The theologian Gordon fee said this, “Show me a church’s songs and I’ll show you their theology.” For his sermon this week Pastor Noah asked me to tell him the top three songs that we have sung at August Gate. Thankfully we use Planning Center Online and I can track those things (we have been using it since September of ‘09). I was a little giddy when I saw the results:

Augusts Gate’s Top 3 Most Sung Songs

1. In the Shadow of the Glorious Cross by Sojourn
2. Because of Your Love by Phil Wickham
3. In Your Name by Austin City Life

Praise God! I understand that through planning for services by the leading of God’s Word and His Spirit that I “picked” these for us to sing but more importantly it has been how we as a church have responded to the truth that they convey.

• I’ll never forget the first time I heard In the Shadow of the Glorious Cross. My friend Jake Gehret led it at a service that I attended. I was struck instantly by the poetic nature that it communicated the doctrine of the Cross. It is a beautiful song that never gets old for me because it sings of the single most important act in history and the only response to that is the very appropriate chorus of, “Hallelujah!” We have been able to sing it as a song of celebration and reflection. I pray that our church never loses its wonder in the Cross and what it means for us.
• To be honest I never really liked Phil Wickham until I heard his Singalong album. It wasn’t him personally, I just wasn’t very fond of his style. When I heard the stripped down goodness of that album I was captivated by the most important aspect of his songs, the lyrics. Because of Your Love has become a great anthem of reflection for us at August Gate. You cannot help but to reflect on the goodness of the Gospel. 
• Last but not least is In Your Name. My good buddy and music companion Chase Abner sent me an email linked to the ONE ep that was free on Noisetrade. He commented that this song “sounded” like August Gate. From the first listen I was taken back at the practical nature of the song. It is a song that literally will thrust you into mission where you are if you will let it.

The Cross, the work of the Gospel, and taking the Gospel to our city. That is what these three songs proclaim. If I would have tried to coordinate this over 2 years ago I would have failed miserably but God in all of his goodness and sovereignty has led us to sing these amazing anthems over and over again. 

I am so thankful that I get to pastor a church who loves the truth of God in so many different forms. I am thankful for people who write songs out of a love for the Gospel. I pray that whatever mode of worship we are in (musical, lifestyle, learning, etc.), that it would prove our theology, that it would point to what we say and affirm with our lips, that our response would always come because of who God is and what he has done.

3 John was a practical and timely passage this week. Noah did a great job of bringing to light the importance of Jesus’ mission and how leaders should and shouldn’t act in the Church. Listen to it here. This week’s band was Juliette on vocals, Todd on cajon, Owen on electric, and me on acoustic. Our people were loud and proud praising King Jesus.

Here was this week’s set:

• O God of Our Salvation (The Village Church)
• Good, Right, and Perfect (Somma Communities)
• Hallelujah, What a Savior (Shelly Moore Band)
• Closer (Charlie Hall)
• How Deep the Father’s Love for Us (Stuart Townend)
• Christ is Risen (Matt Maher)

Cherish the Gospel this week. 

We had another special night as we celebrated the Gospel at August Gate this week. On top of our normal worship and teaching, last night Noah inducted Todd Genteman, Scott Koniezcka and myself as elders at August Gate. Nothing necessarily huge but a sign of progress and growth as we seek to see the hope of the Gospel change lives in our neighborhoods, city, and region. Noah presented us with two gifts, a bible (Scott got a systematic theology because he owns every bible:)) and a sword. Not just any sword but a replica of the claymore that Mel Gibson wielded in Braveheart as he portrayed the Scottish patriot/martyr William Wallace. Scripture to remind us to stay grounded in God’s word and a sword to remind us that we are called to protect our people. Here are some pics:

So 2 John was a wonderful passage to hear taught after this occasion as we were able to hear John’s pastoral heart so clearly through the text. I am so thankful that God has allowed me to be a part of this Church!

Here was this week’s set:

• Awake My Soul
• Come Thou Fount
• In the Shadow of the Glorious Cross
• Psalm 86
• Doxology

Trust in God that as he continues to change you to be more like Jesus that he provides the grace and mercy to make it through, he always does what is good, right, and perfect. 

We all want to be loved, it’s true. Even the most despicable and despised person still wants approval. The friction of this desire often rears its ugly head in the most unusual fashion, causing us to behave in ways that cause people to say, “That’s not even the same person I once knew.”

Feeding the acceptance idol can be the most tiring and fruitless thing that any of us can do. I must state that there is a balance thought between acceptance and not really caring what anyone things to a detriment, but today I really want to focus on that crippling notion that everything that we do has to be approved by a person, a group of people, or everyone in general.

