Welcome
Thank you so much for joining us! The following page will take you through the order of worship for this Sunday.
If you are new, welcome! We also want to invite you to learn more about us. You can do so by selecting the button below.
If you are new, welcome! We also want to invite you to learn more about us. You can do so by selecting the button below.
A few tips for parents:
- Plan for your time – read through the guide and prepare the room where you are gathering
- Make your time joyful – have fun!!!
- Remember, it’s primarily about a relationship, not a task to scratch off
- Have your kids participate in age and maturity appropriate ways – reading, singing, etc.
Time of Reflection
“For just as eyes, when dimmed with age or weakness or by some other defect, unless aided by spectacles, discern nothing distinctly; so, such is our feebleness, unless Scripture guides us in seeking God, we are immediately confused.”
~John Calvin (1509-1564), French theologian, reformer and pastor
“To be fair, much of the Bible is not systematically evil but just plain weird, as you would expect of a chaotically cobbled-together anthology of disjointed documents, composed, revised, translated, distorted and ‘improved’ by hundreds of anonymous authors, editors and copyists, unknown to us and mostly unknown to each other, spanning nine centuries.”
~Richard Dawkins (1941-present), British biologist and outspoken atheist
“A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.”
~Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), 26th President of the United States
“I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this Book.”
~Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), 16th President of the United States
“I’ve experienced His presence is the deepest darkest hell that men can create. I have tested the promises of the Bible, and believe me, you can count on them.”
~Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983), Dutch watchmaker and surviver of the Ravensbrück concentration camp
“It is Christ Himself, not the Bible, who is the true Word of God. The Bible, read in the right spirit and with the guidance of good teachers, will bring us to Him.”
~C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), Oxford Professor of English.
~John Calvin (1509-1564), French theologian, reformer and pastor
“To be fair, much of the Bible is not systematically evil but just plain weird, as you would expect of a chaotically cobbled-together anthology of disjointed documents, composed, revised, translated, distorted and ‘improved’ by hundreds of anonymous authors, editors and copyists, unknown to us and mostly unknown to each other, spanning nine centuries.”
~Richard Dawkins (1941-present), British biologist and outspoken atheist
“A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.”
~Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), 26th President of the United States
“I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this Book.”
~Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), 16th President of the United States
“I’ve experienced His presence is the deepest darkest hell that men can create. I have tested the promises of the Bible, and believe me, you can count on them.”
~Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983), Dutch watchmaker and surviver of the Ravensbrück concentration camp
“It is Christ Himself, not the Bible, who is the true Word of God. The Bible, read in the right spirit and with the guidance of good teachers, will bring us to Him.”
~C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), Oxford Professor of English.
Opening Prayer
(select someone from your group to open your service in prayer)
Call to Worship
Psalm 19 (NIV)
LEADER: The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
CONGREGATION: Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.
LEADER: There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
CONGREGATION: Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
LEADER: In the heavens, he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
CONGREGATION: It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.
LEADER: The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
CONGREGATION: Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.
LEADER: There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
CONGREGATION: Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
LEADER: In the heavens, he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
CONGREGATION: It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.
Songs & Liturgy
(sing as a group and/or sing along to recorded versions)
A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD
(Martin Luther, 1529)
(Martin Luther, 1529)
A mighty fortress is our God
A bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus it is He,
Lord Sabaoth, His name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
And though this world with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim–
We tremble not at Him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo His doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly powers,
No thanks to them abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through Him who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.
PUBLIC DOMAIN
A bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus it is He,
Lord Sabaoth, His name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
And though this world with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim–
We tremble not at Him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo His doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly powers,
No thanks to them abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through Him who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.
PUBLIC DOMAIN
RESPONSIVE READING
Psalm 139 (ESV)
LEADER: O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
CONGREGATION: You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
LEADER: How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
ALL: Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
LEADER: O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
CONGREGATION: You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
LEADER: How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
ALL: Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS
(Thomas O. Chisholm, 1923, additional verses by John Piper)
(Thomas O. Chisholm, 1923, additional verses by John Piper)
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 forever will be.
REFRAIN:
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.
I could not love Thee, so blind and unfeeling;
Covenant promises fell not to me.
Then without warning, desire, or deserving,
I found my Treasure, my pleasure, in Thee.
