The Nearness of God

Posted on October 10, 2012 by bornfun

October 10, 2012
1:36 PM

“For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
              you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
            But for me it is good to be near God;
                        I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
                        that I may tell of all your works.” (Psalms 73:27–28 ESV)

 I was reminded of this Scripture passage last week, as a result of a friend sending me a link to a new song by Paul Baloche and Brenton Brown called God My Rock. It was one of those weeks where I was overwhelmed with my life, both at home and at work, finding myself on Saturday night, preparing to lead worship and feeling far from God. I had drifted during the week, busyness crowding out my usual practice of reading the scriptures and prayer. When I’m not hiding God’s Word in my heart and depending on my Lord in prayer, I am more apt to sin, and thus was the case with a sinful response to naughty behavior from my boys. I responded in the flesh and not according to the Spirit. This is pretty easy to distinguish as ‘fits of anger’ is listed in Galatians 5:19, and I was far from gentle, patient, kind, etc. (Galatians 5:22)

I apologized to my son, confessed and received forgiveness from the Lord, and later that night feeling pretty down opened my Bible to Psalm 73, reading these precious words and desperately needing to draw near to God. I came to the worship service weak and needy on Sunday morning – still desiring to draw near, convinced that nearness to God is my good. And I did draw near! Every worship song, Gary’s message to Walk Worthy of the Gospel, and the fellowship with my church family lifted me back to where I needed to be, resting and trusting in my faithful and loving Father. That didn’t happen without a level of honesty and confession.

I was reminded that our greatest need as believers is to walk each step with the Lord and how important the worship service is in enabling those who are far away to draw near. For some, like me, we have a tendency to slowly drift from that close relationship with our Lord and Savior. For others rebellion causes us to intentionally turn away from the Lord. Both are sinful and require repentance. And repentance results in grace, forgiveness and restoration – nearness to God. Certainly this should be our daily experience as we walk with the Lord, but if you’re like me, sometimes I need a little fine-tuning. Frequent and honest participation in corporate worship is like fine-tuning for our spiritual lives. Through confession and repentance, trusting in the saving and forgiving work of our Savior, we can personally experience nearness to God to a greater extent when we gather to worship the Lord together on Sunday morning. Let’s continue to make the Lord God our refuge! “Where sin runs deep, your grace is more. Where grace is found is where you are. Where you are, Lord, I am free! Holiness is Christ in me.” (from the song Lord, I Need You)

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Bill Born

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Honoring Gary & Elizabeth

Posted on September 27, 2012 by bornfun

September 27, 2012
10:17 AM

Last week was an emotional week. Gary & Elizabeth Inrig have been spiritual parents to me for the past 17 years, through their teaching, shepherding and example of what it looks like to love and follow the Lord Jesus whole heartedly, and to love his Church. Their announcement that they are stepping down from the leadership of Trinity Church next June gives me conflicting emotion. On the one hand, it is natural to pass the baton of leadership to the next generation. However natural it may be, that transition will not be easy for them or for me. I will be sad to not have them in that role in the same way. But I am thankful for the blessing that they have been and will continue to be. They have deposited in me an eternal investment that will continue to yield returns until that great day when God’s work is completed in me. “What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” (2 Timothy 1:13–14 NIV) With the help of the Holy Spirit I will guard what I have heard from them, their pattern of sound teaching and their faith and love in Christ Jesus. That is a priceless treasure!

Gary’s main investment in my life has been the faithful, consistent, and rigorous teaching of God’s Word. If I look back to my love for and knowledge of the Lord 17 years ago compared to now, I can see tremendous growth. Much of that growth comes from seeking God in the worship services at Trinity and hearing His voice through his Word, teaching, correcting, rebuking and training me in righteousness. Gary’s gift of teaching, and his faithful exercise of it has been a major way that God has spoken to me, moving me to a greater love for God and for people, a joyful giving of myself completely to following all of God’s ways, guiding me toward being a better husband & father, opening my heart toward adopting two of our children, moving me with compassion, giving confidence to speak the life-giving words of the gospel to the lost, opening my arms & heart to reach out toward the poor and invite them in, strengthening my faith, and helping me become a better worshiper as a result of having a bigger view of our great God. Gary has been God’s servant to me in accomplishing his purposes in my life. I used to think of the big moments of my spiritual life being mountaintop experiences at camp or retreats where God really got my attention. Certainly these are important milestones. However, now I see that it is the consistent week-to-week, truth-giving exhortation and instruction that has had the long term & lasting impact on my life. Thank you Gary!

