Sunday March 9, 2025

Call to Worship

Matthew 28:18-20

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Songs

Set a Fire

Verse 1

No place I would rather be

Than here in Your love

Here in Your love

(REPEAT)

Chorus 1

(So) set a fire down in my soul

That I can't contain and I can't control

I want more of You God

(REPEAT)

Simple Gospel

I want to know You, Lord
Like I know a friend
I want to know You, Lord
I want to know You, Lord
Like I know a friend
I want to know You, Lord

So I'm laying down all my religion
I'm laying down
I want to know You, Lord
I'm laying down all my religion
I'm laying down
I want to know You, Lord

I used to think that I could box You in
But I'm laying down
I want to know You, Lord
I use to think that I could box You in
But I'm laying down
I want to know You, Lord

I'm laying down all my religion
I'm laying down
I want to know You, Lord
I'm laying down all my religion
I'm laying down
I want to know You, Lord
I want to know You, Lord

Lord, I've been told to be ashamed
Lord, I've been told I don't measure up
Lord, I've been told I'm not good enough
But You're here with me

And I reach out and You find me in the dust
You say no amount of untruths can separate us
I reach out, I reach out and You find me in the dust
And You say no amount of untruths can separate us
I reach out, oh, I reach out and You find me in the dust
And You say no amount of untruths can separate us, ooh

I will rejoice in the simple gospel
I will rejoice in You, Lord
I will rejoice in the simple gospel
I will rejoice in You, Lord
I will rejoice in the simple gospel
I will rejoice in You, Lord

And I reach out and You find me in the dust
You say no amount of untruths can separate us

I will rejoice, I will rejoice in the simple gospel
I will rejoice in You, Lord
I will rejoice in the simple gospel
And I will rejoice in You, Lord

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 7

Romans 8:19-23

“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God, 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its enslavement to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning together as it suffers together the pains of labor, 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.”

Daniel 7

“In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head as he lay in bed. Then he wrote down the dream: 2 I, Daniel, saw in my vision by night the four winds of heaven stirring up the great sea, 3 and four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then, as I watched, its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a human being, and a human mind was given to it. 5 Another beast appeared, a second one, that looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side, had three tusks in its mouth among its teeth, and was told, “Arise, devour many bodies!” 6 After this, as I watched, another appeared, like a leopard. The beast had four wings of a bird on its back and four heads, and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the visions by night a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth and was devouring, breaking in pieces, and stamping what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that preceded it, and it had ten horns. 8 I was considering the horns when another horn appeared, a little one that came up among them. Three of the original horns were plucked up from before it. There were eyes like human eyes in this horn and a mouth speaking arrogantly.

Judgment before the Ancient One 9 As I watched, thrones were set in place, and an Ancient One took his throne; his clothing was white as snow and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire.10 A stream of fire issued and flowed out from his presence. A thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him. The court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. 11 I watched then because of the noise of the arrogant words that the horn was speaking. And as I watched, the beast was put to death and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. 13 As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a “son of man” coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him.14 To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.”

Daniel 7

15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was troubled within me, and the visions of my head terrified me. 16 I approached one of the attendants to ask him the truth concerning all this. So he said that he would disclose to me the interpretation of the matter: 17 “As for these four great beasts, four kings shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever—forever and ever.”

19 Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet; 20 and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and concerning the other horn that came up and before which three others had fallen—the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke arrogantly and that seemed greater than the others. 21 As I looked, that horn made war with the holy ones and was prevailing over them, 22 until the Ancient One came; then judgment was given for the holy ones of the Most High, and the time arrived when the holy ones gained possession of the kingdom. 23 This is what he said: “As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth that shall be different from all the other kingdoms; it shall devour the whole earth and trample it down and break it to pieces.24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them. This one shall be different from the former ones and shall put down three kings.25 He shall speak words against the Most High, shall wear out the holy ones of the Most High, and shall attempt to change the ritual calendar and the law and they shall be given into his power for a time, two times, and half a time.26 Then the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and totally destroyed. 27 The kingship and dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High; their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them.”28 Here the account ends. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly terrified me, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter in my mind.”

Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Communion:

Head up to the front to take communion.
Head back to your seat and reflect on the following questions:
- What does it mean to be good stewards of God’s creation to you?
- How might you begin to live into the role of disciple maker?

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 KingMarch 8, 2025