RECAP: Praise the Lord! based on Psalm 150:1-6
How do we show God that he is the Lord of our lives? One way we do so is through our worship. Worship is commitment, making those choices to put aside the sinful nature and follow after God. Worship is devotion, setting our lives in order and in a way that reflects what we believe. But one of the most powerful forms of worship is praise, to publicly declare the goodness of God!
From the very beginning we as humans were created to be in harmony with God and give him praise. But in the garden, the root of Satan’s temptation was to get humanity to break its need for God and not give him the praise he was due. When we follow in the ways of sin, we try to keep God at a distance, for sin is threatened by his presence. But when we praise God, we blast through the barrier of sin and draw closer to God.
Why should we praise God? We should praise him for he reigns supreme, creating everything that we see. Everything in the universe answers to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, for there is no one higher or greater. We should praise him for what he has done. The more we remember what God has done and give him praise and thanks, the more we are inspired to keep trusting in God. The Lord is good, and his mercy endures forever! What the Lord has done before, he will do again. We also praise God for who he is. Jesus is our redeemer, our savior, and our friend. He is the light in the darkness, and so much more. And God is the great I AM; he will be present and there, no matter what we face.
How should we praise God? We should praise him with any tool we can find. When we engage multiple senses in praise and worship of God, it increases our focus on God. We should also praise our whole selves. When we dive in and praise, it uplifts our spirit to the very presence of God. Praise serves as a form of spiritual alignment; for when we hit the spiritual potholes in our lives, it is praise that helps us get back on track and follow after God.
Why is praise so powerful? We have the very breath of God in us! Humans were the only creation that God breathed into. That breath of God is what put the universe into existence. And the spoken word of God is so powerful, it never returns to God empty. When we declare the praise of God, we are declaring realities in the heavens, inviting God’s life-giving power to work. And praise is powerful in that it defeats the lies and deceit of the enemy. Satan does not want us to praise God. Instead, he wants us to be reliant on ourselves and pursue our own passions. But when we begin to praise God, any lie or deception can not stand, for they want nothing to do with God!
Praise changes things! So will we praise the Lord?
Questions for Reflection
1) What has the Lord done in your life? Can you give him praise for it?
2) Who do you declare Jesus to be? Can you give him praise for it?
3) What can you declare in the heavens over your life? Or over the life of someone else today?
4) What lie or deception of the enemy have you entertained? Can you cast it down?
SPECIAL NOTE: I sincerely apologize for the volume of the videos. We did not have a sound tech to adjust the video volume beforehand, and on the platform, it sounds different than out where you are, for I sit behind the speakers. If we play a video going forward, we will make sure we adjust the sound level before service begins.
Upcoming Service
This Sunday, Pastor Ryan will conclude the series on Worship with the sermon titled, “Before the Throne”, based on Revelation 5:1-14. What will it be like in heaven? And how can we worship now in a way that connects with heaven? Come or tune in Sunday to find out!
Daily Bible Readings for January 24 – 30
January 24: Psalm 147 How should we worship the Lord? Why?
January 25: Psalm 146 How should we worship the Lord? Why?
January 26: Psalm 145 How should we worship the Lord? Why?
January 27: Psalm 144 How should we worship the Lord? Why?
January 28: Psalm 138 How should we worship the Lord? Why?
January 29: Psalm 136 How should we worship the Lord? Why?
January 30: Psalm 135 How should we worship the Lord? Why?
This Week’s Events:
Sunday, January 29–Christian Ed meet right after church
Monday, January 30–Timothy Bible Study @ 7 pm
Upcoming Events:
Sunday, February 5–Congregational Business Meeting after church w/soup & sandwich meal provided by Women’s Fellowship
Sunday, February 5–First Sunday Breakfast & Offering
Sunday, February 26–Birthday dinner
Announcements:
Worship / Spiritual Discipline Challenge
This week’s challenge is simple: take at least 15 minutes each day to sing praise to God. If you cannot sing, play a CD with either some hymns or contemporary praise songs and listen along. If you do like to sing, sing right along with them. The more time we spend singing praise to God, the more it uplifts our spirits and gives us strength for the days ahead.
BIRTHDAYS NEEDED!
If you are a newer attendee at Beaver Creek, please call the office or leave in the offering plate your birth date so we do not miss anyone!
Call for Worship Leaders and Children’s Story
We are in need of both worship leaders and children’s storytellers. If you would like to serve, contact Alice Over (worship leading).
CONGREGATIONAL BUSINESS MEETING
We will have our next congregational business meeting on Sunday, February 5. The Women’s Fellowship will provide a soup and sandwich lunch for donation. Packets are available in the back of the church.
BIRTHDAY DINNER
On Sunday, February 26, we will have our annual birthday dinner carry-in after church. If you would like to make a cake for a month, please sign up in the narthex!
Directory
This week is the last week to make changes to the directory for 2023. Please notate the changes on the copy in the narthex, or call the office with your change.
Call to Prayer
Let us continue to pray for our nation in the following ways:
1) National return to God
2) Repentance of personal sin
3) Repentance of corporate sin
4) Healing for the brokenness of relationships
5) Our leaders
6) Revival
7) Guidance for our congregation in the days ahead
Idea Box!
What do you want to see at Beaver Creek? What are some ideas you have for the long-term growth of our congregation? Any outrageous outreach ideas? Please either email Pastor Ryan or write them down and place them in the brown suggestion box in the narthex. Dream big!
Nursery
The Christian Education Team is looking for volunteers for the nursery during the Sunday School hour. If you are willing to help, even if it is just for a Sunday, please reach out to the Christian Education Team and let them know.
Four Ways to Give!
1) Mail your tithe into the church office
2) Drop it by the church office on Tuesday, Thursday or Friday, 9 am – 1 pm
3) Our online giving platform: https://beavercreekchurchva.churchcenter.com/giving
4) Drop off in the offering plate on Sunday!
Prayer Needs
Continue to Keep in Prayer our members in Skilled Care Facilities: Mary G Miller, Shirley Miller, Stanley Suter & Carolyn Wine
Pray for several in our congregation who are battling either COVID or the flu.
Patsy Dastoli (health)
Elijah Tucker Dean (health)
Natalie Dodge (health)
John Fix (addiction)
Cindy Heatwole (health)
Bob Hess (health)
Tori Jackson (peace)
Darlene LaPrade (health)
Mark Martin (health)
Barbara Meadows (health)
Betty Miller (health)
John Miller (COVID)
Norlen Miller (health)
Mary G Miller (health)
Mary M Miller (health)
Savannah Miller (health)
Tami Plaugher (health)
Ann Simmons (health)
Crystal Smith (health)
Norma Suter (health)
Whitmore family (house)
Grayson Whitmore (recovery)
Mary Whitmore (health)
Shelvy Wittig (health)
Owen Wright (health)
Pastor Ryan Cooper
Beaver Creek Church