Liturgy 11/27/2022

PRELUDE –

            “Safe Retreat” by Kings Kaleidoscope

CALL TO WORSHIP – Psalm 35:27

The Psalmist calls God’s people to worship in Psalm 35 stating:

“Let those who delight in my righteousness

    shout for joy and be glad

    and say evermore,

“Great is the Lord,

    who delights in the welfare of his servant!”

Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness

    and of your praise all the day long.”

Let’s stand and sing

for the Lord delights in the welfare of his people!

(congregation stands)

SONG –

            “Our Great God” by Fernando Ortega and Mac Powell

CONFESSION OF SIN – From the Anglican Book of Common Prayer

Although God delights to lead his people and guide them to safe pastures, God’s people often stray from his guidance in order to go their own way. Not only do we harm ourselves in the process, but by doubting his goodness and love, we by our sin actually dishonor God’s glory before a watching world. Let’s take this time in our service now to corporately acknowledge our sins before the Lord this morning and repent of the ways we have dishonored his name with our doubts this week. Pray with me this confession of sin aloud from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer.

(everyone prays aloud)

Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from Your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against Your holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore those who are penitent; according to Your promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. Grant that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life; to the glory of His holy name.

Amen.

(moment of silence)

SONG –

“Be Magnified” by Lynn DeShazo

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – Romans 5:6-10

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”

Since Jesus Christ died to reconcile his enemies to himself, we who repent and believe in him can know that we stand justified before God by his blood. For he who loved us and saved us at our worst will continue to save us until we reach our final home with him.

Let’s continue to sing of the riches of God’s mercy this morning!

SONG –

“His Mercy Is More” by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa

PRAYER

(congregation sits)

CHILDRENS’ DISMISSAL

0-5 Years Old Dismissal

SONG –

“O Great God” by Bob Kauflin

SCRIPTURE READING – Joshua 9:1-27

(congregation stands)

As soon as all the kings who were beyond the Jordan in the hill country and in the lowland all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, heard of this, they gathered together as one to fight against Joshua and Israel.

But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, they on their part acted with cunning and went and made ready provisions and took worn-out sacks for their donkeys, and wineskins, worn-out and torn and mended, with worn-out, patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes. And all their provisions were dry and crumbly. And they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant country, so now make a covenant with us.” But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you live among us; then how can we make a covenant with you?” They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who are you? And where do you come from?” They said to him, “From a very distant country your servants have come, because of the name of the Lord your God. For we have heard a report of him, and all that he did in Egypt, and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon the king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth. So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, ‘Take provisions in your hand for the journey and go to meet them and say to them, “We are your servants. Come now, make a covenant with us.”’ Here is our bread. It was still warm when we took it from our houses as our food for the journey on the day we set out to come to you, but now, behold, it is dry and crumbly. These wineskins were new when we filled them, and behold, they have burst. And these garments and sandals of ours are worn out from the very long journey.” So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the Lord. And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them.

At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors and that they lived among them. And the people of Israel set out and reached their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. But the people of Israel did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. Then all the congregation murmured against the leaders. But all the leaders said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, and now we may not touch them. This we will do to them: let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath that we swore to them.” And the leaders said to them, “Let them live.” So they became cutters of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation, just as the leaders had said of them.

Joshua summoned them, and he said to them, “Why did you deceive us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you dwell among us? Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you shall never be anything but servants, cutters of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.” They answered Joshua, “Because it was told to your servants for a certainty that the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you—so we feared greatly for our lives because of you and did this thing. And now, behold, we are in your hand. Whatever seems good and right in your sight to do to us, do it.” So he did this to them and delivered them out of the hand of the people of Israel, and they did not kill them. But Joshua made them that day cutters of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord, to this day, in the place that he should choose.

Reader: “This is the Word of the Lord.”

Congregation: “Thanks be to God.”

SERMON – The Gibeonite Deception

(congregation sits)

SONG –

“Jesus Strong and Kind” by Colin Buchanan, Jonny Robinson, Michael Farren and Rich Thompson

LORD’S TABLE

OFFERING (Why of the Week)

(congregation stands)

SONG –

“We Will Feast in the House of Zion” by Joshua Moore and Sandra McCracken

BENEDICTION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

POSTLUDE –

“Omnipotent” by Beautiful Eulogy

Liturgy 11/20/2022

PRELUDE –

            “The Beauty Between” by Kings Kaleidoscope

CALL TO WORSHIP – Psalm 34:1-3

David states in Psalm 34

“I will bless the Lord at all times;

    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul makes its boast in the Lord;

    let the humble hear and be glad.

