Loving God, Part 1

Posted on October 12, 2011 by bornfun

October 12, 2011
9:08 AM

I’ve been doing a lot of thought, study and teaching on the topic of loving God. It is not only my personal pursuit as his child, but it is the primary goal of my vocation as a worship pastor @ Trinity Church.

A little over ten years ago I drafted my first Philosophy of Worship Ministry as part of a summer internship I did with Jeff Moore, the Worship Pastor at Trinity Church. As I wrestled to define worship and uncover its purpose, I arrived at this simple statement:

“The simplest and most comprehensive definition that I can think of is this: Worship is fulfilling the Greatest Commandment. Jesus was the one who took this Old Testament law called the Shema, and called it the most important.”

“Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”” (Mark 12:29–31 ESV)

On our website I have this listed as the goal of worship ministries:

Worship Ministries exists for the purpose of loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Members of the Worship Ministries teams seek to cultivate a contagious passion among the people of Trinity Church for loving the Lord. They employ their creative and artistic gifts as a means to celebrate the truths about God and respond in heartfelt worship to Him.

Trinity Church’s mission statement begins, “We are a community of Christ-followers longing to glorify God by loving God…”

I propose that glorifying God by loving Him is the most important aspect of our lives and ministry. Herein lies the primary purpose of Worship Ministries: loving God! We ought to go to the Scriptures seeking a standard by which we can measure our love for God. I, along with my Worship Planning Team, were profoundly moved and challenged by the answer to this question in Gary Inrig’s sermon on John 14 called, Knowing God. Jesus often talked about the Father demonstrating love for us. This may be the only time Jesus talked about us demonstrating love for him, so it is worth taking it to heart.

“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21 ESV)

Here’s a great clip from Gary’s teaching on this passage:
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We can sing of our love to God. There is nothing wrong with that if it truly comes from our hearts. From a human perspective, hearing the words, “I love you,” when they are truly meant is one of the greatest joys to my soul. The absence of those words from our loved ones, especially our mothers and fathers, is often highly damaging to our souls. But how much more sweet and foundational is the demonstration of that love! That’s what Jesus is saying to us. Our love is demonstrated by our obedience.

Before we continue, it is important to avoid a common misperception about our obedience to God’s commands. Our obedience demonstrates our love. It in no way earns God’s love! Obedience is not out of compulsion or guilt or fear or trying to earn favor with God. All of that has been cared for by Jesus demonstrating his love for us. The Scriptures say, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 NIV) We must remind ourselves of the gospel, daily, because our tendency is to get it backwards. (Herein lies a major role of worship: we sing the gospel, we are taught the gospel, we read it from the Scriptures, we act it out, we dance it out, we write it in our stories, we capture it in our films and on canvas. Why? In order to remember.) The gospel reminds us that obedience is our worship response to the unconditional, perfect love of our Heavenly Father. Obedience is the demonstration of our love, the expression of “I love you,” to the Lord.

To be continued…

Continued from Loving God, Part 1

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Surprised by the Unexpected

Posted on August 3, 2011 by bornfun

August 3, 2011
7:55 AM

As a child I spent two years at a boarding school in the Amazon jungles of Brazil. Rain was pretty much a daily occurrence during the rainy season and still a weekly occurrence in the dry season. It was never really dry. When there wasn’t the threat of lightening, we would play soccer in the pouring rain until the fields flooded, then it became more like rugby, hands permitted, tackling, slipping and sliding all over the place. After we were thoroughly worn out and satisfied with our play we would jump in the Amazon River to rinse off and go back to the dorms to listen to the loud pelting of rain on our tin roof. The fishing was best during a good rainstorm, so that was another option. Pity the downpours that happened when we were prisoners inside the four walls of our classroom! I never knew of a cold rain until I moved to California when I was ten. I also never missed the color green more.

