Welcome to our worship guide! Below, you will find information to help you participate in this week’s gathering of the church.
To Give Financially, click here, or Text GIVE to 501-381-7788.
Thanks for participating in worship with us!
Worship Guide for Sunday, October 23:
SING PRAISE TO THE LORD:
CHRIST IS ALL
I’ve found a treasure that can’t be taken;
Found a well that won’t run dry!
O, worldly pleasure, be now forsaken!
Behold what love, what life is mine!
Christ is all! Christ is all!
And my song will ever be;
Christ is all, All in all!
And my song will ever be, Christ is all!
Could endless striving now make me righteous?
Could all my works now grant me hope?
Oh, Hallelujah, the blood of Jesus:
My only plea, my only boast!
Christ is all! Christ is all!
And my song will ever be;
Christ is all, All in all!
And my song will ever be, Christ is all!
And in the trial when storms are raging,
though tears may fall, my soul will rise!
For there’s a peace that is mine unchanging,
there is a joy that never dies!
Christ is all! Christ is all!
And my song will ever be;
Christ is all, All in all!
And my song will ever be, Christ is all!
When life is passing, and strength is fading,
I’ll see the One that I adore!
Let this world vanish, oh, give me Jesus!
My great desire, my true reward!
Christ is all! Christ is all!
And my song will ever be;
Christ is all, All in all!
And my song will ever be, Christ is all!
Words and Music by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa; ©2017 Getty Music Publishing (BMI) / Messenger Hymns (BMI) / Getty Music Hymns and Songs (ASCAP) / Love Your Enemies Publishing (ASCAP) / Adm by MusicServices.org
CALL TO WORSHIP: ”Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name… Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth” (1 Chronicles 16:28-30a ESV)
GREAT ARE YOU LORD
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!
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!
You were crushed on the cross,
for our sin you gave redemption
By your stripes we are healed,
in you every chain is broken
Great are you, Lord!
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!
All the earth will shout your praise,
Our hearts will cry, these bones will sing,
“Great are you, Lord!”
(Repeat)
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!
Words and Music by David Leonard, Jason Ingram, Leslie Jordan; ©2012 Integrity’s Alleluia! Music; Integrity’s Praise! Music; Open Hands Music; So Essential Tunes; Additional verse by Cary Cox ©2016 Indescribable Love Music
HOLD HIM HIGH
Before He spoke the Word
That laid the world’s foundation
He knew us as beloved and adored
Set apart in love to be His new creations
Oh, that we would find in Him our great reward;
Hold Him high, glorious Jesus Christ
Holiest Son of Man,
Worthy and lifted Lamb
Heaven’s exalted King
He is our righteousness
Light of the world in us
There is no brighter love
Hold Him high, glorious Jesus Christ!
The wonder of His will
Revealed in our redemption
It’s only by His blood that we’re made whole
For, He is the way, the truth, the life forever
On the praises of the church He is enthroned;
Hold Him high, glorious Jesus Christ
Holiest Son of Man,
Worthy and lifted Lamb
Heaven’s exalted King
He is our righteousness
Light of the world in us
There is no brighter love
Hold Him high, glorious Jesus Christ!
Holy, holy, God Almighty!
Awesome, eternal King and Christ!
Heaven and earth sing, “He is worthy!”
Lord over all, be lifted high!
(Repeat)
Holiest Son of Man,
Worthy and lifted Lamb
Heaven’s exalted King
He is our righteousness
Light of the world in us
There is no brighter love
Hold Him high, glorious Jesus Christ!
Words and Music by Brian Eichelberger, Mitch Wong, Zachary Bolen; © 2024 A Wong Made Write Publishing; Half/Alive; Integrity’s Praise! Music; Running Club Anthems
SCRIPTURE READING – MATTHEW 13:44-46
THE POWER OF THE CROSS
Oh, to see the dawn of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary
Tried by sinful men, torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood
This, the pow’r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath,
We stand forgiven at the cross!
Oh, to see the pain written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin
Ev’ry bitter thought, ev’ry evil deed,
Crowning Your bloodstained brow
This, the pow’r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath,
We stand forgiven at the cross!
Now the daylight flees; Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head
Curtain torn in two, dead are raised to life;
“Finished!” the vict’ry cry!
This, the pow’r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath,
We stand forgiven at the cross!
Oh, to see my name written in the wounds,
For, through Your suffering, I am free!
Death is crushed to death; life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love!
This, the pow’r of the cross:
Son of God, slain for us!
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross!
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend; © 2005 Thankyou Music
MEDLEY: I SURRENDER ALL/WHERE HE LEADS ME
All to Jesus I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live
I surrender all! I surrender all!
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all!
I can hear my Savior calling,
I can hear my Savior calling
I can hear my Savior calling,
‘Take thy cross and follow, follow Me’
Where He leads me I will follow,
Where He leads me I will follow
Where He leads me I will follow,
I’ll go with Him, with Him, all the way
I Surrender All: Words by Judson W. Van DeVenter; Music by Winfield S. Weeden, 1896; Public Domain;
Where He Leads Me: Words by E.W. Blandly (1890); Music by John Norris (1890); Public Domain
PASTORAL PRAYER
HEAR GOD’S WORD PROCLAIMED
SERMON (Cary Cox): “The Reason of the Cross” (Mark 8:34-9:1)
Review:
Read the Text: Mark 8:34-9:1
Trace Mark’s flow of thought in this passage:
I. The Announcement of the Cross (v31-33).
Jesus’ surprising announcement of his own suffering, followed by…
II. The Call to the Cross (v34).
Jesus’ equally surprising call for the disciples’ suffering.