Oh, magnify the Lord with me,

    and let us exalt his name together!”

Let’s stand and as God’s people

let’s magnify the Lord together with our praise!

(congregation stands)

SONG –

            “Behold, Our God” by Jonathan, Meghan, and Ryan Baird and Mark Altrogge

CONFESSION OF SIN

Having acknowledged God’s glory with our song, let’s respond by acknowledging our sinfulness before a holy and righteous God.

Please pray aloud with me this corporate confession of sin!

(everyone prays aloud)

Holy Father, forgive us.

Though you should guide us, we inform ourselves.

Though you should rule us, we control ourselves.

Though you should fulfill us, we console ourselves.

For we think your truth too high, your will too hard, your power too remote, your love too free. But they are not! And without them, we are of all people most miserable.

Heal our confused mind with your word, heal our divided will with your law,

heal our troubled conscience with your love, heal our anxious hearts with your presence,

all for the sake of your Son, who loved us and gave himself for us.

Amen.

(moment of silence)

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – Hebrews 9:11-14

“But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”

Through his blood, those who have faith in Jesus Christ can know that God has purified us from sin so that we might live to serve him without fear. Let’s continue to sing of this great redemption which we have received by faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.

SONG –

“Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder” by John Newton and Laura Taylor

PRAYER

(congregation sits)

CHILDRENS’ DISMISSAL

0-5 Years Old Dismissal

SONG –

“How Firm a Foundation” by Unknown

SCRIPTURE READING – Joshua 8:30-35

(congregation stands)

At that time Joshua built an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal, just as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the people of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, “an altar of uncut stones, upon which no man has wielded an iron tool.” And they offered on it burnt offerings to the Lord and sacrificed peace offerings. And there, in the presence of the people of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written. And all Israel, sojourner as well as native born, with their elders and officers and their judges, stood on opposite sides of the ark before the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, half of them in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, just as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded at the first, to bless the people of Israel. And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the sojourners who lived among them.

Reader: “This is the Word of the Lord.”

Congregation: “Thanks be to God.”

SERMON

(congregation sits)

SONG –

“Before the Throne of God Above” by Charitie Lees Bancroft and Vikki Cook

LORD’S TABLE (Why Of The Week)

OFFERING

(congregation stands)

SONG –

“Sing to the King” by Billy Foote

BENEDICTION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

POSTLUDE –

“Dwell In Your House” by Colorvault

Liturgy 11/13/2022

PRELUDE –

            “Around” by Cortez

CALL TO WORSHIP – Psalm 33:6-9

The Psalmist calls the people of God to worship in Psalm 33 when he states:

“Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous!

    Praise befits the upright.

Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;

    make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!

Sing to him a new song;

    play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

For the word of the Lord is upright,

    and all his work is done in faithfulness.

He loves righteousness and justice;

    the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.”

Let’s stand and sing, for the word of the Lord is still faithful this morning!

(congregation stands)

SONG –

            “All Praise to Him” by Bob Kauflin and Matt Merker

CONFESSION OF SIN – Leviticus 26:40, 44-46

Although the righteous have good reason to sing to the Lord this morning, many of us know that we are neither righteous, upright or faithful to the Lord today. In light of the many ways you and I sin and fall short of his glory this morning, the Lord himself has provided a means for sinners like us to be right with him. Listen to his word in Leviticus 26:

“But if [my people] confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery that they committed against me…I will not spurn them, neither will I abhor them so as to destroy them utterly and break my covenant with them, for I am the Lord their God. But I will for their sake remember the covenant with their forefathers, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the Lord.”

Let’s take a moment to silently confess our sins before the Lord this morning.

(moment of silence)

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – Hebrews 10:14

Year after year, God’s people have confessed their sins before the Lord, constantly bringing a sacrificial offering to his temple as a means providing a temporary atonement for their sins. But for those in Christ today, you and I have a greater confidence that God will hear our prayers and forgive the sins of our past.

