February 5, 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’re in week 21 of The Book of Acts: You Will Be My Witnesses. Here are a couple things you can do to prepare for this week’s service:

1. Read through our text, Acts 12.

This chapter shows a recurring theme of the opposing kingdoms of God and man. We see that the kingdoms of man are vainly built on the praise of man, glory, power, and comfort, and are quickly and surely dismantled. Conversely, the Kingdom of God is first firmly established on the glory of Christ’s Victory, then spread through the suffering, sacrifice, and servanthood of His people as they practice what they’ve already seen Him do. The text shines a searchlight into our hearts, pointed right at our little kingdoms, and asks us, “Which kingdom will you live and die for?”

2. Read, pray and sing through the service.

This week, Psalm 32 will play a role in our liturgy and singing. In 2015, a handful of musicians from Park Church recorded and released an album for Psalm 32, word-for-word from the text. As you prepare, you may consider listening through it. It may even help you memorize the Psalm! Click here to listen for free.

CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 108:1–5

Praise To The Lord The Almighty (Joachim Neander)
Behold Our God (Stephen Altrogge, Jonathan Baird, Meghan Baird, and Ryan Baird)

CONFESSION OF SIN: Psalm 32:1–4

Oh God (Zach Bolen)
One Thing Remains (Christa Black, Brian Johnson, and Jeremy Riddle)

ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Psalm 32:5–7

SERMON & COMMUNION

Psalm 32:6–7 (Mark Wilkins)
Be Thou My Vision (Author Unknown, arr. by Ascend The Hill)

BENEDICTION & SENDING