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PRELUDE –
“Always Good” by Andrew Peterson
CALL TO WORSHIP – Hebrews 10:19-25
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Since Jesus Christ now stands as our high priest before the Father, you and I can now boldly stand in the presence of God and declare his praises for all the world to hear!
Let’s stand and sing, and through our song, let’s continue to encourage and stir one another to greater love and good works as we together glory in the greatness of our God!
(congregation stands)
SONG –
“Holy Is the Lord” by Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio
CONFESSION OF SIN
Like every Sunday, in order for us to truly appreciate God’s grace as we should, we first need to be honest about our sin. Let’s take some time in our service this morning to openly confess our sins to the Lord by praying aloud together this written confession of sin:
(everyone read aloud)
Almighty and most merciful Father, we are thankful that your mercy is
higher than the heavens,
wider than our wanderings,
deeper than all our sin.
Forgive our careless attitudes toward your purposes,
our refusal to relieve the suffering of others,
our envy of those who have more than we have,
our obsession with creating a life of constant pleasure,
our indifference to the treasures of heaven,
our neglect of your wise and gracious law.
Help us to change our way of life
so that we may desire what is good,
love what you love,
and do what you command,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON – Ephesians 2:14-15
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.”
Because Christ Jesus died on the cross for our sins, we can now have peace with God and peace with one another as well.
Let’s continue to celebrate!
SONG –
“Be Unto Your Name” by Gary Sadler and Lynn DeShazo
PRAYER
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – Immanuel’s Statement Of Faith Article XIX The Family
(everyone read aloud)
God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption. Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race.
KIDS’ CORNER
Available for children ages 0-5
SONG –
“One Pure and Holy Passion” by Mark Altrogge*
SCRIPTURE READING – Proverbs 6:1-35 Please announce the page number (P. 531) in the pew Bibles in the back. Instruct the congregation to stand. End with “This is the Word of the Lord.”
SERMON – “Learning to Live in Peace”
(congregation sits)
SONGS –
“Lord Have Mercy” by Steve Merkel
“Nothing But the Blood” by Robert Lowry
LORD’S TABLE
OFFERING
(congregation stands)
SONG –
“Sing to the King” by Billy Foote
BENEDICTION & ANNOUNCEMENTS
POSTLUDE –
“No Limit To Your Love” by John Van Deusen
PRELUDE –
“O Holy Night” by Lauren Daigle
CALL TO WORSHIP – Luke 1:46-49
In response to the news of the birth of the Savior,
Mary, the mother of Jesus rejoiced, stating:
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
Let’s stand and magnify the Lord who looks upon our humble estates this morning!
(congregation stands)
SONG –
“Crown Him With Many Crowns” by George Job Elvey, Godfrey Thring, and Matthew Bridges
CONFESSION OF SIN
In light of the coming king, John the Baptist called the people of God in Luke 3:1-14 to repent of their former ways and be baptized for the forgiveness of sin. As we take this Christmas season to remember Christ’s first coming, let’s also take a moment now to prepare our hearts for his second coming by repenting of our former sins and renewing our commitment to follow our king. Let’s pray this confession of sin aloud:
(everyone aloud)
Almighty and most merciful Father,
we are thankful that your mercy is
higher than the heavens,
wider than our wanderings,
deeper than all our sin.
Forgive our careless attitudes toward your purposes,
our refusal to relieve the suffering of others,
our envy of those who have more than we have,
our obsession with creating a life of constant pleasure,
our indifference to the treasures of heaven,
our neglect of your wise and gracious law.
Help us to change our way of life
so that we may desire what is good,
love what you love,
and do what you command,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
SONG –
“O Come O Come Emmanuel” by John Mason Neale and Thomas Helmore
ASSURANCE OF PARDON – Matthew 11: 28-30
And now, having confessed our sins before the Lord,
Let’s receive our Savior’s response when he speaks to us in Matt. 11:28-30:
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me,
for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Jesus Christ our Lord is a merciful king.
And he is willing to give rest to any sinner who turns to him in faith.
Let’s continue to sing this morning!
SONG –
“Jesus I Come” by George Coles Stebbins and William True Sleeper
PRAYER
(congregation sits)
KIDS’ CORNER
Available for children ages 0-5
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – Nicene Creed
(everyone read aloud)
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of the Father before all worlds;
God of God, Light of Light,
very God of very God;
begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father,
by whom all things were made;
who for us and for our salvation,
came down from heaven,
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary,
and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered and was buried;
and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures,
and ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father;
and He shall come again,
with glory, to judge both the living and the dead;
whose kingdom shall have no end.
