Advent Weekly Practices—Week One: Prayer of Silence

Listen to Advet Week One Sermon Advent is traditionally a season marked by anticipation and waiting. Silence is one of the ways we can cultivate this practice in our lives. In Exodus 14, when the Israelites face the Red Sea in front of them and an army of Egyptians behind them, God’s command for His people is not to turn and fight, to build boats, or even to labor in prayer & sacrifice. Instead, God says, “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent” (verse 14). It’s a plot twist. It’s counterintuitive. We’ve trained ourselves to think that the only way to make progress in any situation is to use our own strength, our own words, our own passion, our own intellect. And sometimes God, in His kindness by His Spirit, fuels our efforts to make progress. But we often fail to remember that everything was, is, and always will be held in His sovereign hands. Apart from Him, we can do absolutely nothing (John 15:5). It’s too easy to forget that He is God and we are not. Our culture, our enemy, and our flesh are constantly bombarding us with messages that either distort this truth or distract us from this truth. Lies. Noise. Busyness. Hurry. How can we possibly rewire our hearts? Sometimes we need to start by stopping. Stop working for a moment. Turn off the noise. Breathe slowly. Sometimes we, like the Psalmists, need to “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Enjoy His presence. Remember His love. Meditate on His kindness. Remember that we are not in control, and that’s a good thing. Below we’ve provided a handful of practices and questions to help us engage with the “Prayer of Silence” as individuals, families, and communities.

INDIVIDUALS

During the season of Advent, we’ve asked that you aim to stretch your daily prayer life in some way. For some, this may mean setting an alarm twice a day to stop and pray for ten minutes. Others may want to begin each morning praying The Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:9–13). Still others may want to commit their entire lunch hour to prayer. Regardless of how you’ve decided to engage in prayer this season, this week our practice is to challenge ourselves to begin and end our prayer times with silence before God. Our suggestion is to set a timer for two minutes before and after your time of prayer and sit in stillness and quiet. Pete Scazzero writes this on practicing silence:

All religions practice silence. What makes silence unique for us is that we are silent before the Lord himself. This will be difficult, especially at first. Our internal and external worlds are filled with noise and distractions. For this reason, silence is probably the most challenging and least experienced discipline among Christians today. Give yourself lots of grace here. Studies suggest that the average person or group can only bear fifteen seconds of silence.

Simple enough? It may be more difficult than it seems. Let’s aim to prioritize silence this week together:

Questions for individuals to consider or journal about outside the time of silence:

  • Where have I been looking for consolation (comfort, satisfaction, progress) outside of the presence of God? Which “temples” do I run to (consumerism, recreation, avoidance, etc.)?
  • How could I orient my life, rhythms, habits, and heart to turn toward the presence of God instead of these other temples?
  • How can I be intentional during this season of Advent to focus on what matters most?
  • How am I longing for God to move in my life? Sit with Him quietly, knowing He knows the longings of your heart.
  • Pray through this week’s confession of sin here.

HOUSEHOLDS

Because every household and family has different rhythms, schedules, and capacities, we won’t place any regulations on how to engage with this practice together. However, our encouragement is once again to stretch your home’s current rhythm of prayer during this season. Some may want to begin or end the day with a couple minutes of prayer together. Others may choose to pray at the end of the school day or for a few minutes after dinner. Once again, this week, if possible, invite others into a minute or two of silence as part of your daily prayer time. For those with younger kids, we know this will be a challenging practice! Read Psalm 46:10 beforehand: “Be still, and know that I am God…” and remind yourselves that God is present with you in the room. Remember that the goal here is not to add more to your day, but actually to slow down and make the most of our days with God. Another idea for families is to sing or listen to “Take a Moment” by Will Reagan together, followed by a few moments of quiet to think about who Jesus is.

Questions for kids and families to consider:

  • What is the season of Advent all about?
  • How can we help each other remember this together?
  • What’s something you hope God will do in your life?

Questions for housemates or spouses to consider:

  • Where does my tend to run for comfort and satisfaction?
  • How can we help each other run toward God in this season? What habits can we cultivate?
  • What rhythm of prayer can we actively pursue during Advent?

GOSPEL COMMUNITIES

A few encouragements for our Gospel Communities this week: At the beginning of your time together, set a timer for 2 minutes to engage in silence together. Encourage the group to breathe slowly and think about Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.” Afterward, read Luke 2:22–32 together. Feel free to ask some of the questions below. Because we’re stretching our prayer lives individually during this season, make sure to prioritize spending time in prayer together when you gather. If fitting, end your time in a couple minutes of silence as well.

