Overview Study 1 – Foundation for Worship • Week 1 – Lifesong • Week 2 – A study on Life and Worship • Week 3 – Father, Spirit, Jesus 2006

2 – Missing the Point of Worship The words in these songs will never come • Week 4 – Stained Glass close to, and were never intended to come Masquerade along side, the Scripture, as if God's word needed any help. • Week 5 – ? • Week 6 – While You Were Sleeping

3 – Worship in Action • Week 7 – Love Them Like Jesus • Week 8 – Prodigal • Week 9 – Set Me Free

4 – Free to Worship • Week 10 – In Me The text of this study has been taken directly from the Casting Crowns CD, Lifesong. All • Week 11 – And Now My copyrights, implied and otherwise, belong to Lifesong Sings them. • Week 12 – The Reality of This study guide was compiled by Jim Walton Worship of www.churchtechmatters.com for the purpose of a small group study and is distributed for that purpose.

www.churchtechmatters.com Foundation for Worship LIFESONG Week 1

Empty hands held high LIFESONG Such small sacrifice If not joined with my life I sing in vain tonight May the words I say Worship is so much more than the And the things I do Make my lifesong sing songs I sing. Instead, worship is in the Bring a smile to You heart that lifts the song. If you think Let my lifesong sing to You Let my lifesong sing to You I want to sign Your name to the end of this day about it, worship began when I woke Knowing that my heart was true Let my lifesong sing to You up this morning. My life purpose is to Lord I give my life give God glory through everything I do. A living sacrifice To reach a world in need If my life does not worship Him, my To be Your hands and feet So may the words I say songs don’t either. And the things I do Make my lifesong sing Bring a smile to You Hallelujah Matthew 15:8-9 Hallelujah Matthew 23:25-28 Let my lifesong sing to You Galatians 2:20 Colossians 3:17

www.churchtechmatters.com Foundation for Worship PRAISE YOU IN THIS STORM Week 2 I was sure by now That You would have reached down PRAISE YOU IN THIS And wiped our tears away STORM Stepped in and saved the day But once again, I say “Amen” and it’s still raining As the thunder rolls If there ever were a test of our faith – if I barely hear You whisper through the rain “I’m with you” there ever were a test of the motives of And as Your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God our worship – it is when a storm rolls Who gives and takes away Chorus: into our lives. We watched and prayed I’ll praise You in this storm And I will lift my hands for a precious little girl named Erin For you are who you are No matter where I am Edwards struggle with a deadly disease Every tear I’ve cried You hold in Your hand for several years. The courage, the You never left my side And though my heart is torn witness, and the worship of Erin’s I will praise you in this storm mother, Laurie inspired this song. I remember when I stumbled in the wind You heard my cry You raised me up again Sometimes God calms our storms. My strength is almost gone How can I carry on Sometimes He chooses to ride them If I can’t find You with us. Chorus I lift my eyes unto the hills Romans 8:28 Where does my help come from? 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 My help comes from the Lord Psalms 42:5 The Maker of Heaven and Earth Psalms 121:1-2 Repeat Job 1:20-21 Daniel 3:16-18 Chorus

www.churchtechmatters.com Foundation for Worship FATHER, SPIRIT, JESUS Week 3 Lord, the worship we bring Is more than songs that we sing It’s a reflection of our ever-changing lives FATHER, SPIRIT, JESUS The best we have to offer We don’t just lift up our hands Lord, we lift up our lives He has rescued us from the dominion of For we know that You are worthy of our praise To You our lifesongs raise darkness and delivered us into the Rescued from darkness We are walking in marvelous light kingdom of the Son He loves. We sing a For we are children of the King! SING! song that the angels can’t sing – the You are worthy of our honor Glory, praise and power song of the redeemed. King of the nations You are holy God almighty Clothed in brilliant majesty Romans 4:7-8 Father, Spirit, Jesus

