Sunday Jan. 19, 2025

Call to Worship

Daniel 1:18-21

18 At the end of the time that the king had set for them to be brought in, the palace master brought them into the presence of Nebuchadnezzar, 19 and the king spoke with them. Among them all, no one was found to compare with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they were stationed in the king’s court. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. 21 And Daniel continued there until the first year of King Cyrus.

Songs

All My Days- Psalm 23

Walk me by the quiet waters
Lay me down in Your green pastures
Be my shepherd, be my comfort in the valleys low
Lead me on the path that's narrow
Guide me through the darkest shadow
I will fear no evil, You are with me where I go

You're here, You prepare a table before me
You're here in the presence of my deepest pain
You're here and my cup is overflowing
'Cause all Your goodness and Your mercy follow me

All of my days, oh-oh, oh
All of my days, oh-oh, oh

You're here, You prepare a table before me
You're here in the presence of my deepest pain
You're here and my cup is overflowing
'Cause all Your goodness and Your mercy follow me

All of my days, oh-oh, oh
All of my days, oh-oh, oh

I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever
I won't want because You, You're my good shepherd
You restore my soul and my cup is overflowing
I will never walk alone for You are with me

All of my days, oh-oh, oh
All of my days, oh-oh, oh
All of my days, oh-oh, oh
All of my days, oh-oh, oh
All of my days

Where Can I Go- Psalm 139

Lord you have searched me and know me
You know when I sit and when I rise
You know when I go out
You know when I lay down at night

You're familiar with all of my ways, Lord
Before a word is ever on my tongue
You know it completely, Oh Lord
You hem me in both behind and before
It's too wonderful

Where can I go from your spirit
Where can I flee from your presence
If I go up to the heavens you are there
If I make my bed in the depths you are there
If I rise on the wings of the dawn
If I settle on the far side of the sea
Even there your hand will guide me
Even there your hand will guide me
Your right hand will hold me fast
Your right hand will hold me fast

If I say "Surely the darkness will hide me"
And the light become night all around me
Even then the darkness will not be dark to you
Yeah the night it will shine like the daytime
For the darkness is as light to you
For you created my inmost being
Knit together in my mother's womb
It's too wonderful

Seasons

Like the frost on a rose, winter comes for us all
Oh, how nature acquaints us with the nature of patience
Like a seed in the snow, I've been buried to grow
For Your promise is loyal, from seed to sequoia

Though the winter is long, even richer
The harvest it brings
Though my waiting prolongs even greater
Your promise for me like a seed
I believe that my season will come

Lord, I think of Your love like a low winter sun
And as I gaze, I am blinded in the light of Your brightness
And like a fire to the snow, I'm renewed in Your warmth
Melt the ice of this wild soul 'til the barren is beautiful

And though the winter is long, even richer
The harvest it brings
Though my waiting prolongs even greater
Your promise for me like a seed
I believe that my season will come

I can see the promise, I can see the future
You're the God of seasons, I'm just in the winter
If all I know of harvest is that it's worth my patience
Then if You're not done working, God, I'm not done waiting

You can see my promise even in the winter
'Cause You're the God of greatness even in a manger
For all I know of seasons is that You take Your time
You could have saved us in a second, instead, You sent a Child...

Though the winter is long, even richer
The harvest it brings
Though my waiting prolongs even greater
Your promise for me like a seed
I believe that my season will come
And when I finally see my tree
Still, I believe there's a season to come

Like a seed You were sown
For the sake of us all
From Bethlehem's soil
Grew Calvary's sequoia

Teaching: Faith in Exile: Daniel 1

Daniel 1

1 In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 The Lord gave King Jehoiakim of Judah into his power, as well as some of the vessels of the house of God. These he brought to the land of Shinar, and he placed the vessels in the treasury of his gods.

3 Then the king commanded his palace master Ashpenaz to bring some of the Israelites of the royal family and of the nobility: 4 young men without physical defect and handsome, versed in every branch of wisdom, endowed with knowledge and insight, and competent to serve in the king’s palace; they were to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans. 5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the royal rations of food and wine. They were to be educated for three years, so that at the end of that time they could be stationed in the king’s court.* 6 Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, from the tribe of Judah. 7 The palace master gave them other names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.*

8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine, so he asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself. 9 Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion from the palace master. 10 The palace master said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king; he has appointed your food and your drink. If he should see you in poorer condition than the other young men of your age, you would endanger my head with the king.” 11 Then Daniel asked the guard whom the palace master had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 12 “Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 You can then compare our appearance with the appearance of the young men who eat the royal rations and deal with your servants according to what you observe.” 14 So he agreed to this proposal and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days it was observed that they appeared better and fatter than all the young men who had been eating the royal rations. 16 So the guard continued to withdraw their royal rations and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables. 17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and wisdom; Daniel also had insight into all visions and dreams.*

Communion:

Head up to the front to take communion.
Return to your seat and reflect on the following questions:
- What is your fist sized rock of faith that you are holding on to?

Benediction:

As we live as exiles in the world,

may we work for the welfare of our city,

lifting all things to God in prayer.

While we may encounter trials and tribulations,

let us remember who we belong to and where our faith lies.

Living lives allegiant to Jesus,

obedient to his ways,

and hopeful for his renewal of all things.

“Now to him who is able to keep you from falling

and to make you stand without blemish

in the presence of his glory with rejoicing,

to the only God our Savior,

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

be glory, majesty, power, and authority,

before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25)

Jared KingJanuary 18, 2025