First of all, we changed the instrumental package for this weekend to a very acoustic set-up. We had one acoustic guitar, one high strung acoustic guitar (the high strings from a 12 string acoustic guitar set), cello, acoustic bass/stand-up bass, cajon, piano and Rhodes.  It was stellar!

We started the service linked up with all the campuses playing an instrumental version of Hillsong’s “From the Inside Out” featuring the cello.  This took place during the count down clock.  We then went into a two song worship package of Jeremy Camp’s version of “Beautiful One” and Chris Tomlin’s “Your Grace is Enough”.

We then had a time of baby dedication followed by a special video moment honoring mothers.  From there we brought out some stools and a few of the instruments creating a more intimate setting.  For the second week we sang “You Are Great” written by a buddy of mine, John Larson, who is the worship pastor at Church in the Highlands – Birmingham, AL.  It’s a great song.  We followed it with a couple choruses of “How Great Thou Art”.

Finally, we pulled out a song I found a few years ago by an artist named M.D. West entitled “Mother’s Day”.  It’s a really great song for all the moms and grandmothers.  I changed a couple lyrics so it would fit better in our environment.  You can check out the video HERE.

So, there it is! Thanks for taking a look at this post.  Check out theWorshipCommunity site and the Sunday Set List blog to see what other leaders are doing around the globe.

“Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who doesn’t
swear by what is false.” – Psalm 24:3-4

The Heart.  Obviously, I am not talking about the muscle in your chest that pumps blood to all the parts of your body. But the Biblical understanding of the heart, as defined by Vines Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words… “man’s entire mental and moral activity, both the rational and the emotional elements…the seat of physical life.”

Throughout scripture we see the heart is extremely important to God.  Jesse brought all his sons and lined them up in front of Samuel.  Samuel had come to anoint the new king of Israel.  Samuel saw the strong physic of the eldest son and thought for sure this was the one.  However God rebukes Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7…”Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”   When Jesus was questioned about the greatest commandment in Luke 10:27 He answered “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind…”

The heart is central to our worship of God.  In the book of Proverbs, the writer gives a strong exhortation to guard the heart. In chapter 4 verses 23-27 we see this challenge.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk from your lips.
Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.
Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.
Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”

The Bible tells us that our enemy, Satan is like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (I Peter 5:8).  As Christ followers and It is important for us to be on guard to not allow the enemy to have a foothold in our lives.  In this passage from Proverbs there are three keys that the writer gives for guarding the heart.

1.  Guard your mouth. The Bible is clear that what comes out of our mouths is evidence of what is in our heart (Matthew 12:34).  If you want to know the condition of your heart, pay attention to the way you talk.  Are the things that come from your lips consistent with things that are pleasing to God. In James 3:10-11 we read “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and saltwater flow from the same spring?  I know that I was convicted early on in my faith walk to be careful about the things that I even joke about.  Here is a good rule…If it is inappropriate to do, it is inappropriate to talk about.  I could go on here, but I hope you get the point.

2.  Guard your eyes. Matthew 6:22 says, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.  The focus/desire of our eyes will determine the focus/desire of our heart.  In reality, issues of lust and greed start with what the eye sees.  Job declared in Chapter 31:1 “I made a covenant with my eye not to look lustfully on a girl.” Recently, my wife talked about this verse with my then 10 year old son.  When she asked about places that he has to hold to this covenant, he answered “the beach”.  My wife then asked what he did to keep the covenant.  He replied, “I just go and dig holes”.  In reality, all of us, like my son, need to have a plan to change the focus of our eyes.  Paul tells us in Philippians 4:8 to fix our thoughts on things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and worthy of praise.  As the old saying goes, “Garbage in, Garbage out”.  Our hearts are like sponges, what we soak up will be squeezed out.  As Christ followers we need to be careful of the movies and TV shows that we watch, Internet sites that we visit, and the tabloids that we read.

3.  Guard your path. Where you go can influences what you do. So, flee from the places where your temptation dwells.  To many times people put themselves in compromising situations without any thought.  King David, the man after God’s own heart, put himself in a compromising place when he was up on the roof.  I would think that he probably didn’t have a clue that he might see Bathsheba, but then again, maybe he should have known that there could have been some women out bathing in the evening?  I have to believe that looking back on the circumstances, that David probably wished he had never been on the roof that night.  As believers we have a responsibility to be salt and light to a dark and bland world.  However,  we need to be wise about the places that we try to shine.  Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.

