The Cross of Christ - Apr 2021

(View pdf article here)

How should we view the cross of Christ? I want to suggest three responses.

• The first is that considering Christ on the cross should bring us to somber contrition at the weight and gruesomeness of our sin.

• The second is one of thankfulness, that the perfect Son of God, Jesus Christ, humbled himself to pay the debt we owed by bearing our sin on the cross.

• And yet, the third response is one of overwhelming joy, delight, and wonder that God shows His love for us through the cross of Christ.

This song is set to an upbeat tone of victory, Christ's victory over sin and death on the cross, and our victory in him!

-Jonathan

The Cross of Christ

Written by Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, Jason Ingram, Reuben Morgan

Lyrics: 

Verse 1
Son of God son of man
His life poured out for all
See His hands see His scars
His love can't be denied
Our God is high and lifted up

Chorus
It is the cross my only plea
The blood He shed delivers me
Our Savior's arms are open wide
A love so great the cross of Christ

Verse 2
Every debt all we owe
He bears it as His own
Brought to life we are free
To live in Christ alone
Our God is high and lifted up

Bridge
See the Lamb of God
See the Father's love
All to Jesus we owe
He paid it all

© 2014 Alletrop Music, Hillsong Music Publishing Australia, S. D. G. Publishing, sixsteps Songs, Worship Together Music, Open Hands Music, So Essential Tunes
CCLI Song # 7023590 | CCLI License # 193208

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My Worth Is Not In What I Own - Mar 2021

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From the first time I heard this song, verse 5 has been etched into my memory. In such simple words it bridged the chasm of the wretchedness of my sin and the blessedness of my salvation.

This notion of being both worthy and unworthy seems like a contradiction at first. Yet, the cross is where it all makes sense! According to 2 Cor. 5:21, when Christ bears our sin on the cross, we are wrapped in His righteousness, and are worthy in God's sight. Yet, the truth remains that because of our sin we are unworthy to receive such a priceless gift. That is the wonder of the Gospel!

“Standing before the cross we see simultaneously our worth and our unworthiness, since we perceive both the greatness of his love in dying, and the greatness of our sin in causing him to die.”

— John Stott, The Cross of Christ

The cross dashes to pieces both pride and depression, both self-exaltation and self-deprecation. The cross humbles us and lifts us up. The cross is God’s justice and love united in Christ. Let us confess these wonders together as we sing this song leading up to Easter.

- Jonathan

My Worth Is Not In What I Own

Written by Graham Kendrick, Keith Getty, & Kristyn Getty

Lyrics: 

Verse 1
My worth is not in what I own
Not in the strength of flesh and bone
But in the costly wounds of love
At the cross

Verse 2
My worth is not in skill or name
In win or lose in pride or shame
But in the blood of Christ that flowed
At the cross

Chorus
I rejoice in my Redeemer
Greatest treasure wellspring of my soul
I will trust in Him no other
My soul is satisfied in Him alone

Verse 3
As summer flowers we fade and die
Fame youth and beauty hurry by
But life eternal calls to us
At the cross

Verse 4
I will not boast in wealth or might
Or human wisdom's fleeting light
But I will boast in knowing Christ
At the cross

Verse 5
Two wonders here that I confess
My worth and my unworthiness
My value fixed my ransom paid
At the cross

© 2014 Getty Music Publishing, Makeway Music
CCLI Song # 7024758 | CCLI License # 193208

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All My Ways Are Known To You - Feb 2021

(View pdf article here)

Psalm 139 is a beautiful meditation on God's character and a worshipful response to His care. That such an all-knowing, all-present, all-creative God would set His love on any of us is mind-boggling! And of course, it is in Christ that God has loved His children before the foundation of the world.

In addition to creating and loving us, God has mapped out every one of our days, forming them for His glory and our good. That means we can trust Him, even with days yet unseen by us. This song by CityAlight helps us to celebrate the wonderful fact that all our days and all our ways are known to God, who has sovereignly ordained them according to His perfect plan. O what peace to be secure in Christ!

- Jonathan

All My Ways Are Known To You

Written by Dustin Smith, Jonny Robinson, Michael Farren, Rich Thompson

Lyrics: 

Verse 1
In days of peace and days of rest
In times of loss and loneliness
Though rich or poor Your word is true
That all my ways are known to You

Verse 2
No trial has come beyond Your hand
No step I walk beyond Your plan
The path is dark outside my view
Still all my ways are known to You

Chorus
And O what peace that I have found
Wherever I may be
For all my ways are known to You
Hallelujah they are known to You

Verse 3
I do not fear the final night
For death will be the door to life
You take my hand and lead me through
For all my ways are known to You

Bridge
Open up my eyes so I may see
That You have made these ways for me
Open up my eyes so I may see
That You my God will walk with me

© 2016 CityAlight Music, Farren Love And War Publishing, Integrity's Alleluia! Music, Integrity's Praise! Music | CCLI Song # 7073327 | CCLI License # 193208

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