Tag Archives: God’s Grace

Sermon Poetry – “The Nature of My Heart

Sermon Poetry, 13  September 2009
Sermon Title – “Christian Liberty #3 – The Nature of Evil”
Sermon Text – Romans 14
Preacher – Steve Garrick

Much evil dwells
Within my heart
Oh, who can know my sin

My wickedness
Is black and foul
There dwells no good within

I take what’s good
Expressing sin
Engaging wickedness

What God has made
I take and use
I foul what God has blessed

I judge the one
Who’s bought by Christ
I am a hypocrite

Ignoring specks
I’m seeing logs
I’m blinded to the light

I am so weak
Lord make me strong
To battle sin within

Lord, teach me to
Your armor use
In Christ, the battle win

I set the sword,
The Scripture’s point
So I might fall on it

My sin’s exposed
My heart is pierced
That black and stinking pit

A sinner great
Is what I am
God’s love I cannot earn

Because of sin
I do deserve
In hell to scream and burn

But thank the Lord
He does not look
To me to save my life

He sent His Son
The perfect One
The bloodied spotless Christ

In Christ I’m saved
I’m covered with
His holy righteousness

I’m favored by
The Lord above
In Christ by God I’m blessed

In Christ I live
To do the will
Of God, Creator King

Although I sin
Christ prays for me
My song God’s glory sings

I thank the Lord
For sending Christ
So sinners might be saved

God does forgive
My sin within
In Christ my heart’s remade

The Sight of Contentment

The eyes I’m born with are no good, I need corrective lens
I need the lens of Jesus Christ, the grace which saves from sin
Lord give me grace to see through Christ the ways in which I’m blessed
And keep me from my selfish greed, to always see Your grace

I get so needy, and so wanting, contentment is not mine
It’s always something somewhere else for which my wanting pines
Lord help me see Your wondrous ways, Your grace in Christ Your Son
Though life is hard, it is not lost, our battle Christ has won

I look on Jesus, and I see, that He is all I need
He’s mighty, powerful to save, He’s greater than my greed
My All in all, He owns my life, I’ve never been my own
My life is for the glory of my God who’s on His Throne

Irish Proverbs – Of Love and Ugliness

Folíonn grá gráin – “Love veils ugliness”

Perhaps the most perplexing question I’ve ever considered is this: “Why Grace?”  Why would God love me?  There is nothing to commend myself to God.  There is nothing in me that would be in any way attractive to Holiness.  I am but a lowly creature and God is the lovely Creator.

I break God’s Law, I impugn His Name, I spit on His Mercies and I do not love my fellow urchins.  I am ungrateful, irresponsible, and I dwell too much on wickedness.  There is nothing beautiful in me and nothing that is truly loveable.

Yet …  God still loves me.

I am a wicked man.  Perfection is as much an impossibility for me that it is nigh impossible to concoct anything more impossible.

Yet, God loves me.

In fact, He loves me enough to sacrifice His perfect and utterly loving and loveable Son on my behalf.

It is this great truth that is the key.  In Christ, my lack of righteousness is veiled in the covering of Christ’s perfect righteousness.  In His great love for me, God sent His Son to die so that I might be cleansed by His blood and covered in the white robes of His holy obedience.  In Christ, my sinful ugliness is veiled and covered in Christ’s righteous loveliness.  In Christ, my God’s love covers my repulsiveness.

The beauty of such a reality?  There is absolutely nothing we can do to earn God’s love and favor.  Nothing at all.  We are complete sinners completely at the mercy of a holy God.  Yet, in Christ we can be saved, loved and fully accepted into relationship with the Father, the God of the all things.

Believe in Christ and be saved.  So hard, yet so very easy.  Believe in Christ.

Sermon Poetry – “Have Mercy, Jesus Have Mercy!”