Gary’s gift of leadership saw hints of a capable worship leader in me and took a risk, giving me a shot at it in 2002. He entrusted the worship services to a high school math teacher without pastoring credentials and then empowered me to lead. That invitation was something I could not turn down. Our partnership in ministry has been a great joy over the past 10 years. Very few worship leaders get to craft a worship service around such great biblical teaching! Few worship leaders get to lead a congregation whose faith and expression of worship has been thus shaped. God moved me into full-time pastoral ministry and has given me a model of trust-based, non-micromanaged leadership through Gary Inrig. I am eternally grateful!

Elizabeth has also shaped my faith and love for God and his Word. Early on in our marriage, my wife Julie insisted that I attend a Walk-Through-The-Bible class taught by her. (How wonderful that she is teaching it again this fall!) I resisted, saying that I had taken all those classes at Biola. But finally I gave in to Julie’s wishes and went to the class. Boy was I humbled at what I didn’t know! More than that, I realized that it wasn’t knowledge of God’s Word that was the central thing to Elizabeth. It was knowledge of the God who spoke it. I was touched and inspired by her passion and love for the Lord, and the way she could communicate the Big Picture of how it all fits together. The Old Testament and New Testament are one story, God’s story with Christ being present from Genesis through Revelation. I hadn’t made sense of the main storyline of the Bible before. That class began my journey of studying the Word on my own, not just for knowledge, but for the joy of relationship – to know and love God more. Thank you Elizabeth!

I’m grateful for my spiritual parents and forever indebted because of their investment into my life. I’m committed to making these last 9 months of our partnership in ministry at Trinity together the best yet. Thank you Lord for Gary and Elizabeth!

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Bill Born

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My soul, my life, my all

Posted on September 16, 2012 by bornfun

September 16, 2012
10:35 PM

This is my outline for my charge to all Trinity worship teams for the 2012/13 ministry year. I shared this on Saturday, at the worship workshop. It was an awesome time of fellowship together, with a special concert/worship time with worship leader and recording artist Jadon Lavik. Following that was an hour and half of specific instruction in our breakout sessions for each musical, artistic and technical area. We ended with a great charge from our Senior Pastor, Gary Inrig and a prayer of commissioning.

Talk for Worship Workshop

I want to spend the next 10 minutes sharing from my heart about this theme: my soul, my life, my all. This last year has been a very difficult year for me. The last time I led worship and was able to sing freely was at this workshop last year. I still have not recovered and have faced moments of discouragement, often wondering if I’ll be able to sing freely again. I’ve learned a few things that I’d like to share with you.

1. A reminder that God’s grace is sufficient. Paul said that he would rather boast about weakness in order that God’s power would rest on him. God’s strength is made perfect in weakness. No matter how discouraged I have been, the spirit of our Sunday worship services has never been more encouraging, as has been the support and fellowship coming from you.

2. Closely related to that is the reminder that this is not about me. I have enjoyed the partnership with my worship band leaders who have helped me plan, rehearse and lead our worship sets. In a very real way right now, their voice is my voice. They are: John Owens, Sharon Strum, Tim Polen, Steve Carroll and David Finley. I trust their hearts and truly am inspired by their lives as they seek to offer the Lord their ALL.

3. Worship is so much more than singing. I knew that before, but now I get weekly reminders of it since I don’t sing so well now. Perhaps it is why this theme, my soul, my life, my all became so significant to me. I couldn’t go on autopilot this year, but had to focus more on the heart issues. I think of God’s criticism of his people when he said, “This people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” (Isaiah 29:13) I’m reminded that,“Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7) God knows where I’m holding back. He knows where you’re holding back. Worship reaches its purest expression when we truly give the Lord our all. This year has brought about a renewed passion to give the Lord my all, no holding back, complete surrender, complete consecration of everything that I am, everything that I have.

