– – – -Liturgy for Sunday, March 15th, 2015- – – –
“…as your love for God increases, so will the pain of your exile.”
-Thomas a Kempis
If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink…
John 7:37
Prelude: Did Christ Over Sinners Weep (Indelible Grace)
Gathering Song: 10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord) (Redman/Myrin)
Call to Worship – We believe God is who calls and enables us to worship Himself rightly, in Spirit and truth, so we go to His word in seek of that…
Psalm 103:1-8
Leader: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
All: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Leader: The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.
All: The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Prayer of Invocation – We pray each week asking God to direct our hearts, “prone to wander” as they are, to Himself as we sing, speak, and listen in our worship gathering…
Adoration:
Our Great God (Fernando Ortega)
We Fall Down (Tomlin)
Call to Confession:
Let’s read this prayer together as our confession…
Leader: Lord, we look with hope for the day when there is no more grief, no more sorrow, no more sin, no more death. When you return, there will be no sickness, no more weakness, no more anxiety, no more failing strength, and we will be made complete.
All: We will see you, and our souls will overflow with joy, worship, and blessings.
Leader: Here, we see things darkly, our hopes are obscured by the suffering that surrounds us and by the sinful longings of our own hearts.
All: We prefer comfort to holiness and our hopes are set on temporary material things, rather than eternal promises.
Leader: Let us know the roots of our longings.
Give us a hunger for heaven. Open our eyes.
All: Show us how unsatisfying this world is, and draw our affections to you, so that we can find satisfaction in the Gospel and cling to Christ alone.
(time of silent confession)
Assurance In Christ
Romans 5:8-11
Hear the good news: “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”
Song of Response: And Can It Be (Indelible Grace Music)
(Prayers for our City, Offering, and Doxology/Word of Praise)
I Shall Not Want (Audrey Assad)
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Amen
Hearing the Word: Galatians 6:1-10 “Gospel Family” (sermon audio posted separately)
Celebration of Communion
Sending: A City No Longer Forsaken (Sojourn Music)
Benediction: (Numbers 6:24-26)
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Go in that peace!