Spread the Word Together (6-18-2023)

In Acts 20, Paul speaks to the elders in Ephesus. Three times he uses the word “testify” while speaking to the elders, encouraging them to work together. Believe it or not, we have zero songs in our repertoire of songs that we sing with the word “testify” in the lyrics. However, when I hear the word testify, I think of sharing what the gospel has done in our lives. That is what our songs focus on this week: sharing what God has done for us while loving others in the process.

1. Ring Out the Message

Let’s start out of the gate with this anthem of spreading the gospel to the world! The bass lead in the chorus is always a crowd favorite. Samuel Beazley, who wrote the music for this song, was definitely a fan of bass solos. He also wrote the songs “The Great Redeemer” and “Jesus Paid It All,” which also have bass solos. The lyricist of this song, James Rowe, made a great songwriting team with Beazley. Together, they also wrote the song “Home of the Soul.”

2. Seeking the Lost

Why do we ring out the message? Certainly not for those who have already followed Jesus! We ring it out for the lost. Another great bass solo in this chorus helps invigorate us in that mission.

3. Pass It On

A tiny little spark can start a fire and destroy an entire forest. That is amazing amount of power in one tiny little ember. Imagine if that spark is God’s love. Imagine the impact we can all have if we each spread that love to just one person each. Now we’ve doubled our number. Then if all those people spread it to one person…you see where I’m going. It is important for us to pass it on!

4. Instruments of Your Peace

“Where there is injury, we will never judge.” Church–think about that statement. A church that never judges? Unfortunately, I have yet to find a church that can make that claim. It is something that we should still strive for, though. This song is, indeed, a prayer that God will help us to achieve such wonderful feats as this.

5. The Greatest Commands

If you asked people in our church “what song causes you to feel love for your Christian brothers and sisters,” I’m pretty sure this song would be the most common answer. This song was written in 1973 by Janice Detweiler, but it didn’t burst on the scenes in the Church of Christ until the 1990’s. You might see at least 1 or 2 familiar faces in this video, which was recorded during the Covid shutdown.

6. Go Light Your World

The second verse always pricks my heart. “Frustrated brother, see how he’s tried to light his own candle some other way. See now your sister, she’s been robbed and lied to; still holds a candle without a flame.” There are so many hurting people out there in the world who are hurting and need us to show them the light. Verse 3 reminds the church to act as a family and raise our candles to light up the sky!

7. All to Us

You’ve heard the phrase “nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” Until the world sees how much we care about Jesus, how much we care about each other, and how much we care about the world, they will never be convinced of the gospel. If we live out the chorus of this song, they will know all those things.

In Him,
Aaron Shotts

ORDER OF WORSHIP

WELCOME

SCRIPTURE READING – Acts 20:32-35

Ring Out the Message

Seeking the Lost

PRAYER

Pass It On

COMMUNION
OFFERING

Instruments of Your Peace

The Greatest Commands

SERMON

Go Light Your World

All to Us