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. If you want to give online you can do so HERE.
Communion Elements: Please take and hold these – located near the entrance. Later in the service, we will partake together.
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP
You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great.
Psalm 18:35
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
Psalm 46:6
10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.
Isaiah 40:10-11
“If we have not quiet in our minds, outward comfort will do no more for us than a golden slipper on a gouty foot.”
– John Bunyan
WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP
Psalm 99:1-3
1 The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble!
He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
2 The Lord is great in Zion;
he is exalted over all the peoples.
3 Let them praise your great and awesome name!
Holy is he!
SONG
Great Things
Come let us worship our King
Come let us bow at His feet
He has done great things
See what our Savior has done
See how His love overcomes
And I know You will do it again
For Your promise is yes and amen
You do great things
He has done great things
He has done great things
O Hero of Heaven
You conquered the grave
You free every captive
and break every chain
O God, You have done great things
We dance in Your freedom
Awake and alive
O Jesus our Savior
Your name lifted high
O God, You have done great things
You’ve been faithful through every storm
You’ll be faithful forevermore
You have done great things
God You do great things
Hallelujah God above it all
Hallelujah God unshakable
Hallelujah You have done great things
You have done great things
You have done great things
SONG
Softly And Tenderly
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling
Calling for you and for me
See on the portals He’s waiting and watching
Watching for you and for me
Come home come home
Ye who are weary come home
Earnestly tenderly Jesus is calling
Calling O sinner come home
Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading
Pleading for you and for me
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies
Mercies for you and for me
O for the wonderful love He has promised
Promised for you and for me
Though we have sinned He has mercy and pardon
Pardon for you and for me
SCRIPTURE READING
Luke 9:28-36
28 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.
SONG
Give Me Faith
I need You to soften my heart
And break me apart
I need You to open my eyes
To see that You’re shaping my life
All I am
I surrender
Give me faith to trust what You say
That You’re good and Your love is great
I’m broken inside I give You my life
I need You to soften my heart
And break me apart
I need You to pierce through the dark
And cleanse every part of me
‘Cause I may be weak
But Your Spirit’s strong in me
My flesh may fail
My God You never will
(REPEAT)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Men’s Ministry Faith + Work – Join Steve Lindsey this Thursday, March 9th as he leads a dialogue about the role of our work in God’s biblical plan. This is a seminar about how your work itself is an expression of our faith. It is a way that God is providentially building His Kingdom through your daily labor – but how might you experience that practically? Register here and join us.
Sunday AM Study on Forgiveness – Jeremy Williamson will lead an 8:30am Sunday morning study with Tim Keller’s “Forgive” book. The study will be held here on-site at West High, on March 12, 19, 26, and April 2. Please register HERE. You will need to seek out and purchase your own copy of the book in advance. Childcare is available, but please let us know of that need.
Bible Study on Daniel – Chris Lau is starting a new Bible Study in the book of Daniel on Friday, March 24th. There are three weeks in March and April, and then the second part of this study will resume in May and June. You can receive more information here and register. Space is limited.
Thank you for the nominations – Our elders spent time this last week prayerfully discussing all of our nominations for officers. We received a large number, and that’s very encouraging, but also presents a challenge for our training schedule. As a result, the elders have decided to stagger the training after the election – giving the choice of Spring or Fall for new officers to be trained. We are moving the election itself sooner in order to accommodate this needed change. The election will be held on Sunday, March 19th.
OFFERTORY
If you would like to give electronically, you may do so HERE. There are white baskets in the back of our worship space, where you can give via cash or check.
SERMON
Series – Elijah & Elisha: Fire and Mercy
Message: “The God Who Whispers”
1 Kings 18:45 – 19:18 (ESV)
45 And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. 46 And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
1 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.”6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again.7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 15 And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
COMMUNION
If you did not receive communion elements on your way in, raise your hand and someone will bring them to you. ALL of the elements are gluten-free.
SONG
How Great Is Our God w/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
Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the End
Beginning and the End
The Godhead three in one
Father Spirit Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb
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
Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God
[Repeat]
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
Praise Father Son and Holy Ghost
Amen
BENEDICTION
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. …
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalm 46:1-3,10-11