Worship Music for Sunday, May 28th

"[Jesus] entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered. They were watching Him to see if He would heal him... He said to the man with the withered hand, 'Get up and come forward!' ... He said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.' And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored." (Mark 3:1-5, NASB)

Withered. What a compelling image that word conjures! Shriveled. Diminished. Weak. No longer able to be what it once was, or do what it was created to do. All around us in our gathering every Sunday are people who are withered. Withered lives, withered hope, withered souls, withered marriages, withered homes, withered futures. They sit all around us, blending in, not wishing to draw attention to themselves or to their withered-ness. Many have given up hope and have settled for a withered, shriveled, diminished existence.

Isn't it interesting that the Pharisees knew that Jesus would heal the man? They knew He couldn't resist it! That's just who Jesus is! Yet instead of watching to see if Jesus would bring renewed hope, healing, and restoration so they could glorify God and celebrate with the man, scripture says they watched "so that they might accuse Him." While the Pharisees merely watched passively as the man sat with his withered hand, week after week, Sabbath after Sabbath, Jesus actively did something to bring healing. He did what was in His power to do to bring restoration of what had been withered.

Watch Jesus as He calls the man forward. First, He requires the man to own the withered nature of his existence. "Come forward!" Never mind the onlookers who whisper and frown and crane their necks to see what you have tried to keep hidden, ashamed of how it looks compared to everyone else around you. But the man obeys the call of Christ to come. Jesus tell him to "stretch out your hand;" Offer to Me what has been withered by sin and brokenness. This will completely expose the man in front of all who are watching so intently, calling attention to the very thing he would rather keep hidden. But in the very act of obeying Jesus' command, something amazing happens: "his hand was restored." Restoration. The opposite of withered.

Jesus is the same today in our gathering as He was all those years ago in that synagogue. People had gathered for worship. Christ was in their midst. He called to the withered soul and offered restoration. Some watched looking to criticize, but that didn't stop the man from obeying His call to offer what sin has withered to Him to be restored. 

Ridgers, Jesus wants to restore what has withered this Sunday! Will you come? Will you hear His call? Will you obey His command? Will you let Him heal you? Or will you play the part of Pharisee, sitting back, disengaged, critical and suspicious of the work that Jesus is doing in our midst? Here's the crazy part: He lets you choose!

Here are the songs we will sing together in our gathering as we present our withered selves to Jesus to be restored by His touch:

1. Open Up the Heavens  by Vertical Church Band

 

 

2. Glorious Day by Passion (featuring Kristian Stanfill)

 

 

3. None Like You by Vertical Church Band

 

 

4. Called Me Higher by Vertical Church Band

 

 

5. Oh, How I Love You by Jesus Culture

Worship Music for Sunday, May 21st

God wants us to encourage each other to stay faithful and to warn each other not to stray from Him. One very effective way to do this is through music – singing psalms and spiritual songs that stir our affections to greater love for Christ. By singing these songs, we remind each other of all that He has done for us so that we will be thankful and filled with joy. He wants us to be so in love with Jesus that we care more for others than ourselves. (Ephesians 5:19-20 paraphrased)

Anybody remember Schoolhouse Rock? It was a series of animated videos from the 1970s that taught kids basic math, history, grammar, and science principles by embedding them into catchy, easy-to-sing-along-to songs. To this day, the only way I can say the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution is to sing it!

Music has a way of bypassing our normal defenses and taking matters directly into the heart and mind, where transformation takes place. When we sing together in corporate worship, we are reminding each other of the glorious truths of the gospel and embedding them into our lives through music. It's the way God designed it to work!

Here are the songs we will be singing together in worship this Sunday:

1. My Lighthouse by Rend Collective (John 8:12)

 

 

2. The Lord is My Light (Psalm 27) by the RidgeWorship Band (Psalm 27)

 NOTE: There is no officially recorded version of this song as of yet. Please pray that God would supply the funds needed to record the original worship songs He has blessed us with.

3. Rising Sun by All Sons & Daughters (Psalm 113:3)

 

 

4. Come Thou Fount (I Will Sing) by Chris Tomlin (John 7:37-38)

 

 

5. The Sound That Saved Us All by Anthony Skinner (Ephesians 2:8-9)

 

 

 

Worship Music for Sunday, March 19th, 2017

Take away from me the noise of your songs;

to the melody of your harps I will not listen.

