The Incubator…March 1st

As a young boy growing up on a West Texas farm, I remember well the days we Chickswould raise little baby chicks. From hatchlings we would nurture them with heat lamps, clean water, the appropriate feed, warm straw and a secure chicken coop. Though I don’t recall if we ever ‘incubating’ the eggs, they were our responsibility from the very beginning.

But without the incubation process, the hatching of the baby chick will never happen. Of course, eggs aren’t the only things that need an incubator. The premature baby, the ‘new endeavor,’ even a virus may have an incubation period. And this morning as we recognize those babies born in 2014, Robert Taylor will share some ideas about how we can prepare our children for life in this world. Not just any life, but a life focused on God and His will. Parents, we have an obligation to care for our children, prepare our children, and ‘bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.’ (Ephesians 6:4) And if you think about it, it all begins in…”The Incubator.”

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, March 1, 2015

The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“Wonderful Words of Life” – 543

“Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life…” what a joy to sing about our salvation! Consider your life in Christ, your salvation in His name…beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life. It’s encouraging to me to read/sing the words of the 2nd verse; these words are ‘all so freely given,’ and for the one who is listening and open to the message, these words are ‘wooing us to heaven.’ Wonderful words of life!

“How Beautiful” – 365

Preparing ourselves for the Lord’s Supper we’ll sing a spiritual song that was written less than 25 years ago. A song that speaks to the beautiful hands that serve, the washing feetbeautiful, radiant bride (the church of Christ), and the beautiful feet that walk. This song, however, does more than just talk about Christ physical body, but alludes to the church as the body of Christ. Notice verse one as we sing about the hands of Christ as He served His disciples the ‘last supper.’ And visualize His feet as walked the dusty road to the cross. But then continue on to verse three as we transition to the feet that spread the good news (the gospel), and the hands that serve the Lord’s Supper today. How beautiful…in deed!

 

“Lord, We Come Before Thee Now” – 797

Following the Lord’s Supper many have a sense of quiet stillness. It’s fitting to come before our God with awe and reverence and so we sing, “Lord, we come before Thee now, at Thy feet we humbly bow…” setting the stage of a lowly servant approaching the king we see how we might say our souls depend on Thee. But the contrast comes in the third verse; our God, unlike an earthly king, allows us to come and stay with Him. To dwell with Him and seek His blessing.

“Can You Count the Stars” – 992

A simple song that asks a simple question; “Can you count the stars of evening…can you count the clouds…can you count the birds or the fish…can you count the little children?” If God knows their number and shows them His care, surely we can rest assured knowing that, “He has not forgotten thee.” Maybe we could say, each day in we are in God’s care, we are growing in His incubator.

“I Love to Tell the Story” – 659

Before the lesson we’ll sing a spiritual song that provides us with a clear understanding of the incubator. We sing, “I love to tell the story, it is pleasant to repeat, what seems each time I tell it more wonderfully sweet; I love to tell the story (ready for this) for some have never heard…” For some have never heard…how important for us to share the message of salvation to a lost and dying world.

“Softly and Tenderly” – 934E08M74_PosterJesusLovesMe.qxd

One might wonder how ‘come home…’ could be attributed to the incubation process. Then again, when we consider this life as just the nurturing and preparation stage for a new life, we might just all being in the incubator. It would explain why Jesus is calling us ‘softly and tenderly.’

“Jesus Loves Me” – 1014

Even the littlest child is likely to know this simple song. What better way to bring our children through the incubation process then to train them up and remind them daily that Jesus loves them. Parents, this should resonate in our hearts…‘this I know, for the Bible tells me so!”

“There is a Habitation” – 860

The beauty of this song comes in knowing that heaven is a perfect place. It’s a place where there is no war, no sorrow, no death, and no tomorrow. A place with no desolation, no night and no decay, And though this song doesn’t say it, no incubator. For within the gates of heaven we’ll be singing eternal praises to our King. Would that we instill a desire within our children to say, “I am ready to go to heaven!” When this life is over, when we leave the incubator, let’s be ready for the city built by the living God.