www.churchtechmatters.com Missing the Point of Worship STAINED GLASS MASQUERADE Week 4 Is there anyone that fails Is there anyone that falls Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small STAINED GLASS Cause when I take a look around MASQUERADE Everybody seems so strong I know they’ll soon discover That I don’t belong I don’t think it bothers the world that So I tuck it all away, like everything’s okay we sin. I think it bothers the world that If I make them all believe it, maybe I’ll believe it too So with a painted grin, I play the part again So everyone will see me the way that I see them we act like we don’t. There are times Chorus Are we happy plastic people that instead of being myself and Under shiny plastic steeples With walls around our weakness exposing my own weakness and hurt, I And smiles to hide our pain But if the invitation’s open portray a character of the person that I To every heart that has been broken Maybe then we close the curtain know I should be. But when I expose On our stained glass masquerade Is there anyone who’s been there myself as weak and frail at times, it Are there any hands to raise Am I the only one who’s traded frees the Body of Christ to restore me In the altar for a stage The performance is convincing as it should and invites others to And we know every line by heart Only when no one is watching unmask as well. Can we really fall apart But would it set me free Matthew 23:25-28 If I dared to let you see Matthew 7:1-6 The truth behind the person John 8:7-9 That you imagine me to be Galatians 6:1 Would your arms be open Or would you walk away 1 John 1:9 Would the love of Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:9 Be enough to make you stay 2 Corinthians 12:9 Chorus x2 Romans 14:1 Well if the invitation’s open To every heart that has been broken Maybe then we close the curtain On our stained glass masquerade Is there anyone that fails Is there anyone that falls Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small

www.churchtechmatters.com Missing The Point of Worship DOES ANYBODY HEAR Week 5 HER? DOES ANYBODY HEAR She is running HER? A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction She is trying But the canyon’s ever widening In the depths of her cold heart They are all around us. To become So she sets out on another misadventure just to find She’s another two years older numb to their pain is to become numb And she’s three more steps behind Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see? to the very heart of God and the Or does anybody even knows she’s going down today suffering of His only Son. Under the shadow of our steeple With all the lost and lonely people Searching for the hope that’s tucked away in you and me Romans 10:14 Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see? Acts 5:20 She is yearning Matthew 28:19-20 For shelter and affection 1 Peter 3:15 That she never found at home She is searching 2 Corinthians 5:20 For a hero to ride in To ride in and save the day And in walks her prince charming And he knows just what to say Momentary lapse of reason And she gives herself away If judgement looms under every steeple If lofty glances from lofty people Can’t see past her scarlet letter And we never even met her

www.churchtechmatters.com Missing the Point of Worship WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING Week 6 Oh little town of Bethlehem Looks like another silent night Above your deep and dreamless sleep WHILE YOU WERE A giant star lights up the sky And while you’re lying in the dark SLEEPING There shines an everlasting light For the King has left His throne And is sleeping in a manger tonight, tonight I set out to set the classic hymn “Oh Oh Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping Little Town of Behlehem” to new music For God became a man And stepped into your world today and , in the process, rediscovered the Oh Bethlehem, you will go down in history As a city with no room for its King song and its message. They slept While you were sleeping While you were sleeping through it. Bethlehem missed the birth Oh little town of Jerusalem Looks like another silent night of the Savior of the world. Jerusalem The Father gave His only Son The Way, the Truth, the Life had come did the same with Jesus’ ministry But there was no room for Him in the world He came to save among them. Seems crazy – ‘til we as a Jerusalem, what you have missed while you were sleeping nation look in the mirror. The Savior of the world is dying on your cross today Jerusalem, you will go down in history As a city with no room for its King While you were sleeping Matthew 25:5 – Read the story While you were sleeping 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8 Romans 13:11 United States of America Looks like another silent night Luke 13:34-35 As we’re sung to sleep by philosophies Matthew 25:13 That save the trees and kill the children Matthew 26:41 And while we’re lying in the dark Ephesians 5:8-14 There’s a shout heard ‘cross the eastern sky 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 For the Bridegroom has returned Isaiah 53:6-7 And has carried His bride away in the night America, what will we miss while we are sleeping Will Jesus come again And leave us slumbering where we lay America, will we go down in history As a nation with no room for its King Will we be sleeping? Will we be sleeping?

www.churchtechmatters.com Worship in Action Week 7

LOVE THEM LIKE JESUS

This song is a sequel – an answer to the questions posed in Here I Go Again.

