May 7, 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.

Communion Elements: Please take and hold these – located near the entrance. Later in the service, we will partake together. Please ask for special gluten-free elements if you prefer. Otherwise, the elements today are not gluten-free due to sourcing delays.

PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP

Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.
Matthew 21:31b

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
Romans 11:6

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
James 4:6

“My sin was all the more incurable because I did not think myself a sinner.”
– Augustine

“I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am.”
– John Newton

“In the New Testament grace means God’s love in action towards men who merited the opposite of love. Grace means God moving heaven and earth to save sinners who could not lift a finger to save themselves.”
– J.I. Packer

“We need to remember we are saved by grace when we fail. But we need to remember it much more when we succeed.”
– Tim Keller

WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP

I will bless the Lord at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
    let the humble hear and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
    and let us exalt his name together!

Psalm 34:1-3

SONG

HIs Mercy is More

[Chorus]
Praise the Lord
His mercy is more
Stronger than darkness
New every morn’
Our sins they are many
His mercy is more

[Verse 1]
What love could remember
No wrongs we have done
Omniscient, all-knowing
He counts not their sum

Thrown into a sea
Without bottom or shore
Our sins they are many
His mercy is more

[Verse 2]
What patience would wait
As we constantly roam
What Father so tender
Is calling us home

He welcomes the weakest
The vilest the poor
Our sins they are many
His mercy is more

[Chorus]

[Verse 3]
What riches of kindness
He lavished on us
His blood was the payment
His life was the cost

We stood ‘neath a debt
We could never afford
Our sins they are many
His mercy is more

[Chorus]

SONG

Another in the Fire

[Verse 1]
There’s a grace when the heart is under fire
Another way when the walls are closing in
And when I look at the space between
Where I used to be and this reckoning
I know I will never be alone

[Chorus 1]
There was another in the fire
Standing next to me
There was another in the waters
Holding back the seas
And should I ever need reminding
Of how I’ve been set free
There is a cross that bears the burden
Where another died for me

There is another in the fire

[Verse 2]
All my debt left for dead beneath the waters
I’m no longer a slave to my sin anymore
And should I fall in the space between
What remains of me and this reckoning
Either way I won’t bow to the things of this world
And I know I will never be alone

[Chorus 2]
There is another in the fire
Standing next to me
There is another in the waters
Holding back the seas
And should I ever need reminding
What power has set me free
There is a grave that holds no body
Now that power lives in me

[Bridge]
I can see the light in the darkness
As the darkness bows to Him
I can hear the roar in the heavens
As the space between wears thin
I can feel the ground shake beneath us
As the prison walls cave in
Nothing stands between us
Nothing stands between us

[Verse 3]
There is no other name
But the Name of Jesus
He who was and still is
And will be through it all
So come what may in the space between
All the things unseen and this reckoning
I know I will never be alone

[Chorus 3]
There’ll be another in the fire
Standing next to me
There’ll be another in the waters
Holding back the seas
And should I ever need reminding
How good You’ve been to me
I’ll count the joy come every battle
‘Cause I know that’s where You’ll be

Abide With Me

[Verse 1]
Abide with me, fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens, Lord, with me abide
When other helpers fail and comforts flee
Help of the helpless, Oh, abide with me

[Verse 2]
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away
Change and decay in all around I see
O, Thou who changest not, abide with me

[Verse 3]
I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless
Ills have no weight and tears no bitterness
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me

[Verse 4]
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies
Heaven’s morning breaks, and Earth’s vain shadows flee
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me

In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me
Abide with me

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Summer Nights – If you check our mobile app, you’ll find that our “Summer Nights” schedule has been added – starting on Sunday, May 21st. Tap on the big graphic button, “Upcoming Events – See You Soon.” You can sort by category and choose “Summer Nights” to see the list. The app will be our one source for the latest information, as you’ll see that some details are still in development. Through it all, we want to create more opportunities to be together, especially with many of us traveling during the summer. We hope you can join us for these events when you are in town.

Bible Book Study: Daniel (Part II) in Hermosa. Fridays, 5/19, 6/2, and 6/16. 7:30pm-9pm. Led by Chris Lau. (Limit 15). At each session, we come prepared to share one observation, one question, and one application, which has led to some fruitful discussions. REGISTER here.

Bible Book Study: Women’s Accountability. Women attending Chris Lau’s Friday Bible Book Studies are invited to gather on the alternating weeks for accountability and prayer. Based on reflections from the prior week’s study. The next round will begin on Thursday, May 25th, 6:30pm-9pm in Torrance. Schedule to be discussed among participants. (Limit 10) 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.

SERMON

“Insulted by Grace”

2 Kings 5:1-27 (ESV)

¹ Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. ² Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife.³ She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” ⁴ So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.” ⁵ And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.”

So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. ⁶ And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.”⁷ And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.”

⁸ But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.” ⁹ So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house. ¹⁰ And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” ¹¹ But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. ¹² Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. ¹³ But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”¹⁴ So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

¹⁵ Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.” ¹⁶ But he said, “As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused. ¹⁷ Then Naaman said, “If not, please let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the Lord. ¹⁸ In this matter may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.” ¹⁹ He said to him, “Go in peace.”

But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance, ²⁰ Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” ²¹ So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?” ²² And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.’” ²³ And Naaman said, “Be pleased to accept two talents.” And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi. ²⁴ And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed. ²⁵ He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.” ²⁶ But he said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants? ²⁷ Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow.

COMMUNION

If you did not receive communion elements on your way in, raise your hand and someone will bring them to you. Please ask for special gluten-free elements if you prefer. Otherwise, the elements today are not gluten-free due to sourcing delays.

SONG

Cornerstone

[Verse 1]
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus name

[Chorus]
Christ alone, Cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Savior’s love
Through the storm, He is Lord
Lord of all

[Verse 2]
When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
My anchor holds within the veil

[Chorus]

[Verse 3]
When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless stand before the throne

[Chorus]

On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

BENEDICTION

Numbers 6:24-26