Thoughts on Essentials Red Project

For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Red Fall ‘08 Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt.

 

During the first week of the Essentials Red course, as we studied the Language of Time and Space, while reading the discussion posts of the other class members, I realized that each individual has had their life shaped in Christ through significant times, places, and events.  I was reminded of the second verse of the hymn, Come Thou Fount, where it says, “Here I place mine Ebenezer,” which are moments of remembrance where you realize God moving in your life.  As I read scripture, I am struck how God moves at just the right time.  He moved in the lives of the Israelites at the right time, Jesus’ birth was at the right time, His death and resurrection timed perfectly and His second coming will be in the fullness of time, all according to God’s plan and purpose.

Although I’m not a songwriter, I wrote the song, “In the Fullness of Time,” not as a congregational song, but as one to be used for special music, or to be sung during an altar call for salvation.  It tells of God bringing His salvation in the fullness of time and is roughly based on Ephesians 1:1-10.

Chord Chart In The Fullness of Time

In The Fullness of Time mp3

 

The project also includes a daily Bible study for the Advent season.  This came about during the one hour early morning prayer time the pastors host each Sunday morning at our church.  I like reading “succulent chunks” of scripture during this time and chose to read the final chapters of Isaiah a week ago.  As I was reading, I realized how these chapters seem to reveal God’s promises when Jesus comes again. Our celebration of Advent this year is tending to focus on expectantly anticipating (is that too redundant) His second coming. Therefore, I divided the passages from chapters 59 through 66 into fairly equal-length daily readings for the 2008 Advent season; allowing for divisions in seemingly logical places.  The person doing the study is asked to write down main themes they find as they read, what they believe the Holy Spirit is revealing to them as they read and a prayer for the day.  At the conclusion of the study, they are to write what the Advent season has meant for them this year.  

Advent Bible Study pdf

A Thought About Habakkuk 3 (ICEWS, eb 08)

For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt.

In reading classmates’ responses to Week One’s discussion question concerning the themes of justice, spiritual hunger and thirst, the desire for relationship, and the beauty of God in songs for worship, the prayer from Habakkuk 3 came to mind. An awesome, all powerful God is portrayed at the center of everything in this prayer.

We see His beauty referenced in the created things surrendering to Him, trembling before Him, lifting its hands to Him. His justice shows forth as he put things to right and “in wrath remember mercy.” In verses 17 – 19, the prophet longs for relationship “though the fig tree fails to blossom.” He will rejoice in the God of his salvation for He is the prophet’s strength and takes care of his steps. The prophet expresses that spiritual hunger as he proclaims, “LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known;”

Reading through the whole prayer, it seems that Habakkuk understood each of the themes but wrote with a focus of God bringing His justice. Is it difficult, then, to isolate a theme in writing a worship song? Does a theologically sound worship song, or better yet, one the worshiping congregation resounds with, touch on more than one of these themes?

Curiously enough, this passage ends with these words, “To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.” It would seem that the Holy Spirit, Who breathed these words, thought it very appropriate to use all 4 themes in this worship song.