But let justice roll down like waters,

and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (Amos 5:23-24)

There is a kind of worship that God hates. Regardless of the style of music, regardless of the presentation or production, regardless of the excellence of its execution... He will not listen. You can have the the most reverent traditional services with suits and ties, organists, choirs, and sing only hymns, only from actual hymnals. You can have the most exciting, professional sound and lighting designed to engage the audience. You can sing all the best new contemporary worship songs with the best musicians and singers available, and everyone in the building can be singing along enthusiastically at the top of their voices with all the sincerity they can muster. He will not listen or regard it.... IF your heart is not right before Him.

When we get caught up in the trappings of worship -- no matter which side of the debate you find yourself on -- and disregard the things that are important to the heart of God, then we would be better unplugging the amps and putting away the hymnals. Burn the drums AND the choir robes. God is not interested in what style of worship you prefer; He is interested in what kind of person you have become at the heart level.

I often wonder what the underground church in China would think about our hang-ups about worship styles, about sound systems, and whether the lighting is right. I wonder if the persecuted believers in Sudan, Iraq, Iran, or Syria would shake their heads in disbelief at the time and energy we waste arguing about the form our worship takes rather than serving the God we are supposed to be worshiping no matter the style of expression!

Here are the songs we will be singing together in our gathering this week. Listen to the lyrics and the truths expressed in each song, even if you don't like the music. Ask God to give you a heart of worship that transcends the material and taps into the eternal. You'd be amazed at what might happen if we came together around a common confession of faith and ignored the differences of opinion.

1. Wild Heart by Urban Rescue (Mark 1:16-20)

 

 

2. Call on the Name by Vertical Church Band (Romans 10:13)

 

 

3. Psalm 27 (The Lord is My Light) by the RidgeWorship Band (Psalm 27)

 This is an original song from our worship team and has no available lyric video or recording as of yet. But here are the lyrics so you can be familiar with them...

Verse 1:

One thing – one thing I ask of You, O God

One cry – one hope my heart desires

Pre-chorus 1:

I want to dwell in Your house forever

I want to stay in Your presence, Lord

I want to gaze upon Your beauty

Forevermore

Chorus 1:

The Lord is my light and my salvation

Why should I ever be afraid?

The Lord is my Rock and my foundation

I run to Him and I am safe

Verse 2:

You said – you said to me, “Come seek My face.”

My heart cries, “Your face I seek!”

Hide not – Hide not Your face from me, O God

Be gracious  --- and answer me!

Pre-chorus 1:

I want to dwell in Your house forever

I want to stay in Your presence, Lord

I want to gaze upon Your beauty

Forevermore

Chorus 2:

The Lord is my light and my salvation

Why should I ever be afraid?

The Lord is my Rock and my foundation

I run to Him and I am safe

Lord, I believe I’ll see Your goodness

All of the days that I’m alive

You are my strength and You’re my courage

And I will wait upon You, wait upon You, Lord

Bridge:

 Though an army should surround me

Even then my heart won’t fear

Though a war should rise against me

 I am confident You’re near

You will hide me, you will help me

You’re my shelter from my enemies

You lift my head and I will sing a

song of victory! Yeah!

Chorus 3:

The Lord is my light and my salvation

Why should I ever be afraid?

The Lord is my Rock and my foundation

I run to Him and I am safe

Lord, I believe I’ll see Your goodness

All of the days that I’m alive

You are my strength and You’re my courage

And I will wait upon You, wait upon You,

Wait upon You, Wait upon You,

Wait upon You, wait upon You, Lord.

  

4. Surrender All (Give You Everything) by Jesus Culture (Philippians 3:7-8)

 

 

5. Your Glory/Nothing But the Blood by All Sons & Daughters (Hebrews 10:19-22)

Worship Music for Sunday, February 26th, 2017

"Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation." (Psalm 111:1)

Have you ever heard someone say, "I don't need to go to church to worship God; I can worship God just as well by myself at home"? There's a Greek word for that: hogwash! Not only is corporate worship commanded over and over in scripture, it is part of the design of our hearts. We long to belong to a community, a family. We are relational creatures by nature because we bear the image of our relational God. He has existed for all eternity as Three-In-One, the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all living in perfect, loving communion with each other. It's in our DNA! You cannot worship  as well alone as you can "in the company of the upright, in the congregation," regardless of what you may think or feel. Won't you join us this Sunday for worship as we gather to "give thanks to the Lord with our whole hearts"?

