Journey of Worship

We began a new series this week that will take us through the book of 1 Peter. Many Christians live today as if the world were our final destination. We pour our life resources and energy into things that will barely last 50 years, let alone eternity. We frequently cave in to the old sinful desires. We sturggle to remain faithful in the midst of great suffering. We’ve lost sight  of the glorious inheritance waiting for us.

God calls us to live as “strangers” in this world, spiritual sojourners that are just passing through. As children of the living God, our focus should be on eternity as we point people to the living Christ who paid it all for us. Our priorities and lifestyle should undergo a radical transformation.

In 1 Peter, Peter unpacks what this transformed life looks like and how it should interact with this world. In 1 Peter 1:1-12, Peter reminds us that as we live for eternity, we need to remember what we’ve been given through Christ so that we can endure the trials of this life in anticipation of the next.

Service flow:

Welcome/Announcements/Greeting
Call to Worship (“He Was” video from bluefishtv.com that reminded us of what Christ did and what it means)
Hosanna (Baloche/Brown)
As It Is in Heaven (Maher/Cash)
Prayer
It Is Well with My Soul (Spafford/Bliss)
Offering w/ instrumental rendition of Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting
Ministry Spotlight
Message
Corporate Reading based off Romans 8:31-39 from theopensourcebook.org
Your Grace Is Enough (Maher)
Dismissal (highlighting upcoming congregational meeting and potluck. Check out video below.)

Potluck Participation: An Instructional Video from Chris Gambill on Vimeo.

It’s amazing what a week’s difference from Easter makes. We had a great crowd, but it was still less than what we had on Easter Sunday. Our children’s ministry (Orbit) had one of its highest weeks in regard to attendence, though.

It was good to be together and to again remember the significance of what Christ did on the cross, and what that should mean for us as we live in this world following Him. The message was brought with excellence, conviction, and challenge. The music and scripture elements both prepared us for and reinforced to us the truth of the life focused on eternity.

It was a great to work with the worhsip team this week. The instrumental version of Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting was lots of fun (speaking as a musician). It was based off of the version from GreatWorshipSongs.com and is a remake of an older hymn. If you aren’t familiar with it, you should check out the words.

For more service orders from churches all over, check out Sunday Setlists at fredmckinnon.com.

Thanks!

Related posts:

1. Sunday Setlist: 6/14/09
2. Sunday Setlist: 5/31/09
3. Sunday Setlist: 5/03/09