January 8, 2017
This is a weekly blog post with one purpose: to help those coming to Park’s Sunday gathering engage with the teaching and liturgy in a more meaningful way. We use this space to share in advance our Sunday’s liturgy: the scripture we’ll be studying, the songs we’ll be singing, and the prayers we’ll be praying together. We also share a handful of thoughts each week to help you use these things to prepare for the service.
This Sunday at Park, we return to The Book of Acts: You Will Be My Witnesses. This will be our 16th week in the series. If you’d like to listen through a previous Book of Acts sermon to refresh yourself, you can do so at parkchurchdenver.org/sermons, where every past Park Church sermon is always available for streaming. Additionally, here are a couple things you can do to prepare for this week’s service:
1. Read through our text, Acts 9:1–19.
Paul’s mission—or so he thought—was to end Christianity. His goal was to bring down the the Church and yet, as we see in this passage, God redirected his heart. His new mission is to see the gospel further saturate the entire world as the water covers the sea. Paul goes from inflicting persecution to receiving the persecution because of his desire to lift up the name of Jesus.
As you prepare for Sunday, reflect on what Paul’s conversion can tell us about our own. What does it mean that we, too, have met Jesus and been converted?
2. Read, pray and sing through the service.
CALL TO WORSHIP: Isaiah 60:1–3 NIV
O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing (Charles Wesley)
Holy Spirit (Bryan and Katie Torwalt, arr. Jesus Culture)
CONFESSION OF SIN: From The Worship Sourcebook
Almighty and merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned
against you and one another
in both our actions and our inactions.
We recognize that in Jesus Christ our light has come,
yet often we choose to walk in shadows and ignore the light.
Gracious God, forgive our sins and remove from us
the veil of darkness that shrouds our lives.
Illumined by your Word and sacrament,
may we rise to the radiance of Christ’s glory.
Amen.
His Mercy Is More (Matt Boswell, Matt Papa)
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: John 1:9–12
No Longer Slaves (Jonathan & Melissa Helser)
GREETING
SERMON & COMMUNION
How Majestic (Citizens & Saints)
All The Poor And Powerless (All Sons & Daughters)
BENEDICTION & SENDING