Written in Liberty, MO
June 30, 2025
Phil 4:4-7, Phil 1:6, Eph 4:11-16, Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23, Rom 12:1

I wrote “Come In” while preparing services for our “Holy Paradoxes” worship series, which featured Sundays focused on the Trinity, incarnation, justice and mercy, and God’s Kingdom.

I saw the potential for a song that could touch on all of those themes and be an anthem to return to throughout the series, but as often happens, I could not find what I was looking for. After a few days of reflecting on the scriptures and preaching notes, “Come In” came together.

The lyrics start with an invitation to come take part in Sunday morning services - joyful praise and thanks, the word proclaimed, and an experience of the peace of God. Verse two invites the listener in a little deeper, going past the Sunday morning experience and into community, family, belonging and service. Finally, verse three calls us to take up our cross and follow Jesus into a life of sacrifice for God.

Recently, during our Vision Sunday all-church worship service at the Rush Creek campus in October of 2025, we used “Come In” as our opening worship song. We had some visitors from Goodland, KS that morning who approached me at the end of the service to ask about that opening worship song and where they could find it, as they were musicians who help lead worship for their church back home. “It’s one of ours!” I proclaimed. I shared a link to the recording with them and a week later they asked me for chord sheets and other resources, which I happily shared. If and when they use the song to welcome folks into their church, not only will they be using a song of mine, but they will be engaging in the teaching and direction of our pastoral staff, as this song was a product of their preparation and planning.