July 30, 2017
This week we’ll be in Psalm 74 for Christ in the Psalms, our annual summer series. Here’s how you can prepare for the service:
1. Read through our text, Psalm 74.
God’s people felt abandoned. They were captives in a foreign land. The places where they worshiped God had been totally destroyed. There was no prophet to deliver a word from the Lord. As far as they could tell, God was not going to act to make any of this right. This week we’ll discuss how Psalm 74 points to God’s steadfast love for us, proven in His Son, Jesus Christ. Even when we feel abandoned, even when God feels distant, due to our own wandering or not, His love for us is never-ending.
As you read the passage, consider asking yourself the following three questions:
- 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 147:1–11
Beautiful (Phil Wickham)
This Is My Father’s World (Maltbie Davenport Babcock arr. by Gungor)
CONFESSION OF SIN: From The Worship Sourcebook
Almighty and merciful God,
we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep.
We have followed too much
the devices and desires of our own hearts.
We have offended against your holy laws.
We have left undone those things which we ought to have done;
and we have done those things which we ought not to have done.
O Lord, have mercy upon us.
Spare those who confess their faults.
Restore those who are penitent,
according to your promises declared to the world
in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
And grant, O merciful God, for his sake,
that we may live a holy, just, and humble life
to the glory of your holy name.
Amen.
Oh God (Zach Bolen)
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: From Romans 8:35–39
No Longer Slaves (Jonathan David Helser, Melissa Helser)
GREETING, SERMON, COMMUNION
RESPONSE: Song & Prayer
Twenty-Three (Aaron Strumpel)
One Thing Remains (Christa Black, Brian Johnson, and Jeremy Riddle)