When I fear what to say, I’ve taken my eyes off Jesus. He will restore. He will THIS SECTION LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK. rebuild. He will answer the questions.

My place is just being there, loving them and pointing them to the Father.

Matthew 11:28-29 1 Corinthians 3:7 Isaiah 55:10-11

Phillippians 2 JUST TURN THE PAGE------> 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 2 Corinthians 12:9 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 16-18 Hebrews 4:14-16 Matthew 11:28

www.churchtechmatters.com HERE I GO AGAIN LOVE THEM LIKE JESUS

Father, hear my prayer The love of her life is drifting away I need the perfect words Words that he will hear They’re losing the fight for another day And know they’re straight from You The life that she’s known is falling apart I don’t know what to say I only know it hurts A fatherless home, a child’s broken heart To see my only friend slowly fade away You’re holding her hand, you’re straining for words Chorus: So maybe this time You trying to make – sense of it all I’ll speak the words of life She’s desperate for hope, darkness clouding her view With Your fire in my eyes But that old familiar fear She’s looking to you is tearin’ at my words What am I so afraid of? Just love her like Jesus, carry her to Him ‘Cause here I go again His yoke is easy, His burden is light Talkin’ ‘bout the rain And mullin’ over things You don’t need the answers to all of life’s questions that won’t live past today Just know that He loves her and stay by her side And as I dance around the truth Time is not his friend Love her like Jesus This might be my last chance Love her like Jesus to tell him that You love Him But here I go again The gifts lie in wait, in a room painted blue Here I go again Little blessing from Heaven would be there soon Lord, You love him so Hope fades in the night, blue skies turn to gray You gave Your only Son If he will just believe As the little one slips away He will never die But how then will he know You’re holding her hand, you’re straining for words What he has never heard? You’re trying to make sense of it all Lord he has never seen mirrored in my life They’re desperate for hope, darkness clouding their Chorus: view But here I go again They’re looking to you Here I go, here I go Chorus: Just love them like Jesus, carry them to Him This might be my last chance His yoke is easy, His burden is light To tell him that You love him You don’t need the answers to all of life’s questions This might be my last chance To tell him that You love him Just know that He loves them and stay by their side You love him, You love him Love them like Jesus What am I so afraid What am I so afraid of? Lord of all creation holds our lives in His hands How then will he know The God of all the nations holds our lives in His What he has never heard? hands The Rock of our salvation holds our lives in His hands He cares for them just as He cares for you So love them like Jesus, love them like Jesus You don’t need the answers to all of life’s questions Just know that He loves them and stay by their side Love them like Jesus Love them like Jesus

www.churchtechmatters.com Worship in Action PRODIGAL Week 8 Living on my own, thinking for myself PRODIGAL Castles in sand, temporary wealth Walls arefalling down, storms are closing in Tears have filled my eyes, here I am again And I’ve held out as long as I can I’ve come crawling back with the stench Now I’m letting go and holding out my hand of my old life still in my clothes. Thank Chrous: Daddy, here I am again, will you take me back tonight You, Father, for your love and patience I went and made the world my friend, and it left me high and dry for the prodigal in all of us. I drag Your name back through the mud That You first found me in Not worthy to be called Your son Luke 15:11-12 Is this to be my end? 1 John 1:9 Daddy, here I am Here I am again Curse this morning sun, drags me in to one more day Of reaping what I’ve sown, of living with my shame Welcome to my world, and the life that I have made WHere one day you’re a prince, the next day your a slave Chorus

