Die to live
Written after a house church member expressed interest in being baptized. By the time they were baptized, we had the lyric video ready.
Restoration Network Music
Lyric examples
Although most of our lyrics are efforts to put Scripture, or Scripture concepts, to music for worship and/or teaching, some lyrics have a backstory or specific reason for their creation. These will be very briefly described here. These serve as examples of why you might craft your own songs for your ekklesia.
Ekklesia
Written to reinforce the basic elements of what makes up a real church: Worship, Community, and Mission. (In contrast to buildings, staff, programs, and budgets)
Word and deed
These lyrics were written to emphasize one of our core values of Living Like Jesus. Taken from 1 John 2:6 “Those who say the live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”
Pascal’s wager
Written to highlight the famous philosopher/mathematician’s challenge to unbelievers about the reasonableness of belief. God exists, or he doesn’t. You believe or you don’t.
At the cross
Written specifically to provide an instrumental meditation focused on the cross. Originally intended for communion but not limited to that purpose.
The gathering
Based on what the New Testament ekklesia did when they met together. 1 Cor. 14:26 “What should be done then, my brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, ……”
Whispers of eternity
God has set eternity in the hearts of humankind (Ecclesiastes 3:11). NT Wright identified this as longing for Justice, beauty, relationships, and spirituality (transcendence) in his book, “Simply Christian.”
God’s Big Story
These lyrics summarize what we view as the big storyline of Scripture. We try to all be on the same page for the macro view so we can fit the micro parts of Scripture into this framework.
God’s table
Written as an invitation to searching souls to join us in this journey of faith. There is a place at God’s Table for all. This home is where the lost find their way and the broken are made whole.
my lament
From Psalms 42. Written when a ekklesia member was feeling disheartened and hopeless. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? My hope is in God, for I will yet praise him.”
Speak
Written to teach and reinforce a foundational slogan of the Restoration Movement. “Speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bible is silent.”
One love, one faith
Another set of lyrics emphasizing teaching a slogan of the Restoration Movement. “In essentials, Unity; in opinions, Liberty, in all things, Love.”
Belly of the fish
The story of Jonah. Written to foster discussion about how we respond to bad things happening in our lives. The reggae style seemed to fit the theme.
Jesus (for all you are)
Sometimes we are not sure how to describe Jesus, or are not sure who he is or who he is not. These biblical descriptions help us verbalize and appreciate all he is.
To know you
A profound statement from Jesus teaching us what is the essence of eternal life: to know the Father, who is the only true God, and, the one he sent, Jesus himself. (John 17:3)
The only God
Attempt to set to music some of the wonderful doxologies (expressions of praise and worship to God) found in Scripture (see also BENEDICTION).
Through the flood
A tribute to the victims and devastation from Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina.
The Lord reigns
The rich material for praising God from the 16th chapter of 1 Ċhronicles was felt to be too good to pass up. Each line of the song is a direct quote from the CSB.
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