Worship Resources for Sunday, September 20th
We encourage you to read and reflect on these scriptures, songs, notes, and prayers as we look forward to our time of worship together this coming Sunday.
Please print this guide or have it handy in digital format for use during the service.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Please join in on the bolded lines.
Let us reach out with heart and soul to the Lord.
O Lord, our God, in you we place our trust.
Let us ask the Lord to lead us.
Help us O Lord to find the paths we should take.
Lead us in Your truth O God,
And we shall rejoice in your love and goodness forever! Amen!
MUSIC: COME THOU FOUNT
CCLI #3630228 | David Crowder, Robert Robinson, and John Wyeth © 2002
Performed by Emmaus Road Worship Team
CONFESSIONAL PRAYER
Please join in on the bolded lines.
God of mercy, hear the prayers of your thirsting people. For every time we have attributed your miracles in our lives to our own hands alone,
Forgive us, we pray.
For every time we promised to trust you but turned to our own way when your response did not come soon enough or in the way we expected,
Grant us mercy, O God.
For the many opportunities to extend forgiveness that we have refused,
Show us what it means to love, again, dear Lord.
For each way we put our own understandings above your wisdom, for each time we resist your command to be reconciled with those who believe differently from us,
Direct us in the way of peace, we pray.
For our silent sins, our quiet acts of violence, and our indifference to the suffering round us,
Forgive us, Loving One, and quench our thirst with your grace; Remake us into vessels of tenderness and compassion. For Christ’s sake we pray. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
You are invited to hold your hands out, palm-up as we receive His grace.
The Lord has indeed done great things for us,
as ‘our righteousness is one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith.’
The good news therefore is this:
In Jesus Christ we are accepted,
we are loved, we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God!
All: Thanks be to God
MUSIC: KING OF KINGS
CCLI #7098568 | Hillsong Worship © 2019
Performed by Emmaus Road Worship Team
WORD
Fruit of the Spirit: Joy
Philippians 3:4-14 (NRSV)
FALSE BASES OF JOY
- Achievement
The problem with achievement-based joy is this: Your joy is dependent upon upward momentum in life.
- Avoidance
The trouble with trying to find joy through avoiding pain is we simply can’t do this. Pain ALWAYS has a way of finding our lives.
TRUE BASES OF JOY
- “Recievement”
Philippians 3:4b-14 (NRSV)
The apostle Paul had achieved a lot and had all kinds of reasons to have confidence and joy based on achievement (he lists some of those in this passage).
He holds up all these things (achievement) and then holds up this one thing (knowing Christ) and says, “The one thing makes all the other things seem insignificant.”
For the Apostle Paul, his attitude shifted from achievement to “receivement.”
Joy is found is what we have received, not on what we have achieved. Gratitude is the posture of our hearts that recognizes all that we have received.
“Gratitude moves us away from the narrow-minded focus on fault and lack and to the wider perspective of benefit and abundance.” (The Book of Joy, pg. 242)
- Acceptance
There is a really interesting ancient Jewish literature called Ecclesiastes. When we read this poetry and wisdom, it offers us some really compelling things.
“Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” -Ecclesiastes 1:2
The word “meaningless” is the Hebrew word “hevel” which means “vapor.”
Life is like a vapor.
But then the wisdom takes an unexpected turn…
“Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this! 8 Wear fine clothes, with a splash of cologne! Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun.” -Ecclesiastes 9:7-9a
Joy does not come from avoidance or ignorance or naiveté.
Joy comes from fully entering into the fragility of it all because then you can learn to appreciate it.
TABLE
Prepare the elements of “bread” and “wine” for use as we gather around The Lord’s Table. These can be any items convenient around the home that symbolize these for you.
CONFESSION OF THE MYSTERY OF FAITH
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
As we pray together, we invite you to share your own requests and testimonies with us this week. If you have a request you can share it live in our video stream chat, or you may email us at emmausroadfc@gmail.com
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
and deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory for ever and ever.
Amen.
BENEDICTION
You are invited to hold your hands out, palm-up as we receive this benediction.
Go in the presence of the Righteous One.
May we count nothing of value above knowing Christ
and let nothing claim our devotion above the Lord.
May God’s perfect word revive your soul,
and may the Holy Spirit strengthen you as you press onward.
Amen.