“For by a single offering [Jesus Christ] has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”

Saints, let’s praise the Lord with all we have, for through the cross of Christ, God’s people have been cleansed of sin, and there is no longer any offering needed for God’s people to be with him!

SONGS –

“Jesus, Thank You” by Pat Sczebel

“Promises” by Maverick City Music

PRAYER

(congregation sits)

CHILDRENS’ DISMISSAL

0-5 Years Old Dismissal

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – From The Apostles Creed (Why of the Week)

Before we get into our Scripture reading this week, let’s take a moment to affirm our common faith together. Affirmations of faith are a means of reminding us that the convictions and teachings we hold to as a church body are nothing new. Rather these are the biblical convictions of the Scriptures themselves which have been passed down from one generation to another. When we confess these truths together, we stand in unity with all our brothers and sisters in Christ as we bear common witness to the world around us of the good news of Jesus Christ and his life death and resurrection.

Let’s stand and affirm aloud our common faith together using the words of the Apostle’s Creed.

(everyone says aloud)

We 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, dead, and buried.

 He descended into hell

and on 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 thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.

We 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.

SCRIPTURE READING – Joshua 8:1-29

(congregation stands)

And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Take all the fighting men with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and his land. And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. Only its spoil and its livestock you shall take as plunder for yourselves. Lay an ambush against the city, behind it.”

So Joshua and all the fighting men arose to go up to Ai. And Joshua chose 30,000 mighty men of valor and sent them out by night. And he commanded them, “Behold, you shall lie in ambush against the city, behind it. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you remain ready. And I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. And when they come out against us just as before, we shall flee before them. And they will come out after us, until we have drawn them away from the city. For they will say, ‘They are fleeing from us, just as before.’ So we will flee before them. Then you shall rise up from the ambush and seize the city, for the Lord your God will give it into your hand. And as soon as you have taken the city, you shall set the city on fire. You shall do according to the word of the Lord. See, I have commanded you.” So Joshua sent them out. And they went to the place of ambush and lay between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai, but Joshua spent that night among the people.

Joshua arose early in the morning and mustered the people and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai. And all the fighting men who were with him went up and drew near before the city and encamped on the north side of Ai, with a ravine between them and Ai. He took about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city. So they stationed the forces, the main encampment that was north of the city and its rear guard west of the city. But Joshua spent that night in the valley. And as soon as the king of Ai saw this, he and all his people, the men of the city, hurried and went out early to the appointed place toward the Arabah to meet Israel in battle. But he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city. And Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten before them and fled in the direction of the wilderness. So all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and as they pursued Joshua they were drawn away from the city. Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel. They left the city open and pursued Israel.

Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand.” And Joshua stretched out the javelin that was in his hand toward the city. And the men in the ambush rose quickly out of their place, and as soon as he had stretched out his hand, they ran and entered the city and captured it. And they hurried to set the city on fire. So when the men of Ai looked back, behold, the smoke of the city went up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that, for the people who fled to the wilderness turned back against the pursuers. And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had captured the city, and that the smoke of the city went up, then they turned back and struck down the men of Ai. And the others came out from the city against them, so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side. And Israel struck them down, until there was left none that survived or escaped. But the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him near to Joshua.

When Israel had finished killing all the inhabitants of Ai in the open wilderness where they pursued them, and all of them to the very last had fallen by the edge of the sword, all Israel returned to Ai and struck it down with the edge of the sword. And all who fell that day, both men and women, were 12,000, all the people of Ai. But Joshua did not draw back his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until he had devoted all the inhabitants of Ai to destruction. Only the livestock and the spoil of that city Israel took as their plunder, according to the word of the Lord that he commanded Joshua. So Joshua burned Ai and made it forever a heap of ruins, as it is to this day. And he hanged the king of Ai on a tree until evening. And at sunset Joshua commanded, and they took his body down from the tree and threw it at the entrance of the gate of the city and raised over it a great heap of stones, which stands there to this day.

Reader: “This is the Word of the Lord.”

Congregation: “Thanks be to God.”

