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Woburn

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35 Olympia Avenue
Woburn, MA 01801

Service Times

Sunday 8:30 AM

Sunday 10:00 AM

Sunday 11:30 AM

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North Shore

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North Beverly Elementary School | 48 Putnam St.
Beverly, MA 01915

Service Times

Sunday 10:00 AM

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Set Congregation

Christ Is Risen

by Kyle Asmus on July 09, 2019

We sing to remember. We sing to remind ourselves that we’re part of a bigger story. We sing to ingrain truth deep into the crevices of our souls.

Introducing new worship songs isn’t as simplistic as one might think. Songs aren’t chosen based on which is qualitatively best nor are songs selected according to what the worship team prefers to play. Our aim is to pick the songs that our community most needs to sing. We introduce the music that will most effectively teach, edify, and remind us of who Jesus is, what He’s done, and what that means for us.

In short, we want to be a church that simply sings the Gospel.

The beautiful truth about the Gospel is that it never gets old and it is never exhausted. The Gospel reveals an infinite God and His infinite glory, which means there are infinite chords, melodies, harmonies, and lyrics to praise Him. It means worshipping will never get boring and we’ll never get tired of singing Gospel songs from now into eternity because He is worthy of infinite praise. We learn more about an infinite God every time we lift our voices in worship.

It also means we’ll never stop singing the same thing and repeating the same lyrics to remind ourselves that Christ is King because it’s a truth we constantly need to be reminded of! We need to continue singing the same truth until it’s buried so deeply in our hearts that every time we’re pricked, we bleed the Gospel.

These are all reasons that I’m so excited to introduce Christ is Risen this weekend. This song reminds us that our faith is grounded in the resurrection of Jesus. It reminds us of who we were, who we are now, and what we’ll be doing forever. It’s an anthem of praise - rejoicing that the grave has been conquered and Christ is risen.

As we learn this song over the coming weeks, you’ll notice the lyrics are simple and familiar (they are literally the Gospel). Instead of glossing over them and mouthing the words, let me encourage you to engage a little differently.

Posture: What if you expressed yourself in a more celebratory way? What if you raised your hands in worship (Ps. 134:8)? What if you knelt (Ps. 132:2)? What if you danced (2 Sam 6:14-17)? Worship is 100% a posture of the heart, but it’s also physical. As we sing the Gospel, you can physically show some excitement that Christ rose from the grave!

Volume: Go to a Coldplay concert and everyone is screaming along with all their hits. Go to a Pats game and there is a constant cheer that is damaging to your hearing. Why is that not the case when God’s people gather to rejoice in what He’s done to redeem them? If you want to know, feel, and enjoy the Gospel, then scream it! Shout it into the rafters and let the volume of our worship sweep you into the heavenly choir.

Pray the lyrics: During Sunday morning rehearsal, as the sun is coming up and I’m still trying to get revved up for the day, I’ll pray the lyrics as we play through the songs. It centers me. It reminds me why we do what we do, and it turns music into worship. If you’re having a hard time getting into ‘worship’ mode, pray the song. It will melt the song into your heart, and you’ll be singing it all week.

Check out the video and lyrics to Christ Is Risen below!

Christ Is Risen
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now I'm found
Was blind but now I see
Hallelujah, Christ is risen from the grave
Hallelujah, Christ is risen from the grave

The prodigal is welcomed home
The sinner now a saint
For the God who died came back to life
And everything is changed
Hallelujah, Christ is risen from the grave
Hallelujah, Christ is risen from the grave

O death, where is your sting?
O fear, where is your power?
The mighty King of kings has disarmed you
Delivered and redeemed
Eternal life is ours
O praise His name forever

Hallelujah, Christ is risen from the grave
Hallelujah, Christ is risen from the grave
And all throughout eternity our song will be the same
Hallelujah, Christ is risen from the grave

And on the day You call me in
To heaven's sweet embrace
I'll see Your scars, Your open arms
The beauty of Your face
And through tears of joy, I'll lift my voice
In everlasting praise
Hallelujah, Christ is risen from the grave