And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of Life;
who proceeds from the Father and the Son;
who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified;
who spoke by the prophets;
and we believe in one holy catholic* and apostolic church;
we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins;
and we look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
* “Catholic” means universal; that is, there is one church across all times, places, and peoples.
SCRIPTURE READING – Joshua 11:1-23 Please announce the page number in the pew Bibles in the back. Instruct the congregation to stand. End with “This is the Word of the Lord.”
(congregation stands)
When Jabin, king of Hazor, heard of this, he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph, and to the kings who were in the northern hill country, and in the Arabah south of Chinneroth, and in the lowland, and in Naphoth-dor on the west, to the Canaanites in the east and the west, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, and the Jebusites in the hill country, and the Hivites under Hermon in the land of Mizpah. And they came out with all their troops, a great horde, in number like the sand that is on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots.And all these kings joined their forces and came and encamped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel.
And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for tomorrow at this time I will give over all of them, slain, to Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.” So Joshua and all his warriors came suddenly against them by the waters of Merom and fell upon them. And the Lord gave them into the hand of Israel, who struck them and chased them as far as Great Sidon and Misrephoth-maim, and eastward as far as the Valley of Mizpeh. And they struck them until he left none remaining. And Joshua did to them just as the Lord said to him: he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire.
And Joshua turned back at that time and captured Hazor and struck its king with the sword, for Hazor formerly was the head of all those kingdoms. And they struck with the sword all who were in it, devoting them to destruction;there was none left that breathed. And he burned Hazor with fire. And all the cities of those kings, and all their kings, Joshua captured, and struck them with the edge of the sword, devoting them to destruction, just as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded. But none of the cities that stood on mounds did Israel burn, except Hazor alone; that Joshua burned. And all the spoil of these cities and the livestock, the people of Israel took for their plunder. But every person they struck with the edge of the sword until they had destroyed them, and they did not leave any who breathed. Just as the Lord had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did. He left nothing undone of all that the Lord had commanded Moses.
So Joshua took all that land, the hill country and all the Negeb and all the land of Goshen and the lowland and the Arabah and the hill country of Israel and its lowland from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir, as far as Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. And he captured all their kings and struck them and put them to death. Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. There was not a city that made peace with the people of Israel except the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon. They took them all in battle. For it was the Lord’s doing to harden their hearts that they should come against Israel in battle, in order that they should be devoted to destruction and should receive no mercy but be destroyed, just as the Lordcommanded Moses.
And Joshua came at that time and cut off the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua devoted them to destruction with their cities. There was none of the Anakim left in the land of the people of Israel. Only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod did some remain. So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had spoken to Moses. And Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allotments. And the land had rest from war.
Reader: “This is the Word of the Lord.”
Congregation: “Thanks be to God.”
SERMON
(congregation sits)
SONG –
“O Church Arise” by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
LORD’S TABLE
OFFERING
(congregation stands)
SONG –
“Hark the Herald Angels Sing” by Charles Wesley and Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
BENEDICTION & ANNOUNCEMENTS (Why of the Week)
POSTLUDE –
“Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” by Robbie Seay Band
PRELUDE –
“O Come O Come Emmanuel” by Future of Forestry
CALL TO WORSHIP – Luke 2:10-14
In Luke 2:10-14 an angel appeared to shepherds watching their flock at night.
The angel declared:
“‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
‘Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’”
Let’s stand and sing for Christ our savior has come to bring peace to his people!
(congregation stands)
SONG –
“O Come All Ye Faithful” by C. Frederick Oakeley and John Francis Wade
CONFESSION OF SIN – Psalm 2:10-12
“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.”
In the Old Testament, the coming of the Messiah served both as a comfort to the afflicted and a warning to the wicked. Jesus Christ is a just king, and those who choose to stand in rebellion against his kingdom will endure his righteous wrath. But for those of us who humbly repent of our sins and turn to him in faith, we will find in Christ a merciful refuge for our soul.
Let’s take some time now to silently repent of our sins and turn to Christ this morning for his merciful refuge.
(moment of silence)
ASSURANCE OF PARDON – Colossians 1:13-14
To those who humbly repent of their sins and turn to Christ for refuge this morning, the Scriptures assure us when they state in Colossians 1:13-14:
“[God] has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God the Father has delivered his people from darkness and has given us a home in his heavenly kingdom.
Let’s continue to sing for the Lord still works to bring his people home with him!
