Psalm 100:1-2
"Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!"
Today's Prayer Focus
- For worship services throughout the fall: joyful singing, filled with God’s Spirit.
- Joel and Katie Pollard; band and vocalists; A/V team; vocal ensemble.
- Hosting environment for guests.
- Engaging worship for each person, shaping both heart and mind.
- Awe in God’s presence as we worship with each other, and the angels.
"A Joyful Noise"
Mike Tilley
Recently a young high school student attended a week-long Christian event with his parents. He was a sharp guy, raised in a Christian home. But there was one thing missing. When it came time to sing songs in church worship, he did not sing the songs. At the week-long event, he made some Christian friends and his heart began to come alive. By the end of the week, his parents were filled with gratitude as they saw something new in their son: he began to sing in worship.
When we worship, heaven comes down to earth. The future kingdom comes into this present evil age, and we taste of the powers of the age to come. The more we realize what our Savior has done for us, the more we want to sing the songs of salvation. But like that young boy, it’s a heart journey for each of us. In a world that’s crazy busy; a world that is saturated with digital media; a world that offers more creature comforts than any time in history; we need the gospel rest of the Sabbath, and the re-setting of our hearts through rich, gospel-centered worship.
Let’s dream of a maturing worship culture at Lake Baldwin Church. Let’s pray that tongues would be loosed and that hearts would be free. Let’s commune with our Savior from the call to worship to the benediction. Let’s thank God that he has brought Joel and Katie our way, along with talented musicians who volunteer their skills. Then let’s all join the worship team from where we sit, making a joyful noise to the Lord!
Mike Tilley is the senior pastor of Lake Baldwin Church, and has lived in Orlando since 1994. He and his wife, Molly, worked with a core group from the Baldwin Park community to plant Lake Baldwin Church in 2006. Mike loves teaching the Bible in a way that relates to real life. In his spare time, Mike enjoys good movies, long dinner with friends, snow skiing, hanging out with his kids and two granddaughters, and travel.