SERMON

(congregation sits)

SONG –

“Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” by John Wyeth and Robert Robinson

LORD’S TABLE

OFFERING

(congregation stands)

SONG –

“All Glory Be to Christ” by Dustin Kensrue

BENEDICTION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

POSTLUDE –

“Anchor” by Madison Ryann Ward

Liturgy 11/6/2022

PRELUDE –

“Great Are You Lord” by All Sons and Daughters

CALL TO WORSHIP – Psalm 2:10-12

In Psalm 2, the Lord calls all the kings of the nations and all rulers of the earth to come and pay homage before his throne. The Psalmist states:

“Now therefore, O kings, be wise;

    be warned, O rulers of the earth.

Serve the Lord with fear,

    and rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son,

    lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,

    for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”

Let’s stand and sing, as we honor the Lord most high!

(congregation stands)

SONG –

            “Holy, Holy, Holy” by John Bacchus Dykes and Reginald Heber

CONFESSION OF SIN – 1 Kings 8:46-53

In 1 Kings 8, as the temple is being dedicated to the Lord, King Solomon prays in verse 46,

“If [you’re people] sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near, yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,’ if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name, then hear in heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions that they have committed against you, and grant them compassion in the sight of those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them (for they are your people, and your heritage, which you brought out of Egypt, from the midst of the iron furnace). Let your eyes be open to the plea of your servant and to the plea of your people Israel, giving ear to them whenever they call to you. For you separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to be your heritage, as you declared through Moses your servant, when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God.”

Just like the people in the days of Solomon, God’s people today are still in need of our Lord’s abundant forgiveness and compassion, for there is no one who does not sin.

Let’s take a moment to be silent before the Lord, and earnestly with our whole hearts repent of our sins and plead with God to once again look upon his people with compassion and forgiveness.

(moment of silence)

SONG –

“Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy” by Fernando Ortega, John Andrew Schreiner, and Joseph Hart

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – Romans 8:31-34

While the Lord was faithful to hear the prayers of Israel’s king in the days of Solomon,

We today have a better king who is always praying on behalf of his people!

This is why the apostle Paul reassures those who have faith in Christ,

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Let’s continue to sing, for through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, God will still hears the prayers of sinners like us!

SONG –

“Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery” by Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, and Michael Bleecker

PRAYER

(congregation sits)

CHILDRENS’ DISMISSAL

0-5 Years Old Dismissal

SONG –

“How Firm a Foundation” by Unknown

SCRIPTURE READING – Joshua 7:1-26 

(congregation stands)

But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the Lord burned against the people of Israel.

Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” And the men went up and spied out Ai. And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not have all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not make the whole people toil up there, for they are few.” So about three thousand men went up there from the people. And they fled before the men of Ai, and the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of their men and chased them before the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them at the descent. And the hearts of the people melted and became as water.

Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads. And Joshua said, “Alas, O Lord God, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies! For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?”

The Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why have you fallen on your face? Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings. Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you. Get up! Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the Lord, God of Israel, “There are devoted things in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted things from among you.” In the morning therefore you shall be brought near by your tribes. And the tribe that the Lord takes by lot shall come near by clans. And the clan that the Lord takes shall come near by households. And the household that the Lord takes shall come near man by man. And he who is taken with the devoted things shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and because he has done an outrageous thing in Israel.’”

So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel near tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was taken. And he brought near the clans of Judah, and the clan of the Zerahites was taken. And he brought near the clan of the Zerahites man by man, and Zabdi was taken. And he brought near his household man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord God of Israel and give praise to him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.” And Achan answered Joshua, “Truly I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I did: when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”

So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and behold, it was hidden in his tent with the silver underneath. And they took them out of the tent and brought them to Joshua and to all the people of Israel. And they laid them down before the Lord. And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver and the cloak and the bar of gold, and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep and his tent and all that he had. And they brought them up to the Valley of Achor. And Joshua said, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The Lord brings trouble on you today.” And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones. And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his burning anger. Therefore, to this day the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor.

Reader: “This is the Word of the Lord.”

Congregation: “Thanks be to God.”

SERMON – Why of the Week

(congregation sits)

SONG –

“What Wondrous Love Is This?” by Alexander Means and William Walker

LORD’S TABLE

OFFERING

(congregation stands)

SONG –

            “Your Will Be Done” by Jonny Robinson and Rich Thompson

BENEDICTION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

POSTLUDE –

“All My Hope” by David Crowder

Liturgy 10/30/2022

PRELUDE –

“Valleys” by Cortez

CALL TO WORSHIP – Psalm 148:11-13

Kings of the earth and all peoples,

    princes and all rulers of the earth!

