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.
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP
He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Hebrews 5;2
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17
And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. Ephesians 2:17
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
So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? John 6:30
And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Luke 7:13
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36
WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5
SONG
Good God
[Verse 1]
Be still my soul
Be still my soul
Be still and know my God is here
Be still my soul
Be still my soul
Be still and know my God is here
[Chorus]
All that I need to know is this
You are a good God
The Maker of Heaven calls me His
You are a good God
And Your heart beats in my chest
You are a good God
All that I have to do is rest
You are a good God
[Verse 2]
I won’t be afraid
I won’t be afraid
I won’t be afraid, my God is here
He will make a way
He will make a way
He will make a way, my God is here
[Chorus]
[Bridge 1]
You gave me Your eyes
You gave me Your heart
Your Spirit flows through my veins
[Bridge 2]
You gave me Your eyes
You gave me Your heart
You had a plan right from the start
I know who I am cause I know who You are
You are a good God
[Chorus]
SONG
Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me
[Verse 1]
What gift of grace is Jesus, my redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give
He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace
[Chorus 1]
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to His
Oh, how strange and divine, I can sing: All is mine!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
[Verse 2]
The night is dark but I am not forsaken
For by my side, the Savior He will stay
I labor on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need, His power is displayed
[Chorus 2]
To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley, He will lead
Oh, the night has been won, and I shall overcome
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
[Verse 3]
No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven
The future sure, the price it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And He was raised to overthrow the grave
[Chorus 3]
To this I hold, my sin has been defeated
Jesus now and ever is my plea
Oh, the chains are released, I can sing: I am free!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
[Verse 4]
With every breath, I long to follow Jesus
For He has said that He will bring me home
And day by day I know He will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne
[Chorus 4]
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat:
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!
SCRIPTURE READING
1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:1-12
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
[Chorus]
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
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Fall Groups – Please look over our growing list of Fall Community Groups. Pick one out, and let’s grow in Christ together.
Membership & Baptism – There are membership classes happening. Some of our youth have been learning about communion and our faith, while adults are considering the biblical notion of being “members” of his body. In the coming weeks, several of those folks will be coming to join our body officially during the service, including a baptism. If you (or a family member) have any interest, email Pastor Russ so we can include you in our next class.
Christmas: Outward-Facing – As the Christmas decorations go up in stores and homes (and they already are!), let’s prepare our heart to celebrate the Incarnation. A core value of our church is “outward-facing” because that is precisely who God has revealed himself to be. Advent – the coming of Christ – is an annual reminder that he came to us, and he will come again. That is the joy of Christmas. And it is also a great chance for us to embody that same outward-facing hope through inviting friends and neighbors to worship with us. With that in mind, here is a brief sketch of December, including several great opportunities to invite others:
- Dec.10: Children’s MinIstry singing in worship
- Dec.17: Lessons & Carols service
- Dec.24: Christmas Eve service
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GIVING UPDATE
Total 2023 Budget: $850,242
Actual Giving YTD: $571,986
_____________________________________
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
“What Do You Have?”
Mark 8:1-10
1 In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” 4 And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” 5 And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” 6 And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. 7 And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. 8 And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 9 And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. 10 And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
SONG
Is He Worthy?
[Verse 1]
Do you feel the world is broken? (We do)
Do you feel the shadows deepen? (We do)
But do you know that all the dark won’t stop the light from getting through? (We do)
Do you wish that you could see it all made new? (We do)
[Verse 2]
Is all creation groaning? (It is)
Is a new creation coming? (It is)
Is the glory of the Lord to be the light within our midst? (It is)
Is it good that we remind ourselves of this? (It is)
[Chorus]
Is anyone worthy? Is anyone whole?
Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?
The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave
He is David’s root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave
[Refrain 1]
Is He worthy? Is He worthy?
Of all blessing and honor and glory
Is He worthy of this?
He is
[Verse 3]
Does the Father truly love us? (He does)
Does the Spirit move among us? (He does)
And does Jesus, our Messiah hold forever those He loves? (He does)
Does our God intend to dwell again with us? (He does)
[Chorus]
Is anyone worthy? Is anyone whole?
Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?
The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave
He is David’s root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave
[Bridge]
From every people and tribe
Every nation and tongue
He has made us a kingdom and priests to God
To reign with the Son
[Refrain 2]
Is He worthy? Is He worthy?
Of all blessing and honor and glory
Is He worthy? Is He worthy?
Is He worthy of this?
He is!
Is He worthy? Is He worthy?
He is!
He is!
BENEDICTION
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
James 1:22–25