March 12, 2023
Call to Worship
Psalm 130:1-2, 5-6; Psalm 51:15-17
A SONG OF ASCENTS
Leader: Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!
All: O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
Leader: I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
All: my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.
Leader: O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
All: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Prayer of Adoration
All Creatures Of Our God And King
By St. Francis of Assisi (1225); Translated by William H. Draper; Arr: David Crowder
All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing
O praise Him, alleluia
Thou burning sun with golden beam
Thou silver moon with softer gleam
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sound in heaven along
O praise Him, alleluia
Thou rising moon in praise rejoice
Ye lights of evening find a voice
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Let all things their Creator bless
And worship Him in humbleness
O praise Him, alleluia
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son
And praise the Spirit, three in One
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Ending:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
©1995 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music. Words and Music by Stuart Townend
How deep the Father’s love for us, How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son, To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss, The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One, Bring many sons to glory
Behold the man upon the cross, My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice, Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there, Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life, I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything: No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ; His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart: His wounds have paid my ransom
Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart: His wounds have paid my ransom.
Prayer of Confession
Psalm 130:1-8
All: Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!
O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.
Leader: O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.
All: And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Silent Prayers
God’s Assurance of Forgiveness
Psalm 51:18-19, Hebrews 12:22-24
Leader: Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
All: But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Thy Mercy
By John Stoker and Sandra McCracken
Thy mercy, my God is the theme of my song
The joy of my heart and the boast of my tongue
Thy free grace alone from the first to the last
Has won my affections and bound my soul fast
Without Thy sweet mercy I could not live here
Sin would reduce me to utter despair
But through Thy free goodness, my spirits revive
And He that first made me still keeps me alive
Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart
Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart
Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the ground
And week for the praise of the mercy I found
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own
And the covenant love of Thy crucified Son
All praise to the Spirit whose whisper divine
Seals mercy and pardon and righteousness mine
All praise to the Spirit whose whisper divine
Seals mercy and pardon and righteousness mine
Family Life
† During a brief intermission, children can go with their teachers for a lesson.
The musicians will call us back with a song reprised.
Sermon Passage
Genesis 18:16-33
16 Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. 17 The LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him." 20 Then the LORD said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, 21 I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know." 22 So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD. 23 Then Abraham drew near and said, "Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" 26 And the LORD said, "If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake." 27 Abraham answered and said, "Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?" And he said, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there." 29 Again he spoke to him and said, "Suppose forty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of forty I will not do it." 30 Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there." He answered, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there." 31 He said, "Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it." 32 Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there." He answered, "For the sake of ten I will not destroy it." 33 And the LORD went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
Pastor: The grass withers and the flower fades...
All: ...but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)
Sermon
"The Negotiation"
Pastor Mike McBride
Grace Will Prevail
Wendell Kimbrough
Grace will prevail, though the darkness is strong
And the burden weighs heavy and long
Grace will prevail, for our God is the Light
Rending the cover of night; Grace will prevail
Grace will prevail, in the valleys of shame
Where the echoes of failure remain
Grace will prevail, with the cry to the Lord
There's a mountain of mercy in store; Grace will prevail
Chorus:
Wait for the Lord our God; Wait for the Lord our God
Wait for the Lord, our rest and reward and our peace
Grace will prevail, through the wreckage and storm
And the brokenness washed on the shore
Grace will prevail, though an ocean we cry
He is with us and weeps by our side
Till the day they forever run dry
Bridge:
Take heart, he has overcome the world, He has overcome
Take heart, he has overcome the world, He has overcome
Take heart, he has overcome the world, He has overcome
Take heart, he has overcome the world
The Lord’s Supper
† Receive bread and juice from one of our section hosts near you. Gluten free options are available at the front table.
All My Ways Are Known to You
CityAlight
In days of peace and days of rest
In times of loss and loneliness
Though rich or poor, Your word is true
That all my ways are known to You
No trial has come beyond Your hand
No step I walk beyond Your plan
The path is dark outside my view
Still all my ways are known to You
Chorus: And oh what peace that I have found wherever I may be
For all my ways are known to You Hallelujah, they are known to You!
I do not fear the final night
For death will be the door to life
You take my hand and lead me through
For all my ways are known to You
Bridge: Open up my eyes so I may see
That You have made these ways for me
Open up my eyes so I may see
That You my God, will walk with me
Benediction
† We invite you to stretch out your hands as you receive the Lord’s blessing.
