Call To Worship
We confess the supremacy of God in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Call to Worship
Based on Revelation 1:1-8 (ESV)
Beloved saints, who have you come to worship?
The Alpha and Omega,
who is and who was and who is to come,
the Almighty!
What is his name?
Jesus Christ,
the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead,
and the ruler of the kings of earth.
What has he done?
He loves us
and has freed us from our sins by his blood
and made us a kingdom
and priests to his God and Father.
To him be glory and dominion forever and ever.
Amen!
Our Sung Call to Worship
Crown Him With Many Crowns
Confession
We confess our need for mercy through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Confession
Based on Galatians 3:10-13,
Romans 3:23 (ESV)
What does the Law demand?
That we abide by all things written in the Book of the Law,
and do them.
What is the state of those who fail to keep the Law?
The one who does not keep the Law is under a curse.
Are you justified before God by the Law?
No, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Do we have any hope at all?
Yes! Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law
by becoming a curse for us—
for it is written,
“Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.”
Time of silent confession.
Our Sung Confession
Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder
Assurance and Peace
We profess our assurance of salvation and peace in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Remember the Gospel
Based on Ephesians 1:3-14 (ESV)
What has God the Father done for you in Jesus?
He has blessed us in Christ with
every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
even as he chose us in him
before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and blameless before him.
In love he predestined us for adoption
to himself as sons through Jesus Christ,
to the praise of his glorious grace,
with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
In him we have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of our trespasses.
In him we have obtained an inheritance.
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him,
were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
who is the guarantee of our inheritance
until we acquire possession of it,
to the praise of his glory.
Hallelujah! Amen!
Our Sung Profession of Assurance
O Christ, My Life (no worship video available yet)
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.
On the first Sunday of each month we have two offerings—one for the general fund and a second one for the benevolence ministry of our church.
We Give Thanks in Song
Let the Nations Be Glad
Scripture Reading
Hosea 4:1-6
1Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel,
for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants
of the land.
There is no faithfulness or steadfast love,
and no knowledge of God in the land;
2 there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing,
and committing adultery;
they break all bounds,
and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
3 Therefore the land mourns,
and all who dwell in it languish,
and also the beasts of the field
and the birds of the heavens,
and even the fish of the sea are taken away.
4 Yet let no one contend,
and let none accuse,
for with you is my contention, O priest.
5 You shall stumble by day;
the prophet also shall stumble with you by night;
and I will destroy your mother.
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;
because you have rejected knowledge,
I reject you from being a priest to me.
And since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
Sermon
Hosea 4:1-19 – Yahweh Accuses His Faithless Bride – Pastor Michael Felkins
The Lord’s Supper
This morning we will be observing the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper is a covenant meal for the people of God whereby we remember the person and work of Christ on the cross to redeem us from our sin. It is a time to reflect, remember and repent. It is also the application of the sermon whereby we confess our sin and continually turn to Jesus for grace.
If you have trusted Christ as your Lord and Savior, have been baptized by immersion and are a member in good standing of a local church we invite you to share in this covenant meal with us.
We also ask that everyone who takes this covenant meal with us remember the warning given by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:27-29, “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.” So we ask that you examine your heart and your relationship with God through the person and work of Christ.
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.
A 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.
A PRAYER FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO CONFESS FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST
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 from the dead, I turn from my sins and receive You as My Savior and Lord. Amen.
A PRAYER OF COMMITMENT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE CONFESSED FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST
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 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)
Gluten Free Lord’s Supper: The elements of our Lord’s Supper are gluten free.
Please dispose of your Lord’s Supper cup in the waste receptacles near the doors or put them in the cup holders of the chairs with book racks under them.
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
Doxology