October 28, 2018
This is week eight of Ephesians at Park Church. 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 Sunday:
1. Read through our text, Ephesians 4:1–16.
Paul urges the church to live their lives in a way that is consistent with the love and grace that they have received from God. This means that they should pursue unity as the one family of God through humility and love for one another. The unity of God’s family, however, should not suppress the beautiful diversity that God has designed for His family. He has given all of His children differing gifts of grace through the one Spirit. Church leaders are given to equip and empower all of God’s people to serve one another according to their own gifts in order that the church would be built up like a new temple where God’s Spirit lives in and works among His people. When each member of the church family is engaged in loving one another and pointing one another to Jesus, then the whole church grows into something like a healthy body where people function with different gifts, but all with a unified mind to serve and glorify Jesus as the head of the body.
2. Read, pray, and sing through the service:
CALL TO WORSHIP: Isaiah 6:1–3, 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!
Holy, Holy, Holy (Reginald Heber, John Bacchus Dykes)
Build My Life (Barrett, Kable, Martin, Redman, Younker)
CONFESSION OF SIN: From Every Season Prayers by Scotty Smith:
Dear heavenly Father, for calling us to life in Christ, sealing us forever by Your Spirit, and making us Your beloved sons and daughters, we love and adore You. Our standing in grace is irreversible, the riches of our inheritance are incomparable, and the glories of our future are inconceivable. How can we not bow in humility, gratitude, and repentance before You? Forgive the many expressions of our selfishness and pettiness—have mercy on us, Lord. For the ease with which we complain and grumble, whine and resent—have mercy on us, Lord. For our overspending and under-sharing—have mercy on us, Lord. For being generous with criticism and miserly with forgiveness—have mercy on us, Lord. Please, Lord, have mercy on us and have mercy on me. In Jesus’ name and for His glory, we pray. Amen.
Psalm 32:6–7 (Mark Wilkins)
Nothing But The Blood (Robert Lowry, arr. Charlie Hall)
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Ephesians 2:13–18
GREETING, SERMON, & COMMUNION
RESPONSE: Song & Prayer
Jesus What A Savior (Kirby Kaple)
Take My Life And Let It Be (Frances Ridley Havergal, Henri Abraham Cesar Malan)