Category Archives: Messages

Messages at Union Church.

The Triumphal Entry – Apr. 5, 2020

Hosanna (Praise is rising) - Paul Baloche

Praise is rising, eyes are turning to You, we turn to You
Hope is stirring, hearts are yearning for You, we long for You
'Cause when we see You we find strength to face the day
In Your presence all our fears are washed away, washed away

Hosanna, Hosanna
You are the God who saves us
Worthy of all our praises
Hosanna, Hosanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome You here, Lord Jesus

Hear the sound of hearts returning to You, we turn to You
In Your Kingdom broken lives are made new, You make us new
'Cause when we see You we find strength to face the day
In Your presence all our fears are washed away, washed away

Hosanna, Hosanna
You are the God who saves us
Worthy of all our praises
Hosanna, Hosanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome You here, Lord Jesus

'Cause when we see You, we find strength to face the day
In Your Presence all our fears are washed away
'Cause when we see You, we find strength to face the day
In Your Presence all our fears are washed away, washed away

Hosanna, Hosanna
You are the God who saves us
Worthy of all our praises
Hosanna, Hosanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome You here, Lord Jesus

Hosanna, Hosanna
You are the God who saves us
Worthy of all our praises
Hosanna, Hosanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome You here, Lord Jesus

Hosanna, Hosanna
Hosanna, Hosanna

No other name - Hillsong Worship

One name
Holds weight above them all
His fame
Outlasts the Earth He formed
His praise
Resounds beyond the stars
And echoes in our hearts
The greatest One of all

His face
Shines brighter than the sun
His grace
As boundless as His love
He reigns
With healing in His wings
The King above all kings
The greatest One of all

Lift up our eyes
See the King has come
Light of the world
Reaching out for us
There is no other name
There is no other name
Jesus Christ our God, oh oh oh

Seated on high
The undefeated One
Mountains bow down
As we lift Him up
There is no other name
There is no other name
Jesus Christ our God, whoa oh oh oh

Find hope
When all the world seems lost
Behold
The triumph of the cross
His power
Has trampled death and grave
Our life found in His name
The greatest name of all

Lift up our eyes
See the King has come
Light of the world
Reaching out for us
There is no other name
There is no other name
Jesus Christ our God, oh oh oh

Seated on high
The undefeated One
Mountains bow down
As we lift Him up
There is no other name
There is no other name
Jesus Christ our God, oh oh oh
Jesus

The Earth will shake
And tremble before Him
Chains will break
As Heaven and Earth sing
Holy is the name
Holy is the name of
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

The Earth will shake
And tremble before Him
Chains will break
As Heaven and Earth sing
Holy is the name
Holy is the name of
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

Lift up our eyes, see the King has come
Light of the world reaching out for us
There is no other name
There is no other name
Jesus Christ our God, oh oh oh

Seated on high, the undefeated One
Mountains bow down as we lift Him up
There is no other name
There is no other name
There is no other name
There is no other name
Jesus

Because he lives - Hymn

God sent His son, they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal and forgive
He lived and died to buy my pardon
An empty grave is there to prove my savior lives

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives

How sweet to hold a newborn baby
And feel the pride and joy He gives
But greater still the calm assurance
This child can face uncertain day, because He lives

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives

And then one day, I'll cross the river
I'll fight life's final war with pain
And then, as death gives way to victory
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He reigns

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives

I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives

Mark 11:1-10 English Standard Version (ESV)

Are you fearful?

"Now when they drew near to Jerusalem," (Mark 11:1 ESV).

"...to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of His disciples" (Mark 11:1 ESV).

"and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it." (Mark 11:2 ESV).

"If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’" (Mark 11:3 ESV).

"And they went and found the colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it." (Mark 11:4 ESV).

"And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go." (Mark 11:5-6 ESV).

"And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and He sat on it." (Mark 11:7 ESV).

"And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields." (Mark 11:8 ESV).

"And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna!" (Mark 11:9 ESV).

"Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”" (Mark 11:9-10 ESV).

"And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”" (Luke 19:39 ESV).

"He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”" (Luke 19:40 ESV).

"And when He drew near and saw the city, He wept over it," (Luke 19:41 ESV).

"saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes." (Luke 19:42 ESV).

"For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side." (Luke 19:43 ESV).

"and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation." (Luke 19:44 ESV).

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." (John 14:27 ESV).

Oh you bring - Hillsong United

Oh you bring hope to the hopeless
And light to those in the darkness
And death to life now I'm alive
Oh you give peace to the restless
And joy to homes that are broken
I see you now, in you I'm found

And you opened the door for me
And you laid down
Your life to set me free
All that I am will serve you Lord

Oh you fill those who are empty
And rescue those in the valley
And through it all you calm my soul
Oh now, you find me in my weakness
And heal the wounds of my heartache
I worship you in spirit and truth

And you opened the door for me
And you laid down
Your life to set me free
All that I am will serve you Lord, you Lord
And you opened my eyes to see
All the wonder and awe of Christ in me
Jesus you're everything I need, I need

It's you I need,
You're all I need,
You're everything

All honor
All glory
All praise to you

All honor (come on, sing it out!)
All glory
All praise to you

All honor
All glory
All praise to you (to you Lord now we sing!)

All honor
All glory
All praise to you (to you Lord now we sing!)

All honor
All glory
All praise to you

All honor
All glory
All praise to you

And you opened the door for me
And you laid down
Your life to set me free
All that I am will serve you Lord
And you opened my eyes to see
All the wonder and awe of Christ in me
Jesus you're everything I need

I need
It's you I need
I need
It's you I need

"4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness[d] be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:4-7 ESV).

Footnotes

Philippians 4:5 Or gentleness

A short reflection on Psalm 62 – Apr. 1, 2020

Psalm 62:1-12 English Standard Version (ESV)

My Soul Waits for God Alone
To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

62 For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

3 How long will all of you attack a man
to batter him,
like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.
They take pleasure in falsehood.
They bless with their mouths,
but inwardly they curse. Selah

5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah

9 Those of low estate are but a breath;
those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
they are together lighter than a breath.
10 Put no trust in extortion;
set no vain hopes on robbery;
if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

11 Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
12 and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.
For you will render to a man
according to his work.

Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch – Mar. 29, 2020

Acts 8:26-40 English Standard Version (ESV)

Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south[d] to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:

“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”

34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”[e] 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

Footnotes

[d] Acts 8:26 Or go at about noon
[e] Acts 8:36 Some manuscripts add all or most of verse 37: And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

A short reflection on Psalm 27 – Mar. 25, 2020

Psalm 27:1-14 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation
Of David.

27 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold[a] of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.

3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet[b] I will be confident.

4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire[c] in his temple.

5 For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
8 You have said, “Seek[d] my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”[e] 9 Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
O God of my salvation!
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
but the Lord will take me in.

11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they breathe out violence.

13 I believe that I shall look[f] upon the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!

Footnotes

[a] Psalm 27:1 Or refuge
[b] Psalm 27:3 Or in this
[c] Psalm 27:4 Or meditate
[d] Psalm 27:8 The command (seek) is addressed to more than one person
[e] Psalm 27:8 The meaning of the Hebrew verse is uncertain
[f] Psalm 27:13 Other Hebrew manuscripts Oh! Had I not believed that I would look