Questions for Gospel Communities

  • What is compelling about the life of Simeon in Luke 2? What stands out?
  • How do you usually feel during and after the holiday season? More present, grounded, and centered? Exhausted, chaotic, frantic, and distracted?
  • How can you orient this season around the presence of God instead of other things?
  • How can we as a community keep each other accountable to remember what’s most important this season?
  • How often do you spend time in silence? Why is it so difficult for us to be silent?
in Blog

Engaging With Advent

HUNGRY FOR THE PRESENCE OF GOD

As the holidays are quickly approaching, we find ourselves in a season marked by so much potential for good and for engagement with God and others. However, we can also find some unintended guests joining us at the table: consumerism, distraction, busyness, debt, and even loneliness. What if we considered beforehand what we wanted to see God do in this time and then sought to orient our days and practices to shape us in the ways we want to be shaped; to cultivate holy longings?

We believe the season of Advent can help us do just this. Advent, which marks the beginning of the Christian Calendar, officially starts four Sundays before Christmas. This year it runs from December 1-24. It both looks ahead to Christ’s second Advent where He will return as a triumphant King doing away fully and finally with sin and death, and looks back to remember His first Advent as a humble baby two thousand years ago. Because we live “between Advents,” this is a season marked by expectation, longing, and hopeful waiting. It calls the Church to live in the gratitude of the “already” of what Christ has already accomplished, but it also teaches us to groan in the “not yet” as we await the return of our King.

This year, we’ll be looking at the life, practices, and longings of Simeon and Anna in Luke 2. We hope to learn from their affections and longings for all they can teach us in this season! We pray that God would powerfully use Advent at Park Church to increase our longing for Jesus and love for His kingdom through a couple events and practices.

TWO PRACTICES:

  1. Daily Prayer
    Whether you have a rich prayer life or haven’t prayed in years, we’re asking you to consider how you might stretch your prayer life during this season. For some, it may look like starting every morning saying The Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:9-13). For others, it may mean spending an hour in prayer each day, spending 10 minutes during each lunch break in prayer, etc. The goal isn’t to get prayer “right,” it’s to grow in intentional time with Jesus during this season. One helpful resource to encourage daily prayer is “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day” and is available at the Info Table for $10.
  2. Weekly Fasting
    We’re also asking that each person consider fasting from something on Wednesdays during Advent (December 4, 11, and 18) with the goal of increasing our hunger for God. Again, this is a discipline to help train our hearts; it has nothing to do with earning favor from God. Some may fast from food (all day or just lunch, for example). Others may fast from technology like social media or Netflix. Take a moment beforehand to ask God, “What might I give up on Wednesdays to increase my hunger for you?”

Click Advent 2019 Weekly Guides below to find our weekly materials and more resources.

Advent 2019 Weekly Guides

TWO EVENTS:

  1. Advent Hymn Sing
    Thursday, December 12 • 6:30–7:30pm
    Join us for an evening of singing through beloved Advent and Christmas hymns together. Come early at 6:15pm for cookies! Kids are invited to wear their pajamas to the event. Childcare is not provided, as families are encouraged to worship together.
  2. Christmas Eve Services
    Tuesday, December 24 • 4 and 6pm
    We gather on Christmas Eve for an hour-long service. We’ll sing together, read through the story of Christ’s birth, and hear a short message. Childcare is not provided, as families are encouraged to worship together.
in Blog

December 1, 2019

It’s the first Sunday of Advent! Advent is the four weeks leading up to Christmas where we celebrate the fulfilled promise of the first coming of Jesus and heighten our anticipation for His second coming, when the wolf will lie down with the lamb, death will be swallowed up, and every tear will be wiped away.

See our resources for Advent prayer and fasting here, and explore our artistic accompaniment to the season over at The Christian Year. Here’s how you can prepare for this Sunday:

1. Read through our text, Luke 2:22–32.

This year, we’ll be looking at the life, practices, and longings of Simeon and Anna in Luke 2. We hope to learn from their affections and longings for all they can teach us in this season.


In Luke 2:22–32, Simeon meets Jesus when Mary and Joseph bring Him to the temple to offer the customary sacrifice for their firstborn son. Simeon had been waiting for this day, and blesses God while holding the long-awaited Christ in his arms.

2. Read, pray, and sing through the service:

CALL TO WORSHIP: Isaiah 25:6–9, The Apostles’ Creed:

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate;
was crucified, dead and buried;
He descended into hell.

The third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost;
I believe in the holy catholic (“universal”) church;
the communion of saints;
The forgiveness of sins;
The resurrection of the body;
And the life everlasting.
Amen.

