Preparing Your Heart for Worship - January 28, 2018
This Sunday, as we continue to look at what it means to BE the Body of Christ, we’ll be in Ephesians 5:22-6:9 examining how our family relationships are a reflection of the relationships we have in our church family.
As you think toward our time together - remember the “hourglass” shape and notice how we begin by turning our gaze heavenward, and then tighten our focus on who God is, then as we conclude, turn our thoughts toward our “walk” - living out the gospel in the details of our daily lives.
Call to Worship - Behold Our God
What a joy it is to hear our children praising God as we begin our time together.
The lyrics of this song are incredible. As we begin to turn our thoughts from the cares of daily life, what better way to begin than to celebrate the Lord, seated on His throne. It is the worship in the throne room of Heaven that we are joining in when we gather together.
Catechism
This new element of our worship gathering isa time where we intentionally focus on learning the great truths of the Christian Faith in a Question & Answer format.
We’re Here to Worship
As we continue to exalt the Lord together - this celebration of our purpose for gathering is a great way for us to declare together why we have “come to church” today!
Prayer of Petition
Continuing our time together - we turn to ask the Lord to use this time to draw us together in unity and to draw us deeper into His Word as we strive to hear from Him.
Speak, O Lord
We sang this song as our Benediction/Closing Prayer last week - continuing in that mindset, we’re singing it toward the beginning of our service continuing the Prayer of Petition corporately through song.
Worship through Giving
The giving of our resources to the Lord is an act of worship. It’s an acknowledgement that everything we have is a gift of God. Use this time, to reflect on all that He has blessed you with and the joy it is to give back to Him as we all strive to give faithfully, joyfully, and sacrificially.
Prayer of Praise
This prayer, led by one of our Deacons this week, reflects our desire to tighten our focus (moving further in to the center of the “hourglass”) on praising the Lord for who He is and what He has done for US.
Meditating on God’s Word
1 Timothy 4:13 – devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture. Each week, we select a passage of Scripture that helps to prepare us for the sermon. It is sometimes a parallel passage, and sometimes a complimentary passage. The goal is to simply hear God’s voice as we meditate on His Word.
Shout to the Lord &
How Great Thou Art
These two songs, which are no doubt familiar to us all, are a great way to focus on responding to who God is in worship.
Sermon: This Whole Church Thing... It’s About US!
We look this Sunday at what is essentially a list of the relationships that all of us have and how they reflect the whole “US” thing we find throughout the book of Ephesians. Spend time reading through Ephesians 5:22-6:9 several times between now and Sunday, noticing the different relationships and how and where they are pictures of the gospel.
Oh How Good It Is
One of the reasons we sing this song often, especially during this “Church” series is because of how perfectly it expresses the joy of being a part of Christ’s Body. Be sure to read through the lyrics and notice when we sing together that this is not just singing a song together, not just a prayer, but also a ‘Benediction’ in that it sends us out thinking Scripture saturated thoughts about what it means to be US.
Oh how good it is when the family of God
Dwells together in spirit, in faith, and unity
Where the bonds of peace, of acceptance and love
Are the fruit of His presence here among us
So with one voice we'll sing to the Lord
And with one heart we'll live out His word
Till the whole earth sees the Redeemer has come
For He dwells in the presence of His people
Oh how good it is – on this journey we share
To rejoice with the happy and weep with those who mourn
For the weak find strength, the afflicted find grace
When we offer the blessing of belonging
Oh how good it is to embrace His command
To prefer one another forgive as He forgives
When we live as one we all share in the love
Of the Son with the Father and the Spirit
Be in prayer for:
• Rex, the worship team, and choirs as they prepare to lead us in singing.
• Pray that we all come together on Sunday with hearts prepared to engage in intense, focused exaltation of God.
• Pray that we are obedient to God’s commands and strive for the unity He has called us to.
• Pray for me as I prepare to preach God’s inspired, inerrant, sufficient, authoritative Word.
Rob
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