I can remember back to the time when I started to realize this truth and experience the joy that comes from living this way. I was in middle school when I first read Romans 12:1,2. I urge you therefore, brothers, to offer up your bodies as living and holy sacrifices. For this is your spiritual act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of the Lord is, that which is good, acceptable and pleasing. I realized then that being a worshiper of God was not just a Sunday thing, but a 24/7 way of life. I memorized this verse with my best friend Dave, and this became our mantra for living. My defining moment was the summer before I started high school. When I started straying from the straight and narrow, Dave called me on it. He basically said, “That’s not who you are, not who we are.” We held each other accountable to this then and continue even today. Ever since that defining moment, I’ve discovered that the joy experienced in this “all in” mindset is unparalleled. I sense this joy when I gather to rehearse with my teams and when we worship together with the church. Do you experience that joy in corporate worship? It is both the joy of a right relationship with God and the joy of true fellowship with each other, which comes from being like-minded, focused on exalting Christ as Lord and learning to walk in his ways.

I had an “ah ha” moment earlier this year when I noticed the phrase where Paul says, “Make my joy complete by being like-minded, sharing the same love, united in spirit and purpose.” (Phil 2:2) The word “joy” popped out and hit me like hadn’t before. It’s a joy that is only realized in community with like-minded Christ followers. The corporate worship times that we help facilitate are utterly important toward this end for each person that is there.

Ultimately Paul leads us to Christ as our example saying, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 2:5) If there is one thing I would charge us to this year, it is this. That we would excel in having the attitude of Christ Jesus. Ultimately, it was an attitude of humility. I guard that as one of the sweetest gifts we offer one another on this team – the opposite of egos & pride is humility that considers others as more important than ourselves. Christ laid down his rights, took on the form of a servant, became obedient to the point of death. Christ gave his all for us. Songwriter, Isaac Watts, captured this when he was contemplating the cross and wrote these well known lyrics, “love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.” Dare we give God anything less than our all?

Trinity Church worshipers, let’s hold nothing back from the Lord when we worship on Sundays, but even moreso when we worship with our lives every day of the week! Let’s offer him all that we are, all that we have, all that we do. Let’s give him our best offering as we serve on the worship teams, crafting that talent by devoting ourselves to practicing, studying, becoming better at what we do. And as we bow before Christ and declare him as Lord, let us seek to have his attitude of humility in the way that we serve one another. I can’t imagine any greater joy than being like-minded, sharing the same love, united in spirit and purpose!

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Bill Born

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The Glory of the Lord in the Worship Service

Posted on July 26, 2012 by bornfun

July 26, 2012
1:16 PM

I recently spent a night out in the wilderness near Mt. San Jacinto. Stars spanned from horizon to horizon in every direction, so thick they seemed to be touching one another. We can even see the heavens more fully through a telescope, or in pictures taken through one. The Scriptures say that, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1, ESV) Yet as urban dwellers, how often do we get a good look into the night sky that takes our breath away and lets us see it for what it really is? In the same way that man-made light or clouds get in the way of revealing a full view of the night sky, I think our view of the glory of God is too easily hindered. Of all places, we should clearly see the glory of God in the worship service. It ought to be like getting a good look through a telescope. Here are a few pointers on seeing the glory of God next time you come to worship.

First of all, God is pleased when we ask him to reveal his glory to us. Moses did. He was in the midst of a pretty intense personal worship moment. Speaking with the Lord, he made this plea, “Please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight.” (Exodus 33:13) The Lord granted this wish and promised his presence. Then Moses went even deeper. He made a bold request: “Please show me your glory.” (vs.18) Again, God agreed, but on his terms—not a full view, just a view of his back. God said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you my name, the Lord.” (vs.19) It is appropriate to ask when the asking accompanies our desire to know God more and submits to God’s terms.

Second, God’s glory is indeed present every time we come to worship him, but we may not be aware. Paul makes two revealing statements about where the glory of God shows up. In 2 Corinthians 4:6, we are told that God gives us, “…the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” I’m reminded that the more clearly we see Christ, the more we experience the glory of God! Both the message and the worship music at Trinity is intended to focus the telescope in on Christ and the gospel, so that the worshiper who seeks Jesus’ face, will indeed be rewarded. Another stunning statement is found a few verses prior: “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV) The transforming work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is a primary way that God reveals his glory. His glory is reflected in his people gathered to worship.

