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.
- Our Nursery has been temporarily relocated for the next two weeks due to the school’s production materials backstage. Parents, please look for the sign across the small parking lot in the area where the Children’s Ministry meets. Thank you for your understanding.
- 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.
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP
Behold, he comes up like clouds;
his chariots like the whirlwind;
his horses are swifter than eagles—
woe to us, for we are ruined!
Jeremiah 4:13
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Philippians 2:3
And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
2 Timothy 2:2
“He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.”
– Aristotle
“A leader. . .is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind.”
– Nelson Mandela
“If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader.”
– Dolly Parton
WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP
Psalm 27:4-6
One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire in his temple.
For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.
For And now my head shall be lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
SONG
Yes I Will
[Verse]
I count on one thing
The same God that never fails
Will not fail me now
You won’t fail me now
In the waiting
The same God who’s never late
Is working all things out
You’re working all things out
[Chorus]
Yes I will, lift You high in the lowest valley
Yes I will, bless Your name
Yes I will, sing for joy when my heart is heavy
All my days, oh, yes I will
[Verse]
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
And I choose to praise
To glorify, glorify
The name of all names
That nothing can stand against
[Chorus]
© 2018 All Essential Music HBC Worship Music Jingram Music Publishing, Be Essential Songs, Upside Down Under, Hickory Bill Doc, So Essential Tunes. CCLI Lic # 20307629
SONG
You’ll Come
[Verse 1]
I have decided, I have resolved
To wait upon You Lord
My rock and Redeemer, shield and reward
I’ll wait upon You Lord
As surely as the sun will rise
You’ll come to us
Certain as the dawn appears
[Chorus]
You’ll come
Let Your glory fall as You respond to us
Spirit rain
Flood into our thirsty hearts again
You’ll come
You’ll come
[Verse 2]
We are not shaken, we are not moved
We wait upon You Lord
Mighty deliverer, triumph and truth
We wait upon You Lord
As surely as the sun will rise
You’ll come to us
Certain as Your word endures
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Chains be broken
Lives be healed
Eyes be opened
Christ is revealed
[Chorus]
© 2011 Hillsong Publishing. CCLI Lic # 20307629
SCRIPTURE READING
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
1 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses—6 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
SONG
In Christ Alone
[Verse 1]
In Christ alone, my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in all
here in the love of Christ I stand
[Verse 2]
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
here in the death of Christ I live
[Verse 3]
There in the ground, His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
[Verse 4]
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
‘Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
© 2001 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol Christian Music Publishing)
CCLI Lic # 20307629
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Election Results – Our entire slate of officers was elected by a significant majority last week. We will have both Spring & Fall training sessions (splitting this large group), but we hope to install these officers directly following their training. Let’s rejoice in God’s provision for our leadership, and look toward June to see our Spring set of officers officially installed.
Meet King’s Cross Church! Sunday, April 23, 2023 after church. For newer people to get to know our church and some leaders. In-person at Joe Brown’s house. Lunch will be included! REGISTER here.
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.
Song: Psalm 116 (I Love You Lord)
SERMON
Series – Elijah & Elisha: Fire and Mercy
Message: “Chariot of Fire”
2 Kings 2:1-18 (ESV)
1 Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he said, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”
4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 5 The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”
6 Then Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. 7 Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8 Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground.
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” 10 And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.”11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more.
Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13 And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.
15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him opposite them, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.16 And they said to him, “Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men. Please let them go and seek your master. It may be that the Spirit of the Lord has caught him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley.” And he said, “You shall not send.” 17 But when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, “Send.” They sent therefore fifty men. And for three days they sought him but did not find him. 18 And they came back to him while he was staying at Jericho, and he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”
SONG
Great Are You Lord/How He Loves
[Verse]
You give life, You are love
You bring light to the darkness
You give hope, You restore
Every heart that is broken
Great are You, Lord
[Chorus]
It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
We pour out our praise
It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise to You only
[Verse]
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
All the earth will shout Your praise
Our hearts will cry, these bones will sing
Great are You, Lord
[Verse]
And we are His portion and He is our prize
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking
So Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets
When I think about the way
[Chorus]
He loves us
Oh, how He loves us
Oh, how He loves us
Oh, how He loves
[Coda]
Oh, how He loves us, oh
Oh, how He loves us
How He loves us all
“Great Are You Lord” © 2012 Integrity’s Alleluia, Integrity’s Praise Music, Open Hands Music, So Essential Tunes. “How He Loves” © 2005 Integrity’s Hosanna Music. CCLI Lic # 20307629
BENEDICTION
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:3-6