Here, we have looked at:
1. The Necessity of the Cross.
The cross was not optional for Jesus, and it is not optional for his disciples.
2. The Mindset of the Cross.
The attitude of humble, selfless obedience and love that overflows into the action of cross-bearing.
Jesus’ mindset –
He calls us to this same mindset –
Self must get out of the way, so that we are free to love God and love others.
Flow of Thought: The flow of thought in this passage takes us from the Announcement of the idea of the cross, to the Call for us to take up our cross, in attitude and action, as followers of Jesus Christ. And now, in the rest of the passage, Jesus gives the explanation of WHY we must take up the cross in self-denial. Jesus gives us the Reason for the cross:
III. The Reason for the Cross (v35-9:1).
Jesus uses the word “for” (because) four times in this passage (a “conjunction of purpose,” giving Jesus’ reasons for calling his disciples to deny self and take up the cross – Edwards).
The Heart Behind the Call to the Cross – Notice that Jesus’ explanation for calling us to the cross is positive, not negative. Jesus’ intent is not to make us miserable, to suffer needlessly, or to punish us. All of the explanations in this passage are for our eternal good and joy!
What are Jesus’ reasons for calling us to the cross?
1. The Path of Salvation (v35).
Jesus calls us to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow him because this is the path of eternal salvation.
He speaks of losing our very soul, our life, or saving it –
Not earning salvation by bearing the cross, but faith displayed –
Jesus speaks of two paths here – (we either come follow Jesus in self-denial, or we say no and don’t)
(1) The first potential path is the path of self-preservation – these grip tightly to this earthly life and end up losing it.
(2) The second path is the path of self-denial – Whoever “loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.”
These are the ones who repent of sin, put their trust in Jesus, believe his gospel, and then prove it by a life of obedience to the Lordship of Jesus.
The paradox – we receive true life by giving ours away! But the more we cling to this earthly life, the more it slips away!
Who Does Jesus Think He Is to call us to give him our lives???
Jesus is putting himself in the place of God, speaking here as only God can speak!
Christ and the Gospel –
2. The Value of the Soul (v36-37).
Jesus calls us to this self-emptying embrace of the cross because of the incomparable value of the human life, or soul, which will be lost forever if we pursue this world and reject Jesus.
Two questions –
Commercial language –
See Psalm 49:7-9
Mat 13:45-46, Strauss
3. The Day of Judgment (v38).
Jesus calls us to deny self, take up the cross, and follow him, because to deny Jesus on earth will result in Jesus denying us at the final judgment!
Our desire to be liked by the world –
If we choose the world over Jesus, He will be ashamed of us at the final judgment!
Again – Who Does Jesus Think He Is to speak like this???
Jesus is speaking as if He is the final Judge of men (ESV note); again, he is speaking as only God can speak (Mat 7:21-23; John 5:22-23)!
4. The Coming Kingdom (9:1).
Finally, Jesus calls us to deny self, take up the cross, and follow him, because of the exceedingly great glory and power of the kingdom of God that we will share in on the other side of our suffering!
We have been talking mostly about the negative things Jesus predicted about himself – the rejection by Israel, the suffering, being killed…
But Jesus also predicted his resurrection in verse 31!
Those who follow Jesus into his self-denial and suffering will also follow Jesus into his glory!
Jesus’ veiled glory –
Jesus’ prediction – some standing around him at that time would not taste death until they saw this!
The most widely held interpretation of this – Peter, James, and John would see a glimpse of this glory unveiled at the transfiguration, which Mark connects to this passage. The other disciples would ‘taste death’ without seeing this (Cranfield/Strauss/France).
Glory Coming – The transfiguration was a sneak-peak at the glory that will be seen by all when the resurrected Christ comes again at the last day to judge the world and to set up his kingdom forever!
Jesus calls us to take up a cross, because, if we share in his suffering, we will also share with him in his glory (Rom 8:16-17)
Application:
Hear Jesus’ Call –
Count the Cost and Respond –
A Call to Suffering and then Glory –
Which Path Have You Chosen?
Who are you serving?
Are you ashamed of Christ?
Let us follow him, giving him our lives!
SING IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:
WHEREVER HE LEADS I’LL GO
“Take up thy cross and follow Me,”
I heard my Master say:
“I gave my life to ransom thee,
Surrender your all today”
Wherever He leads I’ll go!
Wherever He leads I’ll go!
I’ll follow my Christ who loves me so;
Wherever He leads I’ll go!
My heart, my life, my all I bring
to Christ who loves me so
He is my Master, Lord, and King;
wherever He leads I’ll go
Wherever He leads I’ll go!
Wherever He leads I’ll go!
I’ll follow my Christ who loves me so;
Wherever He leads I’ll go!
Words and Music by B.B. McKinney (Tune: FALLS CREEK); Public Domain
(Livestream Ends)
HEARING FROM THE BODY (Praises, Testimonies, Prayer Requests)
CORPORATE PRAYER
COMMUNION: The Bread and Cup
CLOSING SONG: THE 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!
Words by Thomas Ken, 1674; Tune – OLD HUNDREDTH – by Louis Bourgeois, 1551
