Blake Goss

1. Pastor JR unveiling a topic that has been swept under the carpet in churches for far too long: Pornography
2. a grown man dancing on stage in a bikini.
3. being able to hear a pin drop from the creepy silence in the crowd
4. giving out free copies of SafeEyes to every family.
5. setting up the message with “Dirty Little Secret.”

Worship Set 2.22:

• The Time Has Come- Hillsong United
• Awesome Is The Lord Most High- Tomlin
• Dirty Little Secret- All American Rejects
• Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)- Tomlin (we did the version from the Hillsong Conference)
• Revolution- Freedom Live

I felt like sunday was one of the greatest worship experiences we’ve had as a church. I believe our people are beginning to understand the freedom that comes in worship. We’re not just singing about God, we are singing to Him and experiencing Him in a whole new way. We introduced the song “With Everything” and it was unbelievable. Ian killed it on the drums and we added two more players just on snares. Our prayer was that it will be “with everything” that we shout God’s glory. It won’t be just with the words that we sing, but with our lives and everything that is within us. It really resonated with our people.

Another classic moment on sunday is when Megan came out for the welcome on roller blades and was dressed in her 80’s finest. I guess you had to be there.

Worship Set 2.15:

• All Because Of Jesus- Fee
• With Everything- Hillsong
• Broken- Lifehouse
• Happy Day- Tim Hughes

Worship Set 2.8:

• Glorious Freedom- Freedom Live
• Sing Sing Sing- Tomlin
• Hosanna- Hillsong United
• Beautiful Jesus- Kristian Stanfill
• Let It Resound- Freedom Live

Jesus makes our worship acceptable to God.

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise.” Heb 13:15

The key phrase in this scripture is “through Jesus.” Sure we are all jacked up and feel completely inadequate to even call upon the name of the Lord, but God see’s His son within us who is perfect and without blemish. We can have boldness as we approach the throne of God because we have His son Jesus who has made us a new creation.

We are no longer under any religious system because Christ came as the final offering for sin. “one sacrifice for sins for all time. (Heb 10:12)” So when we come before God in worship we don’t have to attempt to “get right” with Him because Jesus has already done that for us. 

If you know Jesus….He has made your worship acceptable to God.

Worship Set 2.1:

• Let God Arise- Tomlin
• Let Me Sing- Todd Fields
• The Pretender- Foo Fighters
• Stronger- Hillsong
• Your Grace Is Enough- Tomlin

One of the things we do at Freedom Church is play mainstream songs that are relevant to our culture and to the message for that particular week. People are always curious to hear the different variety of covers that we have played. Here’s a glimpse of what cover songs we played the first year of existence:

• If Everyone Cared- Nickelback
• Shine- Collective Soul
• Apologize- One Republic
• Better Days- Goo Goo Dolls
• Crashed- Daughtry
• Beautiful Day- U2
• Somebody Like You- Keith Urban
• RESPECT- Otis Redding (made famous by Aretha Franklin)
• Whatever It Takes- Lifehouse
• Breakaway- Kelly Clarkson
• Stop & Stare- One Republic
• Living On A Prayer- Bon Jovi
• Storm- Lifehouse
• So Small- Carrie Underwood
• Dare You To Move- Switchfoot
• What I’ve Done- Linkin Park
• It’ Not Over- Daughtry
• Fix You- Coldplay
• Bleeding Love- Leona Lewis
• My Sacrifice- Creed
• When You Were Young- The Killers
• The River- Good Charlotte
• What About Now- Daughtry
• Where Are You Going- Dave Matthews
• Better Life- Keith Urban
• Can’t Buy Me Love- The Beatles
• Blessed- Martina McBride
• We Will Rock You- Queen
• Eruption- Van Halen
• Wanted Dead Or Alive- Bon Jovi

I’m curious to see which songs people have liked best. Which Freedom cover song was your favorite?