www.churchtechmatters.com Worship in Action SET ME FREE Week 9 It hasn’t always been this way I remember brighter days SET ME FREE Before the dark ones came Stole my mind Wrapped my soul in chains This song follows the account in Now I live among the dead Fighting voices in my head Matthew of the man full of demons… Hoping someone hears me crying in the night And carries my away until he met Jesus. Chorus: Set me free of the chains holding me Is anybody out there hearing me? Set me free Mark 5:1-13 Ephesians 2:1-10 Morning breaks another day Romans 8 Finds me crying in the rain Revelation 1:18 All alone with my demons I am Who is this man that comes my way? The darks ones shriek They scream His name Is this the One they say will set the captives free? Jesus, rescue me Chorus As the God man passes by He looks straight through my eyes And darkness cannot hide Chorus 2: Do you want to be free? Lift your chains I hold the key All Power on Heaven and earth belong to me (Repeat) You are free You are free You are free

www.churchtechmatters.com Free to Worship IN ME Week 10 If you asked me to leap Out of my boat on the crashing waves If you ask me to go IN ME Preach to a lost world of Jesus saves I’ll go, but I cannot go alone ‘Cause I know I’m nothing on my own But the power of Christ in me makes me strong Makes me strong God does not need us. He wants us. To ‘Cause when I’m weak, You make me strong fear is to take our eyes off Jesus When I’m blind you shine Your light on me ‘Cause I’ll never get by living on my own ability How refreshing to know You don’t need me Thanks to John Michael Hall for his kickin’ awesome How amazing to find that you want me So I’ll stand on Your Truth, and I’ll fight with Your solo. Strength Untill You bring the victory, by the power of Christ in me If you ask me to run / And carry your light into foreign 1 Corinthians 1:24-28 land 2 Corinthians 12:9 If you ask me to fight / Deliver your people from satan’s 1 Corinthians 4:20 hand 2 Timothy 1:7 I’ll go, but I cannot go alone ‘Cause I know I’m nothing on my own But the power of Christ in me makes me strong Makes me strong ‘Cause when I’m weak, You make me strong When I’m blind you shine Your light on me ‘Cause I’ll never get by living on my own ability How refreshing to know You don’t need me How amazing to find that You want me So I’ll stand on Your Truth, and I’ll fight with Your Strength Untill You bring the victory, by the power of Christ in me To reach out with Your hands / To learn through Your eyes To love with the love of a savior To feel with Your heart and to think with Your mind I’d give my last breath for Your glory ‘Cause when I’m weak, You make me strong When I’m blind you shine Your light on me ‘Cause I’ll never get by living on my own ability when I’m weak, You make me strong When I’m blind you shine Your light on me ‘Cause I’ll never get by living on my own ability How refreshing to know You don’t need me How amazing to find that You want me So I’ll stand on Your Truth, and I’ll fight with Your Strength Untill You bring the victory, by the power of Christ in me The power of Christ in me www.churchtechmatters.com Free to Worship AND NOW MY LIFESONG SINGS Week 11 I once was lost, but now I’m found I once was lost, but now I’m found AND NOW MY LIFESONG So far away, but I’m home now I once was lost, but now I’m found SINGS And now my lifesong sings I once was blind, but now I see I once was blind, but now I see When God’s hand of grace extends to I don’t know how, but when He touched me I once was blind, but now I see us – the unearned and undeserved hand And now my lifesong sings And now my lifesong sings of grace – all we have left to do is And now my lifesong sings I once was dead, but now I live worship. Not as debtors who could ever I once was dead, but now I live Now my life to You I give begin to repay our Father, but as Now my life to You I give Now my life to You I give children who merely respond to Him Hallelujah with our lives. Our new and everlasting Hallelujah Let my lifesong sing to You lives.

Galatians 2:20 Colossians 3:3-4 Luke 15:32 Romans 5:1-11 Ephesians 2:1-10

www.churchtechmatters.com Free to Worship Week 12

THE REALITY OF WORSHIP

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