Christian Liturgy 101: How One Church Worshiped 3-13-22

by Bobby Gilles

in Liturgy & Sermons

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. You can also watch the video stream of the whole service from our Facebook page here  (you can also see a video of our sermon alone, below).

Our liturgy is directed by Worship Director Justin Shaffer, in collaboration with our Creative Staff at Sojourn Church New Albany, and our Liturgy writing team (Rebekah Carroll, Ryan Marsh, and Lindsey Blair).

This Sunday Pastor Stephen Pierce preached from Numbers 13 in our series entitled Desecrated.

—Prelude: “Shelter Me” Key, Leader

 

CALL TO WORSHIP:   Liturgist

Good morning and welcome! As we just sang the song “Shelter Me”, we joined our voices with Christians around the world, including those in persecuted countries, including our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. When they are too weak to pray this, we are praying this, we they can’t sing, we sing this for them. Our words are their words, because we are one body. So let’s turn our eyes and hearts to our sovereign Lord, the creator of the universe. Let’s declare the underlined portions together:

 

God’s way is perfect.

All the Lord’s promises prove true.

He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

For who is God except the Lord?

 Who but our God is a solid rock?

God arms me with strength,

and he makes my way perfect.

For this, O Lord, I will praise you among the nations;

I will sing praises to your name.

 

-Psalm 18:30-32, 49

 

Amen! Let’s sing praises to the one true God, whose Spirit leads us and unifies us.

 

—Song 2: “Lead Us, Holy Spirit” Key, Leader

 

CONFESSION/LAMENT:  Band Member

The Lord is faithful as He leads us. He knows our hearts and cares for us. So let’s take a posture of humility as we read this Psalm together:

 

O Lord, you have examined my heart

and know everything about me.

You know when I sit down or stand up.

You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

You see me when I travel

and when I rest at home.

You know everything I do.

You know what I am going to say

even before I say it, Lord.

You go before me and follow me.

You place your hand of blessing on my head.

 

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.

They cannot be numbered!

I can’t even count them;

they outnumber the grains of sand!

And when I wake up,

you are still with me!

 

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Point out anything in me that offends you,

and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

 

-Psalm 139:1-5, 17-18, 23-24 NLT

 

Amen. Let’s lift our voices to our God who knows us and wants us to know Him in a deep, intimate way.

 

—Song 3: “You Know My Name” Key, Leader

 

ASSURANCE & GIVING: Liturgist

Let’s take a glimpse at our Lord’s heart as we hear from Romans 8:

 

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.  And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

 

-Romans 8:26-28

 

Amen! We can rest knowing that the Lord is good all the time, he is all powerful all the time. And the fact that  our God is causing everything to work together for our good is a game changer for us. So let’s lift our voices together in worship.

 

—Song 4: “It Is Well” Key, Leader

 

PASSING OF THE PEACE: Band Member

Greet each other this morning, knowing the Lord has given us peace with each other

 

 

——————————————   [SERMON & COMMUNION]   ——————————————-

 

 

—Song 5: “Promises” Key, Leader

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Reader

 

—Song 6: “The Anthem” Key, Leader

 

BENEDICTION: Liturgist

 

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

 

-Ephesians 3:20-21

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