September 23, 2018
We’re in week three of Ephesians. As our society continues its trend toward self-centered and superficial worldviews, many have adopted a watered-down view of God that that leads us away from the glory we were made to enjoy. Ephesians shatters this diluted view of God by putting the weight of His glory in our faces in a way that is overwhelming and life-transforming.
Here’s how you can prepare for this Sunday:
1. Read through our text, Ephesians 1:15–23.
Paul gives us a window into his own daily prayer life as he expresses his continual plea for the Holy Spirit to empower the children of God to know—not merely in their heads, but in the depth of their hearts—the unshakable hope, supreme value, and immeasurable power that is available to those who are united to the resurrected Jesus through faith. The power that is available to those who are in Christ is the same power of God that raised Jesus from the dead and exalted Him as the ruler of the whole world.
2. Read, pray, and sing through the service:
CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 63:1–5, Welcome (From Immanuel Nashville):
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!
Fall Afresh (Jeremy Riddle)
How Great Thou Art (Stuart K. Hine)
CONFESSION OF SIN: From The Worship Sourcebook:
Eternal and merciful God,
You have loved us with a love beyond our understanding,
and You have set us on paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake.
Yet we have strayed from Your way;
we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed,
through what we have done and what we have left undone.
As we remember the lavish gift of Your grace
symbolized in baptism, O God,
we praise You and give You thanks that You forgive us yet again.
Grant us now, we pray, the grace to die daily to sin,
and to rise daily to new life in Christ,
who lives and reigns with You,
and in whose strong name we pray. Amen.
Be Thou My Vision (Mary Elizabeth Byrne, Eleanor Henrietta Hull, arr. Ascend The Hill)
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Ephesians 1:7–10
Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace) (Joel Houston, Jonas Myrin)
GREETING, SERMON, & COMMUNION
RESPONSE: Song & Prayer
The Love Of God (Frederick Martin Lehman, Meir Ben Isaac Nehorai, arr. Sara Groves)
Through And Through/Set A Fire (Will Reagan)