Worship Conferences

Hello everyone, I just got word from Pastor Jeff that we will send you to one of the following worship conferences if you can make it:

 

1.       Pure Worship Conference at CC Costa Mesa, May 1 starting at 6pm and Sat, May 2^nd all day.  www.Pureworshipconference.com for more info.

2.       2009 SoCal Worship Conference at CC South Bay, June 5^th 7pm-9pm, June 6^th 8:30am-5:30pm.  For info coming soon at http://www.ccsouthbay.org/ministries/worship.html

 

The Friday Nights for both conferences are free, so no need to register for those, registration covers Saturday workshops and sessions.

Just let me know which one you can go to.  If you want to go to the Pure Worship Conference I need to know by tomorrow, so I can pre-register everyone.  I will not be able to arrange any vanpooling for the pure worship conference this week, but maybe we can for the one in June.  

 

Thanks

 

Jason Klein

Worship Pastor

Calvary Chapel of Downey

 

12808 Woodruff Ave.

Downey, CA 90242

 

jasonklein@calvarydowney.org

www.ccdowney.com

www.downeysong.com

 

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." - 2 Corinthians 3:18

 

FW: Pure Worship Conference

Is. 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."

Hey Worship Leaders and Musicians,

I would like to invite you to this year's Pure Worship Conference 09 that will be hosted by the School of Worship at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa.

"The Call" is the theme for this year's conference which takes place Friday night, May 1st and all day Saturday, May 2nd. Its our desire is to reach out to the next generation of worship leaders and musicians to encourage, equip and inspire them to answer God's call on their life.

Since Pure Worship is geared towards youth and young adults, we will be focusing on giving them great Bible teaching and authentic times of worship to respond to God's call. We will also be offering many practical hands on workshops from guys who love Jesus and have a heart to pass on what the Lord has given to them.

Some of the special guests include Evan Wickham, Vicky Beeching, Tim Chaddick, John Randall, Brian Ortize, Todd Proctor, Caleb Clemens, Michael Smith, Danny Donnelly, & more.

The cost is only $25 per person, and the Friday night concert with Evan Wickham will be FREE and open to everyone. For more information and registration, call us at 714-979-4422 ext. 5055, or visit us online at pureworshipconference.com

Please consider coming along with your team and pass the word to anyone you think might be encouraged by it.

In Christ,

Scott Cunningham & The Pure Worship Conference Team

Vince Estrada Memorial Info

Memorial Service for Vince Estrada
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
6:00 P.M.
Reception to follow afterwards

Calvary Chapel La Habra
1370 S. Euclid St.
La Habra, CA 90631
714-446-6222

Psalm 111 - Part 6

V10 - THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM

• wisdom begins in a man who properly reasons and comprehends the greatness of God: “His works are great;” “His work is honorable and glorious, and His righteousness endures forever;” “He is gracious and full of compassion;” He does not forget His promises; He is just and true; “He has sent redemption to His people;” “Holy and awesome is His name.


• GOOD UNDERSTANDING HAVE ALL THOSE WHO DO HIS COMMANDMENTS because they desire to praise Him with their whole heart. Therefore, the fear of the Lord means we are so in love with the Father that we are afraid to do anything that would grieve Him. It is when we understand this that wisdom truly begins.


• NIV reads “all who follow his precepts have good understanding.” – understanding comes from knowing the Word of God. It is sure, it stands forever and ever, and it is done in truth and uprightness.


• HIS PRAISE ENDURES FOREVER or in the NIV “to Him belongs eternal praise.”

Psalm 111 - Part 5

V7-8 - The works of His hands are VERITY AND JUSTICE

• God invented truth and justice as a carpenter might fashion furniture - they are His handiwork, thus, ALL HIS PRECEPTS ARE SURE.


• His commandments are right and they STAND FAST FOREVER.

V9 - HE SENT REDEMPTION TO HIS PEOPLE in the person of Jesus Christ through the new covenant of His blood and HE HAS COMMANDED HIS COVENANT FOREVER. The blood of Jesus never fails, never expires, never stains, but cleanses us and washes us whiter than snow.” My sins are forgiven and forgotten.

“As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us”. Psalm 103:12

“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them”. Ephesians 2:1-10

HOLY AND AWESOME IS HIS NAME!!

Psalm 111 - Part 4

V4 - Because “His righteousness endures forever,” “HE HAS MADE HIS WONDERFUL WORKS TO BE REMEMBERED.”

