6 August: Liturgy + Set List

• REJOICE

  Call to Worship: Psalm 17:15

  We live in a world that says ‘If I had just a little bit more, I would be satisfied. A little bit more money, a little bit more time, circumstances that we’re just a little different, a few more vacations, then I would have enough.’ If you are here this morning as a follower of Jesus, my hope and prayer are that you would behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus, and be fully, completely, and eternally satisfied. Let’s sing to him:

• ALL I HAVE IS CHRIST

• ABIDE/I’VE WITNESSED IT

  Because of Jesus, the invitation of God is always to cease from striving and rest and abide in the person and work of Christ. And as we prepare for a new academic school year many teachers, staff, students, and parents feel the opposite pull of rest. And as we continue in worship we are going to pray for the new school year - and we will specifically name the four local schools we support as missions partners at Life Church. If you don’t fall into one of those categories, if you are here this morning as a follower of Christ, God has sovereignly placed you in a time and place and given you a responsibility to love, serve, and live on mission within your community. Let’s pray this together:

Almighty God, by your gift alone we come to wisdom and true understanding. Look with favor, we pray on our universities, colleges, and schools, especially: Salisbury High, Isenberg Elementary, Koontz Elementary, and Overton Elementary, that knowledge may be increased among us, and wholesome learning flourish and abound. Bless those who teach and those who learn; and grant that in humility of heart they may ever look to you, the fountain of all wisdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Occasional Prayers, For schools, colleges, and universities

The Book of Common Prayer

Sermon: Exodus 20:17

Scripture says eternity is written on every human heart. You and I will never find satisfaction for our eternal souls looking to temporary, or created things. Let’s fix our desire, affection, and attention on the person and work of Christ as we sing. Would you stand if you’re able:

• A THOUSAND HALLELUJAHS

• BE THOU MY VISION

  Benediction

9 October: Liturgy + Set List

• GOD SO LOVED

  Call to Worship: Ephesians 2:4-7

  The Good News of the gospel is not that God takes good people and makes them better. The good news of the Gospel is that God takes dead people and makes them alive. And if you are here this morning as a follower of Jesus, you are someone who was once dead and has been made alive in Christ. That is not something that you have earned, achieved, accomplished, or deserve - but it is simply a gift of Grace from a God who is rich in mercy. And this morning we are going to teach you a new song that reminds us of who Jesus is, what He has done, and how we as His people are invited to rest, depend and abide in Christ. We’ll teach you the chorus first:

• ABIDE

• HYMN OF HEAVEN

  Sermon: Romans 6:1-11

  Life in Christ is first death to self. Life in Christ is first dying to our sin, so that we may be raised to new life in Christ. Your sin not in part, but the whole has been nailed to the cross of Christ, and you bear it no more - praise the Lord. Let’s celebrate and confess what we believe about our faith in the words of the Apostles’ Creed:

The Apostles’ Creed

I 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, died, and was buried. 

He descended into hell. 

The third day he rose again from the dead. 

He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; 

from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. 

I 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.

• COME BEHOLD THE WONDROUS MYSTERY

• A THOUSAND HALLELUJAHS

  Benediction: Hebrews 13:20-21

August 16: Tuesday Refocus

“The spiritual life does not remove us from the world but leads us deeper into it.” - Henri Nouwen

God made everything and called it good (Genesis 1:31). Sin broke, warped, and distorted everything and everyone. This is true for even the people of God - but as the people of God we are also carriers of God’s presence into a sin-sick world (1 Corinthians 6:19). Followers of Jesus are those who are not of this world, but are called to be a city on a hill, salt and light, and to make disciples of the whole world (John 17:16, Matthew 5:13-14, Matthew 28:19-20).

As carriers of the presence of God, there is no sacred and secular dividing line. All of life is spiritual and all of life is lived before the face of God. For the follower of Jesus, a life that is lived to the glory of God will always be a life lived for the good of others. Because abiding in the life of Christ becomes a lifeline to a broken world.

Lord, may You not remove us from the world, but enable us to abide deeply in You, amen.

Coram Deo,

AB

August 10: Tuesday Refocus

‘I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.’ - Charles Spurgeon

There is perhaps nothing that exposes our hearts to ourselves more than trial and trouble.  We discover what we truly value, and where we are rooted and grounded. 

Jesus said that He is the vine and we are the branches, and He invites us to abide in Him (Jn 15).  But when we respond to trial and trouble attempting to muscle through, grit our teeth and bear it, or ignore it and pretend like it’s not there - really what is being exposed at that moment is that we abide in ourselves, not in Christ.  And those are shallow roots.

We can abide in Christ now by actively looking to Him, actively resting in Him, actively trusting Him, actively treasuring Him.  Abiding in Christ will not mean we are free of any trial and trouble, in fact, Jesus says in this world we will face trial and trouble (Jn 16:33).  But when we abide in Him, we can be rooted and anchored deeply in Him even in the midst of trouble and trial.

Yes, every one of us will face trial and trouble in this life, but Christ invites us to take heart - because He has overcome the ultimate trial and trouble.

Jesus, we are grateful that you have overcome the ultimate trial and trouble, and you are with us in our own trials and trouble.  Let us abide deeply in You, as You abide in the Father, amen.

Taking heart,

AB

21 July: Tuesday Refocus

‘Growth is a slow, secret, unspectacular affair.’ – Lesslie Newbigin

We want fruit without the root.  But real fruit cannot be rushed or manufactured because real fruit is the result of slow, secret, unspectacular daily abiding.  But as the Psalmist reminds us, there is indeed blessing in the slow, secret, and unspectacular:

‘Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.  In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.  Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; but the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.’ (Psalm 1)

A life rooted in God may appear slow, secret and unspectacular on the surface, but it is a life that the Lord knows and sees (Ps 1:6, Matt 6:4).

 Jesus, help us abide in You, as You abide in the Father.  Let the unseen moments of our life be the roots of righteousness that grow fruit which honors You.  In Your name, amen.

Being rooted,

AB