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worship as communal exchange
called to come in
God comes near and calls his people out of the world, and takes hold of us and brings us into the community of Himself.we hear | Isaiah 61:10-11
(leader) Rejoice greatly in the Lord; exult in your God! For he has clothed us with righteousness!
(all) For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown to sprout up, so the Lord will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all nations!
SONG: Praise the Lord (Psalm 117)
Praise the Lord all you nations
extol him all you peoples
for great is his love for us
Praise the Lord he is faithful
His love endures for ever
and great is his love for us
Sing a song of praise to God enthroned on High
Bow before the King of the angels
His mercy and His love his justice will be known
lift a song of praise to the Lord
Boldly shout his praise for he has rescued us
Sin and death no more can enslave us
His beauty and his power displayed at Calvary
lift a song of praise to the Lord and great is his love for us
Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth, and 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 rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there 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.
confessing our sin
God the Spirit reminds us that God the Father has saved us through the righteous life and sacrificial death of Christ the Son – and in faith we rest on his gracious interest to renew us yet again.we hear and confess | Matthew 5:2-12
(leader) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(all) But we have been proud in spirit, inflated with pride in our self-sufficiency. We have forgotten how needy we are. Lord, have mercy.
(leader) Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
(all) But we have not mourned over our sin, instead we have insulated ourselves from pain, need, loneliness, and suffering. Lord, have mercy.
(leader) Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
(all) But we have valued toughness over gentleness. We are concerned with self rather than our brothers and sisters and neighbors. Lord, have mercy.
(leader) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
(all) But we have hungered after pleasures, prestige, and possessions in this temporary world. Lord, have mercy.
(leader) Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
(all) But we have often presided as harsh judges over the lives of others. We have been quick to place blame on anyone but ourselves. Lord, have mercy.
(leader) Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
(all) But we have defiled our hearts with idols of our choosing, doubting that God will keep his Word and promises. We are impure. Lord, have mercy.
(leader) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
(all) But we are often at war with others. We create strife rather than safety. Lord, have mercy.
(leader) Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(all) But we have often retreated from the disapproval of others. We have sought to please the world, afraid of rejection. We regard rejection for the gospel as a burden rather than an honor. Lord, have mercy.
SONG: Arise My Soul, Arise
Arise, my soul, arise
shake off your guilty fears
The bleeding sacrifice
in my behalf appears
Before the throne my Surety stands
Before the throne my Surety stands
My name is written on His hands
Arise (arise), arise (arise), arise
Arise, my soul, arise
Arise (arise), arise (arise), arise
Arise, my soul, arise
Shake off your guilty fears and rise
He ever lives above
for me to intercede
His all redeeming love
His precious blood, to plead
His blood atoned for every race
His blood atoned for every race
And sprinkles now the throne of grace
Five bleeding wounds He bears
received on Calvary
They pour effectual prayers
they strongly plead for me
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die!”
The Father hears Him pray
His dear anointed One
He cannot turn away
the presence of His Son
The Spirit answers to the blood
The Spirit answers to the blood
And tells me I am born of God
My God is reconciled
His pardoning voice I hear
He owns me for His child
I can no longer fear
With confidence I now draw nigh
With confidence I now draw nigh
And “Father, Abba, Father,” cry
declaration | 1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
consecrated by the Word
God declares the finished gospel of his Son, and continues his powerful, internal work of change/consecration by his Spirit.sermon | Right About Righteousness • Philippians 3:1-11
we respond | SONG: Jesus I My Soul Have Taken
Jesus, I my cross have taken
all to leave and follow Thee.
Destitute, despised, forsaken
Thou from hence my all shall be
Perish every fond ambition
all I’ve sought or hoped or known
Yet how rich is my condition
God and Heaven are still mine own
Let the world despise and leave me
they have left my Savior, too
Human hearts and looks deceive me
Thou art not, like them, untrue
O while Thou dost smile upon me
God of wisdom, love and might
Foes may hate and friends disown me
show Thy face and all is bright.
Go, then, earthly fame and treasure
Come, disaster, scorn and pain
In Thy service, pain is pleasure
with Thy favor, loss is gain
I have called Thee, “Abba, Father”
I have stayed my heart on Thee
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather
all must work for good to me
Haste then on from grace to glory
armed by faith, and winged by prayer
Heaven’s eternal day’s before thee
God’s own hand shall guide us there
Soon shall close thy earthly mission
swift shall pass thy pilgrim days
Hope shall change to glad fruition
faith to sight, and prayer to praise
SONG: In Christ Along
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone Who took on flesh
Fullness of God In helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost it’s grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ In me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
compelled to go out
God blesses us and charges us go out and extend his kingdom into the broken world around us, making disciples of all nations.benediction | Luke 4:18-21
Today, you who are poor have heard good news. Today, you who are captives to sin are set free. Today, you who are spiritually blind can see. Today, you who are oppressed on earth can know freedom. Today, we have experienced the Lord’s favor in Jesus. Go in freedom and peace! Amen.
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