This week was one of those weeks that took a while for things to click. As I talked with our minister about his sermon, the application was that God could accomplish things despite our preconceived notions or lack of faith. I started to pick songs with a theme of faith and belief. For whatever reason, things just weren’t clicking. (This is why worship leaders need to have high Emotional Intelligence. The songs need to flow well and help tell a story as cohesively as possible.)
So the next day, I went back to the drawing board. I asked myself why God could accomplish “more than (I) could ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). It’s because He is greater, He is higher, He is stronger. Voila! I had my theme.
1. To God Be the Glory
“Purer and higher and greater will be our wonder, our transport when Jesus we see.” This song was originally titled “Praise for Redemption,” but like many of our hymns, the title takes on a life of its own with the general public. Fanny J. Crosby wrote the words to this song around 1870. It didn’t gain wide popularity until the 1950’s, long after her death. Billy Graham used it in one of his crusades in London. It proved so popular, he brought it back to his crusades here in America and its popularity continued.
2. Higher Ground
Johnson Oatman, lyricist of this song, was probably inspired by Paul’s statement in Philippians 3:14, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” His words call on God to help us press on to something better and higher! (The arrangement in this video changes the time signature to 4/4. We’ll sing the traditional 3/4 time signature.)
3. Rising Sun
I normally try and wait at least a couple months before I repeat a song, but I couldn’t pass this one up with its reference to “higher.” Not only are God’s ways higher than ours, even His name is higher! Even more amazing is that God calls us to be part of the story He is telling. “We lift high His glory shown throughout our stories. We praise Him as the children of God!”
4. Highest Place
This song brings back fond memories of singing with Gr8ful Praise when I lived in Michigan. I can’t even remember how this song got into our repertoire, but it became a special song to all of us. It’s incredibly short (1 minute, 40 seconds), and yet in that short time, it would always help usher us into His presence.
5. He is Able
This is the only song in our set this week that doesn’t contain any of the descriptor words (greater, higher, stronger). However, it still fits our theme very well. It contains a closely related word: “more.” This song takes the concept of Ephesians 3:20 and puts it to a beautiful tune. It’s even more beautiful in sign language.
6. Fairest Lord Jesus
This song describes how beautiful creation is, but then notes that Jesus is fairer, purer, and brighter than anything in creation! (This video has some altered lyrics from the original, but it was too beautiful not to use.)
7. Stronger
“Stronger” seems like such a common word. Would you believe that I could only find one hymn that uses that word (“When My Love to Christ Grows Weak”), and in that song, it’s not even referring to God. So Ben Fielding and Reuben Morgan picked the right word at the right time. The song was released in 2007, and churches have been singing it ever since.
8. I Am Resolved
Jesus isn’t just greater and higher…He is Greastest and Highest!
9. One Thing Remains
His love is “higher than the mountains that I face” and “stronger than the power of the grave.” What more do we need?
In Him,
Aaron Shotts
Minister of Music & Ministry Support
ORDER OF SERVICE
To God Be the Glory
WELCOME
Higher Ground
Rising Sun
PRAYER
SCRIPTURE READING – Ephesians 3:14-21
Highest Place
He is Able
COMMUNION
OFFERING
(Sung during offering:)
Fairest Lord Jesus (1,2,3)
(COOL Kids Dismissal:)
Stronger
SERMON
I Am Resolved (1,2,3)
SHEPHERD’S MOMENT
MINISTRY MINUTE
One Thing Remains
Worship with Heart 