The death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus was earth-shaking. Quite literally, but also figuratively. Now that “Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf (Hebrews 9:24)” the focal point of worship has forever shifted.

The Exodus was superseded by the cross and the empty tomb as the central redemptive events we memorialize. The Passover meal was replaced with the Lord’s Supper. The temple in Jerusalem was made obsolete by Jesus, the True Temple, the “living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious (1 Peter 2:4)” as he fulfilled everything for which it had been a shadow. No longer to God’s people go to the physical temple mount in earthly Jerusalem, but “to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel (Hebrews 12:22–24).”

A “new song” was introduced in heaven (Rev. 5:9), the anthem of the angels which we will sing along with them into eternity.

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:12)

Our second ministry value answers the question, “How should the pursuit of God’s glory shape the worship of God’s people?” Answer: it should make it Christ-centered.

This week, Kenny Clark will preach on the second ministry value, CHRIST-CENTERED WORSHIP and Caleb Bilti will leading our sung worship. Would you pray for each as they prepare? And let’s pray that, as we fix our eyes upon Jesus, God would continue to transform us into a people who live “to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6).”

See you Sunday, Grace. Come hungry!

Song Link of the Week

Christus Victor (Amen) live from Sing! 2024

Now to the Lamb upon the throne
Be blessing, honor, glory, power
For the battle You have won
Hallelujah!

With every tribe and every tongue
We join the anthem of the angels
In the triumph of the Son
Hallelujah, amen!

Preaching Schedule

SEP 14            God’s Glory
SEP 21          Christ-Centered Worship
SEP 28           The Great Commission
OCT 5             Biblical Preaching
OCT 12           Priesthood of Believers & Elder Leadership
OCT 19           Elder Leadership & Spirit-Led
OCT 26           Diverse Unity & Simplicity
NOV 2            Children & Youth