Here are the songs we will be singing together in our gathering this week: 

1. Lay Me Down by Chris Tomlin (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

 

 

2. Christ is Enough by Hillsong Live (Psalm 145:16)

 

 

3. Even So Come by Passion (Revelation 22:20)

 

 

4. Come Thou Fount (I Will Sing) by Chris Tomlin (Psalm 104:33)

 

 

5. Scandal of Grace by Hillsong United (Philippians 2:5-11)

Worship Music for Sunday, February 19th, 2017

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16)

Music is a big part of the life of a church. And it as meant to be done together -- to the glory of God and for the building up of the Body. Songs not only express worship to God, but they "teach and admonish" (that means "to warn") each other. And where does it originate? "With thankfulness in your hearts to God"!

As you begin to prepare yourself and your family to gather with the saints at The Ridge this Sunday, remind yourself of all you have to be thankful for. Let your mind dwell on the goodness of God, even if your circumstances are not ideal. We have a sign that hangs over the entrance to our family room in our house that says, "There is ALWAYS something to be thankful for." Let that gratitude stir your hearts to greater affection for Jesus and bring that "thanks-full" heart to church with you Sunday and let it explode with joyful adoration to our great God and Savior!

Here is the soundtrack to your thankfulness this week...

1. Here For You by Chris Tomlin (Colossians 3:16)

 

 

2. Forever Reign by Hillsong Live (Psalm 145:13)

 

 

3. O Praise the Name (Anastasis) by Hillsong Worship (Romans 5:8)

 

 

4. Christ the Rock by Kim Walker-Smith (Deuteronomy 32:4)

 

 

5. Anchor by Hillsong Worship  (Hebrews 6:17-20)

 

 

Worship Music for Sunday, February 12th, 2017

  “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
    “return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;     
and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
    and he relents over disaster. 
 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
    and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering
    for the Lord your God? (Joel 2:12-14)

The Israelites in Joel's day were experiencing the judgment of God because they had forsaken His ways and disregarded His Word. They loved their comfort more than His presence. So He gave them exactly what they wanted -- and they were suffering for it. God gave them over to their enemies and allowed their land and crops and vineyards and cities to be trampled and destroyed. They could not even bring grain and drink offerings for proper worship as the Lord prescribed because they had nothing left to bring. "Yet even now.." God invited them back into His presence; even though they had completely abandoned Him, He was ready to restore them if they returned and repented. 

God is calling us to return to Him, Ridgers. He is calling us out of complacency and comfort, out of rebellion and idol worship, back into His presence. He wants to restore a heart of worship to Church at The Ridge. This week as we sing together, we are calling out to Him to restore us to repentance and for a fresh outpouring of His Holy Spirit. God is on the move and up to something big at The Ridge! Are you ready to meet with Him this week?

Here are the songs we will sing together Sunday morning. Please take the time to listen, learn, and pray as you sing them in your own worship time, alone and with your family. Read the scriptures attached to each song. Ask God to move in your own heart, then ask Him to move on the hearts of our church this weekend.

1. I Offer Myself by The RidgeWorship Band (Romans 12:1-2)

 

 

2. Awesome is the Lord Most High by Chris Tomlin (Psalm 47:1-2)

 

 

3. Always by Passion (featuring Kristian Stanfill) (Psalm 121:1-2)

 

 

4. No Longer Slaves by Bethel Music (Romans 8:15)

 

 

5. Great Are You, Lord by All Sons & Daughters (Ezekiel 37:4-10)

 

 

Worship Music for Sunday, February 5th, 2017

"Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!" (Psalm 149:3) 

Do you value gathering for corporate praise and worship? Do you value the community and the unity that comes from singing praises to God with other believers? Now, here's the tough question... are you ready?

Do you value live praise and worship music played skillfully by musicians and singers who love the Lord and have consecrated their gifts, talents, and instruments to Him? And do you value joyful, exuberant, enthusiastic worship, even if it's loud (tambourines and lyres are really just drums and guitars) and people might actually (gulp) dance?!

Apparently, God does or He would not have expressed it in scripture in the form of a command. The challenge for the modern believer in a culture that elevates its own comfort and preferences over the glory of God is to set aside what we think and expect and instead embrace what scripture says about how we worship.

