For February’s small group sermon, we focus on Distinctively Christian Thinking. I struggled for a while on how to tie in our song service to that theme. After some “Christian thinking” of my own, my mind was taken to the Fruit of the Spirit. After all, if we control our thinking, then it will be conveyed by our actions. I was able to pick a song for each fruit listed in Galatians 5:22-23.
1. The Love of God (love)
There was an abundance of songs to choose from when it came to love. Since we’re focusing on the effect love has on us as a fruit of the Spirit, I thought this song was the best choice. The chorus tells how love will impart kindness and warmth. Here is a Church of Christ in Malaysia singing this 100 year old hymn!
2. The Joy of the Lord (joy)
Nehemiah 8:10b states, “Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” This phrase apparently struck Twila Paris one day while she was washing dishes, and this song was born.
3. Instruments of Your Peace (peace)
While not as well-known as The Serenity Prayer, this prayer also has a lot of notoriety. While naming many negative forces in the world (hatred, injury, darkness), it asks God to bring the opposite to the world through us (love, pardon, light). Here is a group from the Netherlands offering their own personalized arrangement of the song, beginning with the hymn “Peace, Perfect Peace.”
4. More Holiness Give Me (patience)
Philip Bliss will forever be remembered for his composing ability; he wrote the music for one of the most famous hymns ever, “It is Well With My Soul.” Philip was also a lyricist in his own right. In this prayer song, he longs to be more like Christ with various attributes, including patience.
5. O To Be Like Thee (kindness)
How interesting that our songs for patience and kindness are so similar in thought. Just like the last, this song is petitioning our Savior to help us be more like Him.
6. 10,000 Reasons (goodness)
The Psalm that this song comes from (Psalm 103), mentions goodness: “who satisfies you with good, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” No wonder the Psalmist exclaims “Bless the Lord, O my soul!”
7. He Leadeth Me (faithfulness)
Joseph Gilmore was preaching on the 23rd Psalm. He was struck by the phrase “He leadeth me” which is stated twice in the Psalm. The phrase moved him so strongly that he wrote the words to this hymn later that night. His wife sent it to a publisher who printed it; eventually it was set to music by William Bradbury. Later on, Mr. Gilmore went to preach and what should he discover in their hymnal? His own song!
8. Beautiful Lamb (gentleness)
What better example do we have of gentleness than the Lamb of God?
9. Lord, Reign in Me
We have been using this song as our closing song for each small group Sunday. While it does not directly mention self-control (none of our songs do), it definitely relates. If God is reigning in our lives, then He will have control!
In Him,
Aaron Shotts
Minister of Music & Ministry Support
ORDER OF SERVICE
The Love of God (1,2,3)
WELCOME
SCRIPTURE READING – Galatians 5:16-25
The Joy of the Lord
Instruments of Your Peace
PRAYER
More Holiness Give Me
O To Be Like Thee (2,3)
COMMUNION
OFFERING
(Sung during offering:)
10,000 Reasons
(COOL Kids Dismissal:)
He Leadeth Me (1,3,4)
SERMON
Beautiful Lamb
SHEPHERD’S MOMENT
Lord, Reign in Me
Worship with Heart 