Praise
Vision Statement- To Glorify the Lord by loving, enjoying, and creating praise as a daily offering as a team, declaring His glory and holiness through the Lord.
1 Chronicles 16: 23-29
23) Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. 24) Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. 25) For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. 26) For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. 27) Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place. 28) Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 29) Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. ”
(Isaiah 43:7 “ Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory; I have formed him, yes, I have created him”)
Although we were physically and spiritually created for the purpose of Glorifying God, we cannot forget that God is completely worthy of this Glorification, not just because He is God ( Even though that is enough of a reason just as it is), but because He has poured his mercy, grace, and love unto the broken sinner. As you all know the Gospel Story, “ For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16.
*God is so good and we are so undeserving! Praise God and Thank the Lord that he has given each and everyone of us gifts and talents to bring Him Glory!*
Spiritual Gifts- “ A spiritual gift is any ability that is empowered by the Holy Spirit and used in any ministry of the church.” - Wayne Grudem
God has provided spiritual gifts that are given through the holy spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:11 “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.”
The spiritual gifts that the members of the Praise Team have been given through the Holy Spirit are to be used to serve and edify others, and to build up the body of Christ.
1 Peter 4:10 “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
I mention spiritual gifts here as a reason for why we should glorify God through Praise.
God has given each and everyone of us these Spiritual Gifts for a purpose, for His Great Plan. Meaning we should use the gifts GOD HAS PROVIDED for Him.
The main point of our vision this year is praising God DAILY
1 Chronicles 16:23- Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day.
Being a follower of Christ, more specifically being in a praise team and leading God’s praise is something that is possible only through God’s love and grace unto us. We need to keep a constant relationship and communication with God, whether it is through praise, prayer, or from meditating in the Word (Of course all of these are important and required). We are in a team that leads God’s people into God’s praise. It is not our praise, so always being in daily praise and worship is necessary to truly understand what God wants from his ministry.
1 Chronicles 16:24-29 “ Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. 25) For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. 26) For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. 27) Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place. 28) Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 29) Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. ”
This verse emphasizes that we should love the Lord with everything we have.
To effectively Praise God daily we need to have love for the Lord, and love praising him. By truly loving Praise we will learn to enjoy and crave it as well. Being in constant hunger for Praise is what we are hoping as this year's end goal.
To truly Love Praise and to truly learn to enjoy it, we first have to understand how to offer to the Lord. The Praise Team accomplish this by:
As it might seem centered on the Lord, it often hides the WHOLE glory and honor of the Lord and replaces it with our needs and wants. To have true worship, we have to love and glorify the Lord daily ( Like our Vision statement), but also we have to make sure our hearts are truly putting the Lord on the top.
Romans 12:1-2 - “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
To become a living sacrifice we need to completely humble ourselves and lift the Lord up most high, so He may become greater and greater and we will become less and less. For the Praise Team, through the analysis of songs and the reading of Psalms, let us create a song that focuses on just Christ our Lord. Let us create a song that proclaims his salvation day after day. A song where we can glorify him daily through love and joy.
1 Chronicles 16: 23-29
23) Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. 24) Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. 25) For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. 26) For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. 27) Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place. 28) Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 29) Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. ”
- Why?
(Isaiah 43:7 “ Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory; I have formed him, yes, I have created him”)
Although we were physically and spiritually created for the purpose of Glorifying God, we cannot forget that God is completely worthy of this Glorification, not just because He is God ( Even though that is enough of a reason just as it is), but because He has poured his mercy, grace, and love unto the broken sinner. As you all know the Gospel Story, “ For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16.
*God is so good and we are so undeserving! Praise God and Thank the Lord that he has given each and everyone of us gifts and talents to bring Him Glory!*
Spiritual Gifts- “ A spiritual gift is any ability that is empowered by the Holy Spirit and used in any ministry of the church.” - Wayne Grudem
God has provided spiritual gifts that are given through the holy spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:11 “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.”
The spiritual gifts that the members of the Praise Team have been given through the Holy Spirit are to be used to serve and edify others, and to build up the body of Christ.
1 Peter 4:10 “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
I mention spiritual gifts here as a reason for why we should glorify God through Praise.
God has given each and everyone of us these Spiritual Gifts for a purpose, for His Great Plan. Meaning we should use the gifts GOD HAS PROVIDED for Him.
The main point of our vision this year is praising God DAILY
1 Chronicles 16:23- Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day.
Being a follower of Christ, more specifically being in a praise team and leading God’s praise is something that is possible only through God’s love and grace unto us. We need to keep a constant relationship and communication with God, whether it is through praise, prayer, or from meditating in the Word (Of course all of these are important and required). We are in a team that leads God’s people into God’s praise. It is not our praise, so always being in daily praise and worship is necessary to truly understand what God wants from his ministry.
