Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Our guest is Jason Procopio. He planted Connection Church in Paris, France.
The artwork for this series was illustrated by hand by Christian Robinson, an artist from Oklahoma City.
Our Genesis series is aimed at discussing God’s foundational worldview for His people and their purpose in His world. Christian’s artwork, in three pieces, illustrates the series’ two main movements (Parts I and II) and its narrative bookends (Part III).
Part III depicts the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life appears both in the Garden of Eden in the book of Genesis and again in the New Jerusalem in the book of Revelation. We are reminded that, although at the Fall we were shut out of the Garden and barred from living forever, our ultimate destination as a result of Jesus’ redeeming work is life in a re-created world, in the Holy City, where the Tree of Life is now open to us.
Part I depicts God’s creation of the world (the foliage) and its subsequent de-creation through mankind (the hand) as a result of satanic temptation (the snake) and human rebellion.
Part II depicts God’s creation of a people (the 12 stars for 12 tribes of Israel) as God (the hand) comes to Abraham and makes a covenant (the scroll) with him and his descendants.
Lastly, each of the three pieces were printed directly on to large birch wood panels. In place of any “white” in the above artwork, the natural woodgrain shows through; a nod to creation itself.
We’re in our seventh week of Genesis at Park Church, discussing God’s foundational worldview for His people and their purpose in His world.
Additionally, this is week two of Lent, the 40-day season leading up to Easter where we make our hearts ready for remembering Jesus’ passion and celebrating Jesus’ resurrection. As you pray and worship during Lent, check out The Christian Year for some resources we’ve created and curated for you. As for this Sunday, here are a couple ways you can prepare:
1. Read through our text, Genesis 10–11.
Humans are designed for community and culture-building; it’s part of what God made us to do. But our sinful tendency is to build cities and kingdoms that glorify ourselves instead of our Maker. In short, we seek to make a name for ourselves, finding security and purpose apart from God. In turn, our cities and cultures shape our desires and actions, spiraling us further into rebellion. Seeing our brokenness and confusion, God had mercy. Where we tried to establish our own name, He has made a name for Himself through the Offspring of Abraham—Jesus Christ. Willingly suffering at the hands of our godless desires, Jesus established a Holy City through His broken body and shed blood. He has now invited us to live and flourish as citizens of the City of God.
2. Read, pray and sing through the service:
See full blog post here for a playlist of the songs.
CALL TO WORSHIP: Matthew 11:28–30, Lenten Welcome:
To all who are weary and need rest,
To all who mourn and long for comfort,
To all who feel worthless and wonder if God cares,
To all who fail and desire strength,
To all who sin and need a Savior,
This church opens wide her doors
with a welcome from Jesus Christ,
the Ally of His enemies, the Defender of the guilty,
the Justifier of the inexcusable, the Friend of sinners.
Welcome!
How Great Thou Art (Stuart K. Hine, arr. Page CXVI)
Sanctus (Public Domain)
CONFESSION OF SIN: Psalm 51:1–4, 6, 9–11
Nothing But The Blood (Robert Lowry, arr. Page CXVI)
We Will Feast In The House Of Zion (Sandra McCracken)
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Revelation 21:3–4
GREETING, SERMON, & COMMUNION
RESPONSE: Song & Prayer
A Mighty Refuge (Martin Luther, Aaron Strumpel)
Be Thou My Vision (Mary Elizabeth Byrne, Eleanor Henrietta Hull)
BENEDICTION
This week is week six of Genesis at Park Church, where we’re discussing God’s foundational worldview for His people and their purpose in His world.
This is also the first Sunday of the season of Lent, the 40-day period leading up to Easter where we make our hearts ready for remembering Jesus’ passion and celebrating Jesus’ resurrection. Prayer and worship are some of the ways we can do this preparation, and The Christian Year is our ongoing collection of resources to help you with that (in Lent or in any season). Check it out here. As for this Sunday, here are a couple ways you can prepare:
1. Read through our text, Genesis 6–9.
Really? God flooded the entire earth? Why? How? How does this help me understand Him as good and loving and gracious? These are pretty normal questions that arise as one reads the story of Noah. Stories of judgment and salvation are woven throughout the Bible and, in some ways, this story of Noah is the first formative one. This week, we’ll address some of our questions together.
