Preparation (9:45AM)
Our Lord’s Day Worship service consists of two movements: 1) Upward 2) Outward. We want to start our worship service focussing upward to the Lord. To do this we encourage you to come early, and spend some quiet personal time with God before the corporate worship service begins. Once the worship service is over we encourage you to look outward and love on as many people as you can.
The following exercises may assist you in looking upward and experiencing the goodness of God:
- Sit in silence for five minutes to “just be.” Just be “still” to know that God is “good.” If you find “thought monkeys” that disturb your silence, jot them down, and then continue in silence.
- Count your blessings. Make a list of ten things God has blessed you with that make life wonderful. If you can think of more than ten, then keep going! Finally, include things that God has done for you. Examples: Loved ones, material provision, nature, God’s presence. Try to be as specific as possible.
“If I lost my sight and had a million dollars, I would gladly pay it to get my eyesight back. That means my eyes are worth a million dollars. So is my heart. And my ears. And my family. If I were wise, I would spend time each day thanking God for the “vast treasure” he has given me. I could start, but I could never stop.” – James Bryan Smith
After completing these exercises, you may ask:
- Did you find any of the exercises difficult? If so, why?
- What, if anything, did you learn about God or yourself through the exercises?
Announcements (10:00AM)
- Because this is our very first worship service, there may be some things we need to adjust. Please be understanding of this, but we also encourage you to discuss how we can improve. This is going to be a journey 🙂
- We believe that the gospel is not only a message, but it should also be a rhythm of life. As such, our worship service aims to provide a model for how to live the gospel everyday. We encourage you to use this program throughout your week to aid you in your communion with Christ.
Kindness: How do we know God is good?
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17)
Let us begin this time of worship, by choosing to focus on all the good gifts given to us by our Father in Heaven. So let’s take a time to pray and then we’ll sing a song together.
Sing Together: Goodness of Jesus Christ
Verse 1
Come you weary heart now to Jesus
Come you anxious soul now and see
There is perfect love
And comfort in your tears
Rest here in His wondrous peace
Chorus
The goodness the goodness of Jesus
Satisfied He is all that I need
May it be come what may
That I rest all my days
In the goodness of Jesus
Verse 2
Come find what this world cannot offer
Come and find your joy here complete
Taste the living water
Never thirst again
Rest here in His wondrous peace
Chorus
The goodness the goodness of Jesus
Satisfied He is all that I need
May it be come what may
That I rest all my days
In the goodness of Jesus
Verse 3
Come and find your hope now in Jesus
He is all He said He would be
Grace is overflowing
From the Saviour’s heart
Rest here in His wondrous peace
Chorus
The goodness the goodness of Jesus
Satisfied He is all that I need
May it be come what may
That I rest all my days
In the goodness of Jesus
Tag
May it be come what may
That I rest all my days
In the goodness of Jesus
Atonement: How does God makes us one with him?
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
Let us to go to Christ who is our atonement. Let us confess our sins. Knowing that he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. And let us rejoice knowing that if Christ has set us free, then we are free indeed.
Sing Together: Living Hope
Verse 1
How great the chasm
That lay between us
How high the mountain
I could not climb
In desperation
I turned to Heaven
And spoke Your name
Into the night
Pre Chorus 1
Then through the darkness
Your loving kindness
Tore through the shadows
Of my soul
The work is finished
The end is written
Jesus Christ my living hope
Verse 2
Who could imagine
So great a mercy
What heart could fathom
Such boundless grace
The God of ages
Stepped down from glory
To wear my sin
And bear my shame
Pre Chorus 2
The Cross has spoken
I am forgiven
The King of kings
Calls me His own
Beautiful Savior
I’m Yours forever
Jesus Christ my living hope
Chorus
Hallelujah
Praise the One who set me free
Hallelujah
Death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There’s salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ my living hope
Verse 3
Then came the morning
That sealed the promise
Your buried body
Began to breathe
Out of the silence
The Roaring Lion
Declared the grave
Has no claim on me
Tag
Jesus Yours is the victory
Chorus
Hallelujah
Praise the One who set me free
Hallelujah
Death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There’s salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ my living hope
Tag
Jesus Christ my living hope
God You are my living hope
Sacrifice/Surrender: How can I offer my life to God?
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose” (Galatians2.20)
Let’s take this time to pray and to surrender ourselves to Christ, asking that he would fill us with His Holy Spirit to live for the glory of God.
Instruction: What does God want to say?
Prayer: For Illumination
Scripture: Romans 12:1-21
Sermon: In View of God’s Mercies
- Like Abraham
- Why Ethos?