1 Chronicles 16:24-29 “ Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. 25) For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. 26) For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. 27) Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place. 28) Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 29) Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. ”
- How?
- Loving and Enjoying.
This verse emphasizes that we should love the Lord with everything we have.
To effectively Praise God daily we need to have love for the Lord, and love praising him. By truly loving Praise we will learn to enjoy and crave it as well. Being in constant hunger for Praise is what we are hoping as this year's end goal.
To truly Love Praise and to truly learn to enjoy it, we first have to understand how to offer to the Lord. The Praise Team accomplish this by:
- Analyzing a song chosen from the weekly song selection. ( Which passage, the artists, specific verses, and overall meaning of the Song.) - Each member is required to study the song before voting . Due to Covid we will be analyzing the recorded song.
- Read and meditate through a specific portion of Psalms every week. Reading through the poetic structure of Psalms and the Hymns will help us develop an understanding of raw and beautiful worship that is straight off Scripture.
- Different times for Practice and Bible Study (Tuesday 7 PM Zoom), this will allow the Praise Team to have a more relaxed practice session. We will also add a time for jamming during the Saturday practices. One member of the Praise Team will be selected to choose a song, with an explanation why, each week for the team to play and enjoy.
- Creating
As it might seem centered on the Lord, it often hides the WHOLE glory and honor of the Lord and replaces it with our needs and wants. To have true worship, we have to love and glorify the Lord daily ( Like our Vision statement), but also we have to make sure our hearts are truly putting the Lord on the top.
Romans 12:1-2 - “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
To become a living sacrifice we need to completely humble ourselves and lift the Lord up most high, so He may become greater and greater and we will become less and less. For the Praise Team, through the analysis of songs and the reading of Psalms, let us create a song that focuses on just Christ our Lord. Let us create a song that proclaims his salvation day after day. A song where we can glorify him daily through love and joy.
Media
Vision - To glorify and serve the LORD wholeheartedly through technology that will allow worship to be serviced all to God.
We regularly serve with Praise Team in order to fulfill worship and praise to God alone.
Our Mission is to serve Christ through the Word in order to fulfill our roles as servants and to live in reverence to God.
- John 17:4-5
- 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
- Ephesians 7:8-9
- 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
We regularly serve with Praise Team in order to fulfill worship and praise to God alone.
Our Mission is to serve Christ through the Word in order to fulfill our roles as servants and to live in reverence to God.
Welcoming
VISION To glorify God by making the Youth Group a more safer, comfortable, and welcoming environment for everyone, especially newcomers.
- Romans 15:7
- Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
- Romans 13:10
- Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
- These verses focus on welcoming team’s priority of serving the church with open hearts and minds for our ministry by being welcoming and loving to each and every person because there is no harm in doing so.
- 2 Corinthians 13:11
- Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
- I hope that our energy, attitude, and personality will intrigue the newcomers and make them feel welcomed and happy to have attended our church. (throwback to my cousin’s church)
- Recruit more members
- Matthew 28:19
- Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
- I want to give everyone an opportunity to serve the church by using their gifts since everyone is gifted in their own unique way.
- Give out little gifts like bible verses or candy when people walk in
- Matthew 25:35
- For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
- It’s not severe where the newcomers are hungry or thirsty for something, but this is just for them to feel more welcomed to our church when they walk in.
- Sit next to newcomers
- 1 Peter 4:9
- Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
- Some of us, like me, are a little shy to sit with new people so we do not want to, but I want us to build up the courage and love for others to do this little act to hopefully make them feel more comfortable.
- Have a newcomers meal (when allowed)
- 1 Corinthians 10:31
- So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
- When we meet, I hope that we will be able to glorify God through fellowship and be able to get closer together through this.
- Have special days to spend time with different grades or reach out to one another, so we can get to know each other
- Romans 1:12
- That is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine.
- By spending time together, I hope that we will be able to encourage each other in our spiritual lives and be there for one another at any time.
- Be more interactive with everyone, not just people we are close with
- Ephesians 5:30
- Because we are members of his body.
- 1 Corinthians 4:26
- What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
- We know that there are many friend groups in Youth Group and we are already comfortable with our church members right now, so I hope that we will be able to open up to new people and get to know them, since we don’t know their personalities and what they have to offer as in friendship and for our church.
- Become the ones that unites the congregation as a whole
- 1 Corinthians 12:12
- For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
- I hope that we will be the ones to unite our church, so we can serve, glorify, and praise God together as Christ is with our Youth Group.