I’m attempting to approach each Sunday with great expectations. If the God of the universe is here, and this is his church, then there’s no such thing as “just another Sunday”. With all the people in attendance, and the detailed way God draws people to himself, today
there will be conviction, confession, healing, praise, and even people calling on Jesus for the first time. Come, Lord Jesus, come.
Willingly
Words and Music by Matt Stevens
We began the service today with a passage from Hebrews 4:14-16, which was an appropriate call to Jesus – the reason for our praise, and the leader of our worship.
“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For
we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are,
yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of
need.” – Hebrews 4:14-16
Before The Throne Of God Above
Words by Charitie Bancroft, 1863
Music by Vikki Cook
Arrangement by Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, Kentucky. They will be joining us for Advance 09 and Re:Sound this week. Vintage21 Church loves this song and their arrangement, and I’m looking forward to worshiping with the band from Sojourn in a live setting.
Sermon: Acts 6:1-7
Finishing out our series on “Advancing The Local Church”, Pastor Tyler Jones preaches on the chance we have to serve as deacons and elders in the local church.
And Can It Be That I Should Gain
Words by Charles Wesley
Music by Thomas Campbell
Arrangement by Vintage21 Church
We stepped up the tempo and feel of this one to give it some more energy. The words are invaluable, and my prayer today was that it
convicted the hearts of those here who do not know and follow Jesus. “And can it be that I should gain an interest in my Savior’s blood?” It really is an outrageous claim. And man, the singing at the 11:00 service was so loud, right from the get-go. Beautiful.
Thank You
Words and Music by Thad Cockrell and Matt Stevens
We wanted to write a song where we could simply thank God over and over for what He’s done. We have so much to be thankful for.
“There’s no sorrow where we’re going;
You’ve prepared for us a home.
So I fix my eyes on Jesus,
He tells me that I am His own.”
God Of This City
Words and Music by Richard Bleakley, Boyd Aaron, Peter Comfort, Ian
Jordan, Peter Kernaghan, and Andrew McCann
This song was introduced to Vintage21 Church during this series on the local church. It’s a beautiful proclamation of faith, and I pray
people will sing it with confidence and expectancy for what God will do. Otherwise, we’re wasting our breath.
Band
Sound: Matt “Saved Us” Nickerson
Bass: John “Groove Daddy” Bass
Drums: Daniel “Bojangles (Chicken, not Mr.)” Deese
Backing Vocals: Tiffany “Birthday Girl” Ashford
Keys: Scott “Black Mac” Andrews
Lead Guitar: Caleb “Swayze” Smith
Guitar, Vocals: Matt “Still No Sleep” Stevens
Today’s Sunday Review is posted in collaboration with other church music ministries atFred McKinnon’s Sunday Setlists.
Matt Stevens is the Worship Pastor for Vintage21 Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. Contact him via Twitter: @MattStevensNC 
Facebook page for Vintage21 Music
Follow Vintage21 Church on Twitter
“Just another Sunday.” God forbid we approach it that way. And Can It Be? is a great, old song. What an exchange that took place at the cross…did we win or what?
Love the band nicknames…so does Caleb look like Patrick??
Great to see churches using their own music. Mixed with awesome old hymns like And Can It Be – I grew up Methodist, so it holds a special place in my heart.
Really like what you’ve written here Matt
Thanks, David. And yes- Caleb does look like Patrick Swayze.
Those hymns really resonate – both from lyrics and often from the background people have with them.
Matt – I pray that each week at our church is just as you wrote in your intro! Appreciate your mix of songs!