March 25, 2018
It’s Palm Sunday and our eleventh week of Genesis at Park Church, discussing God’s foundational worldview for His people and their purpose in His world. Here’s how you can prepare for worship:
1. Read through our text, Genesis 17–18.
It’s been 25 years since God told Abram to leave his country and family and settle in Canaan, promising that Abram’s descendants would fill the land. At this point, while Abram has selfishly fathered Ishmael by his wife’s servant Hagar, Sarai has remained barren and is now closing in on age 90. After thirteen years of silence, God appears again and invites Abram into a new way of life—and confirms again His covenant.
2. Read, pray and sing through the service:
CALL TO WORSHIP: Matthew 11:28–30, Lenten 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!
King Of My Heart (John Mark McMillan, Sarah McMillan)
O Praise The Name (Anástasis) (Benjamin Hastings, Marty Sampson, Dean Ussher)
CONFESSION OF SIN: From The Worship Sourcebook:
Lord, you have called us to worship You. We gladly gather! As we praise You, though, our own inadequacy reminds us of how we have broken our relationship with You. Because we have sinned against You, even our worship fails to be what it could. We often treat it as a show. We simply go through motions, failing to recognize that You want to engage us deeply. Renew us, we pray, according to Your steadfast love. Remind us of Your covenant faithfulness and have mercy on us in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Nothing But The Blood (Robert Lowry arr. Citizens & Saints)
Through And Through/Set A Fire (Will Reagan)
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: From Romans 5:8, Colossians 1:13–14, Romans 5:1, NIV:
God demonstrates His own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
GREETING, SERMON, & COMMUNION
RESPONSE: Song & Prayer
Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Thomas Obediah Chisholm, William Marion Runyan)
Hosanna (Praise Is Rising) (Paul Baloche, Brenton Brown)