Young men and maidens together,

    old men and children!

Let them praise the name of the Lord,

    for his name alone is exalted;

    his majesty is above earth and heaven.

Let’s stand and sing for the name of the Lord is worthy to be exalted!

(congregation stands)

SONG –

“10,000 Reasons” by Jonas Myrin and Matt Redman

CONFESSION OF SIN –

Our God is truly worthy of all our trust and obedience.

But in spite of his glory, too often God’s people fail to trust and follow God as we ought in the midst of a confusing and sinful world.

In light of our failures to honor God this week, let’s take a moment in our service to pray, confessing our sins to the Lord and asking him to once again renew our hearts to trust and follow him even as we strive to do so within a world of sin.

Please pray aloud along with me as I read the words of this confession of sin.

(everyone read aloud)

Lord, though you should guide us, we inform ourselves;

though you should rule us, we control ourselves;

though you should fulfill us, we console ourselves.

We think your truth too high, your will too hard,

your power too remote, your love too free. But they are not!

And without them, we are of all people most miserable.

Now heal our confused minds with your word,

heal our divided wills with your law,

heal our troubled consciences with your love,

heal our anxious hearts with your presence,

all for the sake of your Son,

who loved us and gave himself for us.

Amen.

(moment of silence)

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Now hear these words of assurance from the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Let’s continue to boast is the Lord, for in Christ God still chooses to save weak and foolish sinners like us!

SONG –

“Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me” by Jonny Robinson, Michael Farren, and Rich Thompson

PRAYER

(congregation sits)

CHILDRENS’ DISMISSAL – Why of The Week

During this part of our service, we normally dismiss our kids ages 0-5 to our kids corner in the back rooms here for the duration of the service. I’d just like to take a minute to help clarify what we are trying to accomplish with our children’s ministry. As a church, our number one goal for our kids is that they might receive Jesus by faith and find salvation from sin in him. Following that, we want our kids to grow up and one day be full-fledged members of Christ’s church. Because this is our goal, we try as early as we can to make sure IBC kids stay in the service so that they can hear the word of God as it is being read, sung, preached, and prayed every Sunday. This is why we have the children’s bulletins available in the back by the welcoming team so that our kids can sit in the service and draw, and hopefully pick up whatever bits of the Gospel they can understand for the duration of their time there. However, we realize that not every kid is old enough to sit still during our services. So for children ages 0-5, we have our Kids’ Corner available for them so that they can be taken care of by our vetted and trained Kids’ Corner volunteers while their parents are free to sit in on the service. So at this time Children ages 0-5 are now dismissed to head to Kids’ Corner. And as they leave, let’s continue to worship the Lord with our singing and praise.

0-5 Years Old Dismissal

SONG –

“Only a Holy God” by Dustin Smith, Jonny Robinson, Michael Farren, and Rich Thompson

SCRIPTURE READING – Joshua 6:1-27

(congregation stands)

Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.” So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord.” And he said to the people, “Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the Lord.”

And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the Lord went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the Lord following them. The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually. But Joshua commanded the people, “You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.” So he caused the ark of the Lord to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp.

Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets blew continually. And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days.

On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times. And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city. And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent. But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it. But all silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the Lord; they shall go into the treasury of the Lord.” So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city. Then they devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword.

But to the two men who had spied out the land, Joshua said, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring out from there the woman and all who belong to her, as you swore to her.” So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. And they brought all her relatives and put them outside the camp of Israel. And they burned the city with fire, and everything in it. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. But Rahab the prostitute and her father’s household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

Joshua laid an oath on them at that time, saying, “Cursed before the Lord be the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho.

“At the cost of his firstborn shall he

    lay its foundation,

and at the cost of his youngest son

    shall he set up its gates.”

So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame was in all the land.

Reader: “This is the Word of the Lord.”

Congregation: “Thanks be to God.”

SERMON – “The Battle of Jericho”

(congregation sits)

SONG –

“Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder” by John Newton and Laura Taylor

LORD’S TABLE

OFFERING

(congregation stands)

SONG –

 “One Pure and Holy Passion” by Mark Altrogge

BENEDICTION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

POSTLUDE –

“Let This Heart Not Wander” by Young Oceans

Liturgy 10/23/2022

PRELUDE –

“Let Your Heart Sing” by Young Oceans

CALL TO WORSHIP – Psalm 29:1-2

(congregation stands)

Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,

    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

    worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.

