What's coming this Sunday (2/11)

Preparing Your Heart for Worship - Sunday, February 11, 2018

This weekend is our annual Marriage Retreat - 25 couples from our church will be heading out to the Bradford Inn in Branson for a weekend of fun, food, fellowship, and most importantly - strengthening our marriages. We all covet your prayers during the weekend. 

In addition to praying for our retreat, be praying for Nathan White as he prepares to preach in our worship gathering this Sunday. Nathan grew up at Fellowship, and what a joy it has been to see him following God’s path! He’s going to bring us a message from 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 titled, “The Better Wisdom of God.”

Call to Worship

We have a Call to Worship each week. It’s typically a short, Scripture-based exhortation calling us all to turn away from the cares of daily life and turn to Christ. We gather each Sunday to turn our mind’s attention and our heart’s affection to Christ - this is when that time formally begins.  

This Is Amazing Grace

While the Isaac Watts song “Amazing Grace” is a favorite hymn of many, this song puts forth a similar theme in a very “declare His glory (Psalm 96)” way. As we begin our time celebrating the gospel, this song is a fantastic expression of all that He has done for US.

Cornerstone

This is the old hymn “The Solid Rock,” with a new tune and chorus. While I really love the original (I’d be happy singing it every week), this new version is great too. The new chorus expresses beautiful Biblical truths. 

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.

Catechism

What a joy it’s been to be learning these things together. I’m excited to see where this new method of discipling our children together leads 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. 

All I Have is Christ & Hallelujah, What a Savior

(Click here to get a wonderful version of "Hallelujah! What a Savior" featuring Joni Eareckson Tada)

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

These two songs are beautiful expressions of the gospel, expressing our need to not rely on our own wisdom, but look to God and what He had accomplished on our behalf in Christ. 

Sermon: The Better Wisdom of God

Be reading through the sermon passage, 1 Corinthians 1:18-23, between now and Sunday to better prepare yourself for Nathan’s sermon. And be praying for Nathan that the Lord would use Him to teach us to follow Jesus better. 

Jesus, Thank You

We typically sing this song when we celebrate the Lord’s Table (as we will next Sunday evening), but will be singing it as a response to the message this Sunday. I was captured by this song from the first time I heard it. Not only is the gospel clearly laid out, but also what my response should be. What a great way to respond to the message - singing these words together! My favorite line is “once Your enemy - now seated at Your  table.” WOW! As we just sang - Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Benediction - I Will Boast

This song is a great summary of the sermon - as we prepare to head back out into the world for the week - let these words echo in your heart and remind you that we boat in Christ alone!

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 Nathan as he prepares to preach God’s inspired, inerrant, sufficient, authoritative Word. 

Rob