Sunday, May 4 - He Still Lives...In Revelation
Possible call to worship:
Psalm 103:1 - "Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!"
What a Beautiful Name / Agnus Dei - arr. Travis Cottrell (listen here, purchase here)
What a beautiful name it is, the name of Jesus Christ, my King.
Holy are You, Lord God Almighty. Worthy is the Lamb!
Worship leader:
Possible Scripture - 1 Corinthians 2:9-12 (highlights the Spirit's role as Revealer)
H466 / Holy Spirit (consider the attached Getty hymn arrangement for a refreshed accompaniment)
Holy Spirit, living Breath of God, breathe new life into my willing soul;
Bring the presence of the risen Lord to renew my heart and make me whole.
O Breath of God - Getty (see hymn arrangement attached, and choral arrangement here)
O Breath of God, come fill this place; revive our hearts to know Your grace
And from our slumber make us rise, that we may know The Risen Christ.
Guide Me, O My Great Redeemer - Sovereign Grace (listen and download for free here)
Let Your Spirit, ever with me, be the compass on my way… Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ within me every day.
H9 / God Is In Our Presence (opening hymn option)
Make us truly humble, free from world's ambition, serving Thee our firm decision.
Make us pure of heart, Lord, that we see Thee clearly, truly seeking Thee sincerely.
Let our hearts earth depart like an eagle soaring; Thee alone adoring.
H24, CH633 / Open Our Eyes, Lord (response option)
...we want to see Jesus.
Show Us Christ - Sovereign Grace (listen and download for free here; response option)
O God, reveal Your glory through the preaching of Your word until ev'ry heart confesses: "Christ is Lord!"
I Stand Amazed in the Presence (see piano solo arrangement here; acceptance option)
How marvelous! How wonderful! And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous! How wonderful! Is my Savior’s love for me!
CH618 / In His Presence (acceptance option)
In Your presence there is comfort, in Your presence, there is peace.
When we seek to know Your heart we will find such blessed assurance, in Your holy presence, Lord.
H340 / With Contrite Heart I Come to Thee (repentance option)
Reveal then clearly, Lord, Thy countenance to me; extend Thy grace that I may now be reconciled to Thee.
H347, CH462 / Come, Share the Lord (communion option)
He joins us here, He breaks the bread, the Lord who pours the cup is risen from the dead...
H235, CH562 / Be Thou My Vision (closing option)
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; naught be all else to me save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought by day or by night, waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Sunday, May 11 - He Still Lives...In Praise
Possible call to worship:
Come, Christians, Join to Sing (piano solo / organ solo - see attached)
H508, CH367 / Christ the Lord Is Risen Today (consider using verses 3 and 5 to highlight Eastertide!)
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where's thy vict'ry, boasting grave? Alleluia!
Hail the Lord of earth and heav'n, Alleluia! Praise to Thee by both be giv'n, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia! Hail the Resurrection, Thou, Alleluia!
Worship leader:
Possible Scripture - Psalm 103:1 - "Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!"
10,000 Reasons - Matt Redman (listen here, purchase here)
Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul; worship His holy name.
Sing like never before, O my soul; I'll worship Your holy name.
CH815 / Doxology
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
All Creatures of Our God and King - Sovereign Grace (listen and download for free here; also H2, CH63)
*This is a great arrangement with easier chords than the hymn for growing guitar players!
O praise Him! O Praise Him! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Psalm 150 (Praise the Lord) - Matt Boswell, Matt Papa (listen here, purchase here)
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord; Sing His greatness all creation.
Praise the Lord, Raise your voice; You heights and all you depths,
From furthest east to west, let ev'rything that has breath praise the Lord!
H54 / O That I Had a Thousand Voices (opening hymn option)
Dear Father, endless praise I render with all I have, both heart and mind...
CH5 / I Sing Praises (consider verse 1 for response, then verse 2 for acceptance, with key change)
I sing praises to Your name, O Lord, praises to Your name, O Lord;
For Your name is great and greatly to be praised!
I Know That My Redeemer Lives - Getty, Laura Story (listen here, purchase here; acceptance option)
I know that my Redeemer lives - what hope this sweet assurance gives! He lives - the tomb is empty still!
H60, CH1 / Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven (acceptance option; nice tie with repentance/communion moments coming)
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven; to His feet your tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, who like you His praise shall sing?
Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise the everlasting King!
H376 / I Praise God's Love in Adoration (repentance/communion option)
All thoughts of self from me I'll banish into the gulf of love to vanish.
My heart is Thine, in earth and heaven, Redeemer, Thou my greatest good.
In word and deed, in all my nature, may Thou, Lord, be in ev'ry feature.
H34, CH225 / Come, Christians, Join to Sing (closing hymn option)
Praise yet the Lord again: "Alleluia! Amen!"
Life shall not end the strain: "Alleluia! Amen!"
On heaven's blissful shore His goodness we'll adore,
Singing forevermore: "Alleluia! Amen!"
Sunday, May 18 - He Still Lives...In Every Situation
Possible Scripture to be included in worship, or as inspiration for a call to worship:
1 Peter 1:3
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
Philippians 3:7-11
"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead."
CH12 / Praise Him! Praise Him!
Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Living Hope - Phil Wickham (listen here, purchase here)
Who could imagine so great a mercy? What heart could fathom such boundless grace?
The God of ages stepped down from glory to wear my sin and bear my shame.
The cross has spoken; I am forgiven. The King of kings calls me His own.
