A Service for the Lord’s Day
November 22, 2020
Christ the King Sunday
Call to Worship – Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Prayer of Confession
Heavenly Father, you have crowned Jesus Christ as Lord of all. We confess that we have not bowed before him, and are slow to acknowledge his rule. We give allegiance to the powers of this world, and fail to be governed by justice and love. In your mercy, forgive us. Raise us up to acclaim him as ruler of all, that we may be faithful disciples, obeying the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Hear the good news! There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life has gone; a new life has begun. Thanks be to God!
Scripture Reading
Sermon – Jesus, Lord of the Cross – Rev. Blake Daniel
For those who prefer to worship from home this Sunday, we will be live-streaming the service rather than pre-recording separate videos. Simply visit our YouTube page at 11:00am to tune in. The service will also be saved as a video for you to view later if you wish. We thank you in advance for your grace and patience as we try this new endeavor!
Affirmation of Faith – from The Confession of 1967
God’s sovereign love is a mystery beyond the reach of man’s mind. Human thought ascribes to God superlatives of power, wisdom, and goodness. But God reveals his love in Jesus Christ by showing power in the form of a servant, wisdom in the folly of the cross, and goodness in receiving sinful men and women. The power of God’s love in Christ to transform the world discloses that the Redeemer is the Lord and Creator who made all things to serve the purpose of his love.
Prayers of the People
Lord Jesus, you reign over all things as our good and faithful King. Yet your reign surprises us. You were not born into prestige, but into poverty in Bethlehem. You did not ride a chariot, but a donkey through the gates of Jerusalem. You did not assume a throne, but died on Calvary’s cross. In this, your kingship was displayed. And now, having been raised from the dead, you are seated at your Father’s right hand, where you are making everything new. We trust in your rule, and we pledge our allegiance to you as we lift up our joys and laments today. We pray:
For the order you give to creation . . .
For your sovereign rule over the nations . . .
For your faithfulness to your church . . .
For your lordship in our lives . . .
And we pray now as you taught us, saying:
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, and 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.
Tithes and Offerings
With gratitude for the gospel, we share our time, talents, and resources with the Lord. (You may give financially by visiting www.sylvapres.org/giving, or by dropping a check off at the church or sending one to FPC at P.O. Box 2152, Sylva, NC 28779. Thank you!)
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all creatures here below!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts!
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Benediction
May the peace of the risen Lord Christ go with you, wherever he may send you.
May he guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm.
May he bring you home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you.
May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.