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Proclaim His Salvation
There is a health update at the end of this message. CHIP STAM STEM CELL DRIVE: BE THE MATCH www.carlstam.org/stemcelldrive ===================================== INSTITUTE FOR CHRISTIAN WORSHIP LECTURES BOB KAUFLIN, Chapel Leadership and Three Lectures, March 18, 2010, in Louisville, Kentucky http://tinyurl.com/ICWKauflinMarch2010 ===================================== HAITI RELIEF: Please send a generous contribution for Haiti's earthquake relief. If your trusted friends, church, or denomination can't help you with the choice of an agency, I would be happy to make a suggestion. There are lots of good options. carlstam@aol.com ====================================== What part does proclamation of the gospel play in authentic Christian worship? The psalmist declares, "Sing to the LORD, praise His Name; proclaim his salvation day after day" (Psalm 96:2); but what does it mean to proclaim His salvation? Is that just for the benefit of unbelievers? Today's WORSHIP QUOTE is from Bob Kauflin's WORSHIP MATTERS: LEADING OTHERS TO ENCOUNTER THE GREATNESS OF GOD and is part of his explanation of what it means to be a faithful worship leader. [Notice that Bob Kauflin is leading worship and lecturing on our campus this Thursday, March 18, 2010.] PROCLAIM HIS SALVATION Biblical worship involves proclamation and leads to proclaiming God's truth with our lives. We're doing more than emoting or having a "worship experience." We're declaring why God is so great, what he has accomplished, and all that he has promised. We all need to be reminded, and proclamation helps us remember. Peter tells us that we have been saved "that [we] may proclaim the excellencies of him who called [us] out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). We're meant to fulfill this command both in our meetings and in our lives. People come into our churches proclaiming all sorts of things with their words and actions. Through close-fisted giving, some are asserting how much their own personal wealth matters. Others, by their complaining, are declaring that personal comfort matters. Teens in the latest fashions may be proclaiming that being cool matters. Others confirm through their smiles or frowns that their musical preferences matter. But we want each of them to leave proclaiming this: THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST MATTERS. God's Word commands us to "proclaim his salvation day after day" (Psalm 96:2, NIV). Proclaiming this salvation should be a daily practice and preoccupation for as long as we live. --Bob Kauflin, WORSHIP MATTERS: LEADING OTHERS TO ENCOUNTER THE GREATNESS OF GOD. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2008, pp. 129-130. ISBN-13: 978-1-58134-824-8. Highly recommended--this is a fantastic volume. A significant portion of the book is dedicated to unpacking Kauflin's thoughtful definition of a faithful worship leader. Here it is: A faithful worship leader magnifies the greatness of God in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit by skillfully combining God's Word with music, thereby motivating the gathered church to proclaim the gospel, to cherish God's presence, and to live for God's glory. (p. 55) [Here is one more thing about proclamation: Our church has adopted a mission statement that has helped our congregation to see the proper place of proclamation. What do you think? Clifton Baptist Church exists for the proclamation of God in Christ for the transformation of God's people for the exaltation of God in all things. ==================== THE PLACE OF THE CHOIR IN WORSHIP: PART 1 (Ed Willmington): http://www.wqotw.org/quote.php?date=2010-01-05 THE PLACE OF THE CHOIR IN WORSHIP: PART 2 (Carl Stam): http://www.wqotw.org/quote.php?date=2010-01-12 THE PLACE OF THE CHOIR IN WORSHIP: PART 3 (Donald Hustad): http://www.wqotw.org/quote.php?date=2010-01-19 THE PLACE OF THE CHOIR IN WORSHIP: PART 4 (Ron Man): http://www.wqotw.org/quote.php?date=2010-01-26 ==================== Blessings to all! Chip Stam Director, Institute for Christian Worship School of Church Ministries The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky www.wqotw.org www.sbts.edu/icw ===================================== HEALTH UPDATE & PRAYER REQUEST FOR CHIP STAM, CANCER PATIENT www.carlstam.org/stemcelldrive ===================================== Dear Praying Friends, Thanks again for praying for my cancer treatment and for my healing. Please pray, too, for the success of our ongoing stem cell drive. The doctors are still looking for a perfect match for me. Here is the best place for information about the drive: www.carlstam.org/stemcelldrive. To date we have gathered over 900 new samples for the national registry and over $23,000 towards our goal of $45,000 to cover the processing of the samples. Maybe some people in your circle of acquaintances would be willing to "get a kit" or "give a kit." Longer journal entries and some new photos about my cancer treatment are available at www.caringbridge.org/visit/carlstam (click on "journal" or "photos"). I went to the Brown Cancer Clinic on Monday, March 15 for lab work (blood tests) and to check in with the clinicians. My "numbers" are low but stable, meaning that I am not in danger of infection and just need to rest and be smart for now. On March 24 I will have another PET scan to see how the lymphoma is responding to the current chemo treatments. At that time, if there is still not a perfect match from the registry, we will discuss the various risks of using a mismatched unrelated donor or one of my unmatched siblings. Each of those options has a different set of risks—mostly with what is called Graft vs. Host Disease. ("Certain cures can kill you," the nurse told us.) I am still feeling OK. My appetite is OK. Fatigue is a major factor in my day's activities—not a familiar part of my routine. We are still fighting. Please keep praying; pray for a very wise decision about the donor and for protection from Graft vs. Host Disease. Don't forget to care for the cancer patients in your families, churches, neighborhoods, and places of employment. In Christ's perfect love, Chip Stam =========================== WORSHIP QUOTE OF THE WEEK: To subscribe, unsubscribe, or view a complete index of worship quotes, please visit http://www.wqotw.org. =========================== |