Needless to say, I was quite surprised and almost giddy with excitement with our tropical storm on Sunday. I drove to church in the early morning downpour preparing to lead worship, thanking God for this sweet blessing. I sensed that our worship service likewise was going to hold unexpected blessings that morning. I was reminded of songs that speak of the rain of his presence, his grace like rain, and the glory of the Lord raining down on us as we worship him. I was reminded that I, like so many others, come to the worship service longing for an experience of the Lord’s presence that is familiar and yet at the same time fresh and new. That’s what this rainstorm was to me that morning. And so was the worship service. Because it was a 5th Sunday, I had a paired down band, trying to focus on the beauty and simplicity of the accompaniment to our praises. Blessed by the last minute addition of Ed Pithey on saxophone (soprano and tenor), we were in for quite a treat. We went back to some oldies but goodies, Keith Green’s, Oh Lord You’re Beautiful took us to a place where we didn’t want to move, ending with a time of silence in reverence and awe. We ended our service with Lord Have Mercy. I sang from my heart as never before, convicted with a new sense of fear of the Lord by a tremendous sermon by Gary Inrig, The Lost Generation. Another highlight for me was a new song, Your Great Name. I was introduced to Natalie Grant’s version of this song by a church member and became an immediate fan of her entire album, Love Revolution.

When I think of where the target is for leading worship each week at Trinity Church, this hit the bullseye: spotlight clearly on our triune God, music that was simple yet beautiful, unity amongst the body that was felt, the glory of the Lord experienced in every element, and my soul was engaged more than ever, not thinking much about the details of what I was supposed to be doing.

I love to be surprised by God when he shows up in an unexpected way, speaking words that cut right to my heart, bringing conviction that causes repentance and renewal, washing whiter than snow, or stirring my heart emotionally, even to the point of tears, causing a surge of faith and freedom that comes from embracing a profound truth. Oh, Heavenly Father please do your work among us at Trinity Church every time that we gather to worship! Show us your glory! May it always be for the glory of Your Great Name and the edification and growth of your Church.

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Bill Born

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The Journey @ Trinity

Posted on May 11, 2011 by bornfun

May 11, 2011
8:46 AM

We are on an exciting journey in our worship services at Trinity Church, traveling through the desert with the Israelites, learning the lessons that God was teaching them by purposely leading them there after redeeming them out of Egypt. These are in fact the same lessons that we need to learn, realizing that all of us have been, will be or are now being led into the wilderness by our loving Heavenly Father for the purpose of transforming us into a people of unwavering faith, “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9 NIV). Our God is the same, yesterday, today and forever, and the wilderness is a place where we can learn to truly see him, know him and trust him more. Of course most of us aren’t being led to live in tents wandering around our local Mohave or Colorado Deserts. Our wilderness/desert experiences are more symbolic, times of waiting, wandering, tough times that we experience in this life. My prayer is that our worship services at Trinity over the next three months will indeed be a journey in itself, drawing us closer to our Lord and to each other as we sojourn together.

Here are a few features for our worship services that my worship planning team has planned to help us along the way.

1. Worshiping in the Desert. We will feature some Psalms that were written in the desert, giving us profound truth to cling to in hard times and an example of how we can worship God there. We have also created an iMix to accompany The Journey. (You can see and/or purchase The Journey Playlist through iTunes.) The chosen songs reflect in some way the themes and lessons that we are learning, and will give us a corporate voice to dialogue in worship with our Lord.

2. Faith Journeys. We will hear some stories from members of our congregation telling of how their faith has grown through walking with God through their desert experiences. Perhaps you may have a story that you would like to share. Please contact me if you do.

3. The Sinai Desert. We will use images of the Sinai desert so we can see the places where God led his people, hopefully helping us connect our journey to theirs.

4. The Journey Drama Series. We will spend some humorous moments with Cash and Erik, 2 friends wandering in the wilderness, wondering at the lessons God is trying to teach them there.

5. Logging the Journey. We hope to capture the highlights of our journey, most importantly the works that God is doing in our lives through this time together. Share these things with each other around the dinner table, out in the courtyard after the service, or personally with me through email (bborn@trinityonline.org).

If you’ve missed the first worship services of the series, you can catch up with the video or audio of Gary Inrig’s messages here.

See you along the way!