Joy To The World (Joyful, Joyful) (George Frideric Handel, Isaac Watts, Phil Wickham)
Rejoice The Lord Is King (Joel Limpic, Charles Wesley)

CONFESSION OF SIN

Wonderful Counselor, we confess that, like Martha, our hearts are often far too busy and frenetic to actually slow down and listen in this season. We seek comfort and counsel from things that can’t truly comfort or counsel us into life—greed, lust, distractions, and shiny things come knocking, creeping into our hearts to take up residence. For these things, we say “forgive us!”

Lead us to join Mary at Your feet in this season.
To know that material things can never satisfy us.
To treasure Your presence before we ask for things.
To listen for Your still, small voice before we speak.
To prepare a way in our hearts for a visitation from You.
To be still and know that You are God.
To long for You as the one thing that is needed most in this season,
knowing this one thing will never be taken from us.
In Jesus’ name, amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Isaiah 9:6–7

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus (Rowland Hugh Prichard, Charles Wesley addl. verses Mark E. Hunt) / Not In A Hurry (Michael Ketterer, Will Reagan)

GREETING, SERMON, & RESPONSE

All Who Are Thirsty (Brenton Brown, Glenn Robertson)

COMMUNION

All Things New (Horatius Bonar, Clint Wells)
King of Kings (Jason Ingram, Brooke Ligertwood, Scott Ligertwood)

BENEDICTION

in Preparing for Sunday

November 24, 2019

This is our last week in the book of Exodus, ending the series we first began in January. Exodus is about God’s mission to redeem a people for His Kingdom in the world.

Here’s how you can prepare for this Sunday:

1. Read through our text, Exodus 40:1–38.

After the people of Israel had faithfully constructed all of the furnishings of the tabernacle, the Lord spoke to Moses again instructing him on how they were to set up and consecrate the tabernacle in preparation for His coming. After everything was prepared and the priests were consecrated, the people of Israel were finally ready to experience the arrival of God’s holy presence. As they watched, the cloud that had represented the presence of God covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. The Lord, who had rescued His people from bondage, had now made His home among them, and He would be with them throughout their wilderness journey until they finally reached their promised home.

In the same way, after Jesus had cleansed His people from their sin through His death and resurrection, He made a promise to His people—that He would send His Spirit to dwell in them, and that He would be with us always, even to the end of the age.


2. Read, pray, and sing through the service:

CALL TO WORSHIP: Exodus 34:34–38, 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!

Doxology (Amen) (Bourgeois, Ken, Owens, Wickham addl. verses JD Raab)
We Will Feast In The House Of Zion (Sandra McCracken, Joshua Moore)

CONFESSION OF SIN: From The Worship Sourcebook:

Almighty God,
who sent the promised power of the Holy Spirit
to fill disciples with willing faith:
We confess that we resist the force of your Spirit among us,
that we are slow to serve you
and reluctant to spread the good news of your love.
God, have mercy on us.
Forgive our divisions
and by your Spirit draw us together.
Inflame us with a desire to do your will
and be your faithful people
for the sake of your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Acts 4:11–12

What A Beautiful Name (Ben Fielding, Brooke Ligertwood) / Break Every Chain (Will Reagan arr. Tasha Cobbs Leonard)
Refugee King (Away From The Manger) (Benedict, Reagan, Ruth, Scheer, Vice)

GREETING, SERMON, RESPONSE & COMMUNION

What A Friend (Josh Garrels, Jay Kirkpatrick)

VOCATIONAL COMMISSIONING: Government & Politics

We Labor Unto Glory (Craig Harris, Isaac Wardell)

BENEDICTION

in Preparing for Sunday

November 17, 2019

It’s our eleventh week in the book of Exodus—next week will be our last! The book of Exodus is about God’s mission to redeem a people for His Kingdom in the world. We’re in Part Two of this series. You can always go back and listen to sermons from Exodus Part One starting here!

Here’s how you can prepare for this Sunday:

1. Read through our text, Exodus 35:1–39:43.

After the Lord showed incredible mercy and renewed His covenant with Israel, the people begin to carry out His instructions to build the tabernacle. First Moses gathered the people, calling them to make generous contributions to supply the materials for the tabernacle, and commissioning them to use their God-given skills and energy to construct the various elements of the tabernacle. The Spirit of God moved in their hearts in remarkable ways. The whole community was stewarding their material resources, their God-given skills, and Spirit-empowered abilities to accomplish this work together. The generosity was so great that Moses eventually had to stop them from giving more. The people responded to God’s mercy with faithful obedience, generosity, and worship, and they built the tabernacle according to God’s design.

