WORSHIP TOGETHER

GATHERING & WELCOME

CALL TO WORSHIP

FROM PSALM 104

Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great!

You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.

May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works, who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke!

I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD.

Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more!

Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Praise the LORD!

REJOICE IN ALL YOUR WORKS (PSALM 104)

Every mouth that cries for food,
every lung that yearns for breath,
every eye that searches through the dark for light;
All creation looks to You
for its breath and for its food—
from the goodness of Your hand we’re satisfied!

Oh rejoice in all Your works
King of Heaven, King of Earth!
Every creature You have made declares Your praise!
We rejoice in all You’ve made
God of all-sustaining grace!
With the mountain, sky, and sea, we sing Your praise!

Every tree that thirsts for rain,
every bird that seeks its nest,
every heart that waits in hope to be made glad;
All creation looks to You
for its breath and for its food—
from the goodness of Your hand we’re satisfied!

Oh rejoice in all Your works
King of Heaven, King of Earth!
Every creature You have made declares Your praise!
We rejoice in all You’ve made
God of all-sustaining grace!
With the mountain, sky, and sea, we sing Your praise!

May the pond’rings of my heart
and the song upon my lips
with the chorus of creation join in praise;
To the God who made all things,
to the Spirit who sustains,
to the Son who over all creation reigns!

Oh rejoice in all Your works
King of Heaven, King of Earth!
Every creature You have made declares Your praise!
We rejoice in all You’ve made
God of all-sustaining grace!
With the mountain, sky, and sea, we sing Your praise!

Words/Music: © 2014 Wendell Kimbrough; CCLI License 11029770

CHRIST IS MINE FOREVERMORE

Mine are days that God has numbered
I was made to walk with Him
Yet I look for worldly treasure
And forsake the King of kings

But mine is hope in my Redeemer
Though I fall, his love is sure
For Christ has paid for every failing
I am His forevermore

Mine are tears in times of sorrow
Darkness not yet understood
Through the valley I must travel
Where I see no earthly good

But mine is peace that flows from heaven
And the strength in times of need
I know my pain will not be wasted
Christ completes his work in me

Mine are days here as a stranger
Pilgrim on a narrow way
One with Christ I will encounter
Harm and hatred for his name

But mine is armour for this battle
Strong enough to last the war
And he has said he will deliver
Safely to the golden shore

And mine are keys to Zion city
Where beside the King I walk
For there my heart has found its treasure
Christ is mine forevermore

Come rejoice now, O my soul
For his love is my reward
Fear is gone and hope is sure
Christ is mine forevermore
(repeat)

And mine are keys to Zion city
Where beside the King I walk
For there my heart has found its treasure
Christ is mine forevermore

Words/Music: Jonny Robinson and Rich Thompson; © 2015 CityAlight Music; CCLI License 11029770

GOSPEL READING

MATTHEW 13:1–9

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”

PASTORAL PRAYER

GIVING

YOU KEEP YOUR PROMISES

It is written:
You’re my refuge and strength;
Though the earth may pass away, you will remain.
It is written:
You provide every need;
Everywhere that you will lead, you will sustain

You keep your promises—
Your goodness never ends
From generation to generation!

It is written:
We’re redeemed by your blood;
All the old has passed away, the new has come.
It is written:
It’s not by power or might,
But by the spirit of the Living God in us.

You keep your promises—
Your goodness never ends
From generation to generation!
You keep your covenant—
We’ve seen your faithfulness
From generation to generation!

We will trust you and believe!
As it’s written, let it be!
You alone will be a firm foundation!
What you’ve spoken is enough!
It’s the ground we’re standing on!
You are God, and we will not be shaken!
[repeat]

You keep your promises—
Your goodness never ends
From generation to generation!
You keep your covenant—
We’ve seen your faithfulness
From generation to generation,
From generation to generation,
From generation to generation!

Words/Music: Amanda Kinner, Daniel Kinner, Kaden Slay, Melanie Tierce; © 2021 Watershed Music Group; CCLI License 11029770

SERMON

2 Peter 3:1–13

¹ This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, ² that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, ³ knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. ⁴ They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” ⁵ For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, ⁶ and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. ⁷ But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

⁸ But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

¹¹ Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, ¹² waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! ¹³ But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Scoffers Scoff; Believers Believe

1. Remember (1-7)

2. Be Ready (8-10)

3. Live in Reality (11-13)

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside!

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Words: Thomas Obediah Chisholm, 1923; Music: William Marion Runyan, 1923; PD; CCLI License 11029770

BENEDICTION