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Bill Born

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On Drifting

Posted on March 16, 2011 by bornfun

March 16, 2011
8:52 AM

“We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” (Hebrews 2:1 NIV)

As I was preparing to lead worship last week around this theme of “not drifting away,” I was hit with how profoundly important the worship service is in this regard. I realized anew the significance of my role in planning elements that help us to “pay more careful attention,” remembering the reality of the truth and allowing our hearts to connect or perhaps reconnect with the Lord of Truth. Now let me shift the focus to my role as the worshiper, for I come to the worship service as both one seeking the Lord and leading others toward him. Like everyone else, I need to come as a worshipper each week due to my tendency to drift. I easily get distracted, deceived and discouraged. I need to open my life up to what God has to say to me through his Word, through prayer and the presence of the Holy Spirit. His words may be words of conviction, affirmation, healing, rebuke or encouragement, training me up in the way I should go. Now, with the Holy Spirit dwelling in me and the gift of his written Word, this can and should happen throughout the week, but there is nothing that matches the unity of the faith when I gather with the people of God, the church.

The main problem we all have is the tendency to fix our eyes on ourselves. Unfortunately, we don’t leave that behind when we come to the worship service. It is often about our experience, our desires, our style of teaching or worship, when what we need is simply to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,” (Hebrews 12:2 NIV) We come on our own agenda, when we should come seeking God’s agenda. We may need fellowship, forgiveness, a charismatic experience or encouragement in the form of hope, or even healing. Doesn’t God know these things and long to do them in our lives? While we should come honestly telling God what we want or think we need, it should quickly be followed by, “Your will be done in my life in this time.” Then we trust that God in is faithfulness and compassion hears us and “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20–21 NIV)

What’s the opposite of drifting? Standing firm; anchored. The Scriptures say of Christ, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” (Hebrews 6:19 NIV) Some of us have drifted so far off course that our main need is to be anchored. Then what? We need to put up our sails, catch the wind of the Spirit and begin to make headway, getting back into the race.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
(Hebrews 12:1–3 NIV)

To the glory of God, with our eyes fixed on Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit, may our worship services at Trinity be a place where we can be anchored in hope, running with perseverance the race marked out for us.

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Bill Born

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On Binding up the Broken-Hearted

Posted on March 9, 2011 by bornfun

March 9, 2011
10:23 AM

This is an update from my previous post. In the course of the last month, God has clearly shown me time and again that he is indeed doing it – binding up the broken hearted, freeing the captives and releasing people from darkness. The problem is that I want to see immediate results, but this isn’t the usual way that God works. He works patiently, and calls us to join us in this patient, consistent love for each other as we are being transformed.

Sunday we celebrated our mission in our worship service, namely, our calling to be an extension of God’s voice and hands sharing the gospel and generously demonstrating it. After singing a sweet version of Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone), I was blown away by this passage. If you like me have been set free, you will find yourself identifying with it.

“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.”

Oh yes, I remember my former state…

4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:3–7 NIV)

Oh how sweet that grace appears in light of the NOW! We concluded with one of my very favorite songs, Oh Happiness by David Crowder. Thank you Mr. Crowder for helping us to experience the joy of our redemption/freedom in Christ!

God also greatly encouraged me a few weeks ago on a Tuesday. First was at lunch with a good friend. We talked about his friendship with a guy who not a year ago had walked away from his wife and children, in bondage to pornography and other sexual sin, and now, reunited, faithful and growing in the Lord – a new creation! Amazing! He shared about a lost friend who had unbeknownst to him turned his life over to the Lord, and neighbors who with no former knowledge of Christ, were going to church and coming to know and follow Him. I went away from this time so encouraged and then went to the hospital to visit with four friends from our church family, one who was ill. A little over a year ago I had just met them. They were all at different places in their faith in the Lord, some unbelieving, some doubting, some believing but searching for answers. What we experienced in that hospital room together was truly a unity in the faith, progress – a deeper faith, a measured transformation in knowledge, desires and behaviors, and a treasured friendship between us. I witnessed the glory of the Lord being reflected in my friends’ faces. “But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 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 3:16–18 NIV)

I felt a surge of freedom as we sat around the hospital bed together! I left praising God for revealing to me that he was doing it, binding up the broken hearted, freeing the captives and releasing people from darkness. Stop doubting and believe!