Convinced, Convicted, Converted…Feb. 22nd

It’s one thing to be convinced of something, but something totally different to be converted. Then again, how can I be converted without ever having  been convicted? When you consider the Christian walk, we understand this progression. But perhaps it was never more clearly established as it was on the Day of Pentecost as noted in Acts chapter 2.

After hearing Peter’s ‘sermon’ the crowd was convinced that, “…God (had) made Him both Lord and Christ (Messiah) – this repentanceJesus whom you (they) crucified.” Their response leads us to know that they were more than convinced, they were convicted; “Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?” Reading further we see how they are ‘converted.’ But maybe we need to dig deeper to see how convinced we are that Jesus is the Messiah. Looking at your life, ask the question; if I have been ‘converted,’ am I truly convicted? Does my behavior convince others that Jesus is Lord of my life?

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, Feb. 22, 2014

You’ll notice the following songs come from the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“My Hope is Built on Nothing Less” – 538

Beginning our worship together, we’ll sing an old spiritual song to admonish each other and confirm our conviction. “My hope is built on Jesus blood and righteousness,”…and nothing less than that. What better way to communicate that hope than when we sing the third verse, “His oath, His covenant, His blood, support me in the whelming flood (trials of life). When all around (me) my soul gives way (I start to feel like I’m losing my hold on things), He then is all my hope and stay (security).” Are you convicted enough to say, “On Christ the Solid Rock I stand.”

“I Know Whom I Have Believed” – 524

Our contribution will come early this morning, and as we consider our ‘giving’ ask the simple question…why do I give? I don’t know why God’s wondrous grace was made know to me, and I don’t know how the Holy Spirit moves men to convict them of the sin in their life, and none of us have a clue when the Lord will return. But I do know the grace of Jesus is mine, the Holy Spirit lives in me and the Lord will return. We know and we give because He gave His Son to us. And convinced of this we give and we sing, “I know whom I have believed…”

Thomas said...“Thomas’ Song” – 269

When we lose a loved one, we often weep knowing we’ll never be able to walk with them, talk with them or hold their hand. We know the comfortable relationship we once shared is gone. We miss them and know things have changes. Maybe that’s what Thomas was thinking as we are singing, “If I could only hold your hand…” Though Christ died on the cross, we know, we are convinced, that He rose from the dead and lives today. We can walk with Him, talk with Him and hold His hand. And we can echo Thomas as he proclaimed, “You are my Lord and my God!”

“In His Presence” – 99

Following the Lord’s Supper we’ll sing, “In His presence, there is comfort. In His presence, there is peace…” Do you feel at peace with God? Are you convinced that He is everything He said He was? Do you have a conviction that moves you to self-sacrifice? Are you truly converted? Are you ‘covered’ with His presence?

“I Need Thee Every Hour” – 837

After the scripture reading, Acts 2:36, 37, we’ll sing an old hymn of comfort. Listen to the words from Acts 2, then sing the words of our hymn; “Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said…”what shall we do?” “I need Thee every hour, most Holy One…”

“O For a Faith that Will Not Shrink” – 540

With this song before our lesson, consider the flow of the songs; “O bless me now my Savior, I come to Thee…” “O for a faith that will not shrink, though pressed by every foe…” If you are convinced that Jesus is your source of salvation, and if you are convicted with a faith that ‘will not shrink,’ how well does your life demonstrate a converted heart?

“Nothing But the  Blood” – 902

“Oh precious is the flow…” but you might ask, ‘the flow of what?’ Our answer is found in scripture as we consider the words of the Hebrew writer. The blood of bulls and goats flowed from the altar as the priest offered sacrifices. But, “how much more will the blood of Christ…cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

“Blessed Assurance” – 480

If we are convinced, convicted and converted then we can truly sing with blessed assurance…Jesus IS mine. And a converted soul pours forth the joy of living in Christ, “This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long!”

