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Ethos Communion Church

January 5, 2025 – Lord’s Day Worship

Pre-service Reflection

At Ethos as good as it is to meet and greet one another, we try to save this for after the service, and begin service by looking upward to rest in God. Here are a few suggestions for how you can spend this time:

  1. Sit in silence to “just be.” Just be “still” to know that God is “good.” Try to still your busy mind and put it into a mode of listening. If you find “thought monkeys” that disturb your silence, jot them down, and then continue in silence. You may also use a journal to reflect on your previous spiritual experiences this week.
  2. Scripture Meditation. A) In your Bible, read Psalm 104:1-9 slowly, pausing between clauses. B) After a minute of silence, read it again and look for words or phrases that catch your attention. C) Read it a third time and begin to wonder: “What might God want to say to me specifically?” D) Turn the previous question into a prayer, and then write down anything God might be saying to you. E) Be still and silent, and then ask yourself and God, “What am I being called to do as a result of the word I have been given?”

Invocation – Calling Upon God

Welcome to Ethos Communion Church. Ethos exists to foster communion with the Triune God in a way that leads to spiritual peace, holistic transformation of character, communion with the visible body of Christ, and the making of disciples from all cultures and generations all to the glory of God.

“Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” – Psalm 124:8

As we begin our worship service, let us quiet our hearts and minds, and turn our attention to the One who is worthy of all our praise.

Confession of Faith – Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed, written in the fourth century by the Council of Nicaea and later expanded by the Council of Constantinople, holds immense importance for Christians as a foundational statement of faith affirming beliefs in the Trinity, the divinity of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church, and essential Christian doctrines, serving as a unifying declaration of core beliefs across Christian denominations and emphasizing unity in essential theological truths.

Let’s stand together as we recite our common faith

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and the Son],
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Doxology (D)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

The Law of God

Having been created by God, he knows who we are, and how we are mean to live so as to flourish in goodness. To guide us he has given us His Law which summarized in the ten words we call the ten commandments.

(Congregation recites bolded lines)

Let us now hear the commandments of God as given to us in Scripture.

We will listen and obey.

  1. You shall have no other gods before Me.

We will worship the Lord our God and serve Him only.

  1. You shall not make for yourself an idol.

We will worship the Lord in spirit and in truth, without idols or images.

  1. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

We will honor the name of the Lord and speak of Him with reverence.

  1. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

We will set aside time for rest and worship, honoring the Lord’s Day.

  1. Honor your father and mother.

We will respect and care for our parents and those in authority.

  1. You shall not murder.

We will value and protect human life as sacred.

  1. You shall not commit adultery.

We will honor marriage and maintain faithfulness in relationships.

  1. You shall not steal.

We will respect others’ property and rights.

  1. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

We will speak truthfully and with integrity.

  1. You shall not covet.

We will be content and grateful for what we have, avoiding envy and greed.

These are the commandments of God. Let us strive to follow them in love and obedience, seeking to live lives that honor Him.

We will follow God’s commandments with all our heart, soul, and mind.

I Will Delight (D)

VERSE
I will delight in the law of the Lord
I will meditate day and night
Then like a tree firmly planted I’ll be
Grounded in Your Word

CHORUS
Blessed is the one who follows
The way of the Lord
Blessed is the one

Confession of Sin

Though God gave us his law to bless us, the reality is that we have all have failed to keep his law if not in deed, in our thoughts and motives. “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” (Rom 3:20)

As such, let us confess our failure to live up to who God created us to be.

Assurance of Pardon

Isaiah 43:18-19
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

In Christ, God has done a new thing. Through His death and resurrection, He has made a way for sinners to be reconciled to Him. If you have confessed your sins and trusted in His mercy, hear this good news:

In Christ, your sins are forgiven, your past is redeemed, and your future is secure. Walk into this new year with the full assurance that the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning, great is His faithfulness!

Amen.

Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me (A)

VERSE 1
What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer
There is no more for Heaven now to give
He is my joy my righteousness and freedom
My steadfast love my deep and boundless peace

CHORUS 1
To this I hold my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to His
Oh how strange and divine I can sing all is mine
Yet not I but through Christ in me

VERSE 2
The night is dark but I am not forsaken
For by my side the Saviour He will stay
I labour on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need His power is displayed

CHORUS 2
To this I hold my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley He will lead
Oh the night has been won and I shall overcome
Yet not I but through Christ in me

VERSE 3
No fate I dread I know I am forgiven
The future sure the price it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And He was raised to overthrow the grave

CHORUS 3
To this I hold my sin has been defeated
Jesus now and ever is my plea
Oh the chains are released I can sing I am free
Yet not I but through Christ in me

VERSE 4
With every breath I long to follow Jesus
For He has said that He will bring me home
And day by day I know He will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne

CHORUS 4
To this I hold my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I but through Christ in me

TAG
When the race is complete
Still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I but through Christ in me (3X)

Prayer for Illumination

You may be seated.

As we prepare to hear the word of God, let us pray for the Holy Spirit’s illumination.

Sermon – Eternal Weight of Glory (2Cor 4:16-18)

Outline

  1. Spiritual Growth: The Hardest Thing
  2. Desires: Eternal vs. Temporal
  3. Suffering: A Means of Grace
  4. Meditation: Looking to Things Eternal

Discussion Questions

What from today’s sermon stood out to you? What changes will you make this week?

Sharing and Prayer Time

Prayers of Thanksgiving

Communion Prayer

Let us give thanks to the Lord for this spiritual meal he has given to us.

Communion

  • 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.
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.

Prayers of Intercession

  • Neighbors
    • J. Kim
    • M. Song and family
  • Sister Churches
  • Spread of the Gospel
    • H. Soung
    • G. Lee
    • H. & E. Kang

My Worth Is Not in What I Own (A)

VERSE 1
My worth is not in what I own
Not in the strength
Of flesh and bone
But in the costly wounds of love
At the cross

VERSE 2
My worth is not in skill or name
In win or lose in pride or shame
But in the blood of Christ that flowed
At the cross

CHORUS
I rejoice in my Redeemer
Greatest Treasure
Wellspring of my soul
I will trust in Him no other
My soul is satisfied in Him alone

VERSE 3
As summer flowers we fade and die
Fame youth and beauty hurry by
But life eternal calls to us
At the cross

VERSE 4
I will not boast in wealth or might
Or human wisdom’s fleeting light
But I will boast in knowing Christ
At the cross

CHORUS
I rejoice in my Redeemer
Greatest Treasure
Wellspring of my soul
I will trust in Him no other
My soul is satisfied in Him alone

VERSE 1
Two wonders here that I confess
My worth and my unworthiness
My value fixed my ransom paid
At the cross

CHORUS
I rejoice in my Redeemer
Greatest Treasure
Wellspring of my soul
I will trust in Him no other
My soul is satisfied in Him alone

Benediction – What is the hope with which you go out?

“17 Now may Christ dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19)

Announcements

  1. 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.
  2. 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 by sharing a meal together.