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Bill Born

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On Greater Things

Posted on February 9, 2011 by bornfun

February 9, 2011
9:37 AM

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;” (Isaiah 61:1 ESV)

My eyes welled up as I read this verse on the calendar on the wall in my office yesterday afternoon. As I processed this unexpected emotion, I realized that underneath was a longing to see Jesus doing all of those things to a greater extent. A few minutes later the phone rang and on the other end were some friends I’ve been ministering to, a couple who would probably identify themselves as “all of the above.” It was an S.O.S. call. It was as if God was letting me know what he longed to do in their lives, and commissioning me to go on his behalf. And so I went with my friend and coworker, Steve, and with a greater longing and a deeper faith that God was at work and I was being privileged to see it and be a part of it.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:12–14 ESV)

What do we do with promises like this? I think we should believe and then ask and then believe. There’s no doubt that he still accomplishes those things today. But he does so on his time in order that the Father might be glorified in Christ. I have to lay even my desire at the cross for the greater purpose that Christ be glorified. I have to trust his timing, which is rarely ever my own. Then I have to look around me and realize that Christ is doing these things, even in my own life.

And so I ask you, Father, in Jesus’ name, to help my friends hear the good news of Christ, his love for them, his invitation to come to him and receive rest, his promises of peace, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life. Bind up their broken hearts; bring your healing to them. Set them free from being bound by the law of sin and death and bring them under the law of the Spirit of life. Open the prison doors, give them a route of escape from the chains that bind them, sins done against them, sins they have done, addictions and the strongholds of the Enemy. Help them to know that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. Bring them into your family at Trinity Church where they can be loved and built up in you. We need them as much as they need us. Amen.

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Bill Born

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Lead Me … I Will Follow

Posted on January 26, 2011 by bornfun

January 26, 2011
9:28 AM

I began this day like most Wednesdays, driving to the Fox for some coffee and my “listening time.” But today I am having a DAWG day (Day Away With God). These were encouraged a few years ago by my boss (and Senior Pastor) Gary, to have on a monthly basis. Due to the beautiful chaos, called Brandon, that entered my life in August, I haven’t had one since July. My plans to go to a quiet place in the mountains fell through yesterday so I got into the car this morning wondering where I would go, what I would do, and what God would speak to me. I set my radio to BlueTooth Audio to connect with my phone and hit play wondering what random song it would choose. The first words were,

“Oh lead me, to the place where I can find you… lead me to the cross where we first met. Draw me to my knees so we can talk. Let me feel your breath; let me know you’re here with me.”

Okay, I fought tears as I drove along. Was this song “random” after all or did God hijack my phone? Deeply satisfied and full of expectation for the day, I almost turned the radio off, but decided to see what the next song might be. Yet another version of the same song. Okay, God. I get it. Lead me… I will follow.

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Bill Born

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Worship Leading: Tour Guide or Painter?

Posted on January 12, 2011 by bornfun

January 12, 2011
8:36 AM

I had a great experience yesterday morning worshiping with the Arrowhead Christian Academy high school students at their chapel. I was with my good friend Tony Wilcox and his daughter Abby who is a student there. Tony and Abby planned and led the set and I just got to sing and play along. I experienced a sweet surge of faith and hope as I worshiped my Lord, and the fellowship of unity in heart with like-minded people. I also learned something important. Tony and I plan worship differently. I plan like a teacher and my worship set is somewhat like a lesson plan with an “into, through and beyond.” I got this when student teaching from my master teacher, Jim Pate. (Thanks, Jim.) Like a tour guide, I’m taking people somewhere and I want to be very intentional about it, carefully sensing the theme, doing some prayer and study, thinking about what I might want to point out along the way, and how I might be God’s voice to the people I lead. Tony chooses his favorite songs, songs that really stir his soul. Then like a puzzle, he considers how they might fit together to take us somewhere. He is more like an artist, choosing the colors and textures then leading us together in painting the picture. Both methods, when directed by the Holy Spirit, leave us with a fresh view of God and an encounter with Him. While I loved the songs Tony chose, I was a bit skeptical at first that it would be a cohesive set. But let me tell you that I met God in our worship time yesterday! The declarations and prayers of the songs we sang became my heartfelt declarations and prayers as well. I am so appreciative of my friend Tony (and Abby) for leading me to dialogue with my Lord. I came away refreshed in spirit and strengthened in faith – the same way I hope to send people out after I lead them in worship. Yes, we need all styles of worship leading and planning.