Satan’s Thinking Traps for Relationships…Feb. 15th

Waterview church of Christ is excited to host the 2nd Annual Marriage Enrichment Seminar; One Man, One Woman, For Life. This year we are proud to welcome one of the outstanding professors from Harding University, Joe BrumfieldDr. Joe Brumfield. His topic Sunday morning will examine some of the ‘thinking traps’ Satan has set in an attempt to derail our marriages.

And since we are daily bombarded by a culture that embraces anything but “One Man, One Woman, For Life,” we must be all the more diligent to hold fast to God’s plan for marriage. We say we value strong marriages, but are we preparing for Satan’s attacks on our relationships. Are we on the alert for the snares the devil has laid out?  Sunday morning we’ll examine some of “Satan’s Thinking Traps for Relationships.”


“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.”
I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, February 15, 2015

The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

Strong tower“The Lilly of the Valley” – 548

A spiritual song that has been in our hymnals since the late 1800’s. Perhaps we sing these old songs without much thought, but notice what we’ll say in the second verse; “…in temptation He’s my strong and might tower (Proverbs 18:10); I have all for Him forsaken and all my idols tore from my heart, and now He keeps me by His power. (Now notice this…) Tho’ all the world forsake me, and Satan tempt me sore, through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal…” When we realize our strength comes from God, and when we rip the ‘idols’ from our life, we are heaven bound regardless of the traps Satan sets for us. But we’ll only make it ‘through the blood of Jesus Christ!’

 

“Great Are You Lord” – no book

A simple but clear proclamation we sing in this contemporary hymn,“Holy Lord, Most Holy Lord. You alone are worthy of my praise! Holy and true…Great are You, Lord!”

“In Memory of the Savior’s Love” – 335

Remembering our Savior’s sacrifice we also remember His commandment; “This is My body, which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” I Corinthians 11:24 and “This is cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” I Corinthians 11:25. So we sing together…“In memory of the Savior’s love we keep the sacred feast…”

“Lead Me Gently Home, Father”823father and son

While the collection plate is being passed we’re reminded that this world is temporary. As a matter of fact, as we face ‘life’s toils,’ ‘life’s darkest hours,’ and ‘sore trials’ we have hope in knowing that our Father is leading us gently home. Only never forget; “Be Thou near to keep me, take me as Thine own, for I cannot live without Thee…Lead me gently home.”

“None of Self, And All of Thee” – 695

Before our lesson this morning, and as we consider the traps Satan has laid out, we must never forget his attempt to distract us with our greatest struggle…self. This spiritual song takes us from self worship to Godly worship. Sadly, too many of us would stop after verse 2 or 3. But without completing this song with verse four…we rest comfortably in Satan’s snare.

“Purer in Heart” – 671

Perhaps this wouldn’t classify as your typical invitation song, but notice the message; “Purer in heart, O God, help me to be…”  That’s the opening line, the initial statement from each of the verses we’ll sing this morning. And the the message contained in the last verse is clear; “Keep me from secret sin, reign Thou my soul within…” Will we admit, do we truly believe, that there is secret sin in our life? When we do, we’re on our way to recognizing and overcoming, through Christ, Satan’s traps.

“When Morning Comes” – 985

I like how this closing song starts off; “Trials dark on every hand and we cannot understand all the ways that God will lead us to His blessed promised land…” But perhaps more fitting is the reminder that we will understand it better soon (by and by). And just to get one more push for our message this morning, we’ll sing the 3rd verse too; “Temptations, hidden snares, often take us unawares…” Husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, be prepared for Satan’s Thinking Traps for your Relationship. With Christ to guide us, with our Christian brothers and sisters to encourage us and with God to lead us…we will understand it better by and by!

