Steve Murrell's Blog, page 12

Homecoming by Victory Worship

I’m so proud of our songwriters around the Every Nation world who are writing local and global songs to get God’s Word into the hearts of God’s people. Here’s a newly released album from Victory Worship. Enjoy.

Discipline & Punish: The Birth of the Prison by Michel Foucault

This book is not written from a Christian perspective, so I can’t unreservedly recommend it. However, Foucault’s review of society’s take on community discipline and punishment from the 18th century through much of the 20th century is challenging, thought-provoking, and worth grappling with.

View book here →

. . . Michel Foucault suggests that punishment has shifted its focus from the prisoner’s body to his soul—and that our very concern with rehabilitation encourages and refines criminal activity.

A Biblical View of Songwriting

As I was reading Deuteronomy 31, I noticed that the last leadership mandate God gave Moses during a crisis was to write a song.

A biblical view of songwriting includes songs that are:

ConfrontationalMultigenerationalUnforgettableLife-giving

As spiritual leaders, we need to remember that music is one of the quickest ways to get God’s Word into the hearts of his people. Therefore, we not only encourage songwriting, but we also encourage our people to feature their own songs in our weekly worship liturgy.

“Bayethe” | Live at Go 2023

Here’s one of my favorite songs from Every Nation Rosebank.

Lights a Lovely Mile: Collected Sermons of the Church Year by Eugene Peterson

I have enjoyed reading through this collection of Eugene Peterson’s sermons which follow the traditional church liturgical calendar.

View book here →

Worship is not a religious performance we sit back and enjoy but an act in which we participate. . . . There must be a personal commitment to the act of worship for it to be alive.

Walking in God’s Plan & Purpose

While reading Deuteronomy, the question of “Why?” hit me. Why did it take so long for the Israelites to reach the Promised Land?

If we’re having a hard time getting into the place and purpose of God, we need to:

Go when God says go.Believe when God gives a promise.Listen when God speaks.

“Word Fulfilled” by Freedom Church Worship

Here’s a cover of a song from Every Nation Music’s SevenVerseNine album, beautifully done by Freedom Church’s worship team.

Why Evangelical Theology Needs the Global Church by Stephen T. Pardue

When I heard about this book on a theology podcast four months ago, I immediately did two things: 1) I ordered a dozen copies for EN leaders, and 2) I asked Dr. Jun Escosar to schedule a meeting with the author. While in Manila last month, I had the privilege of meeting with Dr. Pardue to discuss his book. Great talk and a great book!

View book here →

. . . the unique calling of the theologian is to consider God and all things in relation to him. Theology exists because God has spoken, revealing himself and his designs for his people in Holy Scripture. The theologian’s prime directive, therefore, is to guide the church in the patient, disciplined work of hearing and obeying the God who has rescued them and seeks the reconciliation of all things by the blood of his cross.

How to Keep the Fire Burning

In Leviticus 6, God told Moses to tell the leaders (priests) to keep the fire on the altar burning. Always.

Metaphorically, fire speaks of God’s calling (burning bush), guidance (fire by night), and the presence of the Holy Spirit (tongues of fire). So, how do we, as spiritual leaders, keep the fire burning?

The answer is in the video above.

“Come to Jesus” by Every Nation Music

Here’s another newly released music video from Every Nation Music’s Generations album. Enjoy.