At The Ridge we value vertical worship. Vertical as opposed to horizontal. Vertical, meaning that our only concern is praising God in direct proportion to His greatness. Scripture says, "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable." (Psalm 145:3) That looks like a lot of different things to a lot of different people. So don't look at people. Look at the Lord. Let your sole focus be on His greatness, and let nothing else distract you from that focus.

Here are the songs we will be singing together in our worship gathering this week:

1. This is Amazing Grace by Bethel Music (Ephesians 1:7-8) 

 

 

2. Our God by Chris Tomlin (Psalm 147:5)

 

 

3. The Rock Won't Move by Vertical Church Band (Psalm 62:2)

 

 

4. Waiting Here For You by Jesus Culture (featuring Martin Smith) (Psalm 37:7)

 

 

5. O Praise the Name (Anastasis) by Hillsong Worship (Romans 5:8)

Worship Music for Sunday, January 22nd, 2017

"And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel—and God knew." Exodus 2:24-25

God heard... God saw... God knew... and God remembered His promise. Such wonderful words of encouragement! God has not forgotten, forsaken, abandoned, or betrayed us -- no matter what it seems like from our earthly vantage point. We are in the middle of a Great Story. It's a love story to be sure, but it is set in the midst of a terrible and ferocious battle for the hearts and souls of people. The Author of this Story has already established its ending from the beginning. The ending He has panned is so beautiful and so breathtaking that it should not be considered an ending at all, but rather, a beginning of an even greater Story which, as C. S. Lewis writes, "no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before." (The Last Battle)

As we gather for worship this Sunday, remember that the Story isn't finished yet. Don't give up! There is a glorious future awaiting us, but it is not yet. To give up now is like closing a book in the middle and complaining that the plot hasn't resolved. Trust the Author and Finisher of our faith!

Here are the songs we are singing together at The Ridge this week:

1. Open Up the Heavens by Vertical Church Band (Isaiah 64:1)

 

 

2.  God is Able by Hillsong Live (Ephesians 3:20-21)

 

 

3. One Thing Remains by Passion (featuring Kristian Stanfill) (Lamentations 3:22)

 

 

4. Scandal of Grace by Hillsong United (Philippians 2:5-11)

 

 

5. None Like You by Vertical Church Band (1 Samuel 2:2)

 

 

Worship Music for Sunday, January 15th, 2017

Here are the songs we will be singing together in our gathering this Sunday:

1. Rise by Housefires (John 4:13-14; 7:37-38)

 

 

2. Finally Free by Rend Collective (John 8:36)

 

 

3. Your Love Never Fails by Jesus Culture (Romans 8:31-39)

 

 

4. Come As You Are by Crowder (Matthew 11:28-30)

 

 

5. It Is Well by Bethel Music (Psalm 16:8-9)  

 

 

Worship Music for Sunday, November 20th, 2016

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise!
    Give thanks to him; bless his name! 

 For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100:4-5)

We have more reason to be thankful than any other people alive! As we gather this Sunday to sing our praises to our faithful God, let the full weight of His goodness and mercy fuel your worship and allow gratitude to well up inside you to the point of overflowing in exuberant praise!

Here are the songs we will sing together this Sunday in our corporate worship gathering...

1. Forever Reign by Hillsong Worship (Exodus 15:18)

 

 

2. Christ Be All Around Me by All Sons & Daughters (Psalm 139:5)

 

 

3. None Like You by Vertical Church Band (Jeremiah 10:6)

4. Good Good Father by Housefires (Matthew 7:11)

Worship Music for Sunday, November 13th, 2016

Take away from me the noise of your songs;

to the melody of your harps I will not listen.

But let justice roll down like waters,

and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (Amos 5:23-24)

There is a kind of worship that God hates. Regardless of the style of music, regardless of the presentation or production, regardless of the excellence of its execution... He will not listen. You can have the the most reverent traditional services with suits and ties, organists, choirs, and sing only hymns, only from actual hymnals. You can have the most exciting, professional sound and lighting designed to engage the audience. You can sing all the best new contemporary worship songs with the best musicians and singers available, and everyone in the building can be singing along enthusiastically at the top of their voices with all the sincerity they can muster. He will not listen or regard it.... IF your heart is not right before Him.

