Burning Questions 2

Cartoon (drawn 27th June 1999) by Emma Sheppherd, then aged 10, based on the first sketch "Would You Adam & Eve It?". Emma is the daughter of one of our members, and kindly gave permission for this cartoon to be reproduced here. She sketched it during the final rehearsal for the presentation at St Barnabas Church, Frogmore.

Revelation has revised the format of "Burning Questions", with the consent of Rob Frost (who first devised it). Previously, the material was presented in a way that was suited for a so-called "seeker service". This time around, the show is presented as an act of worship for an existing fellowship of Christians, with two new and challenging themes:

1. Do we understand that when we worship we enter the heavenly throne room?
2. What do we hold on to that may inhibit this?

Throughout the show, the congregation are presented with a dialogue between a presenter and the choir, which develops both themes. This dialogue also acts as an introduction to the sketches and songs. Generally the sketches illustrate the problems, and the songs give possible answers. In fact many of the songs are hymns that the congregation should know, and they are invited to join in with the singing.

"Burning Questions" was written in 1993 by Paul Field and Stephen Deal, and was inspired by the evangelism of Dr. Rob Frost. The same team later wrote the major new review for the Year 2000 and beyond, entitled "Hopes and Dreams". Rob is a Methodist Minister based in Raynes Park, North London, but also has additional responsibilities for Evangelism for the Methodist Movement.

SONG: (Please join in)

Great is Thy Faithfulness, O God my Father,
there is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not,
as Thou hast been Thou for ever wilt be.

Great is Thy Faithfulness,
great is Thy Faithfulness;
morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed Thy hand has provided,-
great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Pardon for sin, and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Chorus: Great is Thy Faithfulness...

DIALOGUE

SKETCH: Would you Adam & Eve it?

SONG : Long way to Eden (choir only)

DIALOGUE

SKETCH: Short Change

SONG: Never too late (choir only)

DIALOGUE

SONG: Lord I come to you (choir only)

SONG: (please join in)

Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose.

SONG: Old McDonald (choir only)

SONG: (please join in)

Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine:
Take my heart, it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord,
I pour At Thy feet its treasure store:
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

DIALOGUE

SKETCH: Cost of Living

SONG: O let the Son of God enfold you (choir only)

DIALOGUE

MONOLOGUE: The Witness for the prosecution

SONG: (please join in)

Lord I come to you,
let my heart be changed, renewed,
flowing from the grace that I found in you.
And, Lord, I've come to know
the weaknesses I see in me
will be stripped away
by the pow'r of your love.
Hold me close,let your love surround me,
bring me near, draw me to your side;
and as I wait, I'll rise up like an eagle,
and I will soar with you;
your Spirit leads me on
in the pow'r of your love.

Lord, unveil my eyes,
let me see you face to face,
the knowledge of your love as you live in me.
Lord, renew my mind as your will unfolds in my life,
in living ev'ryday
in the pow'r of your love.
Hold me close,let your love surround me,
bring me near, draw me to your side;
and as I wait, I'll rise up like an eagle,
and I will soar with you;
your Spirit leads me on
in the pow'r of your love.

SKETCH: Thieves' Paradise

SONG: (please join in)

My Lord, - what love is this
that pays - so dearly,
that I, - the guilty one,
may go free!
Amazing love, -O what sacrifice,
the Son of God -given for me.
My debt he pays, and my death He dies,
that I - might live,
that I - might live.

And so, - they watched him die
despised, - rejected:
but oh, - the blood He shed
flowed for me!

Chorus: Amazing love...

And now - this love of Christ
shall flow - like rivers;
come wash - your guilt away,
live again!

Chorus: Amazing love...

SONG: Light a candle in your heart (choir and dancer only)

PRAYER

DIALOGUE

SKETCH: The death of Stephen

SONG: We behold the lamb (choir only)

DIALOGUE

SONG: (please join in)

Only by grace can we enter,
only by grace can we stand:
not by our human endeavour,
but by the blood of the Lamb.
Into Your presence You call us,
You call us to come.
Into Your presence You draw us,
and now by Your grace we come,
now by Your grace we come.

Lord if You mark our trangressions,
who would stand?
Thanks to your grace we are cleansed
by the blood of the Lamb.
Lord if You mark our trangressions,
who would stand?
Thanks to your grace we are cleansed
by the blood of the Lamb.

Only by grace can we enter,
only by grace can we stand:
not by our human endeavour,
but by the blood of the Lamb.
Into Your presence You call us,
You call us to come.
Into Your presence You draw us,
and now by Your grace we come,
now by Your grace we come.

SONG: (please join in)

I give you all the honour
and praise that's due your name,
for you are the King of glory,
the Creator of all things.
And I worship you,
I give my life to you,
I fall down on my knees.
Yes, I worship you,
I give my life to you,
I fall down on my knees.

As Your Spirit moves upon me now,
You meet my deepest need,
and I lift my hands up to Your throne,
Your mercy I've received.

Chorus: And I worship...

You have broken chains that bound me,
You've set this captive free,
I will lift my voice to praise Your name
for all eternity.

Chorus: And I worship...

SONG: (please join in)

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
Bow down before Him, His glory proclaim;
With gold of obedience and incense of lowliness,
Kneel and adore Him, the Lord is His name.

Low at His feet lay thy burden of carefulness,
High in His heart He will bear it for thee,
Comfort thy sorrows, and answer thy prayerfulness,
Guiding thy steps as may best for thee be.

Fear not to enter His courts in the slenderness
Of the poor wealth thou wouldst reckon as thine:
Truth in its beauty and love in its tenderness:
These are the offerings to lay on His shrine.

These, though we bring them in trembling
and fearfulness,
He will accept for the name that is dear;
Mornings of joy give for evenings of tearfulness,
Trust for our trembling, and hope for our fear.

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
Bow down before Him, His glory proclaim;
With gold of obedience and incense of lowliness,
Kneel and adore Him, the Lord is His name.

Footnote

Revelation is a an inter-denominational Christian group, formed in 1997, to present the gospel in a challenging, exciting, and accessible way using drama, music, dance and mime. The group offers a resource available to all churches and fellowships in east Berkshire, west Surrey and north Hampshire.

Over the years the membership has grown to 70, with people from 19 different churches and six denominations. Normally between 30 and 40 people take part in each presentation.

Revelation still retains strong links to Christian Music Ministries (Roger Jones' organisation) and the Rob Frost organisation. Many members have toured with Roger Jones to the Holy Land. Revelation will be supporting Roger's new musical 'Wild Fire'- the story of Stephen when it comes to Surrey in April 2003.

The group writes it own material, including 'The Carpenter Saga', and the scripts for Roger Jones' musicals 'Simeon' and 'The Torn Curtain'. Currently work is in hand on new plays based on the 'Names of God', and 'A Rock and a Hard place' (a story about Peter).

If you would like to know more visit our web site http://listen.to.RevelationUK/ or call Mike Thomas on 01344 882654. The choir normally rehearses at St Peter's Hall near Ascot.

A message from Rob Frost

The next new musical from the Rob Frost Team will be "FACE VALUES". This production is based on the Beatitudes and will challenge us all to live lives which are pleasing to God and which will change the world. The national tour, beginning at the end of September and running through October 2002 will be visting venues in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Our ministry is moving out to serve many different churches and that will unite Christians from different denominations in the work of mission together. Please call the Rob Frost Office on 020 8944 5678 for more information.