2. Read, pray and sing through the service:
CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 100:1–3
Holy, Holy, Holy (Reginald Heber)
Yet Even Now (Joel Limpic)
CONFESSION OF SIN: Psalm 32:1–5
Psalm 32:6–7 (Mark Wilkins)
Cornerstone (Bradbury, Liljero, Morgan, Mote, Myrin)
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Acts 4:11–12
GREETING, SERMON, & COMMUNION
RESPONSE: Song & Prayer
O Come To The Altar (Brock, Brown, Furtick, and Joye)
His Mercy Is More (Matt Boswell, Matt Papa)
BENEDICTION
This Wednesday at 6:30am and 12pm, we’ll have Ash Wednesday services at Park Church to mark the beginning of the season of Lent. As explained in The Worship Sourcebook, “Lent is a season of preparation and repentance during which we anticipate Good Friday and Easter. Just as we carefully prepare for big events in our personal lives, such as a wedding or commencement, Lent invites us to make our hearts ready for remembering Jesus’ passion and celebrating Jesus’ resurrection.” Ash Wednesday inagurates this season through singing, prayer, and the symbolic imposition of ashes with the spoken, biblical reminder, “From dust you came, to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19). Here’s how you can prepare for this service:
1. Read through our text, Ecclesiastes 7:1–4.
Often, Lent is observed as a time of self-reflection, repentance, and an honest look at our mortality and need for a Savior. This is where Solomon brings us in Ecclesiastes 7—the inevitable “end of all mankind” and the ignorance of denying its reality. A sober look at our post-fall world and post-fall selves makes us quick to say, “all I have is Christ.”
2. Read, pray and sing through the service:
CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 90:1–4, 12–17
All Creatures Of Our God And King (William Henry Draper, St. Francis of Assisi)
Come Ye Sinners (Joseph Hart)
CONFESSION OF SIN: From The Worship Sourcebook
Lord God, it is hard to think that we will die someday.
We dream, make plans, and talk about what we’ll do in the near future.
We don’t always think about what you want.
Instead, we make choices that we think are good for us.
But we are only here because you take care of us.
We confess that we forget we need you all the time.
We confess that sometimes we make choices that aren’t what you want.
We don’t know what is best for our lives.
Holy God, we are sorry for our sin.
Help us to remember we live because of you.
Help us to do what you want us to do
through Jesus, our Lord.
Amen.
Yet Even Now (Joel Limpic)
Lord I Need You (Carson, Maher, Nockels, Reeves, Stanfill)
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Romans 8:35–39
HOMILY
COMMUNION & IMPOSITION OF ASHES:
Christ The Sure And Steady Anchor (Matt Boswell, Matt Papa)
Man Of Sorrows (Matt Crocker, Brooke Ligertwood)
Were in our fifth week of Genesis at Park Church. In this series, we discuss God’s foundational worldview for His people and their purpose in His world. Here’s how you can prepare this week’s service:
1. Read through our text, Genesis 3–5.
Our text this week takes us through the narrative of the Fall: sin, judgement, and promise. We learn that while God has created boundaries for the good of our joy and life, the deceiver has tempted us to pursue joy and life away from God. Our rebellion against God has led to pain and death, but in Christ we are pursued by God, bringing us back to joy and life.
2. Read, pray and sing through the service:
CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 100:1–3
On Christ The Solid Rock (William Batchelder Bradbury and Edward Mote, arr. Austin Stone)
Build My Life (Barrett, Kable, Martin, Redman, Younker)
CONFESSION OF SIN: From Prone to Wander by Barbara R. Duguid and Wayne Duguid Houk
O God, our Father, Forgive us for our many sins. Like Adam and Eve, we are easily captivated by the objects that our eyes desire. We fall so often, and when we do, we run and hide in shame instead of running to You to confess our sin and find joy and forgiveness in the cross. You have given us Your most cherished treasure, yet we prize many other things more highly than Christ. Forgive us for trusting in our own strength more than in His power to save us completely.
Jesus, You are our strong salvation. Thank You for invading our world to rescue us from ourselves. We cannot fathom the humility, love, and commitment to Your Father’s glory, which led You to give up heaven for us. How can we ever thank You adequately?
Holy Spirit, fill us with everlasting wonder that the Gospel is true. You kept your promise to send a Savior; help us to stop trying to rescue others and ourselves. When we are tempted to sin as Adam and Eve did, remind us of Christ, who kept all Your laws for us, and fix our eyes on Him. Whether we give in to temptation or resist, show us Christ, our only hope for the perfect obedience that we require to stand before You. Cause us to cherish Christ above all our other desires, so that we will be satisfied in Him for all eternity. In His name we pray, amen.
O Come To The Altar (Brock, Brown, Furtick, and Joye)
Jesus Paid It All (Elvina Hall, Kristian Stanfill)
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Romans 3:23–25
GREETING, SERMON, & COMMUNION
RESPONSE: Song & Prayer
In Tenderness (Garvey, Gordon, Walton arr. Brian Eichelberger)
It Is Well (Horatio G. Spafford, Philip P. Bliss)
BENEDICTION