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JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Hebrews 11:13.
Speaking of the patriarchs in the Old Testament, “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.”
The Old Testament characters in Hebrews 11 all had something in common. They were living by faith when they died. They finished strong in the Lord with a heavenly hope. The Bible tells us that God is not ashamed to be called their God for he has prepared a city for them.
We can take courage in the faith of those who walked before us. They were tried, tested, and truly devoted to God. Their example motivates us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus through this journey called life.
This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to run the race with endurance in the Year of Relationship.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
Key Element for Thriving Relationships-Seeking Common Ground
john : July 7, 2022 11:40 am : John Shirk, Staff PagesJOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is Seeking Common Ground with others.
The Apostle Paul sought to convince people of their need for Jesus. He said in First Corinthians 9:22, “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”
Paul wanted people to know Christ, and looked for ways to establish common ground with them so that he might share the reason for his extraordinary hope in Christ. He looked for all possible means to save some.
This does not mean that we have liberty to compromise Biblical convictions. But at the same time, God can take our common interests or concerns with others to build meaningful connections.
Seeking Common Ground with others is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
Key Element for Thriving Relationship-Start A Conversation
john : July 6, 2022 11:25 am : John Shirk, Staff PagesJOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is Starting a Conversation.
Every relationship has to start somewhere, but where? How do we start a conversation? Perhaps through a good question.
In Acts chapter 8, one of Jesus’s followers named Philip started up a conversation that was life-changing for an Ethiopian official. He was moved by the Holy Spirit to move near him while he was sitting in his chariot reading the Bible.
Verse 30 records that Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. That is when he opened up a conversation with this question “Do you understand what you reading?
The Ethiopian official replied, “How can I unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Philip was able to tell that man the good news about Jesus.
Starting a Conversation is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Hebrews 11:8.
“By faith, Abraham when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.”
If there is one word we associate with Abraham, that word would be faith. Galatians 3:6 tells us that God counted him righteous because of his faith. That is also true for those who put their faith in Jesus.
Abraham did not know his destiny, but he was in relationship with the One who was guiding his destiny. God’s promises are true and trustworthy. His provision of heaven is secure for those who love Him. We can trust God to take us to a glorious destiny someday, and we can trust Him to guide us right now on this journey through life. It is not the easiest road or the most popular road, but it is the best road for a life that is blessed by God.
This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to trust and obey the Lord in the Year of Relationship.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
This week, it’s a Freedom & Fireworks theme on the Praise & Worship Program. I’m excited to celebrate liberty in Christ with vibrant worship-filled hearts! This year’s lineup includes songs like “Liberty” by Shane & Shane, “Praise Like Fireworks” from Rend Collective, “I Am Free” by Jared Anderson and lots more.
| SONG TITLE | Artist | Album | Year |
| 6AM | |||
| What Freedom Feels Like | Cody Carnes | The Darker The Night-The Brighter The Morning | 2017 |
| Nail Scarred Hands | Dante Bowe | Single | 2022 |
| SING IT FROM THE SHACKLES | Rend Collective | Single | 2020 |
| Deliverer (feat. Lauren Lee) | North Point Worship | Single | 2022 |
| Living with a Fire (feat. Chris Quilala) [Live] | Jesus Culture | Living with a Fire (Live) | 2018 |
| More Than Amazing | Lincoln Brewster | Real Life | 2012 |
| Love Came Down | Brian Johnson | Love Came Down | 2010 |
| A New Hallelujah | Michael W. Smith | A New Hallelujah | 2008 |
| Liberated | Zealand Worship | Liberated | 2018 |
| Im Going Free (Jailbreak) | Vertical Worship | The Rock Wont Move | 2013 |
| Fires Gonna Fall | Martin Smith | Iron Lung | 2019 |
| Break Every Chain | Jesus Culture & Kristene DiMarco | Jesus Culture Awakening: Live From Chicago | 2011 |
| 7AM | |||
| Christ Has Set Me Free | Rend Collective | Homemade Worship By Handmade People | 2012 |
| Nothing Holding Me Back | Bryan & Katie Torwalt | Here On Earth | 2011 |
| Deliverance (Live) | GATEWAY | Greater Than (Live) | 2018 |
| Hallelujah For the Cross | Chris McClarney | Breakthrough | 2018 |
| Where The Spirit Of The Lord Is (feat. Christy Nockels) | Chris Tomlin | Passion: Awakening | 2010 |
| He Is Faithful (feat. Bryan Torwalt) | Jesus Culture | Jesus Culture Awakening: Live From Chicago | 2011 |
| Freedom Looks Good on You | Maverick City Music | Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition | 2021 |
| Where Are The Chains (feat. Lucas McCloud) | Circuit Rider Music | Jesus People (Live) | 2021 |
| Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) | Chris Tomlin | Music Inspired By The Motion Picture Amazing Grace | 2007 |
