If you’ve been reading Preparing for Sunday for any amount of time, this new version of our weekly post may look a lot different to you. Suspending our weekly gatherings has caused numerous shifts in how we do ministry at Park Church, and amongst the biggest changes has been moving our services online for families and smaller groups of people to walk through together. For this reason, what used to be available on Thursdays in Preparing for Sunday has now become the bulk of what people will access to use on Sundays for worship together (though we’ve improved that as a resource).
The new, temporary focus of Preparing for Sunday is this: preparing people who are preparing to lead their family or small group of people in their localized, home services. If you’re thinking, “That’s not me!”, don’t click unsubscribe just yet! The Church Scattered requires many more people to take up the responsibility to lead their families and/or groups. You may consider dedicating a little time to pray about that if you haven’t already.
Preparing for Sunday has been simplified to a list of three-ish songs and the main passage we’ll study. It’s really simple, but by moving the rest of the service content to Sunday’s larger post that includes the sermon video, we also hope to emphasize the corporate nature of the service and have groups and families enjoy those things together. So, for those who would like to prepare in advance for reading Scripture to your group or leading them in this week’s music, here’s how you can prepare for Sunday:
Read through our text, Isaiah 9:1–7.
See passage
But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time He brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time He has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
You have multiplied the nation;
You have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
For the yoke of His burden,
and the staff for His shoulder,
the rod of His oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon His shoulder,
and His name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Practice singing or playing through our songs:
Download Chords (PDF)Download Lyrics (PDF)
CALL TO WORSHIP
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (Matt Boswell, Charles Wesley) / Psalm 32:7 (Mark Wilkins)
Cornerstone (Bradbury, Liljero, Morgan, Mote, Myrin)
CONFESSION OF SIN
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Living Hope (Brian Johnson, Phil Wickham)
PASSING THE PEACE, SCRIPTURE READING, SERMON VIDEO, PRAYER, & COMMUNION
Doxology (A Cappella) (Louis Bourgeois, Thomas Ken)
BENEDICTION
Instead of our previously-planned service with Isaiah 9:1–7 and Matthew 4, we’ll be in Psalm 46 this week. Here’s the content of our service:
1. Read our text, Psalm 46.
2. Read, pray, and sing through the service:
In addition to or instead of Spotify, you can also click the title of each song below to see a video (with lyrics if available).
CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 145:8–13, Greeting:
To those who feel the goodness and mercy of God today,
and to those who don’t;
to those who love His Kingship and Kingdom,
and to those who struggle to believe in Him or surrender to Him,
may we all hear and respond to the voice of Jesus the King, calling us today:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Rejoice The Lord Is King (Joel Limpic, Charles Wesley)
This Is My Father’s World (Maltbie Davenport Babcock arr. Gungor)
CONFESSION OF SIN: From The Worship Sourcebook:
Merciful God,
in Your gracious presence
we confess our sin and the sin of this world.
Although Christ is among us as our peace,
we are a people divided against ourselves
as we cling to the values of a broken world.
The profit and pleasures we pursue
lay waste the land and pollute the seas.
The fears and jealousies that we harbor
set neighbor against neighbor
and nation against nation.
We abuse Your good gifts of imagination and freedom,
of intellect and reason,
and turn them into bonds of oppression.
Lord, have mercy upon us;
heal and forgive us.
Set us free to serve You in the world
as agents of Your reconciling love in Jesus Christ. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Isaiah 53:4–5
Way Maker (Osinachi Kalu Okoro Egbu)GREETING, SERMON, RESPONSE & COMMUNION
All Hail King Jesus (Gretzinger, Jackson, Mattis, Riddle) King Of Kings (Jason Ingram, Brooke Ligertwood, Scott Ligertwood)BENEDICTION
This is the seventh week of our series in Matthew. In the scope of the whole book (and our greater, three-part series), this week marks the end of the introduction to the story (Matthew 1:1–4:11) and the beginning of the first grand section (Matthew 4:12–7:29), which we’ve titled “The Upside Down Kingdom”. This week we see Jesus begin to invite people into His kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven.
