Context with Clayton: For August 23rd
Hey Church! Welcome to Context with Clayton!
This is a way for me to communicate with you about what songs we are singing this week, why we are singing them and some ideas that really emphasize what we are going to be learning about this through our scripture this week. I want to use this space to say what I wish we had time to say on Sunday mornings.
Our Scripture this week – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Center My Life – Austin Stone Worship
This song is our declaration to God that we are centering not just our Sunday morning service around Him but, we are centering our lives and our hearts around Jesus. We acknowledge in this song that there is no higher name, no greater name, none more beautiful, and none more powerful than Jesus. We are setting the tone of our hearts to be in tune with Jesus in this song.
Be Thou My Vision – Ascend The Hill
This is a take on the classic hymn. I love this song so much because of the intentionality in the words. Every verse is a reminder that the things of the earth wither away but, the Kingdom of God is forever. May God be our everything and be our delight. I treat this song as a prayer – I believe that is exactly what it is. As we sing this song this week I encourage you to pray these words in your heart no matter how many times you’ve sung this song.
Firm Foundation (He Won’t) – Maverick City Music
We are singing this song one more time this week and the reason is this – We are proclaiming that Christ is our firm foundation, we are only able to stand because of His love for us. We are only able to be forgiven because of His love for us. I love this song for that reminder that Christ is all we need and that He is our sustainer and our joy in chaos. We have peace that makes no sense all because of Jesus. So I challenge you to live by the words that you sing in this song.
Sinking Deep – Hillsong Young and Free
This is our offertory piece this week and I chose it for this because of the reflective nature of the lyrics. The bridge says this “Your love so deep, it washes over me. Your face is all I seek, You are my everything. Jesus Christ, You are my one desire, Lord hear my only cry, to know You all my life.” What a beautiful prayer. I want us to use this moment to reflect and pray that these words would be the hope of our heart and the purpose of our lives. This is our response to the Gospel and resurrection story of Christ in prayer form. Pray these words throughout the week and see what our God can do when you approach every moment with this attitude in your heart!
Brokenness Aside – All Sons and Daughters
You already know how much I love this piece. It speaks directly to our humanity and our flaws. It is a reminder that through it all, and in all our brokenness Jesus chose to die for us. Do we exemplify a love like that? We call ourselves Christians but, do we always and consistently live our day to day life sacrificially and in service to others? We can always be reminded of our flaws but, even more so – we need to be reminded that God sent His one and only Son to die in spite of our brokenness. That is what this song is about, our relationship with God even though we are unworthy to know Him at all – He chose us. We are reminded to be grateful and are encouraged to live more like Jesus on a daily basis when we sing this song.
Closing Thoughts:
Thank you for being here, and thank you for coming back! It is a joy to serve you and we love worshiping God together with you every single Sunday! That being said, worship is not designated for Sunday morning church or Sunday School/Small Group. It is for every breath we draw, every scenario and trouble we are faced with, it is a condition and perspective of the heart. May we go through this week energized, filled with God’s love and purpose for our lives.
Grace and Peace,
Clayton Hill