My desire is to remain teachable by the Holy Spirit.  I do not want sin issues of my heart to keep me from  experiencing the presence of God in my daily life of worship. I want to do all that I can to present my heart pure before God.

The worship this weekend was really special.  We changed up the instrumentation by adding a violin, mandolin and percussion.  It gave a different feel to our normal rock-oriented worship.  I felt like God revealed himself in a sweet yet powerful way.  As it turned out, the entire worship package centered around the names of God.  Even during the 9 AM service as Pastor Todd prayed over the people, there was the recounting of the God’s names.  I just believe that God loves when we sing and speak His name.  It was awesome.

So, here are the songs that we sang.  We started with Hillsong’s “For Who You Are” as the link-up song between all the campuses.   This is always a congregational favorite.  After a time of welcome from Pastor Todd, we went into Paul Baloche and Brenton Brown’s “Rock of Ages You Will Stand”.  This is a cool take on the old gospel song “Rock of Ages”.  It sounded stellar with the mandolin and violin carrying the hook.  From there, I took a little time to pray and exhort and then into “Your Name” by Paul Baloche and Glenn Packiam.  What a fantastic song.  I split the vocal leadership on this song with Belinda Telemague, who just knows how to lead people in worship.  From here we went into Charlie Hall’s arrangement of “How Great Thou Art”

The highlight of the musical side of worship was our offering moment.  We did a song called “Names of God” by Laurell Hubick.  I had never heard this song until one of the ladies from our dance ministry brought it to me.  Let me just say, it was powerful.  Kristin Neumann started the moment with an awesome scripture monologue, Ansley Kicklighter did an amazing job singing the song, Emily Baird and Novik Inge Hier created a beautiful choreographed dance piece to go along with it, Peter Licata from our creative media team created a great video piece for it and then the simplicity of the piano, violin and percussion created a perfect setting for the song.  I posted a video so you can see it.

Well, that was the set list.  I have included links on Amazon so that you can add the music to your own personal worship play list.  Thanks for taking a look at this post.  Check out theWorshipCommunity site and the Sunday Set List blog to see what other leaders are doing around the globe.

We started the service with Chris Tomlin’s “Not to Us” (Key of G) as the link-up song between the campuses.  This is an older song, but it is still a favorite for our congregation.  After a time of welcome (from our Royal Palm campus) we launched into a Christ Fellowship original tune “In Your Love” (key of F), written by our Stuart campus worship pastor, Drew Middleton.  After a short prayer and scripture we went into “Your Great Name” (key of Bb) by Micheal Neale.  This is the second weekend for this song.  It is such a great anthem and the congregation really responds to it.  At the end of the song, we brought it down to a pre-chorus and chorus of Miriam Webster’s “Made Me Glad” (key of Bb/C) with just Acoustic Guitar and keys and then the band kicked into the rest of the song.  Finally, for the offering song, I sang Pocket Full of Rocks “Come As You Are”.  What a great song with great lyrics!

“You can come as you are
With all your broken pieces all your shameful scars
The pain you hold in your heart bring it all to Jesus
You can come as you are “

So there it is.  Thanks for taking a look at this post.  Check out theWorshipCommunity site and the Sunday Set List blog to see what other leaders are doing around the globe.

“No Ordinary Love” was produced by Chuck Hemann on Soul Deep Records. The project was released worldwide on March 16, 2010 through HolyCultureDownload.com and all major digital outlets (iTunes, Amazon, eMusic, Rhapsody, Zune, etc.).  Since the end of 1999, Rawsrvnt has made it his mandate to share God’s radical and unconditional love with people all over the world.  So, for the release of his latest record, Rawsrvnt felt it was only fitting to title his new work with the theme of his mission, “No Ordinary Love”.

To be Honest, I am not really a huge fan of hip-hop/rap music.  However, when I popped this project on my iPhone and started listening, I was hooked. “No Ordinary Love” is filled with a fresh sound which includes creative takes on some very familiar worship songs like “Here I Am to Worship” and “Holiness” featuring newly signed Sparrow Recording artist Audrey Assad.  One of my favorite tunes is his take of Sade’s award winning “No Ordinary Love” featuring the vocals of Stellar and Dove Award Nominee Lisa McClendon.  There is something for everyone on this project.   From Rawsrvnt’s laid back grooves on tracks like “Speak” featuring Bobby Tinsley and “Flossin’ ( Urban Dictionary = to show off) Him”, to the genre of Reggae on “The Almighty” and the aggressive, rock worship of my favorite track “On Fire”, this project has a lot of variety.