• The purpose of His wonderful works was to bear testimony that the LORD IS GRACIOUS AND FULL OF COMPASSION.

V5 - These wonderful works were:

1. HE HAS GIVEN FOOD TO THOSE WHO FEAR HIM – He fed the children of Israel with manna in the wilderness for 40 years, neither did their clothes and sandals wear out, that they would be reminded of His grace and compassion.


2. HE WILL EVER BE MINDFUL OF HIS COVENANT – God does not forget His promises. What He has said He will do. He did not leave His people in Egypt, but delivered them. He did not forsake them when they failed to enter the land He had promised to give them, but graciously led them through the desert and afterward, brought them back to the land to enter in.


3. He did not leave them in captivity, but let them return after 70 years.


4. V6 - Through demonstration of power, God removed the Canaanites from the land as He brought them into it. And through the power of His Spirit “may it please His infinite wisdom to give to His church the heathen for His inheritance in the name of Jesus.” (Spurgeon)


5. We are now part of the new covenant of the Blood of Christ, and He is preparing a place for us in heaven.

He does not forget His promises because “HE IS GRACIOUS AND FULL OF COMPASSION,” “AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER.”

Psalm 111 - Part 3

V2 - THE WORKS OF THE LORD ARE GREAT

• Thus I will praise the Lord with my whole heart. These “works” are so fantastic and outside of human invention, they require study to comprehend. In fact, they become the hobby of those who love the works of the Lord. Here we see the origin of education: men so enamored with the creative and redemptive works of God that they desire to study them.

V3 - HIS WORK IS HONORABLE AND GLORIOUS, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER.

• Diligent study of the great works of God will reveal that His work, His purpose or intent, in His relationship with mankind is honorable, glorious, and good. There is nothing false, unfair, unloving, or ungracious in His dealings with us. The scoffers and mockers are without a case for HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER. Thousands of years from now further study, technology, science, and revelation will only further prove the absolute perfection and justice of God’s plan of redemption of mankind.

Psalm 111 - Part 2

V1 - I WILL PRAISE THE LORD WITH MY WHOLE HEART, IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE UPRIGHT AND IN THE CONGREGATION.

• The psalmist now makes it personal, purposeful, willful, voluntary, without compulsion for bribery; but compelled by appreciation and a sense of purpose: I will praise the Lord.


• To what degree? “WITH MY WHOLE HEART” – the entirety of my being ; my intellect, emotions, personality, desires – my whole. The essence and totality of who I am is to be invoked in worship. This will force me to be very vulnerable since all of who I am is involved. Therefore, it might seem reasonable to render such activity to one-on-one times with God and myself alone. But the psalmist declares he will bear his soul to the Lord in praise, not privately, but in the fellowship of the brethren and even in the midst of the great congregation. Surely assembly could mean a small group of believers and congregation, a large group of believers. Yet they could also reference the body of Christ and the whole world, respectively.


• Regardless of the arena, He is praiseworthy and the psalmist is purposed to ascribe greatness to Him regardless of what others think or prefer


• It should be noted that there is the absence of an analogy to one’s private worship. There is a place for intimate worship and communion, however, the invocation in scripture stands: “I WILL PRAISE THE LORD WITH MY WHOLE HEART, IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE UPRIGHT AND IN THE CONGREGATION.” Corporate worship is how we see worship modeled throughout scripture and it is in this endeavor we will spend eternity. So we better rehearse!

Psalm 111 - Part 1

V1 - PRAISE THE LORD

• Hallelujah! Praise the Father, praise the Son, praise Him for He is worthy of praise! No other person is praiseworthy!


• It is an invocation to worship, but it stand on its own. Because God is majestic , luminous, and spectacular, there is nothing else a man can do but praise Him. For the lover of God, when He is exhorted to praise Him, he does not ask, “Why?” It is self evident; it is manifested around us; written upon our hearts is the innate understanding, compulsion, and awareness that the Lord is praiseworthy. We could stop here, however, just as God is an over achiever in greatness, so the psalmist elaborates on this declaration in the remaining verses.

Passion - Continued

Luke 7:40-48 – Passion is directly related to your constant realization of what God has done for you. When we understand we are forgiven, passion for Jesus is a natural result.

