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Over time, we learn to value what He values and to trust that He always provides what is good for us, even when it doesn’t make sense from our vantage point.
We’re in week 11 of Matthew, and our topic this week is “Jesus & the Good Father” taken from Matthew 7:7–11.
We’re also just two Sundays away from the start of Advent on Sunday, November 29. Our series this year will be called Echoes of a Voice, focusing on paying attention to our haunted longings as we look to Jesus for their fulfillment. One of the ways we’re making space for this in this season is by hitting “pause” in a handful of ways: reflections on longings through the tradition of the Advent wreath, guided prayer, and guided fasting. We have a free guide for families and individuals that you can request a copy of here. We’ll send those out next Sunday, November 22 (or you can just pick one up at an in-person service).
Here’s how you can prepare for this Sunday:
1. Read our text, Matthew 7:7–11.
See passage
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
Jesus’ teaching here is simple and profound, but for various reasons it becomes much more complex in the experience of most of His followers. At the heart of it, He is encouraging His followers to lean into their identity as beloved children of God, and to trust that their heavenly Father loves them deeply and delights to give good gifts to those who ask Him. As simple as this is to describe, it’s complicated by our own experience. For many, it can be hard to relate to God as a good and generous Father because their experience with their own parents was not reflective of that kind of generous love. Jesus acknowledges this reality by saying that if even “evil” parents still generally seek to provide for their children, how much more will our heavenly Father give good things to His children. In our journey toward mature faith we are invited and encouraged to continually approach God with boldness as beloved children. Over time, we learn to value what He values and to trust that He always provides what is good for us, even when it doesn’t make sense from our vantage point. How can we be sure? Because if “He did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).
2. Read, pray, and sing through the service:
Don’t use Spotify? Click the song title below to see song on YouTube.
CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 139:1–2, 7–10
See passage
O LORD, You have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You discern my thoughts from afar.
Where shall I go from Your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, You are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, You are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there Your hand shall lead me,
and Your right hand shall hold me.
Heart Won’t Stop (John Mark McMillan)
CONFESSION OF SIN: Based on Matthew 7:7–11:
Jesus, You said, “Ask and it will be given to you,” and yet we do not ask. Forgive us for not coming to You and believing that You are kind enough to receive us and powerful enough to provide what we need.
You said, “Seek and you will find,” and yet we do not seek. Our restless hearts are slow to turn to You and seek You, our true home. Forgive us for seeking other things first.
You say, “Knock and it will be opened to you” and yet we do not knock. We ignore the open invitation to simply come and enjoy a life of communion with You. Forgive us for pounding on other doors but leaving Your door untouched.
Our Father in heaven, You say You give good gifts to those who ask. While we believe, help our unbelief!
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: 1 John 3:1
See passage
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.
How Deep The Father’s Love For Us (Stuart Townend, Charlie Hall arr. Chichi Agorom, The Christian Year)
PASSING THE PEACE
What is Passing the Peace?
(Click to Read)
(Click to Read)
When we’ve met as a large group on Sundays, we’ve always had a time of greeting one another after singing. Many churches call this time “passing the peace.” In some church traditions, one person will say to another, “The peace of Christ be with you” to which the other person responds, “And also with you.”
While potentially unfamiliar for some, we felt that “passing the peace” during greeting times at home could be a powerful act in this age marked by very little external peace. In Isaiah 9, Jesus is described as the Prince of Peace. He wants His kingdom to be marked by this very peace! We want to “pass” to one another this peace that only Jesus can give, especially at a time like this.
It might feel a bit cheesy, but we encourage you to actually pray the peace of God over each other during our times. We encourage you to look into each other’s eyes as you say, “The peace of Christ be with you!” and have others respond with, “And also with you.” Be open-hearted to Jesus, asking Him to fill you with His peace.
SERMON & COMMUNION
Goodness of God (Cash, Fielding, Ingram, Johnson, Johnson)
BENEDICTION
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When you have done the hard work to get an honest assessment of yourself and your own need for spectacular mercy, you may be in a better position to lovingly support others on their journey toward the healing and transformative love of God.
It’s “Jesus and Judging Others” this week, discussing Matthew 7:1–6 from the Sermon on the Mount. We’re continuing in our ongoing Matthew series and this will be week 10 of Part Two.
As a reminder, the season of Advent is fast approaching. In preparation, we have a collection of worship resources for the season at The Christian Year. While it’s definitely too early to break out the Christmas decor (sorry to some of you…) it’s definitely not too early to be leaning into the longing for Jesus that Advent is all about.
On to this Sunday though—here’s how you can prepare!
1. Read our text, Matthew 7:1–6.
See passage
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.”
“Don’t judge people.” This powerful and direct command of Jesus is as relevant today as it has ever been, but it’s easy to misunderstand. At the heart of this command is a call to turn away from the dehumanizing and degrading culture of moral superiority that has corrupted religious communities. Jesus says that those who insist on judging the actions of others will themselves be judged accordingly. Jesus teaches that the core problem comes from our reluctance to see the depth of our own brokenness and how that brokenness distorts our ability to relate to other people in ways that are actually loving and healing. Jesus calls His people to pay attention first to their own faults and failures. When you have done the hard work to get an honest assessment of yourself and your own need for spectacular mercy, you may be in a better position to lovingly support others on their journey toward the healing and transformative love of God.