Approval can transform the surest of us all into a crippled, mangled heap that lies in the corner until we are coaxed out by the smallest compliment from the right person at the right time in the right fashion. It most often catches us in the balance of wanting to control and be controlled all in some convoluted state of living on the fumes of others precious nods instead of a desire to see our lives changed by the power of the Gospel.

Where should our approval come from? Whose approval really matters? What does it mean to find our approval in Jesus?

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 offers such a beautiful example of why and how our approval is from Jesus and in Jesus. If you are a believer then you are a new creation! This should stir up within you a hope like no other. All the things you identified with before Christ do not pertain to you anymore. The approval that you were a slave to you had no power over you. Christ died to make you new and you are automatically approved by God because of the finished work of Jesus Christ who was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died a substitutionary death, rose from the grave, ascended to heaven and is waiting in heaven to come back one day and take us home.

There is no cause for you to continue the futile pursuit of seeking man’s approval when God supreme has accepted you because of Jesus. Rest in that today, know that the only approval needed and the only place it can be found is by accepting the person and work of Jesus Christ.

I just got done reading two great posts from Jon Acuff on redeeming culture and the such. I think it may have even sparked some forthcoming posts of my own. First he wrote “Things I Shouldn’t Know Exist” , commenting on things in culture that we often hide from other Christians because of the shame they might bring if we admit to liking them. His personal touch of starting with a tweet that he decided not to send put a very humble perspective on such a touchy subject. I really enjoy how he sticks to his guns though, that there are some things Christians should not engage with. In response to that post he was asked the question, “how else we supposed to redeem culture (if we don’t engage with it)?”, which led to the post “Redeeming Culture”, where he hits the nail on the head saying that often our attempt and vocalization of redeeming culture is actually justification for our actions.

John offers some humble advice but leaves it with a question still, “how do we as Christians redeem culture?”.

This past Sunday was one of the best worship experiences I have had at August Gate. Noah commented that it was a dream come true for him that we had a vilolin for the first time and I have to admit that it was a bit surreal for me, especially a violin player the caliber of Luke Lowry. It was an off week for Noah so Todd preached on the design and importance of the Church as a Gospel Community and Gospel Communities in our context (listen here). It got me pumped up for the first Gospel Community of the fall in Benton Park. We had two new additions this week to the August Gate worship team. Chelsea Bass debuted on vocals and Luke Lowry on violin. That was paired with Ryan McDowell on piano on myself on acoustic. It was an amazing blend and will be hard not to “accidentally” schedule that instrumental blend every other week.

Here was this week’s set:

• Before the Throne (we meshed Sojourn’s version with Shane and Shane’s version) 
• Be Thou My Vision (we do Ascend the Hill’s version and right now it is my favorite song to sing and lead people with, it wrecks me every time I sing it)
• Only the Blood (this is the second song we have done off of the Village’s new album God of Victory)
• From the Inside Out
• God You Reign
• In Jesus Name

Seek Jesus this week in all you do.

Confession is an active and healthy part of a Christ follower’s life. But at times it can be a daunting, paralyzing and unwelcome part of our journey. James tells us that we are to confess our sins to one another and pray for one another and we will be healed (James 5:16). So I guess we really need to realize the fact that sin is deadly and makes us sick, confession is the purging of sin to God and to our fellow believers that brings light the struggle that was previously in the dark.

Here is the issue I often face though. For me confession equals punishment. I know all the stuff the Bible says but when faced with confessing sin I tend to seize up and internalize it because I feel as if there is going to be unbearable punishment coming. This is not the Gospel.

The Gospel is the complete antidote to my erroneous way of thinking.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 ESV) This is the beautiful truth of the Gospel. If and when we confess we are forgiven, immediately, no second thought from Jesus on the matter. His work on the cross took care of that once and for all. Will there be consequences to our sin? Yes. Will those sins be counted against us? No. Jesus’ work on the cross took away the penalty of death that is associated with sin.

Confession to God is healthy and needed to grow as a follower of Christ but so is confession to one another. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. (James 5:16 ESV) Confessing our sins to one another is spiritual healing for our sin sick souls. I know that most of us have been burnt by someone we have confessed to and I am sure it will happen many times again before Jesus comes back, but if you are living in community of believers that is focused on seeing the truth of the Gospel lived out in their lives, this is a must. We have to remember that James wrote about this in the context of the local church, where members commit to seek the best for one another.

When we confine confession to our understandings and presuppositions then we limit the power it was designed to have in our lives as believers. This is something I am learning to trust God in and practice more with my family, pastors and church community.