Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led, but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. And if you’d like to see how we incorporate liturgical art and lead the responsive readings, watch the embedded Facebook Live video of our entire service, originally streamed on the Sojourn New Albany Facebook page. Our liturgy is written by worship director Justin Shaffer in collaboration with worship directors at other Sojourn churches. This week’s sermon is the final of three on marriage, from Ephesians 5:21-33. It comes from Pastor Jonah Sage. Learn more about our church here.
Song Empty Me Out (Rebecca)
CALL TO WORSHIP
Good morning and welcome back home, Sojourn Church family. It’s no accident that we are all here… God has intended for us to be in this gathering… so this morning let’s make the most of this time and be fully engaged and responsive to God’s truth.
Let us praise the Lord through the reading of his word and reading the underlined portions aloud together:
Praise the Lord.
The Lord’s name be praised!
O magnify the LORD with me.
Let us exalt God’s name together!
—from Psalm 34:3, NRSV
Song 10,000 Reasons (Justin)
CONFESSION/LAMENT
As we praise the Lord together today, you may be coming in a dry season of your soul. Maybe you come and you feel like the Lord hasn’t been near to you. Maybe you read the Bible, and there’s no joy in reading. Maybe it seems that the Lord is far away.
Know that if that’s you, you’re not alone. Let’s cry out together with the psalmist, please read the underlined portions with us:
Hear, O Lord , when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me!
You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living!
Wait for the Lord; be strong,
and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
Psalms 27:7-8, 13-14 ESV
If you’re in a dry season, know that the Lord has you there for a purpose. He still invites you to come to him and see his goodness in the midst of it. Knowing that he hears us, let’s sing.
Song At the Foot of the Cross (Rebecca)
ASSURANCE
Hear the word of the Lord…
You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
Once we had no identity as a people; now we are God’s people.
Once we had received no mercy; now we have received God’s mercy.
-Adapted from 1 Peter 2:9-10
GIVING (Jonah)
We set aside time in our service each week to remember a fundamental truth. Hear God’s word:
all the world is mine and everything in it.
-Psalm 50:12
Many are tempted to see our tithes and offerings as a sacrifice we make to God
Sacrifice says, “I will give this to you”
Scripture reminds us, though, that everything is his already.
We are not asked to sacrifice for God, but rather surrender to him.
Surrender says, “All I have is yours.”
In a few weeks, on February 12th, we are gathering as a church to say “ALL WE HAVE IS YOURS”
We are seeking to raise 150k extra for much needed building renovations.
Whether a lot or a little, we want everyone’s participation, because all of us need the reminder: all the world is God’s, and everything in it.
Let’s pray this prayer together and the giving buckets will be passed
Lord, the earth is yours and everything in it.
We want to believe, help our unbelief.
In the presence of each other, we surrender our money to you
Transform us and teach us to trust you
For our good and the good of this city, nation, and world. Amen.
Song In The Shadow Of The Glorious Cross (Justin)
PASSING OF THE PEACE
Through Jesus, we have access to the Father… we can come humbly but boldly into his presence declaring that we long to see Christ without fear. He’s given us eyes to see, ears to hear, and made a way for us to be reconciled to God and each other. Let’s demonstrate this love and peace now as we greet each other.
[Sermon]
[Communion]
Song Waters of Forgiveness (Justin)
Song Oh! Great is Our God! (Justin and Rebecca)
BENEDICTION (Bobby)
“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” – Jude 24-25
Peace be with you.