2. Read, pray, and sing through the service:
Don’t use Spotify? Click the song title below to see song on YouTube.
CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 18:1–2
See passage
I love You, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
In Christ Alone (Keith Getty, Stuart Townend) / Promises (Alvarado, Barnes, Bowe, Gaines, Marin, Moses)
CONFESSION OF SIN: From The Worship Sourcebook:
Father, You bless those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
But we have often presided as harsh judges over the lives of others.
We have been quick to place blame
on anything or anyone but ourselves.
We have avoided obligations to care for
or to help people in need.
Lord, have mercy upon us
in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Ephesians 2:4–7
See passage
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Jesus What A Savior (Kirby Kaple)
PASSING THE PEACE
What is Passing the Peace?
(Click to Read)
(Click to Read)
When we’ve met as a large group on Sundays, we’ve always had a time of greeting one another after singing. Many churches call this time “passing the peace.” In some church traditions, one person will say to another, “The peace of Christ be with you” to which the other person responds, “And also with you.”
While potentially unfamiliar for some, we felt that “passing the peace” during greeting times at home could be a powerful act in this age marked by very little external peace. In Isaiah 9, Jesus is described as the Prince of Peace. He wants His kingdom to be marked by this very peace! We want to “pass” to one another this peace that only Jesus can give, especially at a time like this.
It might feel a bit cheesy, but we encourage you to actually pray the peace of God over each other during our times. We encourage you to look into each other’s eyes as you say, “The peace of Christ be with you!” and have others respond with, “And also with you.” Be open-hearted to Jesus, asking Him to fill you with His peace.
SERMON & COMMUNION
Before The Throne Of God (Charitie Lees Bancroft arr. Shane & Shane)
BENEDICTION
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Last week we considered Jesus’ teaching on anxiety. In the context, Jesus is teaching that faith in God’s Eternal Kingdom and His Fatherly care sets us free from the anxiety that comes from living for material things. The truth is easy to understand, but it can be challenging and complicated to apply.Last week we worked through Matthew 6:25–34, discussing Jesus and anxiety. We’re going to camp out here for one more week and focus in on Jesus and emotional health. As always, you can listen to or watch any past Matthew sermon here, including last week if you’d like to hear the overview on this passage before we dig a little deeper.
Another important thing for you to know about this Sunday is that the music and liturgy might feel a little different. We believe that the body of Christ is beautifully diverse, coming from every tribe, tongue, and nation. Part of that diversity can be seen in how we express ourselves in our worship of God. Spend some time with these Gospel songs that you may not know, and think about engaging not only your heart and mind, but also your body! Why? Because Jesus is worthy of everything.
Here’s how you can prepare for this Sunday at Park Church:
1. Read our text, Matthew 6:25–34.
See passage
“Therefore I tell you, fdo not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Last week we considered Jesus’ teaching on anxiety. In the context, Jesus is teaching that faith in God’s Eternal Kingdom and His Fatherly care sets us free from the anxiety that comes from living for material things. The truth is easy to understand, but it can be challenging and complicated to apply.
This week we’ll look at the same passage and the same foundational truth, but we’ll consider some of the broader issues related to faith in the Gospel and our emotional health.
2. Read, pray, and sing through the service:
Don’t use Spotify? Click the song title below to see song on YouTube.
CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 16:8–11
See passage
I have set the Lord always before me;
because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let Your holy one see corruption.
You make known to me the path of life;
in Your presence there is fullness of joy;
at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Joy (Anthony Brown, Pat Barrett arr. VaShawn Mitchell)
CONFESSION OF SIN: Psalm 51:1–2, 10–12
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to Your steadfast love;
according to Your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Your presence,
and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: 1 John 1:7–9
See passage
But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Promises (Alvarado, Barnes, Bowe, Gaines, Marin, Moses)
PASSING THE PEACE
What is Passing the Peace?
(Click to Read)
(Click to Read)
When we’ve met as a large group on Sundays, we’ve always had a time of greeting one another after singing. Many churches call this time “passing the peace.” In some church traditions, one person will say to another, “The peace of Christ be with you” to which the other person responds, “And also with you.”
While potentially unfamiliar for some, we felt that “passing the peace” during greeting times at home could be a powerful act in this age marked by very little external peace. In Isaiah 9, Jesus is described as the Prince of Peace. He wants His kingdom to be marked by this very peace! We want to “pass” to one another this peace that only Jesus can give, especially at a time like this.
It might feel a bit cheesy, but we encourage you to actually pray the peace of God over each other during our times. We encourage you to look into each other’s eyes as you say, “The peace of Christ be with you!” and have others respond with, “And also with you.” Be open-hearted to Jesus, asking Him to fill you with His peace.
SERMON & COMMUNION
Everlasting God (William Murphy, Fellowship Church) / How Great Is Our God (Ed Cash, Jesse Reeves, Chris Tomlin)