There are so many distractions for us today. One of Satan’s great tricks is to get us distracted from the reality of Jesus’ love and redemption of us. We get distracted by being busy; by the sensational – media, movies; anxiety; by relationships.

I want my life to be characterized by passion for Jesus. This goes beyond words merely, for the ultimate display of passion is Jesus’ love for us to endure the cross for me. Do we understand what we are singing about? Praying about?

“So I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned in awe of the One who gave it all.
I'll stand, my soul Lord to You surrendered, all I am is Yours”

• Can you really sing this sitting down? Can you really mean it without being emotionally stirred?

“My heart's bursting with a song
Of joy amazing, when I think of where I was
Before I heard the song of my redemption”

• This is not a yawning song.

“There is no one else for me, None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free, Now I live to bring Him praise
All my delight is in You Lord, All of my hope, All of my strength
All my delight is in You Lord Forevermore”

• Can you sing this and be thinking about the crushing debt or ailing family member?

HOW DEEP THE FATHER'S LOVE FOR US
Verse 1: How deep the Father's love for us, How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son, To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss, The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One, Bring many sons to glory
Verse 2: Behold the man upon a cross, My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice, Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there, Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life, I know that it is finished
Verse 3: I will not boast in anything, No gifts no power no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward, I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart, His wounds have paid my ransom

• Can I sing this and not truly repent from sin; not be stirred with joy, relief, thankfulness; not be convicted and regretful of how I treated my Lord.

In a very practical sense, when we lead worship we have a few responsibilities:

1. To please and bless Jesus – it is truly for Him. So we should do our best, but also with all our heart and being – completely engaged in singing and playing to Him
2. To help facilitate the congregation in blessing and praising Jesus – Whether or not we feel it (and we should) they need to see and hear passion as we play and sing. How inspiring is it when the worship team looks tired, scared, or melancholy. So do we fake it? No, but in faith, we demonstrate worship even when the feelings aren’t there.

There is a tendency over time and repetition to become mechanical in our worship, whether in music, prayer, or service. It’s the same idea Jesus rebuked and exhorted the Church of Ephesus in Rev.2:4-5 – “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works”

We need to continually go back to the gospels, to the cross. We need to remember what kind of passion Christ had for us to die for us on the cross, and then our response will be passionate emotionally and practically.

Passion

The idea of “passion” is an interesting one. Am I passionate for the Lord? What evidence is there in my life that would show that I am passionate?

Zacheus – 19:1-10 – He was so moved by meeting with Jesus, that he was moved with passion to make restitution for his dishonesty as a tax collector.

Passion is often characterized by overpowering emotion, yet what follows the emotional response is far more significant and enduring.

Definitions:

1. in the Bible, the sufferings of Jesus Christ from the Last Supper until his crucifixion
2. intense or overpowering emotion such as love, joy, hatred, or angee
3. the object of somebody's intense interest or enthusiasm
4. a sudden outburst of an emotion such as rage, hatred, or jealousy

When I think of Jesus, I don’t think of someone especially passionate in that he did not respond emotionally in most situations. Yet when I consider what His life’s aim and purpose was, then I realize He is the most passionate man who ever lived, for He endured the cross for me. Hebrews 12:2

We find in scripture that passion followed Jesus throughout His ministry:

• Luke 4:18-28 –His passion made Him willing to put Himself out there for people to question and mock. – a riot ensued. It seems whenever Paul would open His mouth, either revival or riot would follow.
• Luke 4:36-37 – People are amazed at Jesus’ authority and power, and news spreads. However, we do not read of people believing in Him, or being changed.
• Luke 5:1-11 – Peter, James & John leave everything and follow Jesus. They had passion for Jesus that caused them to change the course of their lives.
• Luke 5:12-15 – In passion, the healed Leper cannot keep silent.
• Luke 5:17-26 – “Everyone was gripped with wonder and awe, and they praised God…”
• Luke 5:27-32 – Matthew is called and responds passionately by leaving everything to follow Jesus, and then introducing all his friends and neighbors to Jesus
• Luke 6:6-11 – the enemies of Jesus are filled with rage.
• Luke 7:36- a woman worships Jesus, making a fool of herself, and giving something of great value For Him.

It seems there are three responses to Jesus in the passages above:

1. Negative passion – The Jews in the synagogues angry and indignant
2. Audible passion – voiced passion but not followed up by action
3. Passion leading to action – true worship

to be continued