Welcome & Opening Prayer
Good morning church!
I am Russell Clark and I am the senior minister here at Azle Christian Church. We’re so thrilled you all are here with us in worship – both here in the sanctuary and online! May we hear God telling us a new story today!
We like for everyone to know a few things before we begin worship every week.
(1) If you’re a guest today, we’re so happy you’re here! Filling out the attendance registration in your pew helps us connect names with faces and sharing your e-mail helps us to connect you to our weekly newsletter. There are information brochures in your pew to get to know us more and there is information about our weekly activities and calendar in your bulletin.
(2) Second, we love our children here in worship and we always welcome them here. There is a kids corner in the back if your children need a space to move around. There is also a nursery available if you’d like.
(3) Finally, our liturgy is posted each week on the website if you would like to follow along with our service.
Now, may we take a moment to pray as we enter this time of worship.
Loving God – May we see more of who you truly are, Lord, today as we set our hearts towards you. Amen.
May we take a moment before we get started to greet those next to us with a hug or high five.
Opening Songs:
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save me from its guilt and power.
2
Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All could never sin erase,
Thou must save, and save by grace.
4
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
Oh, I've heard a thousand stories of what they think You're like
But I've heard the tender whisper of love in the dead of night
And You tell me that You're pleased and that I'm never alone
You're a good, good Father
It's who You are, it's who You are, it's who You are
And I'm loved by You
It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am
Oh, and I've seen many searching for answers far and wide
But I know we're all searching for answers only You provide
'Cause You know just what we need before we say a word
You're a good, good Father
It's who You are, it's who You are, it's who You are
And I'm loved by You
It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am
Because You are perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways to us
You are perfect in all of Your ways
Oh, You're perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways to us
Oh, it's love so undeniable
I, I can hardly speak
Peace so unexplainable
I, I can hardly think
As You call me deeper still
As You call me deeper still
As You call me deeper still into love, love, love
You're a good, good Father
It's who You are, it's who You are, it's who You are
And I'm loved by You
It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am
And You're a good, good Father
It's who You are, it's who You are, it's who You are
And I'm loved by You
It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am
You're a good, good Father
It's who You are, it's who You are, it's who You are
And I'm loved by You
It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am
(You're a good, good Father)
You are perfect in all of Your ways (it's who You are, it's who You are, it's who You are)
(And I'm loved by You)
You are perfect in all of Your ways (it's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am)
Litany of Faith – Nancy Robbins
One: Heaven came down and glory filled my soul. At the cross, my savior made me whole.
All: Our sins have been washed away. Our night has turned to day.
One: When I was wandering in darkness, Jesus, my savior, I met.
All: O, what a tender, compassionate friend. He met the need of our hearts.
One: With joy I am telling, he has made all darkness depart!
All: O, what a wonderful, wonderful day, today. Today is the day you have saved us.
Scripture Meditation Luke 15:31 – Rev. Russell Clark
“Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life, he was lost and has been found.”
One: This is the word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
We are starting a new sermon series today called Love Wins: Heaven, Hell, & The Fate of Every Person. This series is based on the book by Rob Bell with the same name. Rob Bell confronts some of the questions about eternity that I know many of you have been thinking because I’ve heard you ask them.
Questions like, “How can God be this loving God who wants us to be with him through God’s grace offered freely, without our own merit…but if you don’t respond the right way then you will be tortured forever? What?!”
When this book came out in 2011, people literally judged the book by its cover. They assumed what Rob Bell was saying without even reading the book. They didn’t like him questioning the existence of hell or asking the tough questions. Rob Bell was eventually asked to step down from the church HE founded. He was an up-and-coming author who was labeled a heretic for asking the questions that many people are thinking.
Well, guess what? At this church, we don’t have to fit a certain mold so we shall approach these tough questions together!
We’ll be talking about the story Jesus tells us through the prodigal son parable in our sermon. For now, let us go to the Lord in prayer.
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord be with you. And Also with you. Let us pray.
Loving God, for the ways in which we have fallen short this week, we’re sorry. For the times we didn’t love like we should, we ask your forgiveness.
May we seek your face and the ways we can live out your love this week. Let us invite others to experience the love and grace you offer us freely.
For the times we’ve been like the older brother – jealous and stuck in the mud – let us show grace.
For the times we have strayed like the younger brother – let us know we can still find our way home.
Thank you for your grace that surpasses our own understanding. Thank you for your love that knows no bounds.
Your glory and wonder surround us. May we pay attention to your works all around us. Let us open our eyes to the party you have waiting for us.
