A Musical Journey Through Hebrews - A Deeper Dive
Message Recap
This week we were treated to an exceptional worship experience led by Matt Wilder of Adam's Road Ministry. Matt took us through chapters 9-12 in the book of Hebrews using an epic musical backdrop. The soaring accompaniment combined with the words of scripture created a genuinely inspirational encounter with God. The following, taken from the Adam's Road website, describes the worship experience:
“There is power in speaking scripture. Adam’s Road Piano combines a refreshing expression of praise and worship through instrumental piano music with heartfelt recitation of God’s Word, to renew faith and enrich hearts with the wonder of God’s grace.”
The swelling crescendos and quiet, contemplative moments served as a reminder of how music enhances the words we hear and the scenes we watch. Consider the iconic scores from feature films like Star Wars, Chariots of Fire, and Jaws. The feelings brought on when you hear the opening notes set the tone of what you see on the screen.
Music has always been an essential component of worship. Going all the way back to the use of psalms, many of which were sung, music has provided a means to enhance our time in the presence of God. Hymns, praise songs, gospel, and other styles unite people in a way that transcends just the spoken word. In this passage from Psalm 98, the psalmist describes music as a way of expressing joy in the Lord:
“4 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
5 make music to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
shout for joy before the Lord, the King. ”
It's hard to imagine worship without music. No matter the style, music connects us and allows us to worship God with our whole being.
Of course, the choice of scripture was equally important to the impact of Matt's presentation. The book of Hebrews is one of the most powerful revelations of the gospel ever written. It bridges the Old Testament world of promise and the New Testament world of fulfillment. Chapters 9-12, in particular, provide important insights about the new covenant created by the sacrifice of Christ, which secures eternal blessings for all who believe. The blessings are unconditional, final, and irreversible. The text highlights some of the heroes of the Old Testament, each of whom acted by faith and faith alone. Abel, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Moses, and others demonstrated the sphere of faith, which is described by the author this way:
“1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
If you are not familiar with Adam’s Road Ministry, it’s well worth your time to take a look at their website: adamsroadministry.org.. If you were not able to attend this powerful time of worship, we’ve created an audio file of Matt’s presentation, and it’s available here: