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April 27, 2025
Resources and content for this Sunday.
Order Of Worship
April 27, 2025
*Call to Worship | Psalm 73:25 | Rev. Blake Arnoult
God invites and calls us into his presence to worship him.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
*Song of Adoration | Father, Long Before Creation
We begin by responding with praise to God for who he is and for what he does.
Father, long before creation, Thou hadst chosen us in love.
And that love so deep, so moving, draws us close to Christ above.
Still it keeps us, still it keeps us; firmly fixed in Christ alone.
Though the world may change its fashion,
Yet our God is e'er the same;
His compassion and His covenant through all ages will remain.
God's own children, God's own children;
Must forever praise His name.
God's compassion is my story; is my boasting all the day.
Mercy free and never failing, moves my will, directs my way.
God so loved us, God so loved us; that His only Son He gave.
Loving Father now before Thee, We will ever praise Thy love.
And our songs will sound unceasing 'til we reach our home above.
Giving glory, giving glory; to our God and to the Lamb.
Giving glory, giving glory; to our God and to the Lamb.
Music and Lyrics: Andrew Osenga, Francis Johnson
*Confession of Faith | Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q.42
With the church in history we confess a basic statement of what Christians believe.
What is the sum of the ten commandments?
The sum of the ten commandments is, To love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbor as ourselves.
*Song of Confession | We Lift Our Eyes (Psalm 102)
Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs are simply prayers that are sung. We respond in repentance and praise for God’s redemptive work in Christ.
“Mercy, mercy,” we cry out.
Turn an ear, Lord, when we call.
From Heaven’s holy height, look down
To an earth after a fall.
Isn’t it you who has justified?
Hung on a cross for a wicked bride.
To you, O Lord, we lift our eyes
Isn’t it you who is glorified?
Paid for our sins with a holy price.
To you, O Lord, we lift our eyes.
Bitter wine and ash for bread.
Are you with us in this place?
Our days, like evening shadows, end.
Have you turned away your face?
Isn’t it you who has justified?
Hung on a cross for a wicked bride.
To you, O Lord, we lift our eyes
Isn’t it you who is glorified?
Paid for our sins with a holy price.
To you, O Lord, we lift our eyes.
All our days pass away.
But you, O Lord, shall remain.
Isn’t it you who has justified?
Hung on a cross for a wicked bride.
To you, O Lord, we lift our eyes
Isn’t it you who is glorified?
Paid for our sins with a holy price.
To you, O Lord, we lift our eyes.
Music and Lyrics: Rivan Bennevendo
Confession of Sin
We fight the temptation to hide our sin and instead acknowledge it openly to God, but we do so in light of the grace offered in Jesus.
Almighty and most merciful Father, we are thankful that your mercy is higher than the heavens, wider than our wanderings, deeper than all our sin. Forgive our careless attitudes toward your purposes, our refusal to relieve the suffering of others, our envy of those who have more than we have, our obsession with creating a life of constant pleasure, our indifference to the treasures of heaven, our neglect of your wise law and good grace. Help us to more and more change our ways so that we may desire what is good, love what you love, and do what you command, through the love of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon | Isaiah 25:8 | Rev. Blake Arnoult
The good news of the gospel is that we are forgiven in Jesus Christ. This assurance is based on God’s words of promise and it is therefore certain.
He will swallow up death forever;
and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,
and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.
*Song of Response | Hast Thou Heard Him, Seen Him,
Known Him?
We respond in repentance and praise for God’s redemptive work in Christ.
Hast thou heard Him, seen Him, known Him?
Is not thine a captured heart?
Chief among ten thousand own Him,
Joyful choose the better part.
Captivated by His beauty,
Worthy tribute haste to bring.
Let His peerless worth constrain thee,
Crown Him now unrivaled King.
What can strip the seeming beauty,
From the idols of the earth?
Not a sense of right or duty,
But the sight of peerless worth.
Chorus
'Tis that look that melted Peter,
’Tis that face that Stephen saw,
'Tis that heart that wept with Mary,
Can alone from idols draw.
