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We’re in week two of The Spirit and the Church, our three-week follow-up to The Book of Acts: You Will Be My Witnesses where we’re discussing the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church’s mission. Here’s how you can prepare for this week:
1. Read through our text, 1 Corinthians 12–13.
The text teaches us that Jesus gives His church diverse gifts of the Spirit so that we can embody the love of God for the good of all people.
2. Read, pray and sing through the service:
CALL TO WORSHIP: From James 1:16–18
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (Matt Boswell, Martin Luther)
O Praise The Name (Anástasis) (Benjamin Hastings, Marty Sampson, Dean Ussher)
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: Romans 8:14–17
No Longer Slaves (Joel Case, Jonathan David Hesler, Brian Johnson)
Revive Us Again (Charlie Hall, John J. Husband, William P. Mackay, Dustin Ragland)
GREETING, SERMON, & COMMUNION
RESPONSE: Song & Prayer
Fall Afresh (Jeremy Riddle)
Set A Fire (Will Reagan)
BENEDICTION
After completing The Book of Acts: You Will Be My Witnesses last week at Park, we’ll take the next three weeks to build and expand on Acts with an exploration of The Spirit and the Church before getting into Advent. Here’s how you can prepare this week:
1. Spend some time reviewing the work of the Spirit in the book of Acts.
The Holy Spirit is a powerful and central actor throughout the book of Acts. We see Him do many clear and otherwise-inexplicable works, from navigating Paul on his journey to raising dead people. Who is He, the Holy Ghost? What is His role in the Church of Jesus Christ as demonstrated in the book of Acts?
2. Read, pray and sing through the service:
CALL TO WORSHIP: From Joel 2:28–29; 32
God The Spirit (Matt Boswell, Samuel John Stone)
Doxology (Amen) (Louis Bourgeois, Thomas Ken, Phil Wickham)
CONFESSION OF SIN: From The Worship Sourcebook
Gracious God,
who pours out freely the gift of Your Holy Spirit:
we confess before You and to each other
that we have failed to recognize this most precious gift.
We have been satisfied with ordinary things,
suspicious of unfamiliar things,
and blind to spiritual things.
Cleanse us, O God, with Your celestial fire.
Burn away our presumptuous self-sufficiency,
and open us in faith to receive the renewing touch of Your hand.
Amen.
Lord I Need You (Carson, Maher, Nockels, Reeves, Stanfill)
Jesus We Love You (Kalley Heiligenthal, Hannah McClure, Paul McClure)
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Romans 8:1–2; 11
GREETING, SERMON, & COMMUNION
RESPONSE: Song & Prayer
Breath Of God (Caroline Cobb)
Revive Us Again (Charlie Hall, John J. Husband, William P. Mackay, Dustin Ragland)
BENEDICTION
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Our guest is Barnabas Piper. He’s the author of The Pastor’s Kid: Finding Your Own Faith and Identity
, Help My Unbelief: Why Doubt Is Not the Enemy of Faith
, and The Curious Christian: How Discovering Wonder Enriches Every Part of Life
.
Listen
Listen to the show Subscribe in iTunesShow Notes
2:30 – Who Barnabas Piper is, and what he does 9:15 – Assumptions that people make about pastor’s kids 14:15 – How pastor’s kids would be treated in an ideal world 16:25 – What led him to write a book titled “Help My Unbelief” 20:40 – What Jacob wrestling with God teaches us about life 24:55 – Why Christian curiosity is vital 30:00 – Why humility and curiosity are inextricably linked 32:00 – Favorite TV show as of late 33:00 – Favorite book as as of late 38:00 – Best hot chicken in Nashville (and where it came from) 39:40 – Where he would put a billboard, and what it would sayLinks
This Sunday at Park Church, we’ll be in our 36th and final week of The Book of Acts: You Will Be My Witnesses. Here’s how you can prepare for worship this week:
1. Read through our text, Acts 28:11–31.
This Gospel is the reality that King Jesus lived a life that Paul never could have lived and died a death that Paul deserved to die. He rose again to conquer the power of sin and death, giving us new life in Him. And now, He is building a Kingdom made of all languages, tribes, and nations. Jesus is a good King, and God’s Kingdom is for all people.
