I appreciate Bob Kauflin’s worship leading not because I am enthralled by his musicality. It’s not that I do not appreciate it. I do and know he is a very gifted musician. But personally, I enjoy a worship leader on guitar rather than piano (a personal taste issue). But what I am soooo blessed in Bob Kauflin, is his passion to write songs of theological depth and passion. The songs are for our generation but the words are timeless. Read his lyrics and you can hear truth, but yet feel the Spirit’s passion behind them. Truly, he understands worshipping the Father in spriit AND truth.
Well, he wrote this song called “Unmeasured Grace” and it goes like this:
Verse 1
Grace unmeasured, vast and free
That knew me from eternity
That called me out before my birth
To bring You glory on this earth
Grace amazing, pure and deep
That saw me in my misery
That took my curse and owned my blame
So I could bear your righteous name
Chorus
Grace (grace, grace)
Paid for my sins and brought me to life
Grace (grace, grace)
Clothes me with pow’r to do what is right
Grace (grace, grace)
Will lead me to heav’n where I’ll see Your face
And never cease to thank you for Your grace
Verse 2
Grace abounding, strong and true
That makes me long to be like You
That turns me from my selfish pride
To love the cross on which You died
Grace unending, all my days
You’ll give me strength to run this race
And when my years on earth are through
The praise will all belong to You
Words and music by Bob Kauflin. Copyright 2005 Sovereign Grace Praise.
To read more about how Bob wrote this song, check out his blog, “Worship Matters.” To get the free MP3, click HERE.
i agree with you wholeheartedly…part of the reason i joined a SGC church was because of the depth of their song lyrics. on the same album as “Grace unmeasured” is a song called “Count it all Joy” based on James 1….to me, it is the song that always brings me back to proper focus in times of suffering/trial.
Posted by Pochax | April 25, 2006, 11:41 amHow is the SGC church you’re going to any way? I love that CD, Worship God Live. I heard many of the songs at a Western SG conference called Together and it was such a blessing. “You are the Way” was sung and I so loved the words, I called my phone and recorded it on my voicemail so I could have the meolody and then I took a pic of the PPT slides.
Posted by admin | April 25, 2006, 11:53 amThe SG music has so blessed me. I am especially partial to Mark Altrogee. The Worship God Live has topped my playlist both at home and when commuting. I look foward to the Worship conference in Gaithersburg in August!
Posted by TimK | April 25, 2006, 5:04 pmI think you will have a grand ole time. You’ll probably come back wanting to lead worship.
Posted by admin | April 25, 2006, 8:41 pmSGC is great…still developing community there but ppl are willing and it’s just a matter of time. certain things are inexplicably traditional (only male ushers? puhleez), but teaching and worship are exactly my style. would like to see more church initiative in mercy ministry but my hope (and what i’ve been taught) is that good orthodoxy results in good orthopraxy. i’m glad they don’t “force” me to speak in tongues though
Posted by Pochax | April 26, 2006, 6:36 amHaha…I totally agree with you John about SGC’s weaknesses, which is an over-realizing (over-emphasis — I have no idea what word to use here) of the complementarian position. The Bible says women must not teach with authority. I don’t think ushering is teaching with authority. But then again, I wonder what they would say about my women deacons position, which I believe is exegetically a valid position to hold. I am hoping that that position and style is just unique to your local church and not to SGM as a whole.
As for mercy ministry, I would also throw in there missions as well. They could grow in that area.
But like you, I am thankful for their Gospel-centeredness and their love for Christ and the glory of God. When you speak in tongues, let me know so I could interpret for you (if I only had that gift, but I can’t even speak Korean).
Posted by admin | April 26, 2006, 7:03 amhey sam, i actually like SGM’s strategy in terms of worldwide missions: they sponsor many training/teaching conferences for indigenous pastors-in-training and give scholarships to their pastor’s college to help ready them for ministry. SGM tends to feel that if you can train someone that knows and lives like that culture, they have far greater potential to reach their community than a caucasian anglo-saxon who can only hope to glean what the indigenous ppl go thru. my pastor just last year, went to india and myanmar for 2 weeks for such a reason. oh, and you’re right, only my SG church in NC does that male usher thing…i don’t think SGM would have a problem with women deacons, but they would have a problem with women deacons having authority over male laity…seems a bit convoluted to me….obviously turning into a longer discussion than this post allows.
Posted by Pochax | April 26, 2006, 9:38 amYes…the one thing I would say John about SGM missions, and I have had many discussions on this subject with SGM, is that that model of missions does not lend itself to reaching the unreached so readily (cf. John Piper’s Let the Nations Be Glad). WHat I DO appreciate about SGM and missions, however, is their emphasis on the power and value and identity of the local church within missions. That is something that is lacking in the Evangelical world.
Posted by admin | April 26, 2006, 9:45 amI think that SG churches actually having an identifiable stand on something goes against the grain of most of contemporary Western “evangelical” churches. I would rather have a church like pochax’s where I might not be in line with what I would view as a minor (female ushers) than go to the ChurchOfWhatsHappeningNow and be confused by incense, journaling tables, kaleidoscopes, dancers, and pastors, oops, I meant to say “people sharing a story” who don’t have the guts to articulate the Gospel clearly or take a stand on what the Bible calls sin. Providentially, God in His goodness has placed me in a place where none of the aforementioned is an issue.
Posted by TimK | April 29, 2006, 7:26 pmAmen, I heartily agree with you Tim. That’s my point about SGM, I might not fully agree with all of the details, but I can find no other ministry that combines the essentials as well as they do!
Posted by admin | April 30, 2006, 9:59 am