The word magnify is synonymous with glorify and helps us understand our role of singing or speaking praise to the Lord. When I magnify something, I’m able to see the finer details and it becomes bigger and more magnificent. That’s what happens when we corporately gather to worship the Lord. “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, let us exalt his name together!” (Psalm 34:3)

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Bill Born

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Bless the Lord, O my soul

Posted on April 3, 2012 by bornfun

March 28, 2012
8:52 AM

I chose to meditate on Psalm 103 as I prepared to lead worship last Sunday. I was introducing a song, 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) by Matt Redman. I’ve been looking forward to doing this song with our congregation for a long time. It was lifted right out of this precious Psalm. Little did I know that it would take me to a place of wrestling with the Lord, a faith confrontation that would result in a greater strength and assurance of that faith. I began reading through the Psalm that encourages my soul to bless (or praise) the Lord. The way that David chooses to praise to Lord is by remembering and declaring his benefits. “He forgives all your sins, he heals all your diseases…” At that moment, I stopped reading and the wrestling began. Did David have to say that God heals all our diseases? I guess so because the Holy Spirit inspired it. (2 Peter 1:20) A friend had just lost his mother to a short battle with cancer a few weeks ago. Many prayed for healing. And I doubted for the moment that God would heal the disease, possibly cancer yet undiagnosed, that had just been detected a day earlier in my friend’s son. Deep down inside, I know that any promise of healing is according to God’s will and in his timing. Yet, in this situation, my heart was screaming, “NOW, please, God!” What was a doubt on the surface really had a firm foundation underneath and I recognized that God certainly had the power to heal, and in the eternal scheme of things, he does heal all of our diseases. I confessed this in faith to the Lord and continued on, anticipating singing this song on Sunday, but not sure how I would introduce it.

As I sat with my worship team in the Prayer Room on Sunday morning, praying before our 1st Service, I read through the Psalm again. I voiced my struggle and was graciously reminded by my friends of what I knew deep down inside, that God’s promises are eternal, not always immediate. Then I noticed the theme of the Psalm was cast in the eternal nature of God and his creation. How high are the heavens above the earth? Scientists and their highest-powered telescopes have not seen the end of it yet. That’s how great the Lord’s loyal love is for those who fear him. How far is the east from the west? Again, infinity. That’s how far God removes our sins from us. “But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,” (Psalms 103:17 ESV) Yes, this Psalm is anchored in the eternal nature of our Everlasting God. Why am I so locked into the ‘now?’ I need a bigger perspective and yes, a bigger faith.

Gary’s sermon on Sunday confirmed what God was trying to say to me that morning. Please check it out if you missed it,The Death Conquerer. When Jesus received word that his friend Lazarus was ill, it says, “he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.” (John 11:6 ESV) Later he tells his disciples, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”” (John 11:14–16 ESV) I think his disciples and his friends Mary and Martha were all expecting Jesus to do what he usually did, heal the sick, but Jesus had something much more extraordinary in mind, raising the dead. It was aligned with his purposes, his timing, displaying his power and glory so that many would believe. You see, the Lord’s everlasting love is not just for me or my family and friends – it is for the whole world. We never get to see the big picture, but God does and he always acts with that in mind.

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Bill Born

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Worshiping without Singing

Posted on January 18, 2012 by bornfun

January 11, 2012
8:53 AM

I worshiped last Sunday without singing. Doctor’s orders are that I not sing for the next two months to let my voice heal from an injury that happened back in September. I already sense that this is my time to listen and learn to worship more fully in all of the other ways besides singing. A friend just reminded me of Romans 12:1.

“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.” (Romans 12:1 ESV)
 
The act of worship involves many other things besides singing. In fact, these things are the foundations of worship, the heart of worship. What does it mean to present my body as a living sacrifice? First thing that comes to mind is that my body represents all that I am, every part, my hands, my feet, my mind, my eyes and ears, my tongue, my soul. The Greatest Commandment comes to mind that says I’m to love the Lord with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. The word consecrate captures this. It means to set apart everything as holy, belonging to the Lord, used for his glory alone.

Right at the time my voice problems began, I was often loudly singing along with Gungor’s Every Breath as I drove in the car. I’ve only had one opportunity to lead it and that was to some 4th and 5th graders as I taught on worship in early October. It was a sweet moment together. I will never tire of worship songs that speak of giving everything to the Lord! These songs stirred my heart as a teen and young adult. They still stir my heart, now more than ever! It is my greatest desire and my most sincere offering. Here are some of my favorites.

