2000 Years Ago
1 Savior
1 Betrayal
1 Ear Restored
1 Arrest
12 Disciples Run
1 Trial
1 Whipping Post
1 Lead Tipped Whip
39 Lashes
1 Crown of Thorns
1 Cross
1 Hill
3 Nails
5 Wounds
2 Thieves
1 Robe
6 Hours
7 Sayings
1 Mourning Mother
1 Ripped Curtain
1 Borrowed Tomb
75 lbs of myrrh and aloes
3 Days Dead
1 Stone
1 Seal
2 Guards
2 White Robed Angels
0 Bodies in the Tomb
*Image courtesy of Vaishakh Pillai
In Psalm 23, King David writes: “The Lord is my shepherd. I have everything I need. He gives me rest in green pastures. He leads me to calm water. He gives me new strength. For the good of His name, He leads me on paths that are right. Even if I walk through a very dark valley, I will not be afraid because You are with me. Your rod and Your shepherd’s staff comfort me. You prepare a meal for me in front of my enemies. You pour oil of blessing on my head. You give me more than I can hold. Surely Your goodness and love will be with me all my life. And I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23, ICB
I believe and embrace that scripture with all of my heart, but I don’t feel it today. Today, I feel as if I’m far away from the rest of the green pastures and from that goodness and love.
But it doesn’t matter how I feel right now. I choose to believe the Lord.
Psalm 23 does more than tell us that God protects, guides, and blesses. Instead, like any good story, it shows us instead the image of who we truly are – a powerless sheep stranded in a world of dangerous ditches and ravenous wolves. Psalm 23 shows us that we need a shepherd.
We need the Good Shepherd – Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can truly bring us to that everlasting goodness and love.
*Image by Javardh
The following outline was arranged for the church where I serve. It is based on the ACTS acrostic (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication) and the worship practices of King David. Please use creativity and flexibility as you plan out your transitions between songs, scriptures, and corporate prayer. I pray it will bless you as it has me.
Opening Worship Song suggestions
Adoration Section
Confession Section
Thanksgiving Section
Supplication Section
Prayer Activity – Go back to your prayer groups you were in at the beginning. Share prayer requests of which you intend to lift up to the Lord during our time of prayer and fasting. Then, pray with your group until everyone has shared and every request has been prayed for. Music will play during this prayer time and will continue until everyone has finished. Allow this to be the end of the night of worship.
*Song selections may vary as the original songs were chosen in January 2024. Photo courtesy of JoJo
Caring – “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s not.” – The Lorax
Talking – “Our generation has lost the value of romance, the value of trust, the value of conversation. Sadly, small talk is the new deep.” – Anonymous
Traveling – “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
Reading – “There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.” – Walt Disney
Praying – “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” – Martin Luther
Studying – “Never regard study as a duty, but as the enviable opportunity to learn.” – Albert Einstein
Resting – “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Jesus
Loving – “Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” – Mother Theresa
Serving – “Everybody can be great… because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” – Martin Luther King.
Working – “There is no substitute for hard work.” – Thomas A. Edison
*Image courtesy of Kelly Sikkema
The original author of O Come, O Come Emmanuel is unknown, but it was most likely an 8th or 9th century monk or nun. Roughly 1000 years later, an Anglican priest named John Mason Neale discovered the song while reading Psalterium Cationum Catholicorum, an ancient book of Latin poetry and music.
Neale lived in the Madeira Islands near the continent of Africa, where he had started an orphanage, a school for girls, and a ministry to reclaim prostitutes. He spoke many languages, including Latin, and was able to translate O Come, O Come Emmanuel into English. He first played and sang it for the people he served, who were considered the lowest of society. It was so well received that Neale included the song in his 1851 collection titled Mediaeval Hymns and Sequences.
The song is written as if you are in the first century and you are awaiting the actual birth of the Messiah. An anticipation is there for what Jesus would bring. The original Latin text contains seven antiphons (verses) which work together to help the reader or singer focus on the coming Christmas. Most modern versions do not include all seven and rarely in the same order as the original. Here are those verses in order and their related meanings:
You can see from the order above that the 8th and 9th century Christians who declared these verses sang them in the opposite order than most people today. Back then, they wouldn’t sing the “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” verse until Christmas Eve. They did this because it was the fulfillment of the song and of the expectation of the Messiah.
