Download: Readings and Song Lyrics for March 5, 2023
Pre-service Song
Jesus, My Sovereign, Jesus, My Friend
Verse 1
My sins are many, from God I’ve fled.
Though hell-deserving, I have no dread.
My debt is canceled and death is dead—
For Christ, in dying, has crushed its head.
Verse 2
My flesh is groaning to be set free.
Though pain engulfs me, I still believe.
My life is certain; this is my plea—
If Christ is risen, he will raise me. (Chorus)
Chorus
Christ is my death. Christ is my life.
In Jesus, I’m buried. In Jesus, I rise.
He is my present. He is my end.
Jesus, my sovereign. Jesus, my friend.
Verse 3
My friends betray me, I am disowned.
Though all reject me, I’m not alone.
My Friend and Sovereign sits on the throne—
Yes, Christ my Savior, made me his own. (Chorus)
Verse 4
My life is fading, the end draws near.
Though death approaches, I have no fear.
My hope is certain, so I have cheer—
The day is coming when Christ appears! (Chorus)
Ending
Jesus, my sovereign. Jesus, my friend.
Words and Music by Eric Schumacher and Ashley Hoobler
Call To Worship
We confess the supremacy of God in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Call to Worship
Psalm 95:1-7 (CSB)
Come, let’s shout joyfully to the Lord,
shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation!
Let’s enter his presence with thanksgiving;
let’s shout triumphantly to him in song.
For the Lord is a great God,
a great King above all gods.
The depths of the earth are in his hand,
and the mountain peaks are his.
The sea is his; he made it.
His hands formed the dry land.
Come, let’s worship and bow down;
let’s kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
the sheep under his care.
Our Sung Call to Worship
Cannons
Verse 1
It’s falling from the clouds, a strange and lovely sound,
I hear it in the thunder and the rain.
It’s ringing in the skies, like cannons in the night,
The music of the universe plays.
We’re singing:
Chorus 1
You are holy, great and mighty.
The moon and the stars declare who You are.
I’m so unworthy, but still You love me.
Forever my heart will sing of how great You are.
Verse 2
Beautiful and free, the song of galaxies,
Reaching far beyond the Milky Way.
Let’s join in the sound, come on let’s sing it out
As the music of the universe plays.
We’re singing:
Chorus 2
You are holy, great and mighty,
The moon and stars declare who You are.
I’m so unworthy, but still You love me.
Forever my heart will sing of You.
Bridge
All glory, honor, power is Yours, amen.
All glory, honor, power is Yours, amen.
All glory, honor, power is Yours forever, amen.
(Chorus 1)
Words and Music by Phil Wickham
©2006 Phil Wickham Music, Seems Like Music, Sing My Songs
Confession
We confess our need for mercy through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Confession
Psalm 51:1-4, 7-9 (CSB)
Be gracious to me, God,
according to your faithful love;
according to your abundant compassion,
blot out my rebellion.
Completely wash away my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I am conscious of my rebellion,
and my sin is always before me.
Against you—you alone—I have sinned
and done this evil in your sight.
So you are right when you pass sentence;
you are blameless when you judge.
Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Turn your face away from my sins
and blot out all my guilt.
This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ,
our crucified and risen Lord. Amen.
Time of silent confession.
Assurance and Peace
We profess our assurance of salvation and peace in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Remember the Gospel
Colossians 2:13-15; 2 Corinthians 2:14
Remember the Gospel!
When you were dead in trespasses
and in the uncircumcision of your flesh,
he made you alive with him
and forgave us all our trespasses.
He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations,
that was against us and opposed to us,
and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.
He disarmed the rulers and authorities
and disgraced them publicly;
he triumphed over them in him.
Thanks be to God, who always leads us
in Christ’s triumphal procession!
Our Sung Profession of Assurance
Did Christ Over Sinners Weep? (Distribution Song)
Verse 1
Did Christ over sinners weep,
And shall our cheeks be dry?
Let floods of penitential grief,
Burst forth from every eye
Burst forth from every eye. (Chorus)
Chorus
Behold the Son of God in tears,
The angels wondering see
Hast thou no wonder, O my soul?
He shed those tears for thee!
Verse 2
He wept that we might weep,
Might weep over sin and shame.
He wept to show His love for us,
And bid us love the same
And bid us love the same. (Chorus)
Verse 3
Then tender be our hearts,
Our eyes in sorrow dim
‘Til every tear from every eye,
Be wiped away by Him
Be wiped away by Him
Be wiped away by Him. (Chorus)
Ending
He shed those tears for thee!
Words by Henry Lyte, Music by Blake Mundell
©2012 Little Mountain Music
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
Jesus, My Sovereign, Jesus, My Friend
Verse 1
My sins are many, from God I’ve fled.
Though hell-deserving, I have no dread.
My debt is canceled and death is dead—
For Christ, in dying, has crushed its head.
Verse 2
My flesh is groaning to be set free.
Though pain engulfs me, I still believe.
My life is certain; this is my plea—
If Christ is risen, he will raise me. (Chorus)
Chorus
Christ is my death. Christ is my life.
In Jesus, I’m buried. In Jesus, I rise.
He is my present. He is my end.
Jesus, my sovereign. Jesus, my friend.
Verse 3
My friends betray me, I am disowned.
Though all reject me, I’m not alone.
My Friend and Sovereign sits on the throne—
Yes, Christ my Savior, made me his own. (Chorus)
Verse 4
My life is fading, the end draws near.
Though death approaches, I have no fear.
My hope is certain, so I have cheer—
The day is coming when Christ appears! (Chorus)
Ending
Jesus, my sovereign. Jesus, my friend.
Words and Music by Eric Schumacher and Ashley Hoobler
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 a Mission Moment to highlight the different missions giving
opportunities we have at Grand. Members are encouraged to give to GABC Missions to support these missions.
You may give electronically at gabcames.org/giving/ or place your offering in the boxes at the back of the sanctuary or send a check in the mail.
Scripture Reading
Matthew 1:18-25 (CSB)
18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way:
After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.
20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 See, the virgin will become pregnant
and give birth to a son,
and they will name him Immanuel,
which is translated “God is with us.”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her 25 but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.
This is the word of the Lord.
The grass withers and the flower falls but the word of the Lord endures forever.
Sermon
Matthew 1:18-25 – Hope in a Messy World – Pastor Michael Felkins
Sermon Discipleship Questions
1. What encouraged you?
2. What convicted you?
3. Is there anything in your life that needs to change?
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
‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
Verse 1
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord.” (Chorus)
Chorus
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!
Verse 2
O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
Just in simple faith to plunge me
‘Neath the healing, cleansing flood! (Chorus)
Verse 3
Yes, ‘tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace. (Chorus)
Verse 4
I’m so glad I learned to trust Him,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that He is with me,
Will be with me to the end (Chorus)
Ending
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more.
Words by Louisa Stead, Music by William Kirkpatrick
©Public Domain
Blessing
Luke 2:29 (NIV)
Sovereign Lord,
as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servants in peace.
For our eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.
Scripture text for next Sunday: Matthew 2:1-12