Psalm 130:1-2, 5-6; Psalm 51:15-17
A SONG OF ASCENTS
Leader: Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!
All: O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
Leader: I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
All: my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.
Leader: O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
All: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Prayer of Adoration
All Creatures Of Our God And King
By St. Francis of Assisi (1225); Translated by William H. Draper; Arr: David Crowder
All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing
O praise Him, alleluia
Thou burning sun with golden beam
Thou silver moon with softer gleam
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sound in heaven along
O praise Him, alleluia
Thou rising moon in praise rejoice
Ye lights of evening find a voice
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Let all things their Creator bless
And worship Him in humbleness
O praise Him, alleluia
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son
And praise the Spirit, three in One
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Ending:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
©1995 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music. Words and Music by Stuart Townend
How deep the Father’s love for us, How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son, To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss, The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One, Bring many sons to glory
Behold the man upon the cross, My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice, Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there, Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life, I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything: No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ; His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart: His wounds have paid my ransom
Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart: His wounds have paid my ransom.
Prayer of Confession
Psalm 130:1-8
All: Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!
O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.
Leader: O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.
All: And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Silent Prayers
God’s Assurance of Forgiveness
Psalm 51:18-19, Hebrews 12:22-24
Leader: Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
All: But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Thy Mercy
By John Stoker and Sandra McCracken
Thy mercy, my God is the theme of my song
The joy of my heart and the boast of my tongue
Thy free grace alone from the first to the last
Has won my affections and bound my soul fast
Without Thy sweet mercy I could not live here
Sin would reduce me to utter despair
But through Thy free goodness, my spirits revive
And He that first made me still keeps me alive
Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart
Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart
Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the ground
And week for the praise of the mercy I found
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own
And the covenant love of Thy crucified Son
All praise to the Spirit whose whisper divine
Seals mercy and pardon and righteousness mine
All praise to the Spirit whose whisper divine
Seals mercy and pardon and righteousness mine
Family Life
† During a brief intermission, children can go with their teachers for a lesson.
The musicians will call us back with a song reprised.
Sermon Passage
Genesis 18:16-33
16 Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. 17 The LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him." 20 Then the LORD said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, 21 I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know." 22 So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD. 23 Then Abraham drew near and said, "Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" 26 And the LORD said, "If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake." 27 Abraham answered and said, "Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?" And he said, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there." 29 Again he spoke to him and said, "Suppose forty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of forty I will not do it." 30 Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there." He answered, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there." 31 He said, "Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it." 32 Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there." He answered, "For the sake of ten I will not destroy it." 33 And the LORD went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
Pastor: The grass withers and the flower fades...
All: ...but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)
Sermon
"The Negotiation"
Pastor Mike McBride
Grace Will Prevail
Wendell Kimbrough
Grace will prevail, though the darkness is strong
And the burden weighs heavy and long
Grace will prevail, for our God is the Light
Rending the cover of night; Grace will prevail
Grace will prevail, in the valleys of shame
Where the echoes of failure remain
Grace will prevail, with the cry to the Lord
There's a mountain of mercy in store; Grace will prevail
Chorus:
Wait for the Lord our God; Wait for the Lord our God
Wait for the Lord, our rest and reward and our peace
Grace will prevail, through the wreckage and storm
And the brokenness washed on the shore
Grace will prevail, though an ocean we cry
He is with us and weeps by our side
Till the day they forever run dry
Bridge:
Take heart, he has overcome the world, He has overcome
Take heart, he has overcome the world, He has overcome
Take heart, he has overcome the world, He has overcome
Take heart, he has overcome the world
The Lord’s Supper
† Receive bread and juice from one of our section hosts near you. Gluten free options are available at the front table.
All My Ways Are Known to You
CityAlight
In days of peace and days of rest
In times of loss and loneliness
Though rich or poor, Your word is true
That all my ways are known to You
No trial has come beyond Your hand
No step I walk beyond Your plan
The path is dark outside my view
Still all my ways are known to You
Chorus: And oh what peace that I have found wherever I may be
For all my ways are known to You Hallelujah, they are known to You!
I do not fear the final night
For death will be the door to life
You take my hand and lead me through
For all my ways are known to You
Bridge: Open up my eyes so I may see
That You have made these ways for me
Open up my eyes so I may see
That You my God, will walk with me
Benediction
† We invite you to stretch out your hands as you receive the Lord’s blessing.
Posted in Worship Guide