As for the students of ACA, I was so encouraged by their heartfelt expressions of praise. There is certainly a healthy hunger and thirst for God stirring among the student body there. May God continue to bless the students and staff of ACA as they seek to honor and grow in the Lord! I look forward to the next time I get to worship with them … and with my good friend Tony.

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Bill Born

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On the Rain

Posted on December 22, 2010 by bornfun

December 22, 2010
8:29 AM

This has been the most rain I can ever remember in a week. Six days of rain accumulating to 10 inches in my town of Redlands. I haven’t experienced anything like it since my childhood at boarding school on the Amazon River. I remember times where the whole soccer field was covered with inches of water. We would play soccer barefoot in shorts, no rules applied – using hands, tackling, sliding, it was perhaps some of the most fun I ever had. Listening to the relentless rain pounding on my roof all night long reminds me of listening to the rain pound the tin roof of my dorm room. I love the rain! I’ve always missed it since I moved away from the Amazon.

There is a song about rain that stirs my soul and fuels my desire to encounter the Almighty God personally, and in our worship services at Trinity. Let It Rain was captured in a dramatic way on Michael W. Smith’s first worship project, titled, Worship. You can listen to it here as you read the rest of this.

The lyric is simple, thousands of people singing, “Let it rain, let it rain. Open the floodgates of heaven.” The desire is sincere, for the overwhelming presence of the Almighty God, the knowledge and experience of his glory. Psalm 99 is quoted in the midst of the song, ending with this statement, “The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory.” (Psalms 97:6 ESV) The longing is to see and experience the glory of the Lord.

At the best times of my life, that desire successfully unseats all other desires and leaves me desperately longing to know God intimately. We’ve seen this desire in the Scriptures, “Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” (Exodus 33:18 ESV) David longs for the Lord with the similar desire. “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.” (Psalms 63:1-2 ESV)

I want to experience God’s presence, his power and glory like the downpour we have experienced this week, especially in our worship services. Yet, here’s the wonderful thing about God’s glory. The gospel has changed everything. The language the Scriptures use is that the veil has been removed. These passages below are deep with meaning, and worth unpacking their reference to the Old Testament experience of the Lord compared to our New Testament experience in Christ. I only mention them here to demonstrate that knowing Jesus is beholding the glory of the Lord.

“But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:16-18 ESV)

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV)

And so my desire for 2011 is to know Jesus more, in my daily life, and certainly when I gather with my church family to corporately worship the Almighty God. I look forward to those moments when the downpour comes, and I will pray for it every week as I plan and experience our worship services. But I think the most important thing is to experience the presence of the Lord in the little ways all of the time. For he is always there, living inside of us through the Holy Spirit, “dwelling in our hearts through faith.” (Eph. 3:17) This is the wonderful gift and privilege for all who believe in Christ.

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Bill Born

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Tips on Worshiping at Christmas

Posted on December 15, 2010 by bornfun

December 15, 2010
8:01 AM

I have had recent conversations with people who long to worship God, but find it harder to do so in our worship services at Christmas time. I resonate with their desire and the difficulty. 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. Here are a few examples:

Silent night verse 3: “Son of God, love’s pure light, radiant, beams from Thy holy face with the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus Lord at Thy birth, Jesus Lord at Thy birth”

I love to meditate on the fact that Jesus was born, Lord, and tend to sing that thinking of the opening of John 1, Colossians 1 and Hebrews 1. “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” (Hebrews 1:3 NIV) Taking pleasure in this very truth as we sing it; feeling a surge of faith, a spark of joy, and sharing like-mindedness and unity with the other worshipers – these are important aspects of worship. We don’t always have to be talking to God. The most important part of dialogue may be listening, letting the Almighty talk to us. Perhaps that’s something we can experience more often within the proclamation and exhortations of our Christmas worship songs. Our talking back might simply be a whispered, “Thank You,” or “I believe.”

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.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing verse 3 “Veiled in flesh the godhead see. Hail the incarnate deity. Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the new born King.”

This captures the wonderful truth that, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 NIV)

I could go on and on about some of the key phrases in our familiar carols that inspire worship through meditation, but do you notice the BIG IDEA that shows up over and over again? 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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