We bring the sacrifice of praise And we offer up to you into the house of the Lord. the sacrifices of thanksgiving;
We bring the sacrifice of praise And we offer up to You into the house of the Lord. the sacrifices of joy.
We give thanks to you, Redeemer God, for our Lord Jesus Christ, who came in quietness and humility, but who will come again with power and for all to see. Our Lord Jesus’ coming again is a two-edged sword. It comforts us, convinces us anew that your grace is beyond measure. Yet it also confronts us, compels us to recognize our own unrighteousness. Let us put aside our false pride, confess our sins, and receive your affirming love.
Gracious Father, we confess that all too often we do not think of our coming King. We do not live our lives in the expectant and obedient waiting to which your Word summons us. Too often we do not live with the sense of urgency for the task you have set before your church. We put off bringing the gospel to the world and living out your kingdom’s values of justice and righteousness. Forgive us, loving Lord. Cleanse us and fill us with your Spirit and with power, so that at Christ’s triumphant return we may be counted worthy to stand before you with people of all tongues and nations. Amen.
Thanks be to God, who has loved us from the beginning, and who promises that if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and will purify us from all unrighteousness.
Our Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from the earth. In that day we will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. Let us rejoice in his salvation.”
We believe that our Lord Jesus, who ascended into heaven after his resurrection, will come again in the same way.
The Lord himself will come from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God; and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord. And so, we will be with the Lord forever.
When Christ returns, he will establish justice and righteousness in the earth. He will bring to fulfillment the kingdom of God, and he will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.
In that day, at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
We believe the day of Christ’s return will be one of rejoicing and vindication for God’s people, but will also be a day of judgment for those who have rejected Christ’s reign. We believe our loving God desires that none should perish, and so we ask to be empowered with zeal and humility to proclaim the word of truth in a world too often unaware of coming judgment.
We join with the saints throughout the ages in declaring: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again!
Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, indeed by all the saints who have gone before us, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
Christ, Bringer of justice, we ask for courage and boldness to stand by the poor and oppressed: to work for justice in this present world as we anticipate your perfect justice to come.
Christ, Hope of the world, we ask that your Holy Spirit move among those who have yet to hear, that their hearts may be softened and prepared for the message of the gospel.
Christ, Lord of the church, we ask for help for your church to live as we truly are–a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to you; a people who live to declare your praises, for you who called us out of darkness into your wonderful light.
Watchword for the Week:
God said, “I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the week.
Ezekiel 34:16
Today’s Watchword:
The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knows those who trust in him.
Nahum 1:7
Doctrinal Text:
Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.
Matthew 7:7
In unison, let us pray:
Dear God, through your Son, Jesus Christ, you have given us a blueprint for a purposeful life and an invitation to eternal life. Thank you for opening the door when we knock. May our lives reflect our gratitude for your love. May others come to know you through our joy. Amen