The original Latin text creates a reverse acrostic which is not fulfilled or seen until the last verse is sung. When the ancient worshipers finally sang this verse on Christmas Eve, the reverse acrostic was solved for all the see. The message it proclaimed was “I shall be with you tomorrow.”
Click Here to Hear “O Come, O Come Emmanuel sung by Maverick City
*Image courtesy of Kelly Sekkema
**This is a repost from Dec 13, 2022 by request
As Christmas approaches, churches often plan services where congregations of all sizes and all ages hold lighted candles and pass the flame to others as they sing carols. While this practice brings concern to fire marshals, church facilities personnel, and parents of small participating children, it can also be extremely meaningful.
But I sometimes wonder why. What is the significance of candles at Christmas?
Although candles were often used in ancient winter solstice celebrations as a way of remembering that spring would soon come, Christians most likely picked up the practice of using candles from Judaism where candles were used in ancient services for various purposes. As unspiritual as it may sound, candles were probably first used as a source of illumination (not the spiritual kind).
At some point, in early Christian worship, someone realized the light of the candle could easily symbolize Jesus who once said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” (John 8:12)
Over the years, people began to associate candlelight with various spiritual practices. In Orthodox traditions, members were encouraged to place small votive candles in small sandboxes which symbolized a spirit of prayer within the church. To Catholic and Protestant clergy alike, candlelight often represented the power and the presence of God, akin to the pillar of fire that led the Israelites in Exodus. To others, candles represented their prayers being lifted to the Lord, symbolizing their lives as offerings to Him, being slowly consumed in their Christian service. And at Christmas in the Middle Ages, a large lit candle was used to represent the star of Bethlehem.
It can be a moving experience to be a part of a service when the lights are lowered, a carol is sung, and the candle flame is passed from believer to believer. It is certainly visually stimulating to see a worship center filled with countless numbers of candles, filling the darkness with light. If that light carries meaning, it can be an even greater experience (especially if you can keep from dripping burning wax on your hands)
Merry Christmas.
*Image courtesy of Zoran Kokanovic
All across the nation and around the world, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. However, it many houses of worship, even those with the best decorations, it doesn’t yet sound much like Christmas. There are many reasons for this (and I’ll write more in future posts) but one reason is that the sound and feel of many Christmas carols and songs are often quite different from many modern worship songs. Christmas carols are filled with nostalgia and wonder, yet many are written in mysterious sounding keys with varying time signatures and often have hard to understand lyrics. On the other hand, worship songs are often written in straightforward time signatures with predictable (I mean that in a good way) lyrics and (dare I say it) easier to play keys.
It is possible to have the best of both worlds, but like many good things, it takes some effort. That’s why I’m always pleased to hear new Christmas worship songs that are strong musically and lyrically and quite frankly, work well for powerful worship experiences. One of my new favorites is the new Christmas anthem Manger Throne, written by Jonathan Smith and Tony Wood and released by Phil Wickham.
Here’s what Wickham recently shared with CCM magazine: “More than a Christmas song, this is a worship song… Every Christmas season, when I take the time to think on it, I am amazed in a greater way of the moment when Creator stepped into creation. God in human flesh. Heaven walking on earth. Everything about how Jesus came was different than what we would have expected, and also far better. He met us right in our humanity.”
Check out Manger Throne at one of the links below.
*Click here for the official music video
**Click here for the lyric video
***Click here for ccm article mentioned in the post.
Merry Christmas!
*Image courtesy of ProChurch Tools
In recent years, I’ve written about Christmas services, traditions, and worship practices. I’ve shared the origins of Christmas carols and posted pictures from family and church celebrations. I’ve never even written a short note about white bread.
Until now.
In 1942, Ellen Barbara Segner created Little Miss Sunbeam for the Quality Bakers of America. The character was based on a young girl Segner observed playing in New York’s Washington Square Park. Over the years, she produced over 30 oil paintings of Little Miss Sunbeam for the company in its marketing
For well over 60 years, the Quality Bakers of America has changed its bread packaging just after Thanksgiving to add an image of Little Miss Sunbeam bowing her head in prayer. Next to her, the phrase “Not by bread alone” is written. This is a portion of a quote from Jesus who, in Matthew 4:4, said “It is written: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God.” This packaging usually remains until early in the new year.
The Quality Bakers of America’s blog states that the annual temporary change in marketing “serves as a gentle nudge to look beyond the material aspects of life. It encourages consumers to reflect on the spiritual nourishment that goes hand in hand with the festive season.”
