Call to Worship
Sunday School
Heaven by Randy Alcorn
Sunday Service
Pastoral Reading
Psalm 68:1-6
God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;
and those who hate him shall flee before him!
2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;
as wax melts before fire,
so the wicked shall perish before God!
3 But the righteous shall be glad;
they shall exult before God;
they shall be jubilant with joy!
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
his name is the Lord;
exult before him!
5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation.
6 God settles the solitary in a home;
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
Opening Song
Oh How Good It Is
Verse 1
Oh how good it is
When the family of God
Dwells together in spirit
In faith and unity
Where the bonds of peace
Of acceptance and love
Are the fruit of His presence here among us
Chorus
So with one voice we’ll sing to the Lord
And with one heart we’ll live out His word
Till the whole earth sees the Redeemer has come
For He dwells in the presence of His people
Verse 2
Oh how good it is on this journey we share to rejoice with the happy
And weep with those who mourn
For the weak find strength, the afflicted find grace
When we offer the blessing of belonging
Verse 3
Oh how good it is to embrace His command
To prefer one another forgive as He forgives
When we live as one we all share in the love
Of the Son with the Father and the Spirit
CCLI Song # 6399212, CCLI License # 108183
Keith Getty | Kristyn Getty | Ross Holmes | Stuart Townend
© 2012 Getty Music Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
Parakeet Boots Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
Townend Songs (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
Prayer
Focus this week: Jason Brink
Song
Rock of Ages
Verse 1
Rock of Ages cleft for me Let me hide myself in thee
Let the water and the blood From thy wounded side which flowed
Be of sin the double cure Save from wrath and make me pure
Rock of Ages cleft for me Let me hide myself in thee
Verse 2
Not the labors of my hands Can fulfill thy law’s demands
Could my zeal no respite know Could my tears forever flow
All for sin could not atone Thou must save and thou alone
Rock of Ages cleft for me Let me hide myself in thee
Verse 3
Nothing in my hand I bring Simply to the cross I cling
Naked come to thee for dress Helpless look to thee for grace
Foul I to the fountain fly Wash me Savior or I die
Rock of Ages cleft for me Let me hide myself in thee
Verse 4
While I draw this fleeting breath When mine eyes shall close in death
When I soar to worlds unknown See thee on thy judgment throne
With Thy righteousness am dressed, Brought into immortal rest
Rock of Ages cleft for me Let me hide myself in thee
CCLI Song #40588, Words: Augustus Montague Toplady/Thomas Hasings
Public Domain CCLI License #108183
Offering Song
Jesus, Thank You
Verse 1
The myst’ry of the cross I cannot comprehend
The agonies of Calvary
You the perfect Holy One crushed Your Son
Who drank the bitter cup reserved for me
Chorus
Your blood has washed away my sin
Jesus thank You
The Father’s wrath completely satisfied
Jesus thank You
Once Your enemy now seated at Your table
Jesus thank You
Verse 2
By Your perfect sacrifice I’ve been brought near
Your enemy You’ve made Your friend
Pouring out the riches of Your glorious grace
Your mercy and Your kindness know no end
Bridge
Lover of my soul I want to live for You (x3)
Pat Sczebel
@2003 Integrity’s Hosanna ! Music
CCLI #108183
The Lord’s Table
Christ Our Righteousness
Scripture Reading
John 3
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing.23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).
25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Preaching the Word
And in His Son – The Apostles’ Creed
Sermon Text: John 3
Closing Song
I Lay My Sins on Jesus (TH #521)
1 I lay my sins on Jesus,
the spotless Lamb of God;
he bears them all, and frees us
from the accursed load:
I bring my guilt to Jesus,
to wash my crimson stains
white in his blood most precious,
till not a spot remains.
2 I lay my wants on Jesus;
all fullness dwells in him;
he heals all my diseases,
he doth my soul redeem:
I lay my griefs on Jesus,
my burdens and my cares;
he from them all releases,
he all my sorrows shares.
3 I rest my soul on Jesus,
this weary soul of mine;
his right hand me embraces,
I on his breast recline.
I love the name of Jesus,
Immanuel, Christ, the Lord;
like fragrance on the breezes
his name abroad is poured.
4 I long to be like Jesus,
meek, loving, lowly, mild;
I long to be like Jesus,
the Father’s holy child;
I long to be with Jesus
amid the heav’nly throng,
to sing with saints his praises,
to learn the angels’ song.