In consideration of others and as guests of West High School . . .
- Please silence your phone and watch.
- Name tags are a great start to a meaningful connection. Thanks for wearing one.
- If you’d like to give an offering, there are two baskets in the back or you can use the “Giving” tab at the bottom-right corner of the mobile app.
- Thank you for sitting close and singing loud. Let’s bring our full engagement and best attitude as we worship together.
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP
He came to his own,
and his own people did not receive him.
But to all who did receive him,
who believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God,
who were born — not of blood nor of the will
of the flesh nor of the will of man —
but of God.
John 1:11-13
In love he predestined us for adoption to himself
as sons through Jesus Christ,
according to the purpose of his will…
Ephesians 1:5
And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me,
and all that is mine is yours.
It was fitting to celebrate and be glad,
for this your brother was dead, and is alive;
he was lost, and is found.’”
Luke 15:31-32
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
John 14:18
“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.
Isaiah 49:15
“If I find in myself desires which nothing in this
world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is
that I was made for another world.”
– CS Lewis
“Yes, I’m adopted.
My folks were not blessed
With me in the usual way.
But they picked me,
They chose me
From all the rest,
Which is lots more than most kids can say.”
— Shel Silverstein, ‘Every Thing on It’
WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid? …
For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
but the Lord will take me in.
Psalm 27:1,10
SONG
Grace Alone
[Verse 1]
I was an orphan lost at the Fall
Running away when I’d hear Your call
Father, You worked Your will
I had no righteousness of my own
I had no right to draw near Your throne
Father, You loved me still
And in love before You laid
the world’s foundation
You predestined to adopt me
as Your own
You have raised me up so high
above my station
I’m a child of God by grace and grace alone
[Verse 2]
You left Your home to seek out the lost
You knew the great and terrible cost
Jesus, Your face was set
I worked my fingers down to the bone
Nothing I did could ever atone
Jesus, You paid my debt
By Your blood, I have redemption
and salvation
Lord, You died that I might reap
what You have sown
And You rose that I might be
a new creation
I am born again by grace and grace alone
[Verse 3]
I was in darkness all of my life
I never knew the day from the night
Spirit, You made me see
I swore I knew the way on my own
Head full of rocks, a heart made of stone
Spirit, You moved in me
At your touch my sleeping spirit
was awakened
On my darkened heart
the light of Christ has shone
Called into a kingdom
that cannot be shaken
Heaven’s citizen by grace and grace alone
So I’ll stand in faith by grace and grace alone
I will run the race by grace and grace alone
I will slay my sin by grace and grace alone
I will reach the end by grace and grace alone
SONG
Defender
[Verse 1]
You go before I know
That You’ve even gone to win my war
You come back with the head of my enemy
You come back and You call it my victory
[Verse 2]
You go before I know
That You’ve even gone to win my war
Your love becomes my greatest defense
It leads me from the dry wilderness
[Pre-Chorus]
And all I did was praise
And all I did was worship
And all I did was bow down
And all I did was stay still
[Chorus]
And hallelujah, You have saved me
So much better Your way
And hallelujah, Great Defender
So much better this way
[Verse 3]
You know before I do
Where my heart can seek to find Your truth
Your mercy is the shade I’m living in
You restore my faith and hope again
[Pre-Chorus]
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
When I thought I lost me, You knew where I left me
You reintroduced me to Your love
You picked up all my pieces, put me back together
You are the defender of my heart
[Chorus]
SCRIPTURE READING
Now before faith came,
we were held captive under the law, imprisoned
until the coming faith would be revealed.
So then, the law was our guardian until
Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.
But now that faith has come,
we are no longer under a guardian,
for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God,
through faith.
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ
have put on Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither slave nor free,
there is no male and female,
for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if you are Christ’s,
then you are Abraham’s offspring,
heirs according to promise.
Galatians 3:23-29
SONG
This is My Father’s World
[Verse 1]
This is my Father’s world
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres
This is my Father’s world
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas
His hand the wonders wrought
[Verse 2]
This is my Father’s world
The birds their carols raise
The morning light, the lily white
Declare their Maker’s praise
This is my Father’s world
He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass
He speaks to me everywhere
[Verse 3]
This is my Father’s world:
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong
God is the Ruler yet
This is my Father’s world
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King: let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let earth be glad!
[Coda]
This is my Father’s world
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King: let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let earth be glad!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Meet King’s Cross: Sunday, 9/22, 12pm. For all who want to learn more about our church, you’re invited to join us for a casual lunch at the Hightower’s. Please register so we can plan accordingly.
Men’s Basketball Fellowship: Friday, 9/27, 7:45pm-10pm. Fun, fellowship and basketball. Just a group of men finding another way to get to know each other. Feel free to invite a friend. Check out the details and register here.
Children’s Ministry Parents Prayer Class: Sunday, 10/13, 8:30am, we’ll share practical and helpful tips about the important ministry of praying for your children. Childcare and a light breakfast will be provided. Please register.
Jesse Tree: What is Jesse Tree? It is to prepare for Advent based off the messianic prophecy of Isaiah 11:1: “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.” For Advent this year we will use Jesse Tree devotionals — both for adults & children — to prepare us for the joy of Christmas. For those interested, there will be an optional ornament exchange. Visit here for more information or to register by October 6.
OFFERTORY
________________________________
MONTHLY FINANCIAL UPDATE
After AUGUST 2024
YTD 2024 Projected Giving: $434,950
YTD 2024 Actual Giving: $411,908
________________________________
If you would like to give electronically, you may do so here or in the mobile app, select “Giving” at the bottom-right corner in the app. If you would like to give via cash or check, to King’s Cross Church, there are white baskets in the back of our worship space.
SERMON
“An Orphan’s Life #1”
28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that
when he appears we may have confidence
and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.
29 If you know that he is righteous,
you may be sure that everyone who
practices righteousness has been born of him.
See what kind of love the Father has given to us,
that we should be called children of God;
and so we are!
The reason why the world does not know us
is that it did not know him.
2 Beloved, we are God’s children now,
and what we will be has not yet appeared;
but we know that when he appears
we shall be like him,
because we shall see him as he is.
3 And everyone who thus hopes in him
purifies himself as he is pure.
1 John 2:28-3:3 (ESV)
SONG
Who You Say I Am
[Verse 1]
Who am I that the highest King
Would welcome me
I was lost but He brought me in
Oh, His love for me
Oh, His love for me
[Chorus]
Who the Son sets free
Oh, is free indeed
I’m a child of God
Yes, I am
[Verse 2]
Free at last, He has ransomed me
His grace runs deep
While I was a slave to sin
Jesus died for me
Yes, He died for me
[Chorus]
Who the Son sets free
Oh, is free indeed
I’m a child of God
Yes, I am
In my Father’s house
There’s a place for me
I’m a child of God
Yes, I am
[Bridge]
I am chosen, not forsaken
I am who You say I am
You are for me, not against me
I am who You say I am
[Chorus]
BENEDICTION
And because you are sons,
God has sent the Spirit of his Son
into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
So you are no longer a slave, but a son,
and if a son, then an heir through God.
Galatians 4:6-7