Ryan Ahlenius Ryan Ahlenius

Living Room Worship, 4/26

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[PRINT THE LITURGY HERE]

We believe the Gospel of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and reign is the greatest news ever announced, and that through it God is remaking everything.  Jesus Christ died for the sins of his people on Good Friday, and on the third day he rose from the dead, and was thus declared to be Lord (or King) of all the nations of the earth. This is the central announcement of the Christian Faith. His death means that you no longer need to bear the penalty for your sins. His resurrection means that the terrible penalty of death for His people and for creation itself has been undone. His reign is a reign that aims at the remaking of this old world. Taking what is broken and making it whole and new.

“Whether God come to his children with a rod or a crown, if he come himself with it, it is well. Welcome, welcome Jesus, what may soever thou come, if we can get a sight of thee: and sure I am, it is better to be sick, providing Christ come to the bedside and draw the curtains, and say, Courage, I am thy salvation, than to enjoy health, being lusty and strong and never need to be visited of God.”

- Samuel Rutherford

Call to Worship

The call to worship is a reminder that God welcomes us into His presence.  [Leader reads aloud over all present, taken from Matthew 28:1-10]

Reader: Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women,

Together: “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”

Reader: So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” Christ is Risen!

Together: He is Risen Indeed!

Reader: Come, let us Worship our Risen King.

ThE Solid Rock

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus' name

On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In ev’ry high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil

His oath His covenant His blood
Support me in the whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay

When He shall come with trumpet sound
O may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless to stand before the throne

Confession of Sin

As we come into the presence of God, we are made aware of ways that we have failed to love Him, trust Him and obey Him. He promises that all who confess their sins will be forgiven and cleansed. God, through the work of Jesus deals completely with our guilt and our shame. We encourage you to kneel, bow your head, and reflect on ways that you have not lived in step with God’s commands and confess these to our good King and Father. You will stand when the Assurance is read.

[Invite everyone present to kneel and read this together.]

Together: Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and there is no health in us. But you, O Lord, have mercy upon us. And grant, O most merciful Father, for Jesus’ sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous and joyful life, to the glory of your holy name. Amen. 

[Confess sins privately]

Assurance of Pardon

Leader will read this aloud once all rise]

Leader: Now stand, lift up your heads, and hear the good news: Christ has died for your sins! Christ has risen to conquer death! Christ, even now reigns for the undoing of all that sin and death have done to us and to our world. For all who believe in Jesus, your sins are forgiven. All who are in Christ are a new Creation, the Old Life has gone, a New Life has begun, and we are welcomed home as beloved sons and daughters of our God. In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Together: Thanks be to God.

IN CHRIST ALONE

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light my strength my song
This Cornerstone this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love what depths of peace
When fears are stilled when strivings cease
My Comforter my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

The Nicene Creed

Creeds represent one of the Church’s earliest attempts to define the bounds of what we confess to be true. It focuses primarily on the incarnation of Jesus, the trinitarian nature of God, and the unity of the church being rooted in the apostolic witness, which is given to us in the Bible.

[Read together]

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

We believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

We believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

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Scripture Readings and Sermon

[Please read the scriptures aloud. For reflections on Luke 24:1-53, please watch the homily posted here.]

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 25:6-12

New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

Benediction

Our God is not detached from our world - He hears and answers our prayers. During this time of great need, we are all aware of our need for God to move and display his power and glory in both the world around us and in the lives of those near to us. Whether you are alone or with your family, take a moment to pray aloud the written prayer below, then silently pause to reflect on the prayer, and then conclude this time by asking God to move in specific ways for those in your home by name, your neighbors, and your city. [Taken from The Book of Common Prayer, 2019]

Together: O God, who for our redemption gave your only begotten Son to die upon the Cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the devil and the power of death: Grant us grace to die daily to sin, that we may live with him in the joy of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

Benediction

God now sends us into the world, to both tell our neighbors about Jesus’ work, and to wield our lives for their good. 

Doxology
[Everyone stands, raises their hands, and sings together]

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow Praise Him, all creatures here below Praise Him above, ye heavenly host Praise Father, Son, and Holy GhostAmen.

Benediction
[Remain standing as the leader reads aloud]

Leader: May you find rest in the great work of Jesus on our behalf. May you go bearing witness to the victory Jesus has won over sin and death. And may we all celebrate and live as those for whom God is making all things new. May the peace of God be with you,

Together: And also with you!

Interpreting and Applying the Sermon Text

We encourage you to take some time in the coming days to reflect on the sermon text and answer the following questions individually or with friends and family.

  1. What does Paul mean by saying that our perishable bodies are to put on the imperishable (v53-54)? For our mortal bodies to put on the immortal?

  2. “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (v57). What does it mean to live our life in response to this ‘victory’ this week?

  3. Your labor is not in vain! Pause and consider that these are the words of Jesus to you personally. How can you respond by, “always abound[ing] in the work of the Lord” (v58)?

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