Preacher – Jarrett Downs
Sermon Title – “Laodicea: The Church that Needed Nothing”
Sermon Text – Revelation 3:14-22

Jesus, You’re the Way, the Life, the Witness True
Your Word is Truth, You are the Truth
The Logos e’er divine

Forgive me, Jesus forgive me!
Neither hot nor cold, I’m tepid still
Repulsive to your taste

Forgive me, Jesus forgive me!
I think I’m rich and self-supplied
With nothing that I need

Have mercy, Jesus have mercy!
I’m naked, blind and wretched full
A man who’s pitied most

Have mercy, Jesus have mercy!
I think I’m rich, you know I’m poor
A man in need of Grace!

Have mercy, Jesus have mercy!
I’m poor, a wretched fool am I
A man deserving naught

Have mercy, Jesus have mercy!
Without Your Love I’m worse than sin
I don’t deserve rebuke

Sweet Jesus, sweet sweet Jesus!
You’ve saved a sinner poor and blind
You’ve clothed me in Your Love

Sweet Jesus, sweet sweet Jesus!
You condescend to Love this son
You bled so I might live

The Flying Scotsman

The Unknown Made Known

When waves come crashing, smashing down onto the sandy shore
When winds come ripping, slashing in and blow a little more
When homes are thrown and torn in two and some are left to stand
When lives are changed for good or ill, we know we’re in God’s Hands

When little boys get very sick, so that they might soon die
When parents see their children ill, and watch their young ones cry
When tests are done, and bad news comes, with surgeries galore
When hope seems lost, and death seems near, we know we serve our Lord

When dearest friends go through life’s throws and find it hard to stand
When Christian sons and daughters true are weak in God’s strong Hand
When our good God does see it fit to give and take away
The solemn cry “Blessed be His Name” is what our hearts must say

When life goes up and then comes down, when side by side it flies
When all the future once so sure just seems to up and die
When we don’t know what life next holds, when nothing is real sure
When we despair and question God, we see the One Who’s Pure

When God’s Good Will just seems so vague, and it is hard to trust
When we lose faith and hope seems lost, into His arms we’re thrust
For God protects and holds His own, the Children of the Lamb
The Unknown has now been made Known, because God is I AM

We do not need to know what comes today or in the morn
We trust in Christ who loves His sheep, He has His Grace well shown
We do not need to fret the things that in this life seem hard
For all are in our God’s Strong Hands, His Grace He does impart

So when we want to doubt and fret about all things unknown
We must remember that we serve the God Who’s on His Throne
He Rules and Reigns, and knows all things, for He’s our Sovereign Lord
We know the Unknown is made Known, His Grace is on us poured

The Lord, Our Savior, and Our Friend

(set to the tune of “There is a Fountain”)

Lord when it’s hard to live for Christ
And when it’s hard to stand
Help us to fix our Gaze above
To our Eternal Land
To our Eternal Land, to our Eternal Land
Help us to fix our Gaze above
To our Eternal Land

Lord God it’s by Your grace alone
That we are justified
Please give us comfort in Your Blood
The Love in which You died
The Love in which You died, the Love in which You died
Please give us comfort in Your Blood
The Love in which You died

Lord give us grace to know Your Truth
You’ve given us Your Word
By it we know of Jesus Christ
By it we call You Lord!
By it we call You Lord, by it we call You Lord
By it we know of Jesus Christ
By it we call You Lord

Lord give us hope in Who You are
Our Maker and our Friend
Our Sovereign King, and Savior Sweet
Whose Mercy has no end
Whose Mercy has no end, whose mercy has no end
Our Sovereign King, and Savior Sweet
Whose Mercy has no end!