//Chorus//
Music Joel Littlepage and Lyrics Ora Rowan
Prayer of Thanksgiving
We offer our gratitude to God in prayer in response to his gifts and blessings to his people and ask that he make us faithful managers of these gifts.
Song of Thanks | Lord I Need You
As we offer our prayers so we also offer up our thanks in song.
Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You're the One that guides my heart
Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are, Lord, I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
Chorus
Teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
When I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus, You're my hope and stay
Chorus
You're my one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
Music and Lyrics: C. Nockels, D. Carson, J. Reeves, K. Stanfill, M. Maher
Prayer for Christ’s Church
We lift up our requests to God knowing that he hears us when we pray.
*Reading of Scripture | Ephesians 5:1-21 | Rev. Blake Arnoult
God reveals himself and his work and speaks to us his people through his Word.
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Pastor: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
The Preaching of the Word | Rev. Blake Arnoult
“Waking and Walking”
Ephesians: The Gospel of the Church
Pastoral Prayer
Sacrament of Communion
Sacraments are visible signs of the invisible grace of God - what Christ does by his Holy Spirit within us. Communion (also called the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist), as the distribution of the elements of bread and wine, symbolizes a meal. Communion is a sign of fellowship. That sign signifies more than just the future heavenly fellowship that is to come. The outward sign signifies the inner reality that sinners already experience fellowship with God in the Spirit because of Jesus. Communion is not a meal for good people. It functions as a renewing seal to desperate sinners of that fellowship we have with our holy and gracious God.
You will be invited to come forward. If you are not a Christian we encourage you to spend this time in reflection on what you’ve seen and heard in the worship. Children who have not received their first communion are welcome and encouraged to come forward with their families to witness their partaking. We invite children who are ready to make a public profession of faith in Christ to arrange a meeting with the elders, and thus become “communicants” at the Lord’s Table.
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Lift up your hearts!
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Words of Institution
Pastor: Let us proclaim the mystery of the faith:
People: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Hallelujah!
Pastor: Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed for us. Hallelujah!
People: Therefore, let us keep the feast.
Pastor: The gifts of God for the people of God.
Please let an usher know if it is difficult for you to come forward. We would be happy to serve you at your seat. All communion bread is gluten-free. All communion wine is made from grape juice.
A communion 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 to me the reality of who you are. Give me the ability to follow you no matter what it might cost me. Give me an understanding for you that is coherent, convincing, and leads to the life that you promise. Amen.
Communion Song | We Will Feast in the House of Zion
We celebrate our communion in faith and song.
We will feast in the house of Zion.
We will sing with our hearts restored.
“He has done great things!”, we will say together.
We will feast and weep no more.
We will not be burned by the fire;
He is the Lord, our God.
We are not consumed by the flood;
Upheld, protected, gathered up.
Chorus
In the dark of night, before the dawn;
My soul, be not afraid.
For the promised morning, oh, how long?
Oh, God of Jacob, be my strength!
Chorus
Every vow we've broken and betrayed;
You are the Faithful one.
And from the garden to the grave;
Bind us together, bring shalom!
//Chorus//
Music and Lyrics: Sandra McCracken, Joshua Moore
Departing Song | Revelation Song
We begin to end in faith and song.
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.
Holy, holy is He.
Sing a new song to Him who sits on
Heaven's Mercy Seat.
Holy, Holy, Holy is The Lord, God Almighty.
Who was and is and is to come.
With all creation I sing, "Praise to The King of Kings,
You are my everything. And I will adore You".
Clothed in rainbows, of living color.
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder.
Blessing and honor, strength and glory and power be,
To You, the only wise King.
Chorus
Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder,
At the mention of Your Name.
Jesus, Your Name is power, breath and living water.
Such a marvelous mystery.
/Chorus/
Music and Lyrics: Jennie Lee Riddle
*Benediction | 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 | Rev. Blake Arnoult
God sends us out with his blessing. A benediction is not a prayer. We don’t bow our heads. We lift them up and even lift up our hands to receive his blessing as we are sent out as participants in his mission to the city of man.
12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.