rootedandrelevant

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Wade Carefully

“I tagged him in the post, but he didn’t respond. He can’t defend it, a coward.” ________________ This is far too often the lense of the online-and-quasi-public theologian. There was a time when, in order to *meaningfully* engage on a subject with an adept theologian, you needed to have demonstrated effort and labor on your part. Yes it’s about preparing yourself for a discussion/debate. And…

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Song of the Month: January 2022

Song of the Month: January 2022

God omniscient, God all-knowing in His wisdom does ordainEvery working of creation to the glory of His nameWho His thoughts can dare to fathom, Who His judgments can contain?None His equal, unassailable, He our God who ever reignsGod all-keeping, omnipresent, in the passing days of manFirst to last, not one forgotten by His strong and steering handHe the Sovereign Lord now praise we, He the fount…

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Song of the Month: DECEMBER 2021

Song of the Month: DECEMBER 2021

Who is this, divine and tender, hailing from eternal shores?Once arrayed in highest splendor, now in poverty adornedHe is Jesus, God made mortal, Word in flesh, the Light of LifeFrom a throne room to a stable, hope is born this holy nightWho is this of might and meekness, given all authority?With a word He stills the tempest, at His touch the blind can seeHe is Jesus our Messiah, long awaited,…

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Song of the Month: November 2021

Song of the Month: November 2021

Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my song,The joy of my heart. and the boast of my tongue;Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last,Hath won my affections, and bound my soul fast.Without Thy sweet mercy I could not live here;Sin would reduce me to utter despair;But, through Thy free goodness, my spirits revive,And He that first made me still keeps me alive.Whene’er I mistake, thy kind…

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Song of the Month: October 2021

Song of the Month: October 2021

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!You have relieved me in my distress;Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.O sons of men, how long will my glory become a reproach?How long will you love what is worthless and seek falsehood? Selah.But know that Yahweh has set apart the holy one for Himself;Yahweh hears when I call to Him.Tremble, and do not sin;Ponder in your heart upon your bed,…

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Song of the Month: September 2021

Song of the Month: September 2021

God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us. Selah.That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations.Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You.Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You will judge the peoples with uprightness and lead the nations on the earth. Selah.(Psalm 67:1-4) “Missions is for the glory of…

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Song of the Month: August 2021

Song of the Month: August 2021

As day unfolds, I seek Your will in all of life’s demandsAnd though the tempter tries me still, I cling to Your commandsLet every effort of my life display the matchless worth of ChristMake me a living sacrifice; be glorified today The Christian life isn’t one triumph after another. We endure suffering, sin, persecution, and temptation while fixing our gaze on Jesus’ promised coming. Through his…

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Song of the Month: July 2021

Song of the Month: July 2021

Your grace that I cannot explainNot by my earthly wisdomThe prince of life, without a stainWas traded for this sinner The lyrical craftsmanship, though not flawless, is so strong. They shines in topical development. It follows the theme of grace through the believer’s life. Verse 1 introduces the theme, that grace comes from Jesus’ blood and not our merit.Verse 2 celebrates the Gospel call…

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Song of the Month: June 2021

Song of the Month: June 2021

You called us, Lord, to join Your workTo raise a pure and holy churchA temple made of living stonesUnited as Your Spirit’s home;And so we pray: “Lord, build Your church!”Deploy Your saints across the earth;Destroy hell’s feeble, falling gates;And glory in Your church’s praise!Words by Chris Anderson; Music by Greg Habegger. © 2019 Church Works Media. All rights reserved. “I will build My…

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Song of the Month: May 2021

Song of the Month: May 2021

Christ is callingFind refreshingAt the cross of living watersLay your life downAll the old goneRise up in these living waters  Our lives are a rhythm of need and nourishment. Even a rhythm of danger and deliverance. We read Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:14, this is what we read: “…whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst – ever; but the…

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Song of the Month: April 2021

Song of the Month: April 2021

“Though tears now veil our eyesYour steadfast love, our perfect hopeOur eyes are fixed on graceWe have no doubt You’ll lead us homeTo finally see Your face” When it comes to remembering God’s faithfulness, we can be especially forgetful, can’t we? One striking example of this is in Exodus, where in the span of just a couple of chapters, we see the Israelites delivered from slavery and brought…

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Song of the Month: March 2021

Song of the Month: March 2021

In his book, Christian Leaders of the 18th Century, J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) spends a chapter on who is perhaps my most admired hymnwriter, August Toplady, the gifted but often contentious hymn-writer/pastor who is most well-known for penning “Rock of Ages.” (His portrait occupies some wall space in my office if there’s any doubt!) I appreciated Ryle’s comments on the effect of writing good songs…

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Can You Escape God?

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You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.Psalm 139:2-6 When you wish to do…

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Song of the Month: February 2021

Song of the Month: February 2021

What is my worth? The world we dwell in values the skillful and the winners, the famous and profitable, the thrill of reckless abandon and flaunting glamour. The Apostle Paul reminds us that without Christ, whatever we gain in this world will be counted as loss. “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth…

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"O Christ, What Burdens Bowed Thy Head"

O Christ, what burdens bowed Thy head!Our load was laid on Thee;Thou stoodest in the sinner’s stead,Didst bear all ill for me.A Victim led, Thy blood was shed;Now there’s no load for me.Death and the curse were in our cup:O Christ, ’twas full for Thee;But Thou hast drained the last dark drop,’Tis empty now for me.That bitter cup, love drank it up;Now blessing’s draught for me.Jehovah lifted up…

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Song of the Month: January 2021

Song of the Month: January 2021

” The man upheld by God knows whom to fear most, whom to obey when his flesh resists and protests, and he knows the one for whom his soul longs and waits. The fears of his present fade and dissipate next to the light of his future.” (Marshall Segal) He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his…

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Sunday Worship Guide: Dec 6, 2020

Sunday Worship Guide: Dec 6, 2020

A guide of songs and scripture for our December 6, 2020 worship service. There are details of our services that are not listed below. The elements listed here are provided for those who wish to use them for private and/or public worship, prayer, and learning.

Prelude

What is in the well of the heart will come up through the bucket of the mouth.

J. Vernon McGee

Announcements

Call to…