 

Chosen With Blood

He dwelt in Himself, in Him are no flaws
The One God of All, the Trinity Pure
Three Persons in One, One God who is Sure
This God then chose some, to all be His own
This God who is Just, and dwells on His Throne
He chose them with blood, the blood of His Son
The blood of the Lord has our vict’ry Won
For sin entered in, by God’s wise Decree
And death conquered man, he had not a plea
This sin’s not of God, He authored it not
This sin that brings death, and reeketh of rot
Mysterious thing, God’s glory we see
When sin entered in, by God’s wise decree
Our God is still just, and holy, and true
Our sin must be judged, or hearts made anew
How will it be paid, how will death be beat
How can we come in, to the Mercy Seat?
What’s our sacrifice, where can it be found?
To satisfy wrath, for death now surrounds
Where now is our Hope, where can it be found?
Despair closes in, it soon will surround
Just read in the Word, the Word of our Christ
The Gift of our God, of infinite price
Read Ephesians one, verse four and verse five
He chose us in Him, He chose us in Christ
Verse seven, verse eight; forgiveness is mine
The price has been paid, I’m no longer blind

We’re chosen with blood, the blood of the Lamb
The blood of our Lord, the blood of I AM
He obeyed His God, the Father Above
With Fellowship Sweet, and infinite Love
He died for His own, the chosen elect
He died for their sins, for every speck
He died for His Church, the Saints of the Lamb
The Body of Christ, the Bride of I AM

A virgin conceived, gave birth to a boy
The angels sang out, with marvelous Joy
The Savior had come, born like any man
A small helpless babe, ‘twas God’s Sov’reign Plan
The wise men then came, they knew who He was
The knew Him as King, the Lord of the Stars
The boy had no sin, perfection was His
The Great Sacrifice, the I AM who is
His life Jesus led, our Savior made man
Obeying God’s Will, His Life Jesus ran
And then it was time for Jesus to show
His power to all, so people might know
The Savior had come, sent by God above
The One Sovereign King, the Lord of all Love
He went up to John, the prophet foretold
And was promptly dunked, in water so cold
He started His work, His great Ministry
With wonders and signs, the blind He let see
The sick Jesus healed, the dead Jesus raised
His pupils He taught, His God Jesus Praised
And then it was time for Jesus to die
This Healer of Men, Hosanna they’d cried
But now all their screams were for Jesus’ blood
The once happy crowd was in a foul mood
They nailed hands and feet, they whipped and they scourged
It was Yahweh’s Will, set down in His Word
The blood trickled down, on down to the ground
And as it fell down, He made not a sound
Then after a shout, Christ’s head bowed down low
His body was dead, He gave up His Soul

We’re chosen with blood, the blood of the Lamb
The blood of our Lord, the blood of I AM
He obeyed His God, the Father Above
With Fellowship Sweet, and infinite Love
He died for His own, the chosen elect
He died for their sins, for every speck
He died for His Church, the Saints of the Lamb
The Body of Christ, the Bride of I AM

Sermon Poetry – “The Lampstand”

12 July 2009
Preacher: Jarret Downs
Sermon: “The Lampstand”
Text: Revelation 2:1-7

Jesus loves me and He died for me
And He lives that I might live
I was lost and dead, for I loved my sin
I was set against my God
But now I’m saved
Now I live for Him
Now I’m one with Jesus Christ

I shine the light of Jesus’ love for me
I shine the light of Jesus’ Truth
For with my mouth and with my frame Christ’s glory I proclaim
God give me strength to live for You, to glorify Your Name

Yet I am not saved in a blackened void
I’m saved into a body
A family with Christ as Head
All, sinners, justified
In Christ we’re saved
For the Father’s Name
By the Spirit sanctified

We shine the light of Jesus’ love for us
We shine the light of Jesus’ Truth
For with our mouths and with our frames Christ’s glory we proclaim
God give us strength to live for You, to glorify Your Name

With tears we come before You, God
We’ve lost our Former Love
Forgive us when we Your Name impugn
We’ve Truth, but haven’t love
Teach us to obey
To each other love
Please forgive your sinners own!

We shine the light of Jesus’ love for us
We shine the light of Jesus’ Truth
For with our mouths and with our frames Christ’s glory we proclaim
God, give us strength to live for You, to glorify Your Name

Lord we beg to tell Your Name
To a lost and deadened world
With Your Love we long to preach Your Truth
And to love the Lost and Low
Help us shine Your Truth
To proclaim Your Word
So that sinners might be saved!