(REFRAIN)
I have no merit to woo or delight Thee,
I have no wisdom or pow’rs to employ;
Yet in thy mercy, how pleasing thou find’st me,
This is Thy pleasure: that Thou art my joy.
(REFRAIN)
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
(REFRAIN)
©1951 Hope Publishing Company CCLI#1791178
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever will be.
REFRAIN:
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.
I could not love Thee, so blind and unfeeling;
Covenant promises fell not to me.
Then without warning, desire, or deserving,
I found my Treasure, my pleasure, in Thee.
(REFRAIN)
I have no merit to woo or delight Thee,
I have no wisdom or pow’rs to employ;
Yet in thy mercy, how pleasing thou find’st me,
This is Thy pleasure: that Thou art my joy.
(REFRAIN)
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
(REFRAIN)
©1951 Hope Publishing Company CCLI#1791178
Sharing
(as a lead into the Prayer Time, as a group share how you are feeling and what you are learning; below are suggested questions)
Prayer Time
(You may have an open time of prayer or select someone to pray)
- Pray for our church’s short and long-term meeting place needs, that God would give us favor in the eyes of those in authority and that He would give us provision that would go far beyond all that we could ask or imagine.
- Pray for our world – that the good news of Jesus Christ would flourish and that many would come to know God genuinely and personally.
- Pray for those experiencing racial injustices; specifically, that God would bring hope, reconciliation, and restoration through the good news of His Son.
- Pray for those in authority at every level in our country, that they would govern wisely and justly.
Listen to Sermon
“The Sword of the Spirit”
preached by Lindsay Whaley
preached by Lindsay Whaley
Confession of Faith
The Apostles’ Creed (circa 5th Century)
LEADER: Christian, what do you believe?
CONGREGATION: I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell*.
The third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit;
the holy catholic** church; the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.
Amen.
*i.e. suffered under the judgment of God for His people
**i.e. “universal”
LEADER: Christian, what do you believe?
CONGREGATION: I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell*.
The third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit;
the holy catholic** church; the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.
Amen.
*i.e. suffered under the judgment of God for His people
**i.e. “universal”
Sharing Time
(have everyone share one thing that struck them from the sermon)
Song
(sing as a group and/or sing along to recorded versions)
GREATLY REJOICE
(Steve Earl)
(Steve Earl)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
Who has caused us to be born again to a living hope
Who has caused us to be born again to a living hope
A hope that won’t fade away, reserved in heaven for us
Protected by the power of God through faith
We are saved! We are saved!
REFRAIN:
We greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible
Greatly rejoice with glorious praise
Greatly rejoice in a life incorruptible
Love beyond measure and infinite grace
Love beyond measure and infinite grace.
Through the trials of life
You’re working to prove our faith as gold
In Your love we are persevering for one day soon we know
You’ll explode through the clouds as Your shout cracks the sky
Dead in Christ will arise– as You call home Your bride
And though we’ve not seen Your face, this greatest glory awaits
‘Til then by the power of God through faith
We are saved! We are saved!
(REFRAIN)
©1997 Sovereign Grace Worship (Admin. by Integrity’s Hosanna! Music) CCLI License #1791178
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
Who has caused us to be born again to a living hope
Who has caused us to be born again to a living hope
A hope that won’t fade away, reserved in heaven for us
Protected by the power of God through faith
We are saved! We are saved!
REFRAIN:
We greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible
Greatly rejoice with glorious praise
Greatly rejoice in a life incorruptible
Love beyond measure and infinite grace
Love beyond measure and infinite grace.
Through the trials of life
You’re working to prove our faith as gold
In Your love we are persevering for one day soon we know
You’ll explode through the clouds as Your shout cracks the sky
Dead in Christ will arise– as You call home Your bride
And though we’ve not seen Your face, this greatest glory awaits
‘Til then by the power of God through faith
We are saved! We are saved!
(REFRAIN)
©1997 Sovereign Grace Worship (Admin. by Integrity’s Hosanna! Music) CCLI License #1791178
Benediction
(The leader or individual should read this aloud relishing in the confident assertion that Christ has conquered.)
Luke 12:29-32
LEADER: Do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
PEOPLE: Amen!
Luke 12:29-32
LEADER: Do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
PEOPLE: Amen!