Lord, may you reveal yourself to us as we pray the prayer Jesus taught us…
Our Father, who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
Forgive us our debts
As we forgive our debtors
And lead us not into temptation
But Deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
RESPONSIVE HYMN –
Mighty to Save
Everyone needs compassion
A love that's never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Saviour
The hope of nations
Saviour (He can move the mountains)
And my God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save
Forever, Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave
Come on, sing it out
So take me as You find me
All my fears and failures
And fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
And now I surrender, I surrender
Saviour, He can move the mountains (my God)
My God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save
Forever, Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave
Come on, lift up a shout of praise
Shine your light and let the whole world see
We're singing for the glory of the risen King, Jesus
Shine your light and let the whole world see
We're singing for the glory of the risen King
Saviour, He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save
Forever, Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave
Saviour, He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save
Forever, Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave
Saviour, He can move the mountains
And my God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save
Forever, Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave
Saviour, He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save
Forever, Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave
Children’s Moment – Becky Stults
Stewardship Moment - “Why do you attend Azle Christian Church?” - Jessie Button
Sharing Our Resources
There are many ways to support the ministries of Azle Christian Church. You can give online on our website, on Venmo, use the QR code in your bulletin, or place it in the offering plate as the deacons come by during our anthem. You can also put in a prayer request card or information card in the plate.
Anthem –
Doxology - Praise God from whom all blessing flow; praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host: Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Offering Prayer – Nancy Robbins
Series: Love Wins: Heaven, Hell, & The Fate of Every Person
Sermon: Join the Party – Rev. Russell Clark
Holy Communion Meditation & Prayer – Nancy Robbins
Communion Song –
We gather here in Jesus' name
His love is burning in our hearts like living flame
For through His loving Son the Father makes us one
Come take the bread come drink the wine
Come share the Lord
No one is a stranger here,
everyone belongs;
finding our forgiveness here,
we in turn forgive all wrongs.
He joins us here He breaks the bread
The Lord who pours the cup is risen from the dead
The One we love the most is now our gracious host
Come take the bread come drink the wine
Come share the Lord
We are now a family
of which the Lord is head;
though unseen he meets us here
in the breaking of the bread.
We'll gather soon where angels sing
We'll see the glory of our Lord and coming King
Now we anticipate the feast for which we wait
Come take the bread come drink the wine
Come share the Lord
We believe Jesus Christ is the gracious host at this table.
Everyone is welcome to participate in communion. Please pass tray to your neighbor after receiving your communion cups. Please help those who need assistance. Hold cups until instructed by Elder to take in unison.
Holy Communion Words of Institution – Nancy Robbins
INVITATION
If you would like to dedicate your life to Christ or become a member of Azle Christian Church, you may come forward after the benediction or speak with me after worship.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
A few announcements for this week before our benediction:
You can find information on the back of your bulletin about our weekly activities, such as Sunday School, our Ukulele Group, our Wednesday dinner and bible study, and our prayer group. In the insert, you will find our calendar to transfer to your personal calendars. We also have a google calendar on our website to add to your personal calendar.
Night to Shine is a unforgettable experience. It’s a prom for special needs persons on Friday, February 9. We are still looking for volunteers for this event. The deadline to sign up to volunteer is February 1.
We are also the drink sponsor for this event and drinks for this event will cost around $300. If you would like to make a love offering, to help the cost of this you may leave a note that says “NTS.”
If you are an elder, deacon, or part of the leadership team for 2024, we will have an installation service for you next week during worship.
In 2 weeks, we will have a lunch after worship to celebrate all of our new members and baptisms from 2023. Everyone is invited & encouraged to attend to welcome our new members to our church family! Everyone is asked to bring an appetizer or finger foods to share.
If you or someone you know needs a visit OR has a prayer request OR would like home communion, you may contact the church office or contact me directly.
BENEDICTION –
Please rise in body and spirit for the benediction…
Next week we will continue our discussion on heaven and hell and seeing God’s story for our lives. Until then,
May you party hard with your friends, your family, and our God as you realize THIS celebration is all for you! You are free to live freely and party with our Savior in his love everyday for all of eternity…in the best way imaginable.
May you share with your skeptical friends that the God you know tells a much better story than the one they’ve been told.
Our Father is preparing the decorations now.
Amen.
BENEDICTION RESPONSE –
Oh let the Son of God enfold you
With His Spirit and His love
Let Him fill your heart
And satisfy your soul
Oh let Him have those things
That hold you
And His Spirit like a dove
Will descend upon your life
And make you whole
Jesus oh Jesus
Come and fill Your lambs
Jesus oh Jesus
Come and fill Your lambs