Gungor’s Every Breath is my favorite at the moment. I can hardly contain myself as this song soars to its closing anthem around 3:28. “Here I am Lord. All I am Lord. Here I am Lord. I am yours.”

Nothing beats this traditional arrangement of the hymn, Take My Life and Let It Be, so heartily sung by Kari Jobe. I feel connected to the ‘great cloud of witnesses’ of the faith who have gone before me. I treasure hymns like this one that have been the song of believers throughout many generations.

Glory to God, Forever by Steve Fee, is one that our congregation, young and old love to sing out.

Another favorite is Open Hands by Matt Papa. I love singing this with our congregation. I can feel the unity that comes from like-mindedness as we lift our hands and express our hearts to the Lord. I particularly love the progression from using our hands to love, to give and then even surrendering our will. The bridge reminds us why. Christ gave up his life for us on the cross!

Probably the first song to stir my heart as a middle school student was Keith Green’s Make My Life a Prayer. This is where I began to understand Romans 12:1 worship. It’s not just my words – it’s my life. Perhaps this will be the first song I sing at the piano when the doctor gives me the go ahead. For now, I will focus on living it out.

Blessings in Christ!

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Bill Born

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Music Inspired by The Story

Posted on January 6, 2012 by bornfun

January 4, 2012
7:27 AM

Congratulations to all my Trinity family who traveled down Route 66 this year! Over the next few weeks we’re celebrating the accomplishment and hearing testimonies from those who read through the Bible in 2011. Whether you read some of it, most of it or all of it, I’m sure there were great rewards. To me the greatest reward is knowing God more. I walk away with a bigger view of God, his character, his sovereignty, his relentless, unfailing, perfect love that keeps inviting us to a relationship with him, and his amazing grace that made a way to redeem our sinful mess through the cross. Honestly, each time I read through the Bible it reminds me how much I do not know and often raises more questions in my mind than answers. While I feel a surge of faith, I also sense my faith being challenged. My favorite part of the Scriptures is the stories that exemplify God’s personal love and demonstrate what faith looks like (and often doesn’t look like).

To that end, I was recently introduced to a musical project that is simply amazing. It is a 2 CD set called, Music Inspired by The Story, with eleven songs from the Old Testament and seven songs from the New Testament. This project was a collaboration between songwriter Nichole Nordeman who wrote all of the lyrics and Bernie Herms who wrote all of the music. The songs are sung by some of the top Christian vocalists of our time. The music is simply wonderful, beautiful and dynamic, exquisitely orchestrated, and flavored with clever musical variety. What makes this project outstanding is that each song doesn’t just tell the story of a biblical character; it also captures their relationship with the Almighty God. Every song plays out a personal conversation with God, interaction between the Creator and the created one. Raw emotion, tender trust and genuine worship define this project. My faith is challenged and encouraged by each song. I suggest you buy it and/or consider giving it as a gift to someone who has completed Route 66.

Here are some quotes from other folks:

The songs are written from the perspective of the individuals and my heart resonates with the cry of their hearts; Adam & Eve “If I could, I’d rewrite history, I’d choose differently…”, Moses “If there’s anything good in me it must be You” and David “When the world looks at me, I pray all they see is my heart looks like your heart”. ~Sheri Blakey

Music Inspired by The Story is stunning and prayerful and, while not specifically a worship album, it has ushered me into some very intense moments of personal worship. One night several weeks ago I was listening to the song “How Love Wins” which is from the perspective of the thief on the cross. One line completely gripped my heart, “For all my many sorrows and regrets, nothing could compare to just this one. That in the presence of my King, I cannot fall upon my knees.  I cannot carry you up to your throne.  You, instead, will carry me back home.”  The song then transitions from the chorus of “this is how love wins” to a short, revamped chorus of the hymn “Nothing But the Blood.”  It was a beautiful connection and a moment that absolutely made me kneel, experiencing the Lord’s presence that was so close at that moment. Reading these stories in the Word of God is so powerful.  Then having them put into beautiful songs that are completely infused with the Spirit is incredible and an experience you don’t want to miss.  This project has blessed me over and over again. ~John Owens