Beautiful Savior, I'm Yours forever. Jesus Christ, my living hope.
Then came the morning that sealed the promise. Your buried body began to breathe;
Out of the silence the Roaring Lion declared the grave has no claim on me.
Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free! Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me!
You have broken ev'ry chain. There's salvation in Your name. Jesus Christ, my living hope.
Christ Our Hope in Life and Death - Getty, Matt Papa (listen here, purchase here)
Unto the grave, what will we sing? "Christ, He lives; Christ, He lives!"
And what reward will heaven bring? Everlasting life with Him.
There we will rise to meet the Lord, then sin and death will be destroyed,
And we will feast in endless joy, when Christ is ours forevermore.
O sing hallelujah! Our hope springs eternal; O sing hallelujah!
Now and ever we confess Christ our hope in life and death.
The Power of the Cross - Getty (listen here, purchase here; see hymn version attached)
Death is crushed to death, Life is mine to live, Won through Your selfless love. This, the power of the cross...
H43, CH33 / Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise (opening hymn option)
To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small; in all life Thou livest, the true life of all.
Thy wisdom so boundless, Thy mercy so free, Eternal Thy goodness, for naught changeth Thee.
H512 / I Know That My Redeemer Lives (response option; see sheet music arrangement attached as well)
He lives to bless me with His love. He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed. He lives to bless in time of need.
He lives to grant me rich supply. He lives to guide me with His eye.
He lives to comfort me when faint. He lives to hear my soul's complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears. He lives to wipe away my tears.
He lives to calm my troubled heart. He lives all blessings to impart.
He lives, all glory to His name! He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: "I know that my Redeemer lives!"
Because He Lives - Matt Maher (listen here, purchase here; acceptance option)
I was dead in the grave. I was covered in sin and shame. I heard mercy call my name. He rolled the stone away!
Amen, Amen, I'm alive, I'm alive because He lives!
He Will Hold Me Fast - Getty (listen here, purchase here; repentance/communion option)
*Consider combining this with "Be Still My Soul" (H174, CH712)
Before the Throne of God Above - Sovereign Grace (listen and download for free here)
Because the sinless Savior died my sinful soul is counted free...
H91, CH309 / I Will Sing of My Redeemer (communion option; listen to Fernando Ortega's arrangement here / purchase here)
I will praise my dear Redeemer, of His mighty pow'r I'll tell,
How He rose and stood victorious over sin and death and hell.
H357, CH356 / Redeemed (communion option; see piano solo arrangement here)
Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed thro' His infinite mercy, His child, and forever, I am.
BB237 / All Thanks and Praises (closing option; where applicable, consider having the choir sing verse 1, with the congregation joining for verse 2)
All thanks and praises be to God who through His love has made us free.
And through his grace we are his own.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Sing to the Lord; in joyful song, give praise and glory to His name!
He reigns, our God, our Lord and King.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Sunday, May 25 - He Still Lives...In the Church
Brethren, We Have Met to Worship (see simple piano solo arrangement here)
Possible call to worship:
Psalm 95:6-7 - "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand." (consider saying this Scripture, and then singing it - see below)
CH227 / Come, Let Us Worship and Bow Down
Here I Am to Worship - Tim Hughes (listen here, purchase here)
Here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, here I am to say that You're my God.
You're altogether lovely, altogether worthy, altogether wonderful to me.
Oh How Good It Is - Getty, Townend (listen here, purchase here)
Oh, how good it is when the fam'ly of God dwells together in spirit, in faith and unity.
So with one voice we'll sing to the Lord; and with one heart we'll live out His Word.
Till the whole earth sees the Redeemer has come, for He dwells in the presence of His people.
Holy Spirit - Jesus Culture/Torwalt (listen and purchase here)
Holy Spirit, You are welcome here. Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere.
Your glory God is what our hearts long for, to be overcome by Your presence, Lord.
Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart (see piano solo arrangement here; also CH390)
H461 / Breathe Upon Us, Holy Spirit (consider verses 1, 2, and 4 for opening hymn, and verse 3 for repentance)
...and make glorious with Your presence this Your holy dwelling place (end of verse 1)
Now receive us, as repentant; to Your heart of love we fly... (beginning of verse 3)
Speak, O Lord - Getty (response option; listen here, purchase here)
Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds; Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us—
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we’ll stand on Your promises, And by faith we’ll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built And the earth is filled with Your glory.
CH 401 / The Church's One Foundation (see arrangement here as well)
The Church's one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord; She is His new creation by water and the Word...
H468 / Holy Spirit, Faithful Guide (response/acceptance option)
Holy Spirit, faithful Guide, ever near the Christian's side,
Gently lead us by the hand, pilgrims in a desert land.
Weary souls fore'er rejoice when they hear that sweetest voice
Whisper softly: "Wand'rer come! Follow Me, I'll guide you home."
BB272 / Holy Spirit, Teacher Thou (acceptance option; consider verse 4)
Holy Spirit, teach us ever, comfort, guide, and leave us never;
Dwell within us we implore, now and evermore.
H245, CH638 / I Need Thee Every Hour (repentance option; see piano solo arrangement here - consider a shortened version of this, with lyrics included for reflection)
I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee! O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.
O Church, Arise - Getty (closing option; listen here, purchase here)
So Spirit come, put strength in ev'ry stride, give grace for ev'ry hurdle
That we may run with faith to win the price of a servant good and faithful.
As saints of old still line the way, retelling triumphs of His grace,
We hear their calls and hunger for the day when with Christ we stand in Glory!