The gifts that God gives us are innumerable and immeasurable. Looking at Jesus incarnate is astounding on so many levels. From the perspective of God sending away His one and only Son to a place where He would have to endure pain and suffering is unfathomable. From the perspective of Jesus being willing to do so, it shows just how much He loves His Father and how much He loves us. While we can never repay God, there are still ways that we can give Him gifts in return through our lives and our acts of service. Our songs this week all focus on the gift He gave us with His life and our response to that gift.
1. There Is a Redeemer
“Thank You, oh my Father, for giving us Your Son.” Melody Green gives us a gorgeous song of thanks for the hope that Jesus brought to this world. Her husband, singer/songwriter Keith Green, recorded this song and released it in 1982. It would be the last album he would release before his tragic death in a plane crash. Despite the tragedy, Melody still continues their ministry and believes these words with all her heart.
2. Glorious Impossible
Some people are thrown off by the paradox of the title in this song. If what Jesus did was impossible, then how did He do it? That’s precisely the point that Carl Cartee is trying to make. It was only possible with God. That is why when we reach the chorus, we proclaim “Hallelujah” to praise Him for what He accomplished for us.
3. He Gave His Life
We introduced this song a couple months ago, and I thought this was a great week to come back and review it. We can’t speak of the gift of Jesus coming to earth without acknowledging that He did so knowing that He would have to give His life. Gary Miller, the composer, reminds us that we can show Christ’s love by giving our life for our brothers. That doesn’t have to mean dying for someone, as Jesus did. Giving your life for your brothers can be done in service and acts of love.
4. He Gave It All
Written by Gary Pendergrass, one of our elders at Creekside, this song is a great song to pair with the last one. It beautifully reminds us that Jesus “willingly became the Lamb, He the mighty, Great I Am. Saving us at awful cost, He gave it all.”
5. Lord, Take Control
Now that we’ve sung several songs about the gifts that God has given us with His birth and death, we move into songs about giving gifts back to Him. ”I give my body a living sacrifice.” Again, we are reminded that giving our lives in service to God is a wonderful gift we can give to Him
6. I Surrender All (All to Jesus I Surrender)
Most, if not all, of us have probably been singing this song our entire lives. As a result, the words can sometimes lose meaning to us because we have sung them so many times. However, think about the word “all.” Do we really surrender all? There are no doubt things in our lives which we have a hard time letting go of. Whenever we choose God over those things, I’m sure He sees our deeds as a gift of love.
7. Servant Song
As we extend the invitation, I thought it would be a great commitment for all of us to sing this song, asking God to make us servants in His kingdom.
8. Behold Our God
As we go out into the world, don’t forget to share the gifts that God has given you by declaring to the world: “Behold our God seated on His throne, come let us adore Him!”
In Him,
Aaron Shotts
ORDER OF WORSHIP
WELCOME
SCRIPTURE READING – Hebrews 13:11-16
There Is a Redeemer
Glorious Impossible
PRAYER
He Gave His Life
He Gave It All
COMMUNION
OFFERING
Lord, Take Control
All to Jesus I Surrender
SERMON
Servant Song
Behold Our God
Worship with Heart 