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
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
“To follow the call of God is therefore to live before the heart of God.”
– Os Guinness
“How much larger your life would be, if your self could be smaller in it.”
– G.K. Chesterton
WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3
SONG
Doxology
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost
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
Blessed Assurance
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of his Spirit, washed in his blood
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
Perfect communion, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight.
Angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love. [Refrain]
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
Perfect submission, all is at rest
I in my Savior am happy and bless’d
watching and waiting, looking above
filled with his goodness, lost in his love
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
SCRIPTURE READING
16 If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy,
so is the whole lump,
and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 But if some of the branches were broken off,
and you, although a wild olive shoot,
were grafted in among the others and now share
in the nourishing root of the olive tree,
18 do not be arrogant toward the branches.
If you are,
remember it is not you who support the root,
but the root that supports you.
19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off
so that I might be grafted in.”
20 That is true.
They were broken off because of their unbelief,
but you stand fast through faith.
So do not become proud, but fear.
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches,
neither will he spare you.
22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God:
severity toward those who have fallen,
but God’s kindness to you,
provided you continue in his kindness.
Otherwise you too will be cut off.
23 And even they,
if they do not continue in their unbelief,
will be grafted in,
for God has the power to graft them in again.
24 For if you were cut
from what is by nature a wild olive tree,
and grafted, contrary to nature,
into a cultivated olive tree,
how much more will these, the natural branches,
be grafted back into their own olive tree.
Rom.11:16-24
SONG
All Glory Be To Christ
[Verse 1]
Should nothing of our efforts stand
No legacy survive
Unless the Lord does raise the house
In vain its builders strive
To you who boast tomorrow’s gain
Tell me, what is your life?
A mist that vanishes at dawn
All glory be to Christ
[Chorus]
All glory be to Christ our king
All glory be to Christ
His rule and reign we’ll ever sing
All glory be to Christ
[Verse 2]
His will be done, His kingdom come
On earth as is above
Who is Himself our daily bread
Praise Him, the Lord of love
Let living water satisfy
The thirsty without price
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet
All glory be to Christ
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
When on the day the great I am
The faithful and the true
The Lamb, who was for sinners, slain
Is making all things new
Behold our God shall live with us
And be our steadfast light
And we shall e’er his people be
All glory be to Christ
[Chorus]
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Children’s Ministry update (Jan.4-5)
The Children’s Ministry search team is excited to share that our candidate for CM Director, Kirsty Moon, will be visiting with us the weekend of January 5. She will be teaching one of our children’s classes that Sunday. Also, for families that would like the opportunity to meet Kirsty outside of church, we will be having a Park Play Date on Saturday, Jan. 4th, at La Romeria Park in Torrance from 9:30am-12pm. We hope you’ll come and meet her.
Gospel of John Bible Study (begins Jan.10)
Chris Lau will be starting a 6 week bible study through the Gospel of John on Friday, Jan. 10th.Everyone is invited. We will be meeting every other Friday from 7:30-9pm. Read the details and signup here.
Year End Giving
As we enter the final week of 2024, we want to thank you all for your faithful financial support of King’s Cross Church. For those considering year end gifts, please keep in mind that checks must be postmarked by December 31, 2024. Giving statements will be emailed in January. Let’s praise the Lord for all that He provides for our church.
OFFERTORY
________________________________
MONTHLY FINANCIAL UPDATE
After November 2024
YTD 2024 Projected Giving: $621,250
YTD 2024 Actual Giving: $593,053
________________________________
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
“How to Really Change”
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 15:1-11 (ESV)
SONG
Abide
[Verse 1]
For my waking breath
For my daily bread
I depend on You
I depend on You
For the sun to rise
For my sleep at night
I depend on You
I depend on You
[Chorus]
You’re the way the truth and the life
You’re the well that never runs dry
I’m the branch and You are the vine
Draw me close and teach me to abide
[Verse 2]
Where the Spirit leads
As I’m following
I depend on You
I depend on You
For the victories
Still in front of me
I dеpend on You
I depend on You
[Chorus 2]
You’rе the way the truth and the life
You’re the well that never runs dry
I’m the branch and You are the vine
Draw me close and teach me to abide
Be my strength my song in the night
Be my all my treasure my prize
I am Yours forever Your mine
Draw me close and teach me to abide
[Verse 3]
When I pass through death
As I enter rest
I depend on You
I depend on You
For eternal life
To be raised with Christ
I depend on You
I depend on You
[Chorus 2]
BENEDICTION
Therefore, since we are surrounded
by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us also lay aside every weight,
and sin which clings so closely,
and let us run with endurance
the race that is set before us,
looking to 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.
Hebrews 12:1-2
CONNECTION
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