Let’s stand and sing as we ascribe to the Lord the splendor of his holiness!

SONG – 

“Holy, Holy, Holy” by John Bacchus Dykes and Reginald Heber

CONFESSION OF SIN – Isaiah 66:1-2

The Lord states in Isaiah 66:1-2

“Heaven is my throne,

    and the earth is my footstool;

what is the house that you would build for me,

    and what is the place of my rest?

All these things my hand has made,

    and so all these things came to be,

declares the Lord.

But this is the one to whom I will look:

    he who is humble and contrite in spirit

    and trembles at my word.

Although in our sin none of us deserve to stand before the presence of our high and holy God,

The Lord himself promises to mercifully receive

all those who humbly repent and return to his word.

Let’s take a moment to pray right now and humbly return to the Lord our God.

(moment of silence)

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – 1 John 1:5-9

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you,

that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness,

we lie and do not practice the truth.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light,

we have fellowship with one another,

and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Let’s continue to sing for the blood of Christ is still able to bring sinners like us

into the loving fellowship of a Holy God!

SONGS –

“Jesus, Thank You” by Pat Sczebel

“On Jordan’s Stormy Banks” by Samuel Stennett

PRAYER

(congregation sits)

CHILDRENS’ DISMISSAL

0-5 Years Old Dismissal

SCRIPTURE READING – Joshua 5:13-15

(congregation stands)

When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” And the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

Reader: “This is the Word of the Lord.”

Congregation: “Thanks be to God.”

SERMON – “Friend or Foe”

(congregation sits)

SONG –

“Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy” by Fernando Ortega, John Andrew Schreiner, and Joseph Hart

LORD’S TABLE

(congregation stands)

OFFERING

SONG –

“All I Have Is Christ” by Jordan Kauflin

BENEDICTION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

POSTLUDE –

“Great Are You Lord” by All Sons and Daughters

Liturgy 10/17/2022

PRELUDE –

“Not For A Moment” by Meridith Andrews

CALL TO WORSHIP – Psalm 117

In Psalm 117, the Psalmist calls all people to worship the Lord saying

“Praise the Lord, all nations!

    Extol him, all peoples!

For great is his steadfast love toward us,

    and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord!”

Let’s stand and sing praise for God’s steadfast love endures forever!

(congregation stands)

SONG –

“All Praise to Him” by Bob Kauflin and Matt Merker

CONFESSION OF SIN – Romans 13:11-14

Our passage today teaches us that God’s people need to purify themselves of sin in order to enjoy the rich promises of God. In Romans 13:11-14, the apostle Paul gives similar instructions to the church of God today when he states, 

“For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

In light of God’s word convicting us and calling us to repentance, let’s use this time of silence in our service to pray and ask God to forgive us of our sins as we rededicate our lives to him. 

(moment of silence)

SONG – 

“Be Magnified” by Lynn DeShazo

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

In spite of our sin, God’s promises can still be enjoyed by anyone who by faith trusts in Christ for their forgiveness and salvation.

Let’s celebrate for the blood of Christ is still powerful to cleanse us from all of our sins!

SONG – 

“There Is A Fountain” by William Cowper

PRAYER (Why of the Week)

(congregation sits)

According to the pattern set in Acts 2:42, Christian churches have always gathered together in order to devote themselves to the apostle’s teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and to corporate prayer. While it is always appropriate to pray to the Lord on your own, Jesus clearly expected there to be times when his church would unite together and with one mind and together petition our Father for the needs our our community. This is why in the Lord’s pray Jesus instructs his people to address the Lord together as “Our Father.” When the church gathers together to pray, we train our hearts to be united in faith, hope, and love as we all with one mind strive side by side for the faith. 

As I pray aloud, please pray along with me as we all together lift the requests of our community up to our Father together. 

CHILDRENS’ DISMISSAL

0-5 Years Old Dismissal

SCRIPTURE READING – Joshua 5:1-12 

(congregation stands)

As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.

At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.” So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth. And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way after they had come out of Egypt. Though all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the people who were born on the way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised. For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord; the Lordswore to them that he would not let them see the land that the Lord had sworn to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey. So it was their children, whom he raised up in their place, that Joshua circumcised. For they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.