I have had the privilege to get to know Rawsrvnt and his heart for God.  “No Ordinary Love” oozes with his passion and personality.  I would encourage you to pick up this project.  Rawsrvnt is the real deal!  If you would like to book Rawsrvnt for an event,  I have added his contact info below.  I have also attached a video of Rawsrvnt and myself performing a cover of Brandon Heath’s “Give Me Your Eyes”.  So, I end this post the way Rawsrvnt ends all his emails to me…Peace in Jesus!!

Booking Contact
Soul Deep Ministries
P.O. Box 14307
North Palm Beach, FL 33408-4307
(561) 307-7723
booking@rawsrvnt.com
www.rawsrvnt.com

The Gardens campus worship experience was huge with a fantastic worship team that consisted of full band, brass section, huge worship choir, vocal team, and dancers.  It was pure energy.

So, here is how it all went down.  The service started with a new instrumental arrangement of the old Hillsong tune “My Redeemer Lives”.  Very high energy with a killer sax solo.  Right out of the opener we launched into Chris Tomlin’s “Let God Arise”.  and then into the CF original song “Set Free”.  Greg Reade, who wrote the song led out and did a great job.

After a welcome from our Lead Pastors, Tom and Todd Mullins, we did Lincoln Brewster’s “Give Him Praise”.  Very Fun! Charbel Khadij and Belienda Telemaque and the choir rocked it out. The choir loved doing a little rockspel (a cross between rock and gospel).  Our dance team came out  half way through the song and busted it.

Next, we had a student read a series of scriptures to set up the next worship package of “The Stand” by Hillsong United and a couple choruses and bridges of Chris Tomlin’s “How Great is Our God”.  “The Stand” is a perfect worship song for Easter as the lyrics declare a response of complete surrender for the cross of Christ.

Finally, after a brief promo video for our new message series “Doubters Anonymous”, the choir performed a Harold Ross arrangement of Chris Tomlin’s song “I Will Rise” medlied with the chorus of Hillsong’s “Worthy is the Lamb”.  This is just an amazing choir song.

Thanks for taking a look at this post.  Take a look at the pictures below and Check out theWorshipCommunity site and the Sunday Set List blog to see what other leaders are doing around the globe.

Photography by Nathan Carrol and CJ Lanier

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The Bible teaches us to declare our praises to God.  Psalm 66:1 tells us to “Shout for joy to God”.  Psalm 96:2-4 says, “Sing to the Lord, praise His name; proclaim His salvation day after day”.  Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;  He is to be feared above all gods.”  I like to think of worship as a continual prayer to God.  God loves it when He hears the praises of His people.  During an instrumental moment or the end of a song, while you are clapping to the Lord, go ahead and speak to Him. Tell Him how awesome He is.  Praise Him for His gift of salvation.  Thank Him for the mercy and grace he has given to you.  Acknowledge the blessings in your life.  Restate His Names to Him.  Praise Him for His promises and declare your Faith in Him.  Just speak out your praises.

Another way that the Bible teaches us to declare our praise is by singing “new songs” to the Lord.  Psalm 96:1 tells us to “Sing to the Lord a new song.”  Actually, in the book of Psalms, we are told 6 times to sing new songs to the Lord.  Even in the book of Revelation, they sing a new song to God.  Some people may feel they are not “singers” or “song writers”.  That’s okay.  God is not judging the quality of your songs to Him, He is listening to hear the love from your heart.  So, go ahead and take the risk.  During those times where the instruments are playing a solo or vamping, begin to sing your own song to God.  It doesn’t matter what the melody is.  Just let it flow out of you.  You may ask, “What do I say?”  Say what is in your heart.  It can be a simple praise song like “I love you Jesus”, Thank You, Lord”, “You are worthy of my praise”, “I praise You God”.  It may be a song of surrender, “I give it all to you Lord”, or of desperation, “I need you God”.  The point is that it is YOUR song, written by you, only to Him.