Purchase on iTunes

Purchase from Amazon.com

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Bill Born

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Engaging in Worship @ Christmas

Posted on December 7, 2011 by bornfun

December 7, 2011
9:31 AM

We’ve had a few great Christmas worship services already. I’ve sensed a unity of the Spirit as we’ve come together to adore, Christ the Lord. Yet, every year I hear people comment on how they don’t find singing Christmas carols worshipful. Our sermon series this Christmas, called “Christmas Unwrapped,” promises to help us not only marvel at the gift that our Father gave us in his Son, Jesus; it also helps us to allow his coming to transform our thoughts and actions as we think about three essentials that should define all those who follow Christ: humility, generosity and abundant life. Gary’s message last week, The Gift of Humility, caused my heart to erupt in praise with a fresh perspective and strengthened faith. I’d like to share a few pointers that I wrote last year on how to fully engage in worshiping God this Christmas in our worship services.

Many Christmas carols are familiar, causing us to find ourselves easily going through the motions, singing the words without connecting to our hearts. A heart connection is an essential component of true worship. A second difficulty is that most of the traditional carols tell the story, are proclamation of wonderful truths (Christ is the Lord) or exhortations to worship (o come let us adore him), but include very little dialogue with God. While story telling, proclamation and exhortation are valid and important expressions of corporate worship, the act of worship is incomplete without a dialogue with our God whom we worship. Our souls are made to meet with God and not just talk about him. So here are some tips I have discovered that help me meet with God during Christmas.

I try to meditate on some of the profound phrases that we sing in our familiar Christmas carols. I love to go to the Scriptures to dig deeper into the truth that is expressed within the song. Nearly every carol we sing is packed with profound truth that is worth unpacking and uncovering. The challenge is that we often plow through the song or skip those less familiar verses. We are “ever singing and never hearing.” The simple act of reflecting on a particular phrase helps turn proclamation into dialogue with God, and moves the truths from our lips to our hearts. For example:

O Holy Night verse 3: “Christ is the Lord, O praise His name forever. His power and glory evermore proclaim.”

Wow! This feels like a Revelation moment to me and I sing it from my heart as if I am bowing before the Lamb upon the throne proclaiming this powerful truth … in reality, that’s exactly what we are doing. “Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!'” (Revelation 5:13 NIV) And then with the angels and all the saints, we “fall on our knees.” “The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.” (Revelation 5:14 NIV) I did one Christmas Eve. I knelt on the floor, and wept as we spotlighted the name, CHRIST during the singing of “Christ is the Lord…” I will never forget that profound moment of meeting with God and have never sung O Holy Night without having that heart connection since then.

I’m going to give you a hint on the BIG IDEA that shows up over and over again in our familiar Christmas carols. Herein lies the key to entering into heartfelt worship at Christmas time, and the major challenge to the worshiper, the worship planner and leader … beholding the glory of the One and Only Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! We must come longing to behold the glory of the Lord revealed in the gift the Father gave in sending his Son as an infant. We who plan and lead must strive to help our people see and experience God’s glory so that loving hearts will indeed enthrone him. We must tell the story with compelling beauty and find ourselves caught up in it, the objects of the wondrous love of our Heavenly Father. Then we must be careful to encourage and plan space for dialogue to occur.

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Bill Born

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Loving God, Part 3

Posted on November 9, 2011 by bornfun

Continued from Loving God, Part 2
November 9, 2011
9:39 AM

I want to close looking at the promise, “he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21 ESV) This promise is perhaps the greatest gift that God has given us. How sweet our worship times are when we experience the love of our Father and the manifest presence of our Savior, Jesus Christ! Here is what I’ve discovered. The older I get, the more I come to know God, namely his unfailing love and amazing grace, the more wholeheartedly and joyfully I begin to reciprocate my expressions of love to him. These expressions are in part sung or spoken, but on a much grander scale lived out by obeying his commands. There is no better place to observe what this looks like and how it is expressed through worship than in Psalm 119. This chapter of God’s Word captures 176 poetic verses of declarations & prayers about loving God’s commands and following God’s commands. It’s all heart! To me, loving God with all of my heart means to know what God has to say about how I ought to live and then living that way according to the strength he gives me through his Holy Spirit. That’s why the sermon is such an important part of the worship service. We have it so good at Trinity, because God’s Word is central. My colleagues, the main teachers of Trinity Church, love God’s Word and bring it faithfully to us each week. They bring us the very words of God spoken to us – let’s make sure we are here each week fully present, with open ears and hearts, longing to know what God has to say. As we pray the prayers of Psalm 119, the Lord will move each one of us in the right direction toward knowing and treasuring his ways and better expressing our love to him through joyful obedience. The reward is the greatest treasure of all, an increasing intimacy with God realized through his love & presence. This is the promise for those who express their love for God through obedience.

