July 2, 2023 10AM

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

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
Proverbs 28:13

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven — for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”
Luke 7:47-49

Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.
2 Corinthians 2:5-8

“The hardness of God is kinder than the softness of men.”
– CS Lewis

“Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our Church. Cheap grace means… the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance… grace without discipleship, grace without the cross… Those who try to use grace as a dispensation from following Christ are simply deceiving themselves… We confess that although our Church is orthodox as far as her doctrine of grace is concerned, we are no longer sure that we are members of a church which follows its Lord.”
– Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“The only words that ever satisfied me as describing Nature are the terms used in fairy book, “charm,” “spell,” “enchantment.” …I left the fairy tales lying on the floor of the nursery, and I have not found any books so sensible since… it has taken me a long time to find out that the modern world is wrong and my nurse was right… this world is a wild and startling place.”
– G.K. Chesterton

“Each in the cell of himself is almost convinced of his freedom.”
– W.H. Auden

WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
    and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Psalm 32:1-2

SONG

Only a Holy God

[Verse 1]
Who else commands all the hosts of heaven
Who else could make every king bow down
Who else could whisper and darkness trembles
Only a Holy God

[Verse 2]
What other beauty demands such praises
What other splendor outshines the sun
What other majesty rules with justice
Only a Holy God

[Chorus]
Come and behold Him
The One and the Only
Cry out, sing holy
Forever a Holy God
Come and worship the Holy God

[Verse 3]
What other glory consumes like fire
What other power can raise the dead
What other name remains undefeated
Only a Holy God

[Chorus]

[Verse 4]
Who else could rescue me from my failing
Who else would offer His only Son
Who else invites me to call Him Father
Only a Holy God
Only my Holy God

[Chorus]

SONG

How Deep the Father’s Love For Us

[Verse 1]
How deep the Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He would give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

[Verse 2]
Behold the man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

[Verse 3]
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Summer Nights – Join tonight (7/2) to watch the sunset. We’ll meet at Avenue I on the Esplanade. The actual event is scheduled to happen at 8:09pm, but plan to show up at 7:30 so we can spend more time together. Hope to see you there.

Promotion Sunday – Next Sunday, July 9th, our children and youth ministries will be promoting all of the grades. Also in the worship service that day, we’ll recognize our graduates and talk more about our heart and vision for kids and students at King’s Cross.

Generous Justice, A Book Study – July 30, August 6, 13 and 20 from 12:30-2pm. Bring your own lunch. We’ll meet at Entradero Park in Torrance on Sundays after church. Join us in reading and discussing “Generous Justice” by Tim Keller. These sessions will be led by Mike Sunu. For more information and to register, click HERE.

Vessel Youth Group Summer Retreat– Our youth group will be having their summer retreat on July 30-Aug 1. The theme for our retreat is “King of Kings.” We can’t wait to see what God has in store for our youth and we’re so excited to spend this time together, growing in His word and in fellowship with one another. Registration for the event can be found here. If you have any questions, contact Johnny Park. 

Thinking about the Fall – We’re planning to launch Fall community groups the first week of September, after Labor Day. We are seeking more group leaders, hosts, and teachers, who will gather others around sermon discussion questions or another biblical topic. If you might be willing to serve in this way, or if you have an idea you’d like to throw our way, contact Joe Brown or Jeff Kyle to talk about it. We look forward to what God will do among us in the Fall.

OFFERTORY

If you would like to give electronically, you may do so using the “Giving” tab at the bottom-right corner of the mobile app. There are also white baskets in the back of our worship space, where you can give via check, made out to King’s Cross Church, or cash.

SERMON
“Which Is Easier?”

And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — he said to the paralytic — “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Mark 2:1-12

COMMUNION

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