June 18, 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, we continue our annual summer series, Christ in the Psalms, with Psalm 68. Here’s how you can prepare:
1. Read through Psalm 68.
This week’s psalm is a poem-song by David, telling the story of God and His people—a story of salvation. The song recounts how God’s people came from slavery to salvation before turning to discuss how salvation’s benefits and power play out.Throughout the 12 weeks of this series, consider asking yourself the following three questions regularly as you prepare:
- How does this Psalm help me pray?
- How does this Psalm help me feel?
- How does this Psalm help me see Jesus?
2. Read, pray and sing through the service:
CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 68:4–6
Fairest Lord Jesus (Traditional, arr. ) Centuries (Aaron Strumpel)CONFESSION OF SIN: From Scotty Smith’s Every Season Prayers
Heavenly Father, for your steadfast love, we bless you.
For your patience and kindness, we praise you.
For your daily mercies, we trust you.
Forgive our sins, for they are real and many.
We confess loving relief from our pain more than change in our hearts.
We confess thinking too often of ourselves and too seldom of you.
We confess that it’s easier to be cynical than hopeful.
We confess under-trusting the gospel and over-honoring our fears.
We confess seeking our kingdoms first and your kingdom last.
Have mercy on us, Lord; have mercy on me.
In Jesus’ name and for his glory, we offer our prayer and ask for forgiveness.
Amen.
Your Name Is Good (Psalm 54) (Joel Limpic, Scott Mills)
King Of My Heart (John Mark McMillan, Sarah McMillan)
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: From Romans 5:8–9:
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.
Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood,
how much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.