When the circumcising of the whole nation was finished, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed. And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.

While the people of Israel were encamped at Gilgal, they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening on the plains of Jericho.And the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. And the manna ceased the day after they ate of the produce of the land. And there was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

Reader: “This is the Word of the Lord.” 

Congregation: “Thanks be to God.”

SERMON

(congregation sits)

SONG –

“Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” by John Wyeth and Robert Robinson

LORD’S TABLE

OFFERING

(congregation stands)

SONG –

“On Jordan’s Stormy Banks” by Samuel Stennett 

BENEDICTION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

POSTLUDE – 

“On Jordan’s Stormy Banks” by Keith and Kristyn Getty

Liturgy 10/10/2022

PRELUDE –

“Oh Great God, Give Us Rest” by David Crowder Band

CALL TO WORSHIP – Psalm 100:4-5

God calls us to worship in Psalm 100. 

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

    and his courts with praise!

    Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the Lord is good;

    his steadfast love endures forever,

    and his faithfulness to all generations.”

Let’s stand and give thanks, 

for the Lord has been faithful to his people from generation to generation.

(congregation stands)

SONG –

“Your Grace Is Enough” by Matt Maher

CONFESSION OF SIN –

In spite of God’s faithfulness and grace, our text for today reminds us that God’s people always have a tendency to forget just how good he has been to us. And when we lose sight of his love and care, we often tend to slip away from him. Let’s confess the ways we have been slipping away from the Lord this week by praying aloud this corporate confession of sin. 

(everyone read aloud)

Holy Father, you see us as we are, and know our inmost thoughts. We confess that we are unworthy of your gracious care. We forget that all life comes from you and that to you all life returns. We have not sought to do your will with our whole hearts. We have not lived as grateful children, nor loved as Christ loved us. Apart from you, we are nothing. Only your grace can sustain us. Lord, in your mercy, forgive us, heal us, and make us whole. Set us free from our sin, and restore us to the joy of your salvation now and forever. 

Amen. 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – Isaiah 49:15-16

“Can a woman forget her nursing child,

    that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?

Even these may forget,

    yet I will not forget you.

Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.”

For those of us who have repented of our sins and have received the mercy freely given to us in Jesus Christ, each week on Sunday we get to receive this sweet reminder from the Lord that no matter what we’ve done, God will never forget his people.

Let’s continue to celebrate the rich mercies of our God!

SONGS – 

“He Will Hold Me Fast” by Ada Ruth Habershon and Matthew Merker

“Not for a Moment” by Meredith Andrews

PRAYER

(congregation sits)

CHILDRENS’ DISMISSAL

0-5 Years Old Dismissal

(congregation stands)

SCRIPTURE READING – Joshua 4:1-24 

(congregation stands)

When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’” Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”

And the people of Israel did just as Joshua commanded and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, just as the Lord told Joshua. And they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged and laid them down there.And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day. For the priests bearing the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the Lord commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua.

The people passed over in haste. And when all the people had finished passing over, the ark of the Lord and the priests passed over before the people. The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh passed over armed before the people of Israel, as Moses had told them. About 40,000 ready for war passed over before the Lord for battle, to the plains of Jericho. On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.

And the Lord said to Joshua, “Command the priests bearing the ark of the testimony to come up out of the Jordan.” So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.” And when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord came up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before.

The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”

Reader: “This is the Word of the Lord.” 

Congregation: “Thanks be to God.”

SERMON – “Handing Down Our History

(congregation sits)

SONG –

“Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery” by Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, and Michael Bleecker

LORD’S TABLE

OFFERING

(congregation stands)

SONG –

“Let Your Kingdom Come” by Bob Kauflin

BENEDICTION

ANNOUNCEMENTS

POSTLUDE – 

“Opposite Way” by Leeland

Liturgy 10/2/2022

PRELUDE –
“Lion/Lamb” by Joshua Leventhal

CALL TO WORSHIP – Exodus 15:21

After the crossing of the Red Sea, the Lord inspired Miriam to call his people to worship declaring in Exodus 15:21:

“Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously;
The horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.”
Let’s stand and sing, for our God has triumphed gloriously!

