Call To Worship
We confess the supremacy of God in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Call to Worship
Psalm 150:1-2, 6 ESV
Praise the LORD!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
Praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
Praise him according to his excellent greatness!
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD!
TIME OF REFLECTION TO PREPARE OUR HEARTS FOR WORSHIP.
Our Sung Call to Worship
Praise to the Lord The Almighty (a few word differences)
Lament
Our Spoken Lament
Lord, you are righteous and you can do all things.
So we wonder why you allow such brokenness in our world.
…where war divides families, maims children, and kills innocents.
How long, O Lord?
…where justice is denied both to victims and to the guilty.
How long, O Lord?
…where human beings are bought and sold as property.
How long, O Lord?
…where poverty leaves multitudes hungry, sick and homeless.
How long, O Lord?
… where sufferers are denied refuge, assistance, and safety.
How long, O Lord?
…where bodies decay and succumb to disease.
How long, O Lord?
…where mental illness robs people of freedom and joy.
How long, O Lord?
…where divorce leaves households divided and children to suffer.
How long, O Lord?
…where your church is persecuted and your people killed.
How long, O Lord?
…where we sin and suffer and die.
How long, O Lord?
How long, O Lord? Will you forget us forever?
How long will you hide your face from us?
TIME OF SILENT LAMENT
Our Sung Lament
I Asked the Lord
Assurance and Peace
We profess our assurance of salvation and peace in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Profession of Assurance
Remember the Gospel
From Isaiah 46:3-4, 49:14-16; Romans 8:31-34
“Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.”
But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.”
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands!”
What then shall we say to these things?
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who 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?
Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?
It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn?
Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Our Sung Profession of Assurance and Peace
Where is Room
Jesus Loves Me (a few word differences)
Thanksgiving and Petition
We Give Thanks in Prayer and Offer Petitions to God
We express our gratitude to God our Father for Christ’s work on the cross for us and bring our requests before him. In bringing our requests, we confess that we believe God truly is a good father, who cares about our needs and gives us what he knows is best.
We Give Thanks by Giving
We give financial offerings to support the work of the church because of our gratitude to God. By giving we confess we are trusting in God’s provision for us as well.
We Give Thanks in Song
Speak O Lord
Scripture Reading
We hear the scripture text of the sermon read.
Psalm 77
1I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. 2In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. 3When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah 4You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5I consider the days of old, the years long ago. 6I said, “Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.” Then my spirit made a diligent search: 7”Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? 8Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? 9Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah 10Then I said, “ I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High. 11I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. 12I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. 13Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? 14You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. 15You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah 16When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; indeed, the deep trembled. 17The clouds poured out water; the skies gave forth thunder, your arrows flashed on every side. 18The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lighted up the world; the earth trembled and shook. 19Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters, yet your footprints were unseen. 20You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Sermon
Psalm 77 – Gospel Comfort in Life’s Hardest Moments – Joe Earle
Sending
Having heard and confessed the Gospel, we are sent into the world on mission in Christ, which we express in both song and spoken word.
Sending Song
Faith’s Review and Expectation (Amazing Grace) (A verse difference on Verse 6)
Blessing
Blessing based on Philippians 1:6
May you go out from here, sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.