Call To Worship
We confess the supremacy of God in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Call to Worship
6Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.
7Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;
8it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”—
“Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”
“These are the true words of God.”
Based on Revelation 19:6-8
TIME OF REFLECTION TO PREPARE OUR HEARTS FOR WORSHIP
Our Sung Call to Worship
Be Unto Your Name
Confession
We confess our need for mercy through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Confession
Father how can we sing Be Unto Your Name when we have often sought our own glory and honor instead of Yours? Father we confess:
We have lived lives that elevate our importance while denying Your supremacy.
We have not sought to make Your name great in our families.
We have not sought to make Your name holy in our places of work.
Father we have not lived our lives worthy of the Lamb who was slain.
We confess we have lived according to the world’s values instead of living lives that value the gospel.
We have failed to forgive others their sins against us while we desire to be forgiven.
We have sought to serve ourselves instead of loving our neighbors.
Father we confess we are broken and need the healing of Christ
Help us to meet You here, that we might bow
before Your unspeakable majesty
and so live for You now and evermore,
In Christ, Amen.
TIME OF SILENT CONFESSION
Our Sung Confession
In My Place
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
The Father rescued us out of the domain of darkness, and transplanted us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins… And you who were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, he made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses…Put on, therefore, as God’s elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering, enduring one another, and if anyone has a complaint against anyone else forgiving each other. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so do you also (forgive).”
Based on Colossians 1:13-14, 2:13; 3:12, 13
Our Sung Profession of Assurance
Come Thou Fount
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
It is Well With My Soul
Scripture Reading
We hear the scripture text of the sermon read.
Colossians 2:16-23
16Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival of a new moon or a Sabbath. 17These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. 20If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—21”Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22(referring to things that all perish as they are used)-according to human precepts and teachings? 23These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
Sermon
Colossians 2:16-23 – Gospel Freedom – Michael Felkins
The Lord’s Supper
This morning we will be celebrating the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper.
If you have trusted Christ as your Lord and Savior, have been baptized and are a member in good standing of a local church we invite you to share in this covenant meal with us.
If you are not able to receive the Lord’s Supper with us, please use this time to meditate on one of the following prayers.
PRAYER FOR THOSE SEARCHING FOR THE TRUTH
Lord Jesus, You claim to be the Way, the Truth and the Life. If what You claim is true, please guide me, teach me and open me to the reality of who You are. Grant that I might be undaunted in my pursuit of knowing You. Give me an understanding of You that is coherent and convincing, and that leads me to the life in You. Amen.
PRAYER OF BELIEF
Lord Jesus I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever dared admit, but through You I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. I thank You for paying my debt on the cross, taking what I deserve in order to purchase my complete forgiveness. Knowing that You have been raised form the dead, I turn form my sins and receive You as My Savior and Lord. Amen.
PRAYER OF COMMITMENT
Lord Jesus, You have called us to follow You in baptism and in a life of committed discipleship in Your church. Grant that I may take the necessary steps to be the one with Your people, and live in the fullness of Your Spirit in a local community of Christ followers. Amen.
adapted from D. A. Carson, ed., Worship by the Book (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002)
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
The Doxology
Blessing
“24Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, 25to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever.”
Amen.
Blessing adapted from Jude 24-25