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 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 by Chuck Heeke, from Sojourn Midtown.
Song: Psalm 25 by Joe Day of Mars Hill Church. Read my interview with Joe Day and listen to his recording of “Psalm 25″ in full here.
Call to Worship:
It is a good thing when we gather to remember God’s promises. When our lives seem chaotic and out of control, we need to hear God say “I am in control.” We can worship Him knowing that He loves us, has a plan for us and has solidified his people’s salvation in Jesus.
Let all that we are wait quietly before God, for our hope is in him.
He alone is our rock and our salvation, our fortress where we will not be shaken.
Our victory and honor come from God alone.
He is our refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach us.
People of God, trust in him at all times.
We pour out our hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
- Psalm 55:5-8
Song: Refuge written by Sojourn’s own Neil Robins, adapted from “Psalm 31, Part 1″ by Isaac Watts. We recorded this on Over The Grave: The Hymns of Isaac Watts, Volume 1.
Confession:
Lord God ruler of all,
We have heard so many times that you are our rock and refuge.
But we confess that our hearts are haunted with doubt.
If we could only hear and believe our Savior when he says,
“Let not your hearts be troubled, believe in God”.
We ask for a faith that truly relies and trusts you even in the darkest situations.
Help us to fully understand that if you are for us, that nothing can be against us.
Sustain us according to your word.
Let not our hope be put to shame.
Hold us safely in Jesus Christ that we may live according to your promise. Amen.
-Based on Psalm 119:116-117, John 14:1
Song: O Love That Will Not Let Me Go written by George Matheson and Christopher Miner.
Song: There is A Peace written by Sojourn’s Charlie Richardson, recorded on our Before The Throne album.
Assurance/Peace:
Having peace with God doesn’t mean we lead quiet, care-free lives frollicking through the fields with birds serenely chirping on our shoulders. Our sin put us at war with a Holy God and condemned us. But Christ ended the war by offering his own life for us.
He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. – Romans 4:25-5:1
Having peace with God means we also have peace with each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. Let’s take some time to welcome one another here today in a spirit of peace.
Giving
Then our preacher taught from Genesis 40-41, two dreams interpreted by Joseph, and a time of famine. You can hear Sojourn sermons in theSojourn Church iTunes podcast or in the Sermon Resource library at sojournchurch.com.
Song: Give Reviving one of Indelible Grace’s “retuned” hymns, written by Albert Midlane, Chelsey Scott and Aaron Sands. This was our Communion hymn of the week.
Reading:
God promises to save us when we place our hope in Him and seek refuge in Jesus Christ. Hear these words of hope:
Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. Just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him. – Hebrews 9:14-15, 27-28
Song: Let Your Blood Plead For Me written by me (Bobby Gilles), Jeremy Quillo and Pastor Mike Cosper, inspired by Hymn 115 by Isaac Watts. We recorded this on The Water And The Blood.
Song: Rock of Ages written by Augustus Toplady and Thomas Hastings. Our arrangement is by our own Brooks Ritter, who recorded it as part of the double-EP The War/The Mercy Seat. Hear this version in full and read my article on the hymn “Rock Of Ages” here.
Benediction:
People of God, hide in the cross of Jesus where you will find shelter and true rest. Go in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Peace be with you.