So, this weekend, you may be given the opportunity for some “free time” in worship.  What will you do with it?  I encourage you to declare your personal praise to your Father.  Why not sing to Him a brand new song…… the song that is in your heart.

Attribution License

This year, like every year, was pretty amazing.  The message started with a pre-recorded message piece by our Lead Pastor, Tom Mullins, that he just recently shot in the Garden of Gethsemane in Israel.  The rest of the message was a live teaching about the power of the cross.  At the end of the message there is was an opportunity for the congregation to come to a physical cross, located at the front of the auditorium, and nail their sins.  It is was opportunity for some to reaffirm the power of the cross in their lives and for others to deal with sin issues in their lives.

Kristin Neuman

So here is the set list for this weekend.  I have linked each song to itunes so that you can add them to your music library.

BECAUSE OF YOUR LOVE (G) - We started with this Paul Baloche and Brenton Brown song as the link up song (all campuses sing together).  Our congregation seems to love this song.  The chorus is powerful and easy to sing.

YOU WILL REIGN (D) (Watch Video) – This is a CF original song that we have been singing for the last few weeks.   During this song, there were 6 large crosses carried from the back of the auditorium and laid against the platform.  It was powerful singing the lyrics to the chorus…

“On the cross He took my place
By His blood all my sins are washed away
He bore the nails and conquered the grave
Death could not contain our God;
Forever He will reign”

Andy Moceri

THE WONDERFUL CROSS (D) – After setting up communion with scripture and prayer, the ushers served the elements to the congregation as we sang this Chris Tomlin version of the old Isaac Watts hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”.

I CLING TO THE CROSS (E) - For the offering song, I sang this Paul Baloche/Matt Redman tune.  I really love the lyric of this song.  There is such a lift when it goes into a chorus of the familiar song  “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus”.

“The cross before me the world behind me
I won’t turn back I won’t turn back”

Following the message while people were coming and spending time at the cross, we continued singing songs focused on the cross.  Here is a list of some of the songs that we sang at the various services.

CF members nailing their sins to the cross

LEAD ME TO THE CROSS (G)
NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS (D)
GRACE FLOWS DOWN (D)
AMAZING GRACE (MY CHAINS ARE GONE) (E)
AMAZING LOVE (YOU ARE MY KING) (E)
THIS IS OUR GOD (Hillsong) (E)

Thanks for taking a look at this post.  Check out theWorshipCommunity site and the Sunday Set List blog to see what other leaders are doing around the globe.

I did not lead worship this weekend.  We were blessed to have my friend Michael Neale from The Peoples Church lead worship at our Gardens campus.  As a result, I am sorry there is not a lot of commentary for this weekends review.  However, here is the  list of songs.  Check out theWorshipCommunity site and the Sunday Set List blog to see what other leaders are doing around the globe.

Let the Praises Ring (D)
Everlasting God (Bb)
Your Name (Bb)
In Christ Alone/The Solid Rock (Eb/E)
Your Great Name (Bb)

Planning Center Service Order

I felt like there was a real nice mix of new music with some older worship tunes as well.  We started with “EVERYONE” as the link-up tune (all 4 campuses sing the first song together).  This is a simple song that is very easy to sing.  The congregation seems to connect with it every time we sing it.  We did the song in the key of G.

After the welcome/greeting time, we launched into a Christ Fellowship original song “SET FREE” in the key of B.  This song will be released on the new live worship project from our City Place Ascent service in May.  From here I transitioned with a short exhortation/prayer into another Christ Fellowship original song, “YOU WILL REIGN” in the key of D.  This was the second week that we sang this song at the Gardens campus.  It seems like the congregation is beginning to catch on to it.  I love this song!  It will be released on the new CD in May as well.  At the end of this song, we went into a stripped down version of “THE HEART OF WORSHIP” in the key of D.  Finally, after the offering set-up we sang “ALL I NEED MEDLEY” in the key of D.  This is a combination of the old song, “I Need The Every Hour” and Hillsong’s “All I Need is You”.  We recorded this arrangement on our worship project “In Your Love”.  This is always a home run and a great way to mix the old with the new.

So, there it is for this weekend.  hope you enjoyed.  Check out theWorshipCommunity site and the Sunday Set List blog to see what other leaders are doing around the globe.