February 19, 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.

We’re in week 22 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 13:1–12.

The text this week presents us with two scenes inside one story. First, we see the church in Antioch being bold in prayer and worship, responding in obedience when the Spirit directs them to do the uncomfortable, difficult thing of sacrificing in order for the Gospel go forth from them. Second, we see the men they sent forth from Antioch to Cyprus—Paul and Barnabas—being invited over by the local Roman ruler to share the word of God with him. They confront his dark-magic-practicing court magician when he tries to turn the ruler from the Gospel message, Paul temporarily blinding the magician by the power of the Spirit. The Roman ruler believes. Both scenes go to teach us that, by the Spirit, the Gospel will go forth.

2. Read, pray and sing through the service.

CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 103:1–5

Come Thou Fount (Robert Robinson)
Praise To The Lord The Almighty (Joachim Neander, arr. Citizens)

CONFESSION OF SIN: Psalm 79:9

God I Look To You (Jenn Johnson)
Cornerstone (Bradbury, Liljero, Morgan, Mote, Myrin)

ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Psalm 103:8–12

SERMON & COMMUNION

In Tenderness (Brian Eichelberger)
Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) (Matt Crocker, Joel Houston, Salomon Ligthelm)

BENEDICTION & SENDING