Building a Canal…Feb. 8th

As a young boy I can remember singing the old song, “Low Bridge.” The words of the On the Erie Canal / Frederick Elmigerchorus are still fresh in my mind, “Low bridge, everybody down. Low bridge cause we’re coming to a town. Where you’ll always know your neighbor, you’ll always know your pal, if ya ever navigate the Erie Canal.” Written at the turn of the century this song describes the work of an old mule as she pulls lumber, coal, passengers and hay from Albany to Buffalo, New York. But some of our younger generation might ask the question, what is a canal? The simplest definition would be a man-made water highway for navigation and transportation. Nicaragua1

But what kind of ‘connection’ can we make between Christianity and a man-made canal? Sunday morning we’ll be listening to a report from Robert Taylor as he shares details from his recent mission trip to Nicaragua. From the wealth of Texas to the poverty of a third world country, we know there is more than just geography that separates our two cultures. Join us Sunday morning as we listen to the work being done to reach the lost in Nicaragua. In fact, let’s consider what goes into… Building a Canal.

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.”  I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, February 8, 2015

The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“I Stand in Awe” – 96

“You are beautiful beyond description…too marvelous for words. Too wonderful for comprehension, like nothing ever seen or heard. Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom, who can fathom the depth of Your love. You are beautiful beyond description, Majesty enthroned on high, and I stand in awe of You! Holy God to Whom all praise is due, I stand in awe of You!” We know this hymn and we’ve sung it time and again, but are we processing what we’re saying? Are we in awe of God’s power and majesty? Is He more than we can fathom or comprehend? He is awesome, but are we willing to stand in awe of Him?

“O Worship the King” – 144

Continuing our praise to God this morning, we’ll sing a traditional hymn of praise that dates back more than 175 years! You’ll want to take note of the third verse, “Frail children of dust, (that would be you and me) and feeble as frail, in Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail. (We trust God because He will never let us down…but do we behave like we believe that?) Thy mercies, how tender, how firm to the end! (God cares, He’s tender, but He’ll also judge us…) Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer and Friend!”

“Hallelujah! What a Savior” – 337

Breaking this hymn into two parts, we’ll sing verses 1-4 before the Lord’s Supper, then after the fruit of the vine we’ll close with verse 5. Yes, Jesus died on the cross, but he didn’t stay in the tomb. He rose from the dead and… “When He comes, our glorious King, all His ransomed home to bring. Then anew this song we’ll sing, Hallelujah! What a Savior!”

“The Gospel is for All” – no book

How could we talk about taking the gospel to a lost and dying world and not sing this old spiritual song. The blessed gospel is for all and we have a great opportunity to build a canal and take the message to Nicaragua.

“Will You Not Tell it Today” – 628

A fitting invitation song as we ask each other, “If the name of the Savior is precious to you, if His care has been constant and tender and true, if the light of His presence has brightened your way…O will you not tell of your gladness today?” Though we won’t be singing all three verses, you’ll want to notice how the second and third verse end, before the chorus. “…O will you not, brother, the story repeat?” (verse 2) and “…O will you not tell them the cheer bringing word?” (verse 3). We have a great chance to help build a canal to the hungry children in Nicaragua, so when it comes to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ we ask each other, will you not tell it today?

“Lord Take Control” – 790

We’ll provide an opportunity to give to the work at Waterview as we pass the collection plate after the sermon (separate and apart from the Lord’s Supper). But this simple, contemporary hymn seems to sum it all up…“My heart, my mind, my body, my soul, I give to You (God) take control…” How will you give God control of your heart? Do you know what it will look like when God takes control of your mind? If we are truly going to be “a living sacrifice,” we need to do more than just sing about it…we need to hand in handchange the way we live.

“Hand in Hand with Jesus” – 397

One of those songs that seems to ‘sing itself,’ this spiritual song reminds us of our walk with Christ, hand in hand. No better way to build a canal than with the Master Builder. Let’s take His hand as we work together down the straight and narrow way.

“Into Our Hands the Gospel is Given” – no book

The closing song is a reminder of how quickly time flies. “Swiftly we’re turning life’s daily pages…” But not only are the hours ‘changing to years,’ but we need to think about how we’re using this time. Into OUR hands the gospel has been given…what are we doing with it? Are we wasting the years, or are we focused on sharing the gospel? We have a message to deliver, let’s transport the gospel by building a canal.