SONGS –
“How Deep the Father’s Love” by Stuart Townend
PRAYER
(congregation sits)
KIDS’ CORNER
Available for children ages 0-5
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – Nicene Creed
(everyone read aloud)
We believe in one God,
the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of the Father before all worlds;
God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God;
begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father,
by whom all things were made.
Who, for us men for our salvation,
came down from heaven,
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary,
and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered and was buried;
and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures;
and ascended into heaven,
and sits on the right hand of the Father;
and He shall come again, with glory,
to judge the quick and the dead;
whose kingdom shall have no end.
And we believe in the Holy Ghost,
the Lord and Giver of Life;
who proceeds from the Father and the Son;
who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified;
who spoke by the prophets.
And we believe one holy catholic* and apostolic Church.
we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins;
and we look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
* “Catholic” means universal; that is, there is one church across all times, places, and peoples.
SCRIPTURE READING – Joshua 10:1-43 Please announce the page number in the pew Bibles in the back. Instruct the congregation to stand. End with “This is the Word of the Lord.”
(congregation stands)
As soon as Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, heard how Joshua had captured Ai and had devoted it to destruction, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them, he feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were warriors. So Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, to Piram king of Jarmuth, to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying, “Come up to me and help me, and let us strike Gibeon. For it has made peace with Joshua and with the people of Israel.”Then the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered their forces and went up with all their armies and encamped against Gibeon and made war against it.
And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, “Do not relax your hand from your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country are gathered against us.” So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.” So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal. And the Lord threw them into a panic before Israel, who struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the Lord threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword.
At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,
“Sun, stand still at Gibeon,
and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”
And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.
Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.
So Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.
These five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah. And it was told to Joshua, “The five kings have been found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah.” And Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave and set men by it to guard them, but do not stay there yourselves. Pursue your enemies; attack their rear guard. Do not let them enter their cities, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.” When Joshua and the sons of Israel had finished striking them with a great blow until they were wiped out, and when the remnant that remained of them had entered into the fortified cities, then all the people returned safe to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah. Not a man moved his tongue against any of the people of Israel.
Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me from the cave.” And they did so, and brought those five kings out to him from the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. And when they brought those kings out to Joshua, Joshua summoned all the men of Israel and said to the chiefs of the men of war who had gone with him, “Come near; put your feet on the necks of these kings.” Then they came near and put their feet on their necks. And Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous. For thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.” And afterward Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he hanged them on five trees. And they hung on the trees until evening. But at the time of the going down of the sun, Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and they set large stones against the mouth of the cave, which remain to this very day.
As for Makkedah, Joshua captured it on that day and struck it, and its king, with the edge of the sword. He devoted to destruction every person in it; he left none remaining. And he did to the king of Makkedah just as he had done to the king of Jericho.
Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against Libnah. And the Lord gave it also and its king into the hand of Israel. And he struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it; he left none remaining in it. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.
Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Libnah to Lachish and laid siege to it and fought against it. And the Lord gave Lachish into the hand of Israel, and he captured it on the second day and struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it, as he had done to Libnah.
Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish. And Joshua struck him and his people, until he left none remaining.
Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Lachish to Eglon. And they laid siege to it and fought against it. And they captured it on that day, and struck it with the edge of the sword. And he devoted every person in it to destruction that day, as he had done to Lachish.
Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron. And they fought against it and captured it and struck it with the edge of the sword, and its king and its towns, and every person in it. He left none remaining, as he had done to Eglon, and devoted it to destruction and every person in it.
Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned back to Debir and fought against it and he captured it with its king and all its towns. And they struck them with the edge of the sword and devoted to destruction every person in it; he left none remaining. Just as he had done to Hebron and to Libnah and its king, so he did to Debir and to its king.
So Joshua struck the whole land, the hill country and the Negeb and the lowland and the slopes, and all their kings. He left none remaining, but devoted to destruction all that breathed, just as the Lord God of Israel commanded. And Joshua struck them from Kadesh-barnea as far as Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, as far as Gibeon. And Joshua captured all these kings and their land at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.
Reader: “This is the Word of the Lord.”
Congregation: “Thanks be to God.”
SERMON
(congregation sits)
SONG –
“Your Will Be Done” by Jonny Robinson and Rich Thompson
LORD’S TABLE
OFFERING (Why of the Week)
(congregation stands)
SONG –
“Angels We Have Heard On High” by Edward Shippen Barnes and James Chadwick
BENEDICTION & ANNOUNCEMENTS
POSTLUDE –
“Noel” by Chris Tomlin, Lauren Dagile
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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