- In View of God’s Mercies
- When We Were God’s Enemies
- The Hope of Glory
Sing Together: God is So Good
God is so good
God is so good
God is so good
He’s so good to me
He died for me
He died for me
He died for me
He’s so good to me
He cares for me
He cares for me
He cares for me
He’s so good to me
Communion with Christ: How can we remember our union with Christ?
Lord’s Supper
“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 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. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.” (1Corinthians11.23-29)
- In this passage we see that the Lord’s Supper should be taken: 1) Sentimentally, 2) Expectantly, 3) Carefully
- Because of the significance of the Lord’s Table, only baptized believers in the Lord Jesus Christ should partake.
- Also, if you are willingly living in sin, you should refrain.
- If you are unable to partake of the Lord’s Table today, you may still partake of Christ! The Lord’s Table is just an aid in your relationship with Christ. Without it, you can still go to Christ.
- There are some prayers below that you may use to guide you.
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Prayer for those searching
Oh God, I am discovering that the more I have, the more I need to have, the more I am loved, the more I need to be loved, the more I achieve, the more I need to achieve. Nothing seems to satisfy me. “Nothing tastes.” Could it be, as someone once said, that “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee.” Dear God, if this is true, and if as the Bible teaches there is life and life eternal in Christ alone, please guide me to him. Open me to the reality of the one who alone can satisfy my restless heart. Give me the courage to believe that which I cannot see but can understand through your Word, sacraments and church family. Lord I want to believe, please help me in my unbelief! Amen.
Prayer of belief
Lord God, I now see that I am weaker and more flawed than I ever before believed, but in Christ, I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. Even as I have not loved you or my neighbor with all of my heart, you have shown your love for me in that while I am still sinning, Christ died for me and took upon himself the condemnation that I deserve. I now know that You owe me nothing for my efforts, but you offer acceptance, love and blessing into all eternity because of Christ’s efforts on my behalf. I therefore ask that you would enable me to turn away from trusting in my own efforts to gain your acceptance and forgiveness, and trust in the perfectly righteous efforts of Christ on my behalf in order to be accepted by you and entered into your holy family. And just as you raised Christ from the dead, so too I ask that you would give me a new life in Christ, one that will lead eventually to heaven itself. Thank you for Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit to believe in him alone for my salvation. And as 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. Amen.
Communion with body of Christ: How can we serve one another?
Intercession
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15)
“praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:18–20)
Take this time to pray for the people seated near you. Also, pray for Ethos Communion Church, as well as other churches you know of.
Commission to the World: How can we serve the world?
Intercession
“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15)
“At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—” (Colossians 4:3)
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,” (1 Timothy 2:1–3)
Take this time to pray for open doors for missionaries and evangelists to proclaim the gospel with boldness and winsomeness and pray for those in authority may govern well in order to provide conditions for the church to thrive in its ministries.
Sing Together: Hymn Of Heaven
Verse 1
How I long to breathe the air of Heaven
Where pain is gone
And mercy fills the streets
To look upon the One
Who bled to save me
And walk with Him for all eternity
Chorus 1
There will be a day
When all will bow before Him
There will be a day
When death will be no more
Standing face to face
With He who died and rose again
Holy holy is the Lord
Verse 2
And every prayer
We prayed in desperation
The songs of faith
We sang through doubt and fear
In the end
We’ll see that it was worth it
When He returns
To wipe away our tears
Chorus 1
There will be a day
When all will bow before Him
There will be a day
When death will be no more
Standing face to face
With He who died and rose again
Holy holy is the Lord
Verse 3
And on that day
We join the resurrection
And stand beside
The heroes of the faith
With one voice
A thousand generations
Sing worthy is the Lamb
Who was slain
Tag
Forever He shall reign
Chorus 2
So let it be today
We shout the hymn of Heaven
With angels and the saints
We raise a mighty roar
Glory to our God
Who gave us life beyond the grave
Holy holy is the Lord
Tag
Holy holy is the Lord
Benediction: What is the hope with which you go out?
- “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Eph3.20-21)
Announcements
- Because this was our very first worship service, there may be some things we need to adjust. Please be understanding of this, but we also encourage you to discuss how we can improve. This is going to be a journey 🙂
- Tithes and offerings may be given online at EthosChurch.Co. FYI the fees are 2.15% + $0.30/donation for credit and debit card donations, and 0% + $0.30 per ACH bank transfer donation. So using your bank is preferred.
- Having looked upward during the worship service, we now want to look outward, in sharing the love of Christ we have in our hearts for one another. To do that, food always helps, so following the service we will have a refreshment hour followed by a meal. Today’s menu: steak.