We shine the light of Jesus’ gracious love
We shine the light of Jesus’ Truth
For with our mouths and frames Christ’s love we must proclaim
God give us strength to live with You, to glorify Your Name

Jesus come preserve Your Sons
And Your daughters weak and frail
If it’s left to us we’ll surely fail
We need your grace and steadfast love
With Your love we love
To Your Name proclaim
So Your greatness will be known

We shine the light of Jesus’ lasting love
We shine the light of Jesus’ Word
For with our hands and tongues, God’s greatness we proclaim
Christ, give us strength to live for you
To magnify
To amplify
To glorify Your Name

Jesus You’re My Sure Redeemer

(set to the tune of “Come Thou Fount”)

Jesus You’re my Sure Redeemer
By Your Grace I’m justified
By Your mercy you have saved me
By the Cross on which You died
Oh my Lord and loving Savior
Oh my God, my Righteous King
You have shown the World Your Greatness
And this song Your children sing

All Your children are so helpless
We cannot do any good
We’re sustained by Your redemption
We’re sustained by Scripture’s Food
We rely on Your Great Mercy
We are weak, we trust in You
Shower kindness on Your children
Comfort us with Your great Truth

You are Maker and Sustainer
Our Commander and our Friend
You’re our Savior and our Brother
And our hope until the End
When you come back in Your Triumph
When you come to bring us Home
Where we’ll worship You in Heaven
As we’re gathered ‘round the Throne

Oh my Jesus, hear Your children
As we sing Your praises loud
As we gather all our voices
As we make a joyful sound
We will glorify our Savior
We will glorify our Lord
He has given us salvation
He has given us His Word

Jesus Died!

Oh Lord, My Sin O’ertakes Me

(set to the tune of “O Sacred Head Now Wounded”)

Oh Lord my sin o’ertakes me
And claims me as its own
It blinds my eyes with malice
So I can’t see Your Throne
It wraps its foulest tendrils
Around my bony frame
It warps my inhibitions
So I’ll forget Your Name


I hate it when I’m sinful
I long to do Your Will
Lord, give me Grace to conquer
The sin within me still
I long, Lord, to be holy
Lord shower me with grace
Lord sanctify Your servant
To stand before Your Face


Lord bring me soon to Glory
Where I’ll be free from sin
I long to dwell in Heaven
Lord bring me to the end
I long to see Your Glory
With pure and seeing eyes
I long to worship fully
Where worship never dies

The End of the Great Commission? 10 Questions.

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.  5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,a’ and will deceive many.  You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of birth pains.

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.  At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,  and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.  Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,  but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

- Matthew 24:3-14

Question #1:

When we define “unreached” people groups, how much reliance are we placing on ideas born of sociological, anthropological, linguistic, philosophical and psychiatric disciplines in order to hasten the conclusion of the Great Commission and the advent of Christ’s Return?

Question #2:

In trying to bring about the conclusion of the Great Commission and the advent of Christ’s Return, how much focus are we placing on making people groups “reached” and how much focus are we placing on primarily evangelizing all sinners?

Question #3:

In defining “unreached” people groups, are we considering the effects that time has (in terms of the evolution of language, interbreeding, emerging people groups, etc.) on the structure and makeup of the nations?

Question #4:

Assuming, again, that we are defining people groups correctly and appropriately what is our confidence level that we have done our research correctly? Have we thoroughly mapped these unreached groups (especially to the point that we can confidently expect the return of Christ when the number of unreached people groups reaches zero)?

Question #5:

Are we defining “unreached” correctly?

Question #6:

Are we defining “reached” correctly?

Question #7:

What do we do about the people in the reached group who are born into sin and are outside of Christ? Do we focus too much on the unreached groups such that are we forgetting about generations of new sinners?