When we get caught up in the trappings of worship -- no matter which side of the debate you find yourself on -- and disregard the things that are important to the heart of God, then we would be better unplugging the amps and putting away the hymnals. Burn the drums AND the choir robes. God is not interested in what style of worship you prefer; He is interested in what kind of person you have become at the heart level.

I often wonder what the underground church in China would think about our hang-ups about worship styles, about sound systems, and whether the lighting is right. I wonder if the persecuted believers in Sudan, Iraq, Iran, or Syria would shake their heads in disbelief at the time and energy we waste arguing about the form our worship takes rather than serving the God we are supposed to be worshiping no matter the style of expression!

Here are the songs we will be singing together in our gathering this week. Listen to the lyrics and the truths expressed in each song, even if you don't like the music. Ask God to give you a heart of worship that transcends the material and taps into the eternal. You'd be amazed at what might happen if we came together around a common confession of faith and ignored the differences of opinion.

1. Oh Our Lord by All Sons & Daughters (Psalm 8:1)

 

 

2. Lay Me Down by Chris Tomlin (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

 

 

3. It Is Well by Todd Fields (Philippians 4:11-13)

 

 

4. Come Thou Fount (I will Sing) by Chris Tomlin (Psalm 89:1)

 

 

5. Always Have by Vertical Church Band (Ephesians 1:3-6)

 

 

Worship Music for Sunday, October 30, 2016

Here are the songs we will be singing together this week in our worship gathering...

1. Wild Heart by Urban Rescue (Luke 9:23)

 

 

2. Yes & Amen by Housefires (2 Corinthians 1:20)

 

 

3. No Longer Slaves by Bethel Music (Romans 8:15)

 

 

4. Lord, I Need You by Matt Maher (Isaiah 40:31)

 

 

5. Great Are You, Lord by All Sons & Daughters (Psalm 145:3)

 

Worship Music for Sunday, October 23, 2016

"Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory..." (1 Peter 1:8)

I came across this verse reading through Peter's first letter to Jewish believers scattered in the Dispersion in the early days of the church. Like modern believers, many of them never saw Jesus in person, and would not see Him until He returns at the end of the age. In spite of that, and in spite of the difficulties and persecution they endured for this Jesus they had never seen yet believed in and loved more dearly than their own lives, they had "joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory"! Think about those words describing their joy: inexpressible (too great and deep and rich to ever be adequately summed up in any language a human could utter) and filled with glory (overflowing with the greatness of who God is and His manifest presence in their lives). Wow! Does that describe our joy? Is that the kind of worship we bring to our gathering on Sunday morning? It can be... if we take the time today to set aside a moment to drop everything and just worship Him!

Here are some songs we will sing together in our gathering Sunday. Begin praising Him now with these songs of adoration and praise...

1. Rise by Housefires (John 7:38)

 

 

2. The Lord Our God by Passion (1 Corinthians 1:9)

 

 

3. No Longer Slaves by Bethel Music (Romans 8:15)

 

 

4. His Name by Urban Rescue (Philippians 2:9-10)

 

 

5. All the Poor & Powerless by All Sons & Daughters (Luke 6:21)

 

 

Worship Music for Sunday, October 16, 2016

“You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
    and praise the name of the Lord your God,
    who has dealt wondrously with you.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
    and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else.And my people shall never again be put to shame." -- Joel 2:26-27 (ESV)

The Lord's presence is all we ever need to satisfy every desire. Think about that. Everything you have ever sent your heart after in its search for life and happiness and peace -- it's all found in Jesus! As you listen to the worship music for this week and read the attending scriptures, will you meditate on that truth? Will you allow your heart to settle on Christ and be satisfied by Him? Will you stop your restless quest for love in the things this world offers and "know that He is the Lord your God and there is none else"?

Here are the songs we will be singing together this week in our gathering at The Ridge:

1. Christ is Risen by Matt Maher (Luke 24:5-6)

 

 

2. God's Great Dance Floor by Passion featuring Chris Tomlin (Luke 15:22-24)

 

 

3. I Offer Myself by the RidgeWorship Band (Romans 12:1-2) 

 

NOTE: There is no lyric video for this song as of yet. This video was taken during one of our recent worship gatherings.

 

4. Come As You Are by Crowder (Matthew 11:28)  

 

 

5. Always Have by Vertical Church Band (Ephesians 1:3-6)

 

For more information about Church at the Ridge or any of the music you heard here, please contact pastor Jerry Davison.

