Yesterday's message at church had this as the one point:

Worship is our RESPONSE to the REVELATION of who God is.

So that was one "revelation" on Sunday ... that the more you are aware of the character, love, and forgiveness of God, the more you respond with sponateous acts of worship.

Those acts of worship may include singing, serving, or, as in the case of the message's lead character from Luke 7:36-50, anointing the soles of Jesus' feet with perfume.

But the second revelation on Sunday was WHO delivered the message: Chris Macedo, our Pastor of Worship Arts.



Now Chris has been here almost five years, and in that time I've learned that he can sing. He can strum a relentless rhythm guitar. He can play the keyboards in ways that are both subtle and bold. He can drum. He can design and produce videos. He can engineer lighting cues. He can lead a band to play in ways that are unified and seamless. He can call out praise from a worship leading choir. He can understand and live out our staff mantra that "the most important part of your job is not your job . . . it's helping us be the best team we can be." I knew he could do all of that.

But I never knew he could preach.

Until yesterday.

Chris was relaxed. He was funny. He was biblically accurate. He was historically informative. He engaged the mind and the heart. He was a wordsmith.

In short, his preaching ministry was a revelation.

The second one of the day.

(Later on Monday, you can watch the message at www.gsumc.org/media)

Down To Earth moves to its second week with a message I simply can't wait to deliver: Steady As She Goes.

Check out Acts 11:19-26 and figure out if you can see why I'm so excited . . . and what in the world the Holy Spirit has to do with that little story in which not very much appears to happen.

Part of our response to the message will include something we have never done before but something I know will bless and grow large numbers of people in the Good Shepherd community.

Sunday.

8:30. 10. 11:30.


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Speaking of the message title, I've always like this song by the Raconteurs.

While we won't play it in worship this Sunday, it's still a lot of fun.

Enjoy:

What’s better than being called “down to earth?”

We use that phrase to describe people who are sensible, humble, and wise.

Except . . . what if God sent his power down to earth? What if, in an invisible yet irresistible way, God shared the beauty and glory of heaven with those of us who are still living on this planet?

We believe that’s just what God has done. We call that expression of God the Holy Spirit.

Becoming filled with that Spirit is at the heart of a living relationship with Jesus Christ.

Down To Earth. It’s one of the most heavenly things God does.

February 26: Chuck The Checklist
March 4: Steady As She Goes
March 11: Monday On Sunday
March 18: Beyond Limitations
March 25: R & R

It's not often that we change a planned ending at the last minute.

But we did this week.

I believe our concluding time will be an ideal fit with all that has come before it. Not only that comes before it this Sunday, but all that's come before it throughout the But For The Grace Of God series.

So this Sunday it's Grace Invaders from Ephesians 1:3-14.

With an all new, director's cut ending.

Sunday.

8:30. 10. 11:30.