’s power I am better equipped to laugh about, give grace toward, speak to, or just forget about my own frustration with differences.

Whose image? A fellow American living in England said to me: “Our goal in being here is not to make these British people more American, it’s to help them be more like Christ.” If we do not have an awareness of our own culture, and the differences in other people, we will naturally make people in our own image. We will hold up, value, and celebrate the things that are most like the best versions of ourselves - rather than constantly, and continually asking God to conform each of us to the image of Christ. A culture being conformed to the image of Christ will uniquely image the beauty, and diversity of God to the world.

Don’t swing the pendulum. Lead lovingly as the Spirit shapes you, and the culture. Unless there are things that need to be outright rejected, you can let go of the desire to correct the culture, as you prayerfully and scripturally lead toward a better way. Less directing, and more invitation.

A culture that values efficiency may need to be invited to linger.

A culture that values theology may need to be invited toward doxology.

A culture that values head knowledge may need to be invited to engage their hearts.

A culture that values individuality may need to be invited to think corporately.

A culture that values a small, family feel, may need to be invited to consider the outsider.

A culture that values beauty may need to be invited toward intentionality.

A culture that values excellence may need to be invited toward humility.

And the reverse is also true. All these things and more. May we be leaders who see, know, receive, redeem, and reject the culture which has shaped us and the ones we lead.

11 June: Liturgy + Set List

• REJOICE

  Call to Worship: Exodus 34:6-8

  This is the posture of a worship - God reveals Himself, and we bow our lives. Many churches, denominations and Christians love to emphasize God’s transcendence - that He is holy, set apart, glorious and other than us. And still other churches, denominations, and Christian’s emphasize God’s immanence - that God is near, knowable, and close. But the reality is God is both of these things, fully, and completely at the exact same time. He is transcendent and immanent at once. One of the things that has struck me during our time in the 10 Commandments is how God has always desires to be near His people. We see this throughout Scripture, from the Garden of Eden, to the 10 Commandments, to the temple, tabernacle, and sacrificial system, and ultimately we see that through the person and work of Jesus. And this morning we are going to teach you a song that I hope will help us to hold both of these ideas together: God’s transcendence and God’s immanence:

• HOLY FOREVER

• A THOUSAND HALLELUJAHS

  Sermon: Exodus 20:7

  An opportunity to live on mission and restrain evil in the world: World Relief donation drive.

• ALL CREATURES OF OUR GOD AND KING

  Benediction

Budgeting Before Need

Maybe this seems obvious, but budgeting is important - both in your life and also in your ministry. If you are leading worship as a volunteer, in a bi-vocational capacity, in a small church, or a church plant, you are likely reading this and thinking, ‘And what if I have no budget?’ I get it! I’ve been in those spaces too. Those are times when you have to be creative, and careful, and learn to appreciate what you do to keep your heart from being bitter or coveting the gear, budget, or ability to make regular repairs and upgrades like your neighbor.

If this is you - I have found the best way to budget is by maintaining what you have. Take care of your gear, put things away, wrap cables properly, and spend time maintaining and learning the ins and outs of what you have so that you can make repairs on your own as needed. Keep a running list of new pieces you’d like to add, and the order in which you think gear may need to be replaced. Keep an eye out for deals on used gear, but also places that may be offering special discounts or pricing.

The reality is whether a church has no available budget, or a modest budget for Worship Arts - the equipment needed for our area of ministry is so costly, even a modest budget can quickly be drained when a speaker goes out, or you need to replace a soundboard. I currently serve at a church that provides a modest annual budget and I have slowly been able to make updates and changes in the last few years I have served on staff. Selling old and unused gear gave me the ability to add ‘non-essentials,’ as a part of the equipment for our team.

In the same way that homeowners are encouraged to set aside money monthly to replace a roof or an air conditioning unit every ten years, if you are able to set aside money to go toward making updates to your equipment without draining other areas of ministry your team, and your church will be served well.

4 June: Liturgy + Set List

• GRACE ALONE

  Call to Worship: Psalm 24

  There is only one who has clean hands and a pure heart. There is only one who has never lifted up his soul to what is false and has not sworn deceitfully. There is only one who has continually constantly sought the face of God - and that is the God man, Jesus Christ. And if you’re here this morning as a follower of Christ, you are covered in the perfect and complete righteousness of Christ. And because of Christ we can respond lifting up clean hands, pure hearts, lifting up our souls, and seeking God because of Christ. Let’s look to Him together. Let’s sing together…

• GOD YOU’RE SO GOOD

• DOXOLOGY|AMEN

  Sermon: Exodus 20:4-6

  Repentance, turning away from our sin and turning toward Christ is not a one time act when you first become a follower of Christ. Repentance is the continually posture of heart as every follower of Jesus. And my hope and prayer for you and for me this morning is that God, through His Spirit has revealed to you the subtle and significant idols of our hearts. The places where you have exchanged the glory of the Creator, for created things. And if the Spirit is speaking to you, and revealing those things to you, that is God’s kindness toward you because it is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance. I am going to pray, and then we will pause for a few moments to ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you, to reveal to you, and then together we will confess our sin to God and to one another. Let’s confess our sins to God and one another:

Merciful God,
We confess that we have sinned against You
in thought, word, and deed,
By what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved You with our whole heart and mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

In Your mercy forgive what we have been,
help us amend what we are,
And direct what we shall be,
So that we may delight in your will and walk in Your ways, To the glory of Your holy name.