As a reminder, the Gospel According to Matthew is one of the earliest biographies of Jesus, presenting Jesus not as a mere historical figure, but as “good news” for the world that should reshape every part of life. As we continue to engage with this book this Sunday, here’s how you can prepare your heart in advance:
1. Read our text, Matthew 4:12–25.
This story marks the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry and introduces us to the core message of Jesus: “Turn to me, The Kingdom of Heaven is here.” Jesus is announcing to the world that He is God’s chosen King, and He has come to establish God’s reign on Earth as it is in Heaven. The message is profound, and it demands a response. Either people will believe that He is the King and turn to Him, or they will reject Him as King and continue going their own way. In the story, we see the powerful transformation that is experienced by those who believe His message and follow Him. The arrival of Jesus and His Kingdom is good news for the world, and His invitation continues to extend today through His people to all nations and all generations, “Follow me.”
2. Read, pray, and sing through the service:
CALL TO WORSHIP: Joel 2:12–13, Greeting:
To those who feel half-hearted
and to those whose hearts are full;
To those who sin and need a Savior
And to those who wonder if God is really good.
May we together hear the gracious and merciful voice of Jesus
calling out to us today:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Yet Even Now (Joel Limpic)
You Keep On Getting Better (Dante Bowe, Jonathan Jay, Majesty Rose)
CONFESSION OF SIN: From The Book of Common Prayer:
Most merciful God
whose Son, Jesus Christ, was tempted in every way, yet was without sin,
we confess before You our own sinfulness;
we have hungered after that which does not satisfy;
we have compromised with evil;
we have doubted Your power to protect us.
Forgive our lack of faith; have mercy on our weakness.
Restore in us such trust and love that we may walk in Your ways
and delight in doing Your will. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Isaiah 55:1–3
O Come To The Altar (Brock, Brown, Furtick, Joye)
GREETING, SERMON, RESPONSE & COMMUNION
Jesus, Strong And Kind (Buchanan, Farren, Robinson, Thompson)
Revive Us Again (Hall, Husband, Mackay, Ragland) / Sometimes By Step (Rich Mullens, David (Beaker) Strasser)
BENEDICTION
It’s week six for us in the book of Matthew, where we’ll look at Jesus’ time of testing in the wilderness.
Why Matthew though? The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the earliest biographies of Jesus, presenting Jesus not as a mere historical figure, but as “good news” for the world that should reshape every part of life. Here’s how you can prepare this week:
1. Read our text, Matthew 4:1–11.
When Jesus came up from the waters of baptism, the Spirit of God came upon Him and God’s Fatherly love and approval was declared over Him. Immediately after this, the very same Spirit of God led Him into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. The Bible affirms in many places the presence of rebellious spiritual beings who, through various schemes, tempt humanity to turn away from God. The first example of this is in the Garden of Eden, when the first humans were tempted by the devil to turn away from God and to follow a different path to abundant life. The consequences for humanity and for the world were devastating. Since that moment, the world has been waiting for someone to defeat the evil one, reconcile humanity to God, and restore the world. This scene in Matthew 4 is the story of Jesus’ showdown with the devil. In the face of temptation, Jesus was victorious where everyone else had failed, and His victory offers hope for all who follow Him.
2. Read, pray, and sing through the service:
CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 63:1–7, Greeting:
To those in plenty and those in need, To those who know that the love of God that is better than life, and to those who feel as though you’re in a dry and weary land, May Jesus satisfy each one of us as we accept His gracious invitation together:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Better (Joseph Pat Barrett, Ed Cash, Chris Tomlin)
Before The Throne Of God (Charitie Lees Bancroft arr. The Modern Post)
CONFESSION OF SIN: From The Book of Common Prayer:
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan; come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as You know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find You mighty to save; through Jesus Christ Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: 1 Peter 2:21–25
I Am Loved (Jonathan Smith, Jason Ingram, Mack Brock)
GREETING, SERMON, RESPONSE & COMMUNION
He Will Hold Me Fast (Ada R. Habershon)
Lord I Need You (Carson, Maher, Nockels, Reeves, Stanfill)
BENEDICTION
Podcast: Play in new window | Download