Welcome, we’re glad you’re here. Our vision echoes the Lord’s prayer: may it be “in the South Bay, as it is in heaven.” We yearn to see people flourishing in Jesus. Join us in the worship of our Lord.
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP
And there was again war with the Philistines,
and Elhanan the son of Jair struck down
Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite,
the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
1 Chronicles 20:15
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.
1 Corinthians 1:28-29
“The essence of courage is facing your heart’s greatest nightmare and doing the right thing anyway.”
– Tim Keller
“I took my Power in my Hand ―
And went against the World ―
‘Twas not so much as David ― had ―
But I ― was twice as bold ―
I aimed by Pebble ― but Myself
Was all the one that fell ―
Was it Goliath ― was too large ―
Or was myself ― too small?”
― Emily Dickinson
“Smallness is subversive, because smallness can creep into smaller places and wreak transformation at the most vulnerable, cellular level. In a time when largeness is threatening to topple us, I wish to remember and praise the beauty of smallness, in order to banish the Goliath of loneliness.”
― Sarah Ruhl
WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP
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.
SONG
Lion and the Lamb
[Verse 1]
He’s coming on the clouds
kings and kingdoms will bow down
And every chain will break
as broken hearts declare His praise
for who can stop the Lord Almighty?
[Chorus]
Our God is the Lion, the Lion of Judah
He’s roaring with power and fighting our battles
And every knee will bow before Him
Our God is the Lamb
the Lamb that was slain
For the sins of the world
His blood breaks the chains
And every knee will bow
before the Lion and the Lamb
Oh every knee will bow before Him
[Verse 2]
So open up the gates
make way before the King of kings
The God who comes to save
is here to set the captives free
for who can stop the Lord Almighty?
[Chorus]
[Bridge] (x4)
Who can stop the Lord Almighty?
[Chorus]
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 the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines. And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him. He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” And the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.” When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
1 Samuel 17:1-11
SONG
Jesus Shall Reign
[Verse 1]
Jesus shall reign wherever the sun
Does its successive journeys run
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore
‘Til sun shall rise and set no more
[Verse 2]
Blessings abound wherever He reigns
The prisoner leaps to loose his chains
The weary find eternal rest
And all the sons of want are blessed
[Chorus]
To our King be highest praise
Rising through eternal days
Just and faithful, He shall reign
Jesus shall reign
[Verse 3]
People and realms of every tongue
Dwell on His love with sweetest song
And infant voices shall proclaim
Their early blessings on His name
[Chorus]
[Verse 4]
Let every creature rise and bring
Blessing and honor to our King
Angels descend with songs again
And Earth repeats the loud “Amen!”
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Community Group: Check out our list of active CG’s on our website here. Community groups are a great way to get more deeply connected to God’s Word and to one another. We have several groups that meet weekly throughout the South Bay. Everyone is invited to join. Email Jeff Kyle with any questions and to sign up. CG’s will resume meeting next month.
Donations for LA Fire victims: To help those in need due to the devastating fires, Johnny Park will be collecting donations of supplies and other items. You can drop off donations at church, beginning this Sunday through Feb.23. May the Lord use these gifts to show his generosity and give comfort.
OFFERTORY
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
“Man in the Middle”
32 And David said to Saul,
“Let no man’s heart fail because of him.
Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”
33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go
against this Philistine to fight with him,
for you are but a youth,
and he has been a man of war from his youth.”
34 But David said to Saul,
“Your servant used to keep sheep for his father.
And when there came a lion, or a bear,
and took a lamb from the flock,
35 I went after him and struck him
and delivered it out of his mouth.
And if he arose against me, I caught him
by his beard and struck him and killed him.
36 Your servant has struck down
both lions and bears,
and this uncircumcised Philistine
shall be like one of them,
for he has defied the armies of the living God.”
37 And David said, “The Lord who delivered me
from the paw of the lion and
from the paw of the bear
will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”
And Saul said to David,
“Go, and the Lord be with you!”
38 Then Saul clothed David with his armor.
He put a helmet of bronze on his head
and clothed him with a coat of mail,
39 and David strapped his sword over his armor.
And he tried in vain to go,
for he had not tested them.
Then David said to Saul,
“I cannot go with these,
for I have not tested them.”
So David put them off.
40 Then he took his staff in his hand
and chose five smooth stones from the brook
and put them in his shepherd’s pouch.
His sling was in his hand,
and he approached the Philistine.
41 And the Philistine moved forward
and came near to David,
with his shield-bearer in front of him.
42 And when the Philistine looked and saw David,
he disdained him, for he was but a youth,
ruddy and handsome in appearance.
43 And the Philistine said to David,
“Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?”
And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
44 The Philistine said to David, “Come to me,
and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air
and to the beasts of the field.”
45 Then David said to the Philistine,
“You come to me with a sword
and with a spear and with a javelin,
but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts,
the God of the armies of Israel,
whom you have defied.
46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand,
and I will strike you down and cut off your head.
And I will give the dead bodies of the host
of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air
and to the wild beasts of the earth,
that all the earth may know that
there is a God in Israel,
47 and that all this assembly may know
that the Lord saves not with sword and spear.
For the battle is the Lord’s,
and he will give you into our hand.”
48 When the Philistine arose and came
and drew near to meet David,
David ran quickly toward the battle line
to meet the Philistine.
49 And David put his hand in his bag
and took out a stone and slung it
and struck the Philistine on his forehead.
The stone sank into his forehead,
and he fell on his face to the ground.
50 So David prevailed over the Philistine
with a sling and with a stone,
and struck the Philistine and killed him.
There was no sword in the hand of David.
51 Then David ran and stood over the Philistine
and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath
and killed him and cut off his head with it.
When the Philistines saw that
their champion was dead, they fled.
1 Samuel 17:32-51 (ESV)
SONG
Lead on O King Eternal
[Verse 1]
Lead on, O King Eternal
‘Til sin’s fierce war shall cease
And holiness shall whisper
The sweet amen of peace
[Verse 2]
For not with swords loud clashing
Nor roll of stirring drums
But deeds of love and mercy
The heavenly kingdom comes
[Chorus]
Let Your kingdom come
And Your will be done
Right here on the earth
Like it is in heaven
[Verse 3]
Lead on, O King Eternal
We follow not with fears
For gladness breaks like morning
Wherever Thy face appears
[Chorus]
[Verse 4]
Thy cross is lifted o’er us
We journey in its light
We follow as You guide us
Lead on, O God of might
[Chorus]
BENEDICTION
Fix your eyes upon Jesus,
the founder and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before him
endured the cross, despising the shame,
and is seated at the right hand
of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured from sinners
such hostility against himself,
so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
Hebrews 12:2-3
CONNECTION
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