The tabernacle, like the temple, was not merely a place for priests to make sacrifices. It was the place where people could come to engage with the presence of God and where God would radiate His presence to the world. When the Messiah would come, He would embody the tabernacle as the personal presence of God on earth and the radiance of His glory. Then, after His death and resurrection, He would fill His people with His Holy Spirit, calling on us to generously contribute our resources, skills, and spiritual gifts in order to spread the glory of His presence across the face of the earth.


2. Read, pray, and sing through the service:

CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 62:5–7, 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!

On Christ The Solid Rock (William Batchelder Bradbury and Edward Mote, arr. Austin Stone)
Better (Pat Barrett, Ed Cash, Chris Tomlin)

CONFESSION OF SIN: From Thou, Dear God by Martin Luther King, Jr.:

Our Holy Father, we confess the weakness and sinfulness of our lives. We have often turned away from thee to seek our own desires. And often when we have done no evil, we have undertaken nothing of good, and so have been guilty of uselessness and neglect. From this sin of idleness and indifference set us free. Lead us into fruitful effort, and deliver us from profitless lives. We ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Romans 5:6–8

Jesus Paid It All (Elvina Hall, Kristen Stanfill) / Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) (Matt Crocker, Joel Houston, Salomon Ligthelm)

GREETING, SERMON, RESPONSE & COMMUNION

Fall Afresh (Jeremy Riddle)
Great Are You Lord (Jason Ingram, Leslie Jordan, David Leonard)

BENEDICTION

in Preparing for Sunday

November 10, 2019

We’re in week 10 of Exodus at Park Church. The book of Exodus is about God’s mission to redeem a people for His Kingdom in the world. We’re in Part Two of this series. You can always go back and listen to sermons from Exodus Part One starting here!

Including this Sunday, there are only three weeks left of Exodus before the series ends and we move into Advent. But here’s how you can prepare for this Sunday:

1. Read through our text, Exodus 33:1–34:35.

After the devastating incident with the golden calf, the Lord tells Moses that He will not continue to dwell among the people of Israel due to their perpetual sin. This was a disastrous word for the people of Israel, and yet again Moses interceded for the people, and pleaded to God for mercy. The passage says that Moses prayed to God in the tent of meeting and the Lord spoke to Moses “face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” At this point in Moses’ life, he had become desperate for God’s continued presence. He begged the Lord to continue with them on their journey to the promised land, and the Lord graciously promised that He would do exactly what Moses had asked.

Encouraged by God’s willingness to grant his requests, Moses takes this desire to be with God to another level, praying, “Please show me Your glory.” Yet again, the Lord was willing to accommodate this request, at least in part. The Lord passed by Moses, allowing Moses to have a partial glimpse of His glory, and revealing His character as a God who is marked by unfathomable mercy, grace, patience, love, faithfulness, and forgiveness, and yet, mysteriously, is committed to absolute justice and righteous judgment. He immediately demonstrates this character to Israel by renewing His covenant with them, promising to bless them with His presence and to fulfill His purposes to spread the knowledge of His glory through them.

This section leaves the reader wondering how the mercy and grace of God can be reconciled with His holy justice. This mystery would ultimately be resolved through the arrival of One who was better than Moses, whose life would radiate God’s glory perfectly, and whose sacrificial death would bring a reconciliation of God’s love and justice.


2. Read, pray, and sing through the service:

CALL TO WORSHIP: Exodus 33:18–21, 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!

Our Great God (Fernando Ortega, Mac Powell)
I Will Exalt (Amanda Cook)

CONFESSION OF SIN: From The Worship Sourcebook:

There are many times we think we love You well, O God.
But upon hearing Your call to love You with all our heart,
and all our mind, and all our strength,
we confess that our love for You is a diluted love,
made insipid and flat by lesser loyalties and a divided heart.
Our love seems pure only for brief moments;
soon our affections are drawn away.
How easily our devotion dies.
Forgive us;
in deep mercy spare us, despite our lost love for You;
in grace rekindle our love for You
in seeing anew Jesus’ love for us. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Galatians 4:4–7

No Longer Slaves (Joel Case, Jonathan David Hesler, Brian Johnson)

GREETING, SERMON, RESPONSE, BAPTISMS & COMMUNION

Here Is Love (William Edwards, Robert S. Lowry, William Rees arr. Matt Redman)
Be Thou My Vision (Mary Elizabeth Byrne, Eleanor Henrietta Hull, Reuben Kendall, arr. Ascend The Hill)

BENEDICTION

in Preparing for Sunday