I don’t know anything about the Quality Bakers of America. Their executives and employees may simply be continuing the packaging for tradition’s sake or as a marketing technique. Regardless, the image and message has reminded millions at Christmas time that people need more than the meeting of physical needs to truly live.
We need the “bread of life.”
We need Jesus.
*Image courtesy of the Quality Bakers of America
**Special thanks to my friend Dr. Shantrell Byrd
A few years ago, my wife invited a mom and her preschool daughter to our home to help decorate for Christmas. She asked the young girl if she would place the Nativity scene figures in a small stable that was sitting on an end table near our sofa. The little girl smiled upon hearing the opportunity. She looked carefully at each piece before placing the Baby Jesus figure, who was of course lying in a manger, in the center of the stable. Then, she slowly placed Mary and Joseph, the animals, the shepherds, the wise men, and finally, the angel.
Sounds pretty normal, right? Most people would probably use the same process.
Except…
Instead of facing the figures outward, this young girl placed them facing the center of the stable.
I remember thinking, “What has she done? These characters aren’t facing the people who will be looking at the nativity scene. They look like they’re just focused on Jesus.”
Then, I realized that she had it right. Jesus is the center of the story. It’s all about Him. Why would the figures look at anything or anyone else but Him?
That’s a good life lesson for us all as well. This year, let’s fix our eyes on Jesus. Let’s make Christmas all about Him.
I hear the question every December: “Is Christmas Really Jesus’ Birthday?”
In short, yes and no.
The argument, as I see it, is less about Christmas and more about December 25th.
Many people believe that Christmas is actually based on Saturnalia, a pagan festival for Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture and time. This festival began as a single day held on December 17 yet by the first century before Christ, it had expanded to a seven day festival. Saturnalia was a holiday for everyone, even the enslaved. Homes were decorated with wreaths and greenery. Saturnalia led to another Roman holiday connected to the winter solstice which recognized the birthday of the Roman sun god Sol Invictus.
On the other hand, some theologians believe that the Annunciation (when the angel Gabriel shared with Mary that she would give birth to the Son of God) took place on March 25. Therefore, since the average term of a human pregnancy is 9 months, the due date for the Messiah must have been December 25.
The Roman Emperor Constantine was raised in the cult of the Unconquered Sun God and most likely celebrated Saturnalia and worshiped Sol Invictus. However, Constantine converted to Christianity in 312. Shortly after, he declared it the official religion of the Roman empire. He made a conscious effort in turning the culture of his day away from paganism and toward Christ. Because of his influence, western Christians began celebrating Christmas (Christ Mass) on December 25 in 336. Constantine’s efforts were continued by Pope Julius 1st, who declared in 385 that Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Jesus, would be observed on December 25.
So, when was Jesus born? Lee Strobel, author of The Case For Christmas, states that it must have been in the spring because shepherds were watching their flocks by night, which they would have done in the spring when ewes bore their young.
That makes sense to me.
But does it really matter?
Several years ago, my wife wished our niece a happy birthday on her actual birthday. “Thank you,” she replied, “But my mom changed my birthday this year so tell me again this coming Saturday.” Her mother didn’t really change her birthday, just the time of the celebration of her birthday. But we still had cake and presents and sang “Happy Birthday” to her on the day of celebration.
Point being, the date didn’t change the importance of our niece’s birthday. In a similar way, we celebrate the birth of Jesus on the 25th of December, knowing full well He could have just as well been in March, April, or August. Celebrating the birth of Jesus is what’s important, not the date.
But what about those practices that came along with Saturnalia? Are we somehow worshiping the sun god as we hang our wreaths, drape our garland, go caroling in our neighborhoods, and exchange gifts?
I believe the answer lies in intentions.
It’s doubtful, at least to me, that the ancient Roman Christians were trying to trick us all into worshiping the sun. They were most likely seeking an alternative to Saturnalia and wanted to focus on Jesus instead of the pagan god, so they began celebrating Christmas instead. Overtime, the intent of Saturnalia was overtaken by the celebration of Jesus’ birth. In a sense, this festive time of the year was redeemed by these early saints.
There are probably some people who hang their decorations and celebrate Saturnalia instead of Christmas, but that is not my intent. I imagine it’s not your intent either.
So, Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday, Jesus.
*Image courtesy of Jonathan Borba
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