April 5, 2020
He Is My LIFE
Instructions for participating in at-home worship:
Readings and prayer are provided here as suggestions for your family to do together. Even though our church is not physically gathered together in one building, there is a unity in Christ that happens when we all read the same scriptures and say the same prayers separately in our homes. Know that as your family participates in this worship time in your home, you are joining many others doing exactly the same thing in their homes.
You may download and print this entire service BULLETIN as well as sermon NOTES for children from the Download Files section at the bottom of this page.
Call to Worship and Praise
Read God's Word Together
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, Gentle and riding on a donkey, And on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
— Matthew 21:1-9 (NIV)
Pray Together
Gracious God, having heard your Word, we thankfully remember the life of our Lord Jesus Christ on this earth. Yet we also acknowledge our failure to respond earnestly and faithfully to his witness. We often mistake Jesus for a mere earthly king, failing to see him as the ruler of all creation. We do not appreciate the depth of his passion and sacrifice on the cross. Even in this final week of Lent, we confess that we have not walked faithfully in the way of Jesus Christ. Forgive us, we pray.
Help us to contemplate again the way taken by our Savior: the false charges against him, the fear and flight of the disciples, the kiss of betrayal, the crown of thorns, the purple robe—and in such contemplation give us courage to face those times in our own lives when he received the same at our hands. Yet help us also remember that you have gone before us, so we look to you for compassion and forgiveness, knowing you are able to save. When we are weak, make us strong; when hurt and resentful, make us forgiving; when defeated and discouraged, make us hopeful. Keep us from asking for mercy without giving it ourselves, from praying for your kingdom but never working for it. In this week, deepen our faith by your matchless grace. Deepen the measure of our gratitude and Christian obedience. Move us, who have so much, to share with others who have so little. Guard and guide us through these days of meditation and remembrance in this week of reflection. Amen.
Message
Response
Audio only of message
Readings and prayer are provided here as suggestions for your family to do together. Even though our church is not physically gathered together in one building, there is a unity in Christ that happens when we all read the same scriptures and say the same prayers separately in our homes. Know that as your family participates in this worship time in your home, you are joining many others doing exactly the same thing in their homes.
You may download and print this entire service BULLETIN as well as sermon NOTES for children from the Download Files section at the bottom of this page.
Call to Worship and Praise
Read God's Word Together
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, Gentle and riding on a donkey, And on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
— Matthew 21:1-9 (NIV)
Pray Together
Gracious God, having heard your Word, we thankfully remember the life of our Lord Jesus Christ on this earth. Yet we also acknowledge our failure to respond earnestly and faithfully to his witness. We often mistake Jesus for a mere earthly king, failing to see him as the ruler of all creation. We do not appreciate the depth of his passion and sacrifice on the cross. Even in this final week of Lent, we confess that we have not walked faithfully in the way of Jesus Christ. Forgive us, we pray.
Help us to contemplate again the way taken by our Savior: the false charges against him, the fear and flight of the disciples, the kiss of betrayal, the crown of thorns, the purple robe—and in such contemplation give us courage to face those times in our own lives when he received the same at our hands. Yet help us also remember that you have gone before us, so we look to you for compassion and forgiveness, knowing you are able to save. When we are weak, make us strong; when hurt and resentful, make us forgiving; when defeated and discouraged, make us hopeful. Keep us from asking for mercy without giving it ourselves, from praying for your kingdom but never working for it. In this week, deepen our faith by your matchless grace. Deepen the measure of our gratitude and Christian obedience. Move us, who have so much, to share with others who have so little. Guard and guide us through these days of meditation and remembrance in this week of reflection. Amen.
Message
Response
Audio only of message
Bible Text: Psalm 134:1-3 | Preacher: Tom VanderPloeg | Series: A Song of Ascents | The blessing of God is highlighted in worship but is not confined to any one time or place; how does the blessing of God continue when the worshippers are dispersed and scattered?
Topics:
Lent, Palm Sunday