To Exalt Christ...Experience Christ

Psalm 34:3

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

The Vision, Mission, and Methods of Wedgworship

Exalt Christ…Experience Christ

Our Vision

The Wedgworship team exists to EXALT CHRIST and to EXPERIENCE CHRIST.


Our Mission
Wedgworship is committed as a team to EXALT CHRIST and to lead others to EXPERIENCE CHRIST by:
• Lifting up Jesus from this earth so all will be drawn to Him (John 12:32)
• Offering sacrificial praises with our voices and instruments to glorify Jesus (Hebrews 13:15)
• Vertically singing to the Lord rather than just singing about Him (Psalm 33:3)
• Engaging both the believer and unbeliever in authentic, relevant worship (Philippians 4:8)


Our Methods
The Wedgworship team method of leading others to EXALT CHRIST and to EXPERIENCE CHRIST by:
• Thanksgiving and Prayer
Wedgworship will spend time thanking God and praying every time we gather together
• Excellence of Leadership and Heart
Wedgworship will continually set goals to be leaders that strive for excellence in communication of the gospel through music and a heart after God’s heart.
• Accountability
Wedgworship will not be a silo of its own, but will strive to be accountable to each other and the other areas of ministry in the local church.
• Modeling in our walk
Wedgworship commits to being a leader in our relationship with Christ, and in so doing, aid in equipping others to be fully devoted followers of Christ.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Example

I will end the “EX” series with the word example. The definition of example is “one that serves as a pattern to be imitated.” I really think that is a great definition. Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:17 “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.” As Wedgworship, we are to be that to the body of Christ, to our co-workers that are lost, to the store clerks, and even to the server at the restaurant when it comes down to the tip we leave. We are to be the example of Christ’s love.
Obviously that is not always easy to do. But that is why we press on toward the goal. I know for myself that I offend people when something catches me off guard and I sarcastically answer back. (I am working on that!!!! Please forgive me if you have been the receiver of this.)
So as we exalt in, exult in, experience Him, the challenge to all of us is to be a shining example of Christ.
Have a great week.
pb

Monday, September 14, 2009

Excuses


In my 29 years of full time vocational ministry, I have heard my share of excuses, and unfortunately given my share also. When I was on the road, youth ministers, worship pastors, senior pastors, and administrative assistants would out right lie to me of why a Phil Beck concert was not going to happen at their church rather than to tell me they just didn’t want to do the concert. My favorite all time lie was from a youth minister’s administrative assistant. I was calling a youth minister at a rather well known church in Oklahoma. She said, and I quote. “hold on, he is walking across the room to his office and he will be with you in a moment.” I waited about two minutes and she came back on the line, and again I quote, “oh, he is not here today. Can I take a message and he will call you back tomorrow”? (Tomorrow was Saturday…thus the second lie) Guess what! I never heard from him.

Excuses can be lies wrapped up in a softer package, but they are still lies. When we look at why we give excuses, we have to go back to last week’s “ex” word…examine. Scripture says “out of the heart, the mouth speaks.” OUCH! So my heart’s words are fueling those excuses….those are just down right hard words, but honest. When we start analyzing our heart is when we find out the truth.

I challenge us all to be truthful, honest, people. Examine before we offer an excuse. Think about it.

Love you,
pb

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Examine

Over the last few weeks we have been talking about "EX" words. Our vision statement is to EXALT CHRIST....EXPERIENCE CHRIST. The word I want to concentrate on this week is "examine". Lamentations 3:40 says "let us examine and probe our ways, and let us return to the Lord". 2 Corinthians 13:5 says "test yourself to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourself!..." By definition the word "examine" means "to test by questioning in order to determine progress, fitness, or knowledge." Keeping in the context of Wedgworship's vision statement, how are we doing? When we stop to examine our walk with Jesus, how are we doing? Is the self-examination results one that we know makes the Lord proud.
Taylor Hicks has a song on the charts called "Do I Make You Proud?" As you listen to the words he poses the question to his father which I pose to my heavenly Father. Do I make You proud? Is the life that You live through me so You and not me that it brings a smile to Your face?
EXALT...EXPERIENCE...in our examination, our test, do I bring a smile to the face of God?

Think about it.

pb