Question #8:

In striving so hard to bring Jesus back again, are we failing in our duty and privilege to evangelize the lost in order to get to heaven sooner?

Question #9:

In striving to “evangelize the world in our generation” are we failing to teach the next and upcoming generation[s] to evangelize the lost? Is the Missio Dei so dependent upon us? Have we considered that perhaps God might not complete His Mission in our lifetime? Do we forget that just as the past 2000 years worth of generations were called to evangelize the world, that we are called to that as well and that the generation following us will most likely still have work to do? Are we willing to admit that another generation might very well have the privilege of being on earth when Jesus Returns?

Question #10:

Are we not called to evangelize, making disciples of all peoples and that Christ will always be with us, even to the end of the age? Should we not focus on Christ’s Great Commission and leave the saving, completing and returning up to Him?

Missio Dei in the Book of Acts

Acts shows that Christanity is a global religion, and that it has been so since its very beginning.  It is the story of how the purpose of Jesus was lived out in his disciples, often hesitatingly and erratically, but powerfully and decisively, as his Holy Spirit led them forward.  It is the story of how the “little flock” that followed Jesus was forged into a fellowship of men and women that resulted in the “church”.  Mainly, it is the story of a new message for all humanity called the Gospel, that promises “times of refreshing” for all who will turn to Jesus Christ.  It tells how that “good news” transformed lives from all nations, tribes, tongues and races where it was preached.  In addition, the fact that Luke wrote the story in the Greek language, used mainly for international trade, is eloquent testimony to the conern of the apostles to tell their story among all peoples.

- Robert Garrett

Come Sing All Ye Christians for Jesus

Come sing all ye Christians of Yahweh the Lord
Come sing all Christians for Jesus
Come raise up your voices in worship of God
Come raise up your voices in praises
Come worship with voices,
Come raise them up high
Come sing of your Savior,
And to His Name cry
Come sing with much fervor, with all of your might
Come sing all ye Christians for Jesus

Come live all ye Christians for your loving God
Come live all ye Christians for Jesus
Come live out your actions in worship so sweet
Come live out your actions in praises
Your lives are all pieces
Of melodies sweet
They’re notes raised to Heaven
To our Mercy Seat
So live with much fervor, to God Glorify
Come live all ye Christians for Jesus

Come witness ye Christians for Yahweh the Lord
Come witness ye Christians for Jesus
You’re called with a purpose, to spread Jesus’ Word
Come witness ye Christians with praises
Your lives are a poem
Of our Savior’s Grace
Come show all the deaf men
How you sing your race
So witness with fervor, make music so sweet
Come witness ye Christians for Jesus

Come pray all ye Christians to Your loving God
Come pray all ye Christians to Jesus
You all have a Savior, your Advocate Strong
So pray all ye Christians with praises
Though no one may hear them
Your prayers make a song
They sing of God’s glory
His love sings along
So pray with much fervor, come pray to our King
Come pray all ye Christians for Jesus

Come give all ye Christians for Yahweh the Lord
Come give all ye Christians for Jesus
You’ve been blessed with riches, so give to the poor
Come give all ye Christians with praises
There’s poor all around you
The strong and the weak
Come show them God’s music
Come sing all ye meek
Come give with much fervor, come give for your Lord
Come give all ye Christians for Jesus

Come read all ye Christians of your Loving God
Come read all ye Christians of Jesus
The Scripture’s before you, God’s Truth’s been revealed
Come read all ye Christians with praises
Come read through God’s Epic
Of His Glory shown
Come sing with the Psalmist
Come sing of God’s Son
Come read with much fervor, come sing God’s Great Song
Come read all ye Christians of Jesus

Come sing all ye Christians, come live and come pray
Come witness ye Christians of Jesus
Come read all ye Christians through God’s Holy Word
Come sing all ye Christians with praises
Come relish ye Christians
The Grace of our King
Come drown in His Mercy
Come all ye and Sing
His Throne is before you, the battle is won
Come sing all ye Christians for Jesus