2. Read, pray and sing through the service:
CALL TO WORSHIP: Isaiah 6:1–3
Praise To The Lord The Almighty (Joachim Neander, arr. Citizens)
Great Is The Lord (Joseph Pat Barrett, Daniel Bashta, Ben Smith)
CONFESSION OF SIN: From Yet I Sin in The Valley of Vision
Thou art good beyond all thought,
But I am vile, wretched, miserable, blind;
My lips are ready to confess,
but my heart is slow to feel,
and my ways reluctant to amend.
I bring my soul to thee;
break it, wound it, bend it, mould it.
Unmask to me sin’s deformity,
that I may hate it, abhor it, flee from it.
My faculties have been a weapon of revolt against thee;
as a rebel I have misused my strength,
and served the foul adversary of thy kingdom.
All these sins I mourn, lament, and for them cry pardon.
Work in me more profound and abiding repentance;
Give me the fullness of a godly grief that trembles and fears,
yet ever trusts and loves,
which is ever powerful, and ever confident;
Grant that through the tears of repentance
I may see more clearly the brightness
and glories of the saving cross.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: From Isaiah 6:6–7, Acts 13:38, Ephesians 1:7:
Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”
Through Jesus Christ forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. In Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.
His Mercy Is More (Matt Boswell, Matt Papa)
Oh Praise The Name (Anástasis) (Benjamin Hastings, Marty Sampson, Dean Ussher)
GREETING, SERMON, & COMMUNION
RESPONSE: Song & Prayer
Grace Alone (Dustin Kensrue)
Build My Life (Barrett, Kable, Martin, Redman, Younker)
BENEDICTION
This is week 35 of The Book of Acts: You Will Be My Witnesses—we’re nearing the end of the book! Here’s how you can prepare for worship this week:
1. Read through our text, Acts 27:1–28:10.
By the Holy Spirit and angelic visitation, Paul is enabled by God to help a boat with 276 passengers (among whom he’s being held as a prisoner) avoid being lost at sea. They shipwreck on an island called Malta, where the locals welcome and accommodate them for three days. Miracles happen to and through Paul that lead many to see the power of God. By the Spirit and the word of God to him, Paul’s unshakeable hope in the Gospel of Jesus anchors his soul and brings glory to God in the tempest.
2. Read, pray and sing through the service:
CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 46
How Firm A Foundation (Author Unknown)
Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) (Matt Crocker, Joel Houston, Salomon Ligthelm arr. Charlie Hall)
CONFESSION OF SIN: Jeremiah 10:23–24
Lord I Need You (Carson, Maher, Nockels, Reeves, Stanfill)
His Mercy Is More (Matt Boswell, Matt Papa)
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Isaiah 54:7–10
GREETING, SERMON, & COMMUNION
RESPONSE: Song & Prayer
Waves And Billows Thine (Megan James, Henry March, JD Raab)
On Christ The Solid Rock (William Batchelder Bradbury and Edward Mote, arr. Austin Stone)
BENEDICTION
We’re in week 34 of The Book of Acts: You Will Be My Witnesses. Here’s how you can prepare for worship:
1. Read through our text, Acts 23:23—26:32.
Paul’s journey continues as a prisoner for the Gospel, taking him all the way to King Agrippa, one of the rulers of the Roman Empire. Through many accusations, questions, and potential death sentences, Paul’s message is unflinching: “To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles” (v. 26:22–23).
2. Read, pray and sing through the service:
CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 148:1–6
All Creatures Of Our God And King (William Henry Draper, St. Francis of Assisi)
Yes And Amen (Anthony Brown, Chris McClarney, Nate Moore)
CONFESSION OF SIN: From The Worship Sourcebook
Almighty God, You have raised Jesus from the grave
and crowned Him Lord of all.
We confess that we have not bowed before Him
or acknowledged His rule in our lives.
We have gone along with the way of the world
and failed to give Him glory.
Forgive us and raise us from sin,
that we may be Your faithful people,
obeying the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who rules the world and is head of the church, His body.
Amen.
How Majestic (Brian Eichelberger)
It Is Well With My Soul (Horatio G. Spafford, Philip P. Bliss)
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17
GREETING, SERMON, & COMMUNION
RESPONSE: Song & Prayer
O Praise The Name (Anástasis) (Benjamin Hastings, Marty Sampson, Dean Ussher)
In Christ Alone (Keith Getty, Stuart Townend)