Blacknall Worship from Home
January 17, 2021
Invocation
Our Heavenly Father, if ever we knew that we live in a broken world, it is now. If ever we knew that the needs and brokenness are beyond our ability to control or heal, it is now. As we gather this morning, we do so in the certain knowledge that the Healer and Redeemer of the world has come, is present, and will come again in Jesus Christ. As we worship, fill our very being with your Holy Spirit, granting us hope, courage, and wisdom for these days. May you be glorified in our worship this morning. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Song | “Jesus Messiah”
He became sin, who knew no sin;
That we might become His righteousness;
He humbled Himself, and carried the cross,
Love so amazing, love so amazing.
Jesus, Messiah; Name above all names;
Blessed Redeemer, Emmanuel,
The Rescue for sinners, the Ransom from heaven;
Jesus, Messiah, Lord of all.
His body the bread, His blood the wine,
Broken and poured out, all for love.
The whole earth trembled, and the veil was torn;
Love so amazing, love so amazing.
All our hope is in You, all our hope is in You;
All the glory to You, God,
The Light of the world.
Jesus, Messiah; Name above all names;
Blessed Redeemer, Emmanuel,
The Rescue for sinners,
The Ransom from heaven;
Jesus, Messiah, Lord of all.
(last time)
Jesus, Messiah, Lord of all.
The Lord of all, the Lord of all.
Words & Music by Chris Tomlin ©2008 Vamos Music. CCLI# 43066
Scripture Reading | Isaiah 9:2-7
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Song | “Come, Thou Fount”
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above;
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it, Mount of Thy redeeming love.
Sorrowing I shall be in spirit, ‘til released from flesh and sin,
Yet from what I do inherit, here Thy praises I’ll begin;
Here I raise my Ebenezer; here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh, ‘til death shall loose me I cannot proclaim it well.
O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.
Words by Robert Robinson, 1758.
Call to Confession
We are indeed debtors to God’s grace; we are prone to wander, like the prodigal sons, each of us in our own way. The hymn we have just sung makes a radical claim - did you notice? “Let thy GOODNESS, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee.” This sounds like nonsense to our modern ears, but there is a deep wisdom here that is essential to our life together in Christ. Take a moment to think about that line, and discuss it with your group if you are with others just now.
Prayer of Confession
Our Good God, your ways are life; our stubborn refusal of your ways leads to death. As we bow before you, we need you to show us, by your Holy Spirit and through your word, what your ways are. We trust conventional wisdom more than your wisdom; we trust our common sense more than your loving revelation of what it means to live in loving obedience toward you and others. As you show us your ways, grant us the will and the courage to turn - to confess, to repent, and renounce the ways that lead to death, and to live toward you in faith, hope and love. In the strong name of our Redeemer, we pray. Amen
Assurance of Pardon
Beloved, this is true: in Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Passing the Peace
May the peace of the Lord be with you.
Response: And also with you
Affirmation of Faith | Apostles Creed
We believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. We 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.
Children’s Blessing
With Leslie Petree.
Children’s Worship
If you would like to receive the Children’s Worship video email, please contact Beth Solie.
Proclamation of the Word | Pastor Goodie Bell
Ephesians 5.8-21
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Song of Response | “God Moves”
God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm.
Deep in His dark and hidden mines, with never-failing skill,
He fashions all His bright designs, and works His sovereign will.
So God, we trust in You. O God, we trust in You.
When tears are great, and comforts few,
We hope in mercies ever new: We trust in You.
Oh fearful saints, new courage take; the clouds that you now dread
Are big with mercy and will break in blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace;
Behind a “frowning” providence we find His smiling face.
God’s purposes will ripen fast, unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err, and scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter, and He will make it plain.
Hymn text by William Cowper, 1774. Music and additional text by Bob Kauflin, 2005. © 2005 Sovereign Grace. CCLI #43066.
Presenting Our Gifts | Online Giving
You are invited to respond to God’s Word by giving to the mission God has called us to at Blacknall.
Prayers of Thanksgiving & Intercession | PRAYER REQUESTS
(As you pray the following petitions, you are encouraged to pause and lift to the Lord particular concerns or people or events. Read prayer requests from Blacknall members and ministry partners here.)
Almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
We praise you, that you the sovereign Lord of heaven and earth. We give you thanks that you are faithful to your promises, and that you love your creation, and all who dwell in it. In days of uncertainty, we are grateful for your constant assurance by your Spirit and Scriptures, grateful for your coming among us in Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Intercessor. In confidence we bring to you the longings and concerns of our hearts on this day.
Our nation weighs on our hearts and minds, Father. The rancor and violence, the anger and fear. We pray, as we begin this week of the Inauguration, that you would help us to recognize that our hope is not in presidents and legislators and courts, but in you. Because that is so, we are free to pray for our leaders, for wisdom, good judgment, and peace. We also pray that you would bring a spirit of cooperation instead of rivalry, of concern for the powerless instead of power, a concern for the common good over special interests.
We pray for those who are particularly suffering under the weight of the pandemic, for those most vulnerable, for students and the young, for those who need employment. We pray for an end of the pandemic, for the effectiveness of the vaccines and their administration.
We pray for those who are ill, sick in body, mind, heart, and soul, that you would have mercy, and bring healing.
We pray for the Church, that we would be agents of that healing,. Would you make us aware and responsive to the prodding of your Holy Spirit, that we might see, and act, in your name.
We pray for those who do not know you, or for those who have resisted your divine intrusion into their lives, that in your patience and love, you might draw them into the life of your Son,
who taught us to pray…
Our Father...
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen.
Benediction