Through Christ, our Lord. Amen. [Book of Common Prayer]

• O PRAISE THE NAME (ANASTASIS)

• HOW GREAT THOU ART

  Benediction

Experience or Formation

Can I make a confession? I have an allergic reaction to the word ‘experience’ when tied to the corporate worship gathering. I certainly want our gatherings to be experiential - challenging and informing our minds, stirring our affections, and emboldening us to be sent out on mission. But the word experience unnerves me because that is the same way we describe entertainment - it was an experience. We had an experience. We use this word when speaking about goods and services, and products that we consume.

But my conviction is that the purpose of the corporate gathering of the people of God is the spiritual formation of the people of God. Formation does not happen in an instant. And therefore can often not be quantified, or codified as an experience. That is because formation is slow, steady, consistent process which occurs over time.

In the same way, the elements and the centuries have combined forces to shape the Grand Canyon or the Giants Causeway, so too our lives must be shaped by the Word of God, the people of God, and the Spirit of God faithfully over many years.

Experiences can be substitutes for formation because we can measure experience faster than we are able to measure formation.

Our culture is quite content with emotional Summer camp highs and quite uninterested in anything that does not spring up immediately. As followers of Jesus - and as worship leaders leading our team and congregation through the corporate gathering - we would do well to remember Jesus’ parable of the sower:

“That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”” Matthew 13:1-9

May the Lord find in you and me, in our teams and in our congregations, good soil that produces the deeply-rooted character of Christ.

Lead Toward Need

There is a difference between a song leader, and a worship leader. Being a worship leader is primarily pastoral before it is musical. And the idea of pastoring is really about shepherding. Knowing, loving, caring, and providing for sheep.

Now, I’m not what you would call an ‘animal person.’ We don’t have a dog, and we were just barely persuaded to let our children use birthday money to buy fish. So I have no authority to speak to animal care. But I have learned as a parent caring for little humans that my children will be malformed if I give them whatever they want. I have to set and enforce loving boundaries for their good and ultimate joy.

If as a worship leader you see yourself as a shepherd of people, you will have to be comfortable with not giving the congregation everything they want, but leading them toward what they need. This is no small or simple task. It requires knowing your people, understanding your culture, and a willingness to learn, grow, and be attentive to the voice of the Holy Spirit as you lead. It means sometimes people will be unhappy with your leadership, and unhappy with your decisions. It means sometimes they will leave your team, or leave your church. But worship leaders are not jukeboxes or cruise directors. Nor are we dictators or tyrants. Our leadership should always lead to the flourishing of those under our care.

“But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Matthew 20:25-28

We lead among, not over. We lead as sheep before we are shepherds. We lead as those whose convictions are firm, philosophy intentional, and heart-tender to the Lord and His people.

Every Resurrection Sunday

The Sunday following Holy Week can feel… well… anticlimactic. Likely you have invested more time, energy, creativity, and intention during Holy Week than almost any other time of the year. Does the Sunday following Easter just mean ‘business as usual’? My personal conviction is that there is no such thing as just another Sunday. That every Sunday as we gather with the people of God matters to our formation as the people of God, and matters as we declare God’s worth and value corporately. But I get it, you’re still recovering, and the excitement can sometimes feel deadened by the normalcy of life.

But the truth is, every week is a mini-resurrection Sunday.

That is why Christians gather on Sunday rather than Saturday. We are reenacting this day, orienting our lives around the day that Jesus rose from the grave. Every Sunday should stand as a marker in the week and in our life that Jesus is still alive, still ruling and reigning, and that He is worthy of our worship.

Remind your team, remind your people, and remind yourself that this Sunday is a mini-resurrection Sunday.

Judging The Service

It is very difficult to assess week to week if you are making progress. Because week-to-week evaluations can largely become asking the question ‘Did people respond the way we hoped or anticipated?’ If the primary purpose of the corporate gathering is for the spiritual formation of God’s people than we can only tell as we look back over months and years if we are making progress in the work that we feel called to do as worship leaders.

So how do we judge the service? Honestly, we can’t. I encourage a service evaluation. But ultimately, we aim for intentionality and consistency. We labor to build trust in and among our people so that as we stand in front of them and lead them in sung worship, that they feel safe, and trust that we will lead them to a good place.

Ultimately, as followers of Jesus, our main job is making disciples. And part of making disciples is realizing that discipleship is a lifelong work. It is slow, ongoing, and never ends. So rather than judging a result, we have to become comfortable with tension. We have to be comfortable in allowing the Spirit to guide us into using the best of what we can offer to do what only He can do - lead people to Jesus, and transform their lives.

Go slow. Be consistent. Formation takes eternity.

Head and Heart

When it comes to life, I tend to lean heart. When it comes to song choice, I tend to lean head. Something I learned from worship leader, Charlie Hall, is that our congregations will always be best served when we can balance head and heart in our worship songs.

Our congregation must have their minds informed, and filled with the truths of Scripture, and the weight of God’s character, but if all we do is give them knowledge, we so easily become brains on sticks. If all we do is sing rich theology, every corporate gathering will feel more like an intellectual exercise, heavy and dense, rather than an opportunity to respond to God’s revelation of Himself through those truths. Likewise, our congregations must have their affections stirred for the person and work of Christ. We must give people the opportunity, space, and language to express the full scope of their lives and response to God. Simple songs of devotion, honest prayers of confession, joyful celebration, and raw lament have to find their place within the life of our congregations.

Ideally, these two things would live to together - songs that are deep and true, while yet simple and emotive. Maybe you have a few of those songs in your rotation now. What I have often seen is that songs - like me - tend to lean one way or the other. So as you are building your master song list, taking an inventory of your songs, and building set lists that reflect the Gospel story, one of the rhythms you can incorporate is building set lists where songs that lean head, are next to songs that lean heart. And songs that lean heart, are next to songs that lean head.