Worship Music for Sunday, October 2, 2016

"Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south." (Psalm 107:2-3)

One of the ways "the redeemed of the Lord say so" is by proclaiming His praise in song. When we gather together in corporate worship and sing His praise loudly and enthusiastically, those whom the Lord has redeemed are saying so -- no, singing so! Come join the redeemed in singing so this Sunday at The Ridge!

Here are the songs we will be "singing so" this week....

1. Joy by Housefires (Romans 12:12)

 

 

 

2. Call on the Name by Vertical Church Band (Romans 10:13)

 

 

 

3. Yes & Amen by Housefires (2 Corinthians 1:20)

 

 

 

4. I Surrender by Hillsong Live (Luke 9:23)

 

 

 

5. We Glorify Your Name by Hillsong Worship (Psalm 138:2) 

 

 

 

Worship Music for Sunday, September 25th

"Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation." (Psalm 111:1)

Have you ever heard someone say, "I don't need to go to church to worship God; I can worship God just as well by myself at home"? There's a Greek word for that: hogwash! Not only is corporate worship commanded over and over in scripture, it is part of the design of our hearts. We long to belong to a community, a family. We are relational creatures by nature because we bear the image of our relational God. He has existed for all eternity as Three-In-One, the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all living in perfect, loving communion with each other. It's in our DNA! You cannot worship just as well alone as you can "in the company of the upright, in the congregation," regardless of what you may think or feel. Won't you join us this Sunday for worship as we gather to "give thanks to the Lord with our whole hearts"?

Here are the songs we will be singing together in our gathering this week. The lyric videos have been linked so you can learn the words. Scripture links have been provided so you can know the truths from the Word that are in the songs. And links have been provided for you to purchase the songs if you wish to add them to your personal music library. Don't wait for Sunday morning to begin praising our Savior; start right now!

1. You Are Good by Lincoln Brewster (Psalm 106:1)

 

 

2. Joy by Housefires (Philippians 4:4)

 

 

3. Not for a Moment by Vertical Church Band (Deuteronomy 31:6)

 

4. Even When it Hurts (Praise Song) by Hillsong United (Psalm 62:5-8)

***PLEASE NOTE: There is a controversial line on the lyrics of this song that has been removed and replaced in the version we will sing in our worship gathering. While we agree with the composers' intent in the lyric, we feel it could possibly offend and be a distraction in our gathering so we have replaced that one line with one that is expresses a similar truth in a less potentially offensive manner.

 

5. Joy of the Lord by Rend Collective (Nehemiah 8:10)

 

Worship Music for Sunday, September 18th

 

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
    “return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;     
and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
    and he relents over disaster. 
 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
    and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering
    for the Lord your God? (Joel 2:12-14)

The Israelites in Joel's day were experiencing the judgment of God because they had forsaken His ways and disregarded His Word. They loved their comfort more than His presence. So He gave them exactly what they wanted -- and they were suffering for it. God gave them over to their enemies and allowed their land and crops and vineyards and cities to be trampled and destroyed. They could not even bring grain and drink offerings for proper worship as the Lord prescribed because they had nothing left to bring. "Yet even now.." God invited them back into His presence; even though they had completely abandoned Him, He was ready to restore them IF they returned and repented. 

God is calling us to return to Him, Ridgers. He is calling us out of complacency and comfort, out of rebellion and idol worship, back into His presence. He wants to restore a heart of worship to Church at The Ridge. This week as we sing together, we are calling out to Him to restore us to repentance and for a fresh outpouring of His Holy Spirit. God is on the move and up to something big at The Ridge! Are you ready to meet with Him this week?

Here are the songs we will sing together Sunday morning. Please take the time to listen, learn, and pray as you sing them in your own worship time, alone and with your family. Read the scriptures attached to each song. Ask God to move in your own heart, then ask Him to move on the hearts of our church this weekend.

And don't forget to invite your  Friends And Neighbors to F.A.N. Day!

1. Open Up the Heavens by Vertical Church Band (Isaiah 64:1)

 

2. Holy Spirit by Francesca Battistelli (John 14:16-17)

 

3. Finally Free by Rend Collective (John 8:36)

 

4. Great Are You, Lord by All Sons & Daughters (Psalm 145:3)

 

5. Always Have by Vertical Church Band (Ephesians 1:3-6)

*** NOTE: There is not yet a lyric video for this song, but you can click here for the lyrics and follow along.