| Hearts Ablaze (feat. Bethany Kuenzli) | Philip Herndon | Send Revival EP | 2020 |
| Liberty (Live) | Shane & Shane | Psalms Live | 2016 |
| 8AM | |||
| Because of Your Love | Paul Baloche | A Greater Song | 2006 |
| No Chains On Me | Chris Tomlin | And If Our God Is For Us | 2010 |
| Deliverer | Matt Maher | Saints and Sinners | 2015 |
| We Are The Free | Matt Redman | 10,000 Reasons | 2011 |
| Freedom Is Coming (Live) | Hillsong Young & Free | Out Here On A Friday Where It Began | 2021 |
| Freedom in the Spirit (feat. Adam Agin) | Sarah Kroger | Bloom | 2019 |
| Freedom | Jesus Culture | Living With A Fire | 2018 |
| Freedom Is Here | Worship Center Live | In This Place | 2011 |
| My Deliverer | Mandisa | Freedom | 2009 |
| Freedom Hymn | Austin French | Wide Open | 2018 |
| Resurrection Power | Chris Tomlin | Holy Roar | 2018 |
| Freedom Song | Christy Nockels | Let It Be Jesus | 2015 |
| Freedom Reigns (feat. Kim Walker Smith) | Jesus Culture | Come Away | 2010 |
| It Was For Freedom (feat. Jon Egan, Mia Fields) | New Life Worship | You Hold It All | 2011 |
| 9AM | |||
| Set a Fire (feat. Will Reagan) | United Pursuit | Endless Years | 2012 |
| Freedom is Here | Esterlyn | Call Out | 2011 |
| Set Free (feat. Matt Redman) | Chris Tomlin | Passion: Here For You | 2011 |
| Where The Spirit of the Lord Is | Life Church | Death of Death | 2019 |
| I Am Free | Jared Anderson | 51 Must Have Modern Worship Hits | 2007 |
| I Am Found, I Am Free | GATEWAY | Monuments | 2017 |
| Wild and Free | Jason Upton | A Table Full of Strangers, Vol. 2 | 2018 |
| Free As a Bird | Rend Collective | Campfire II: Simplicity | 2016 |
| Free, Amen (Live) | We The Kingdom | Live At the Wheelhouse – EP | 2019 |
| I Am Set Free | All Sons & Daughters | Season One | 2012 |
| Praise Like Fireworks | Rend Collective Experiment | Campfire | 2013 |
| Awe (feat. Chris Quilala) [Live] | Jesus Culture | Living with a Fire (Live) | 2018 |
| Awe + Wonder | The Belonging Co | Awe + Wonder (Live) | 2019 |
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Hebrews 11:7.
“By faith, Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.”
Sometimes, God calls His people to big projects that consume enormous amounts of time and energy. And sometimes, our calling will not make sense to a watching world. Noah had that experience. God handed Noah the blueprints for the ark, and Noah carried out the work faithfully.
If we want to be ready for those big assignments that God has for us, we can start with simple steps of obedience to God today. That is what prepared Noah for his assignment to build the ark. Genesis 6:9 says, “Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.”
This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to build God’s Kingdom, using His instructions in the Year of Relationship.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
Key Element for Thriving Relationships-Blessing
john : July 2, 2022 11:51 am : John Shirk, Staff PagesJOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is a blessing.
In the Bible, blessings were often passed along from one generation to another. A blessing is a prayer or proclamation expressing desire for God’s goodness and favor to rest on a particular person.
In Numbers 6:22, the LORD said to Moses, ‘Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: ‘The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
And then the LORD said, “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”
There is no greater blessing than to experience the grace and peace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. This is the blessing we can pray and proclaim for our loved ones.
The proclamation of a blessing is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4W444TnWNbseitUTV6cemm?si=b4f07da1353a4c72
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Hebrews 11:4.
“By faith, Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith, Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.”
This event happened in Genesis chapter 4 among these two brothers. Abel kept flocks. Cain worked the soil. Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. Abel also brought an offering to the LORD-fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.
Abel’s offering was better for a number of reasons. First, Abel gave of his firstfruits. He gave his best to God. Second, His offering also consisted of a blood sacrifice, which was a foreshadow to the sacrifice that Jesus would offer at the cross. Third, Abel’s offering was given with pure motives. Worship is a matter of the heart. Where faith and love motivate us to worship, God is pleased with our sacrifices of praise.
This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to give God our very best from a heart that delights in Him in the Year of Relationship.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
Key Element for Thriving Relationships-Gentleness
john : June 30, 2022 3:18 pm : John Shirk, Staff PagesJOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is Gentleness.
This quality is kind and patient toward people who have room for growth. Love is the motivational factor that inspires us to be gentle.
This quality is also found in the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:23, and is often associated in the Bible with humility.
Jesus described Himself as gentle and humble as He was inviting us to come into relationship with Him. He is approachable.
A gentle person finds a way to stay calm in the midst of tension. They treat others with the respect and dignity of being made in the image of God.
In Titus 3:2, we are reminded to “slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.”
Gentleness is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