(congregation stands)

SONG –
“Worthy Worthy” by Jacob Sooter and Mia Fieldes

CONFESSION OF SIN – 2 Corinthians 7:1

In our passage today, Joshua commands the people to consecrate themselves for the LORD is going to do wonders among his people. Although we are in a different time and place, God’s people still have times when they need to consecrate or separate themselves from the sins of this world in order to enjoy a right relationship with him.

Paul says in 2 Cor. 7:1, “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”

This is why every Sunday we have a portion of our time dedicated to confessing our sins to the Lord.

Let’s take a moment to confess our sin to the Lord and consecrate ourselves to his purpose once again this morning.

(moment of silence)

SONG –
“Create in Me a Clean Heart” by Keith Green

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – 2 Corinthians 5:17-19

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Let’s continue to sing for the Lord is still working wonders among his people today!

SONG –
“His Mercy Is More” by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa

PRAYER
(congregation sits)

CHILDRENS’ DISMISSAL
0-5 Years Old Dismissal
(congregation stands)

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – The Apostles’ Creed

Before we look at our sermon text for today, let’s take a moment to confess our belief in God and his miraculous work in history using the words of the Apostles’ Creed.

We 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, dead, and buried.
He descended into hell and on 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 thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.

We 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.

SCRIPTURE READING – Joshua 3:1-17

Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. At the end of three days the officers went through the camp and commanded the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.” Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” And Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.

The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’” And Joshua said to the people of Israel, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God.” And Joshua said, “Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites. Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan. Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man. And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.”

So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.

Reader: “This is the Word of the Lord.”

Congregation: “Thanks be to God.”

SERMON – “The Living God”
(congregation sits)

SONG –
“Behold the Lamb (Communion Hymn)” by Keith & Kristyn Getty and Stuart Townend

LORD’S TABLE

OFFERING
(congregation stands)

SONG –
“Christ Is Mine Forevermore” by Jonny Robinson, Rich Thompson

BENEDICTION

ANNOUNCEMENTS

POSTLUDE –
“Oh But God” by Davie Flowers

Liturgy 9/26/2022

PRELUDE –
“Always On Time” by IMRSQD

CALL TO WORSHIP – Psalm 98:1-3

“Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
The Lord has made known his salvation;

he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness

to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.”

Let’s stand and sing to the Lord who brings our salvation!

(congregation stands)

SONG –
“How Great Thou Art” by Stuart K. Hine

CONFESSION OF SIN – Mark 1:15

The Lord is coming soon to judge the world and to bring salvation to his people.

In light of this truth, Jesus Christ declares in Mark 1:15:
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; Repent and believe in the gospel.”

Let’s take a moment now to reflect on our lives and repent of our sins before the Lord in order to prepare ourselves for his glorious coming kingdom!

(moment of silence)

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – Ephesians 2:12-13

“Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

Because of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, sinners who were far from God can now be brought near to his presence through the precious blood of Christ.

Let’s stand and sing of this wondrous good news!

SONG –
“Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder” by John Newton and Laura Taylor

PRAYER
(congregation sits)

CHILDRENS’ DISMISSAL
0-5 Years Old Dismissal
(congregation stands)

SONG –
“Great Is Thy Faithfulness” by Thomas Obediah Chisholm and William Marion Runyan

SCRIPTURE READING – Joshua 2:1-24
(congregation stands)

And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof. So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out.

Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a sure sign that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” And the men said to her, “Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the Lord gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.”

Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall. And she said to them, “Go into the hills, or the pursuers will encounter you, and hide there three days until the pursuers have returned. Then afterward you may go your way.” The men said to her, “We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours that you have made us swear. Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household. Then if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head. But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath that you have made us swear.” And she said, “According to your words, so be it.” Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

They departed and went into the hills and remained there three days until the pursuers returned, and the pursuers searched all along the way and found nothing. Then the two men returned. They came down from the hills and passed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they told him all that had happened to them. And they said to Joshua, “Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.”

Reader: “This is the Word of the Lord.”

Congregation: “Thanks Be to God.”

SERMON
(congregation sits)

SONG –
“There Is A Fountain” by William Cowper

LORD’S TABLE

OFFERING
(congregation stands)

SONG –
“Christ Is Mine Forevermore” by Jonny Robinson, Rich Thompson

BENEDICTION

ANNOUNCEMENTS

POSTLUDE –
“Paradox” by Ellie Holcomb, Natalie Hemby