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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.Song: Across the Lands
You’re the Word of God the Father
From before the world began
Ev’ry star and ev’ry planet has
Been fashioned by your hand
All creation holds together
By the power of your voice
Let the skies declare your glory
Let the land and seas rejoice
You’re the Author of creation
You’re the Lord of ev’ry man
And Your cry of love
Rings out across the lands
Yet you left the gaze of angels
Came to seek and save the lost
And exchanged the joy of heaven
For the anguish of a cross
With a prayer you fed the hungry
With a word you calmed the sea
Yet how silently you suffered
That the guilty may go free
You’re the Author of creation
You’re the Lord of ev’ry man
And Your cry of love
Rings out across the lands
With a shout you rose victorious
Wresting vict’ry from the grave
And ascended into heaven
Leading captives in your way
Now you stand before the Father
Interceding for your own
From each tribe and tongue and nation
You are leading sinners home
You’re the Author of creation
You’re the Lord of ev’ry man
And Your cry of love
Rings out across the lands
You’re the Author of creation
You’re the Lord of ev’ry man
And Your cry of love
Rings out across the lands
we hear | John 1:1-3, 14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
we respond | SONG: How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
How deep the Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
to make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory
Behold the Man upon the cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
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 | Mark 10:21
And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said, You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.
we confess | from Valley of Vision Prayers
O Lord, you know my great unfitness for service, my present deadness, my inability to do anything for your glory, my distressing coldness of heart. I am weak, ignorant, unprofitable. I am at a loss to know what you would have me do. Return again with showers of converting grace to a poor gospel-abusing sinner. Help my soul to breathe after your holiness, that I might desire to follow you and know of your grace more abundantly each day.
Through Jesus who lived for my profitable service,
Through the Holy Spirit who has changed my distressed heart, and
Unto the Father who has turned an abusing sinner into an adopted child… Amen.
we rest | SONG: Thy Mercy My God
Thy mercy my God
is the theme of my song
The joy of my heart
and the boast of my tongue
Thy free grace alone
from the first to the last
Hath won my affection
and bound my soul fast
Without Thy sweet mercy
I could not live here
Sin would reduce me
to utter despair
But through Thy free goodness
my spirit revive
And He that first made me
still keeps me alive
Thy mercy is more
than a match for my heart
Which wonders to feel
its own hardness depart
Dissolved by Thy goodness
I fall to the ground
And weep to the praise
of the mercy I’ve found
Great Father of mercies
Thy goodness I own
And the covenant love
of Thy crucified Son
All praise to the Spirit
whose whisper divine
Seals mercy and pardon
and righteousness mine
All praise to the Spirit
whose whisper divine
Seals mercy and pardon
and righteousness mine
declaration | 1 Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
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 | Love Bears All Things • 1 Corinthians 13:7 | Scott Mitchell
we respond | SONG: Be Thou My Vision
Be Thou my Vision
O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me
save that Thou art
Thou my best thought
by day or by night
Waking or sleeping
Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom
and Thou my true Word
I ever with Thee
and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father
I thy true son
Thou in me dwelling
and I with Thee one
Riches I heed not
nor man’s empty praise
Thou mine Inheritance
now and always
Thou and Thou only
first in my heart
High King of heaven
my Treasure Thou art
High King of heaven
my victory won
May I reach heaven’s joys
O bright heaven’s Sun
Heart of my own heart
whatever befall
Still be my Vision
O Ruler of all
SONG: Come Thou Everlasting Spirit
Come, Thou everlasting Spirit
Bring to every thankful mind
All the Savior’s dying merit
All His sufferings for mankind
Come, Thou Witness of His dying
Come, Remembrancer divine
Let us feel Thy power, applying
Christ to every soul, and mine
True Recorder of His passion
Now the living faith impart
Now reveal His great salvation
Preach His Gospel to our heart
Come, Thou Witness of His dying
Come, Remembrancer divine
Let us feel Thy power, applying
Christ to every soul, and mine
Let us groan Thine inward groaning
Look on Him we pierced, and grieve
All receiving the grace atoning
All the sprinkled blood receive
Come, Thou Witness of His dying
Come, Remembrancer divine
Let us feel Thy power, applying
Christ to every soul, and mine
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
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