Welcome to sojournmusic.com’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led following the Call To Worship, but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can find links to the set lists of this church and many other churches each week in the Worship Blog Carnival at theworshipcommunity.com. And you can learn about some of the songs we sing at Sojourn Gathered each week in advance of the Sunday service by reading my “Getting Ready For Sunday” post each Thursday at Sojourn’s online journal, TravelBlog. Photos this week taken by Chuck Heeke at Sojourn Midtown.
Call To Worship
Welcome! Today we want to remember that the grace that is found in Jesus is not a temporary grace; it’s grace that lasts forever. God is beyond time. He has always existed and will continue to exist. He has and continues to extend His grace to us by the perfect sacrifice of Jesus.
Hear these words from the book of Isaiah that speaks of this truth.
But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
-Isaiah 43:1-3
Worship begins with the Lord; so let’s continue to sing to Him now.
Song: Our Great God written by Fernando Ortega and Mac Powell. We’ve sung this for years at Sojourn Gathered; it makes a great response to God’s call to worship.
Confession:
Eternal God,
You have opened a new way of living,
By which a sinful person may approach You with acceptance.
Help us to understand Your holiness,
The perfection of Your will,
And the reality that You are praying for us, even now.
When we are faced with fear and trials,
We can rest in the truth that You are in control,
And that Your Son was crucified once and for all,
Enabling us to live as children of the living God.
Father, make this reality more clear to us
That we may trust and love You all the more.
It’s in the perfect name of Jesus we pray.
Amen.
-based off of The Valley of Vision “Grace Active”
Song: Approach My Soul, The Mercy Seat written by Jamie Barnes and Isaac Watts. Jamie and the Sojourn band recorded this on The Mercy Seat EP this past winter. You can listen to “Approach My Soul, The Mercy Seat” in full at our Bandcamp page.
Song: O Church Arise written by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty.
With shield of faith, and sword of truth
We’ll stand against the devil’s lies
An army bold, whose battle cry is love
Reaching out to those in darkness.
Assurance/Peace:
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world, like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions- it is by grace that you have been saved! – Adapted from Eph. 2:1-4
It’s because of this grace that we can be confident that God loves us. Let’s share this grace and love with one another today.
Giving:
Hear the word of the Lord:
Freely you have received, freely give.
—Matthew 10:8, NIV
As we were just reminded, it is by grace alone that we are saved. This directly affects how we give as a church community. May the Lord give us giving hearts, as we reflect on what He has done for us in and through Jesus Christ.
Let’s pray… (pray extemporaneously).
Song: Instrumental
Then our pastor preached “Forever Grace,” the final sermon in our PROOF sermon series (Doctrines Of Grace). You can hear Sojourn sermons in theSojourn Church iTunes podcast or in the Sermon Resource library at sojournchurch.com.
At the Midtown Campus, we heard the sermon from the man who will lead our newest campus, Sojourn New Albany — Michael Fleming. Michael and Sojourn New Albany will officially launch October 16. After today’s sermon, everyone at the Midtown Campus prayed for Michael and the core launch group of Sojourn New Albany.
Song: All You Saints, Adopted Ones adapted by Brooks Ritter and Jamie Barnes from Gadsby Hymn 624. This was our Communion Hymn of the week.
Creation wearied, waits in death,
For life again with God’s elect,
By faith, Christ’s blood in us perfects
Eternal hope we now possess.
Reading:
Hear these words from Jesus…
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”
-John 10:27-30
If you have placed your faith in Jesus, you are eternally secure… there is nothing that can rip you out of the Father’s hand. That’s good news worth celebrating… Let’s sing!
Song: Oh Love That Will Not Let Me Go written by George Mathison and Christopher Miner.
Song: Where Your Praise Never Ends written by Charlie Richardson. This is a Sojourn original that we have not yet recorded. One of my favorites, though.
Ones that have gone before us
Saints that have joined your chorus
Know of your glory now.
My voice prepares the notes
That I’ll sing before your throne,
Rehearsing the day I’ll see you face to face
Benediction:
People of God, be encouraged that no one can snatch you from the Father’s hand. Go in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you
