Beyond Sunday Worship

Worship Podcast

Seasons of Delay

This coming Tuesday at APEX Young Adults, we are talking about the idea of CREATING – being active in shaping our future for the glory of God. We will look at the parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25. I am absolutely stunned by this simple verse:

“As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept” (25:5).

Erwin McManus says, “Preparation is the beginning of the creative process” (Wide Awake, 164).

5 virgins prepared their lamps for the bridegroom’s coming. 5 did not. Are we preparing today for what God has for tomorrow? Your dream may seem very delayed, or non-existent. Your promise from God may seem delayed, or even forgotten.

I challenge you today: Don’t become drowsy and sleep simply because nothing seems to change in your life. God’s promise to you, based on His unshakable Word, WILL COME TO PASS! Live in the moment with expectancy and prepare your heart for when God’s promise comes to pass!

Wide Awake Study Guide – Chapter 6

CREATE – The Activist

• Have you ever had any inventing ideas? If you’re not embarrassed, share your ideas with the group.

• In what area are you most creative? Share your personal experience with the group.
“God given gifts, fueled by a heart for God and a love for people, brings God great glory.”

• Erwin states, “God created the chicken and the egg. But we created the quiche.” Only God creates out of nothing but we can use what God has given. Do believe you were designed to create? Explain why or why not.

• Read Matthew 25:1-13. Share with the groups what is the theme of this parable.

• What are the two things Erwin says we need on page 165 to prepare for a different future? Write them below and define each.

1.
2.

“If you begin to capture a picture of the life you dream of but do not prepare for the challenges you will face to make them a reality, you will not see it happen. I see this all the time: people who have huge dreams but are unwilling to pay the price to see them through.”
• What does my dream demand of me? Share your thoughts with the group.

• Read the character study (on page 180-181) of Lisa Ma Perez. What inspires you about her life?

Song Story – "I Surrender All [every thought]"

I love hymns. I really strive to write songs that portray the Gospel in its glory, as many hymns do. This is one of my favorites, though it’s always troubled me to just sing “I Surrender All” and not mean it. Beautiful words and a beautiful melody can make surrender seem easy and pleasant. Not so much. Those words are massive, mind-blowing. So, I decided to add on a chorus (believe me, I’m not trying to improve on the amazing song) that brought more description to what “I surrender all” means. Every thought, every word, every deed, this is my worship to You.

The story of Judson W. Van DeVenter is also quite inspiring. Here’s a simple summary in his own words:

“For many years I had been studying art. My whole life was wrapped up in its pursuit and the thing farthest from my mind was active Christian service. My dream was to become an outstanding and famous artist. After graduating from college, I studied drawing and painting under a well-known German teacher. To help me financially, I taught school and eventually I became supervisor of art in the public schools of Sharon, Pennsylvania.

It was during this period in my life that a revival was held in the First Methodist Church of which I was a member. I became very interested in these meetings as a personal worker. The Spirit of God was urging me to give up teaching and to enter the evangelistic field, but I would not yield. I still had a burning desire to be an artist. This battle raged for five years. At last the time came when I could hold out no longer and I surrendered my all-my time and my talents. It was then that a new day was ushered into my life. I wrote I Surrender All in memory of the time when, after the long struggle, I had surrendered and dedicated my life to active Christian service for the Lord.”

It’s interesting to see how the Spirit of God led Judson to his final surrender. God knows what is best for us and patient with us when we don’t trust Him right away.

It’s also humbling to partner with Judson so many years after his death to sing this beautiful song. I pray it stirs you to give your all to Jesus.

Top 10 Ways to Write Bad Worship Songs

Bob Kauflin:

1. Aim to write the next worldwide worship hit.
2. Spend all your time working on the music, not the words.
3. Spend all your time working on the words, not the music.
4. Don’t consider the range and capabilities of the average human voice.
5. Never let anyone alter the way God originally gave your song to you.
6. Make sure the majority of your songs talk about what we do and feel rather than who God is and what he’s done.
7. Try to use as many Scriptural phrases as you can, and don’t worry about how they fit together.
8. Cover as many themes as possible.
9. Use phrases and words that are included in 95% of all worship songs.
10. Forget about Jesus and what he accomplished at the cross.

Song Story – "When All is Lost"

Through my battle with dermatomyositis, this is a song that placed air in my lungs when I could barely breathe (figuratively, that is). Not because it’s such a well crafted song, but because the Scriptures are truly life-giving. I needed a song that voiced these truths for me, even though I was too weak to sing it.

Hebrews has always been one of my favorite books, due to its glorification and vivid description of Jesus as our high priest. There is nothing we face on this earth that causes Jesus to spill His coffee and fall off his throne. I have been on the verge of despair many times, but the truth that we “do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet with out sin” (Heb. 4:15), can keep the most depressed soul afloat – mine included.

Oh, where would I be without the Savior Jesus who intercedes for me!

The verses of this song speak of human weakness and God’s strength. The chorus is a cry to draw near to God with lines taken directly from Scripture (I hope the writer of Hebrews isn’t upset with me in Heaven!).

This is what we must do in times of pain and times of joy – always draw near to our God who loves us and carries our burdens. My heart seems to return to the truth of this song and these scriptures quite often because I’m so prone to forget!

My challenge to you today is this: feed your soul with the rock-solid Truth of Scripture. Don’t just read it like you read a good novel or watch a good movie. Hang on every word. Apply it to your darkest circumstances. Believe it till your last, dying breath. God’s Word will never let you down.

When all is lost
When all seems broken
I tell myself that You are worthy
There is no pain
There is no struggle
You have not felt and cannot conquer

We have this great High Priest
Jesus, the righteous Son of God
We have this Sovereign King
Who’s given us access to His throne

So let us draw near with hearts of faith
To find all we need at the throne of grace
Let us draw near to God
Let us draw near to His heart

When my heart is weak
No song seems to surface
I stir up my soul to bow in worship
There is no time
No season, no suffering
Where You are no longer worth my offering

We will draw near
We will draw near to You, O Lord
We will draw near
Press into knowing You, Jesus