The song, Like Incense, by Brooke Fraser, has become a favorite of mine. Here is a live version that we did in our worship service with dance, including a reading of portions of Psalm 119 beginning at 3:25.

 Our praise is our “I love you,” statement to the Lord. Our declaration of his character, rejoicing in his unfailing love, lifting up his great name, giving thanks, proclaiming his mighty works, trusting him in hard times, celebrating the gospel, remembering his faithfulness, loving one another, showing hospitality, giving generously of our time and money, offering up our bodies as living sacrifices, maintaining a pure and holy lifestyle, repenting of our sin, laying down our lives, picking up our cross daily to follow him, sharing the gospel, serving the world. These are some of the wonderful things God has commanded. By doing them we demonstrate our love to God and to the world. Trinity Church, let’s unite together in leading our church in loving God because he is worthy.

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Bill Born

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Loving God, Part 2

Posted on October 26, 2011 by bornfun

Continued from Loving God, Part 1
October 26, 2011
8:41 AM

Have you ever looked for an “I love you,” statement to the Lord in the Scriptures? There are scores of Biblical characters that clearly loved the Lord. How many times do you think an “I love you,” statement is recorded in the Scriptures? Only once. King David in Psalm 18:1. David says, “I love you, O Lord, my strength.” Surprised?

David, a man after God’s own heart, undeniably a lover of the Lord, only recorded an ‘I love you’ statement one time. I’m not suggesting at all that we stop using these words in our worship to the Lord, but this discovery led me to believe that there is a whole lot more we ought to be doing. How offensive and hollow “I love you,” sounds when not backed with loving actions. In the same way that faith without works is dead, I think proclamation without demonstration is empty and quite frankly, insulting to God. It’s almost as if there is a righteous ‘fear of the Lord’ that cautions us to carefully say the words, I love you, to him. Folks, it is the demonstration of love that is indeed loving God. Our words alone just don’t cut it. The disciple John, says it this way.

 “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18 ESV)

 Back when Gary taught on John 14, I wrote a 3rd verse for the chorus, I Love You, Lord. I wanted a way to express my love for God through my desire to obey his commands. Dancer, Claire Peister, added some simple movement and we have used it in a few of our worship services since. It goes like this:

I love you Lord, so I will obey
And follow you as I live each day
Take joy my King, in this offering
May my life be the love song I sing

Getting back to the upper room dialogue, I want to think about the flow of thought. Why did Jesus bring up this topic of our love for him at this moment in his final teaching to his disciples? What commandments is he specifically referring to?

The first two questions are related. Jesus has just given the disciples a New Commandment. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34–35 ESV)  Not long afterward, maybe within 5 to 10 minutes if his speaking was uninterrupted, he says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15–16 ESV) While this statement encompasses all of his commandments, don’t you think the first one to pop into their mind is this new one? In fact, in the flow of the passage, Jesus comes back to this new commandment over and over again. The disciples got it! About fifty years later, John summarizes it like this: “If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (1 John 4:20–21 ESV)

 Loving God and loving each other are inseparable. I see a healthy expression of love for one another at Trinity Church, but it’s certainly an area where we can excel still more. I’d like to see more hospitality. Invite one another into your homes, into your lives. I’d like to see more spontaneous prayer, praising the Lord for his blessings and bearing each other’s burdens this way. I’d like to see more love that reaches out for people who are not a part of this community right now, and perhaps not even a part of God’s family. God has given us common interests that can be a bridge not only for friendship, but more so for people to become worshipers & followers of our Lord, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Like Paul charged the believers in the Thessalonian church, I charge you. “Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you may excel still more.” (1 Thessalonians 4:1 NASB)

 To be continued…

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Bill Born

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