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 Pastor Jonah Sage preached from Acts 18. Learn more about Sojourn Community Church here.
Song I Have to Believe by Rita Springer.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Welcome to Sojourn! Every week we begin our services by reading and responding to God’s word. We do this because it’s so easy to forget that worship doesn’t begin with us, but with God. Hear the word of the Lord.
I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart;
I will sing your praises before the gods.
I bow before your holy Temple as I worship.
I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness;
For your promises are backed
by all the honor of your name.
-Psalm 138:1-2
We worship a God who is inviting us to bring all of who we are to Him, and fully engage in worshiping Him today. Let’s continue to sing.
Song “How Great Thou Art” by Stuart K Hines
CONFESSION (Prayer for Missionaries)
All around the world, Christians are carrying the good news of the gospel at great cost… two of our very own… we remember God’s promise and pray for His help. Hear the Word of the Lord:
Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.
Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself.
Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.
For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
So we can say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”
—Hebrews 13:1, 3, 5, 6
We pray that by the power of the spirit on behalf of our brother and sister. Let’s also confess how far this reality often is from the forefront of our hearts and minds. Let’s confess together…
Almighty God,
You have called us to be the church,
to continue the mission of Jesus Christ to our lost and confused world.
Yet we acknowledge we are more apathetic than active,
isolated than involved, callous than compassionate,
obstinate than obedient, legalistic than loving.
Gracious Lord, have mercy upon us and forgive our sins.
Remove the obstacles which prevent us from loving our neighbors.
By your Holy Spirit, continue to make us more like Your Son.
This we pray in Jesus’ powerful name. Amen.
-adapted from The Worship Sourcebook
Song Let Justice Roll Like a River written by me (Bobby Gilles) and Rebecca Elliott.
ASSURANCE
Hear the word of the Lord,
Death is swallowed up in victory! O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. -Based on 1 Corinthians 15:54-57
God has solved our deepest issue, death and separation from God. Through the will of the Father, the saving work of Christ, and the power of the Spirit we have assurance of life. Let us sing and rejoice in this truth!
GIVING (Pastor Jonah extemporaneously)
Song Death in His Grave written by John Mark McMillan.
PEACE
Christ has defeated Satan, sin and death; He’s purchased our freedom and given us peace. Let’s greet one another with the peace of Christ.
[Sermon]
[Communion]
Song Made a Way by Travis Greene
Song Love Shines by Aaron Ivey, Matt Carter, Phillip Edsel.
BENEDICTION
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Cor. 13:11 –