Worship Preparation Guide for Sunday, September 9

This Sunday as we gather for worship we will be coming before our faithful God, who welcomes us into His presence through Jesus Christ, His Son and our Savior.  We will gather to pray, to sing, to hear His Word, all of which God uses to remind us of His eternal faithfulness. 

Our sermon texts this week will be various passages from Exodus 12 and 13, and Luke 22:7-20.  In these verses from Exodus we will see God work on behalf of His people by delivering them from Egypt and from death through the Passover.  God will instruct them concerning how they are to always remember and commemorate this event.  In the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread God gave His people powerful observances that would graphically remind them of His faithful covenant love for them and His purposes to transform them into a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.    In Luke we will see Jesus observe the Passover with His disciples and initiate a new celebration of remembrance for those He was about to redeem through His sacrifice on the cross.

For us here at Westwood Believer’s Baptism and Communion are graphic reminders of God’s faithfulness to redeem us and transform us into His kingdom of priests and His holy people.  We will observe both of these ordinances this Sunday. 

As you prepare for worship this Sunday let me encourage you to read Exodus 12 and 13, and Luke 22. 

I would also ask you to consider these verses from Psalm 77:

I will remember the deeds of the LORD; 

yes, I will remember your wonders of old.

I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.

Your way, O God, is holy.   What god is great like our God?

You are the God who works wonders;

you have made known your might among the peoples.

You with your arm redeemed your people,

the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah     (Psalm 77:11-15 ESV)

What mighty deeds has God performed in your life?  As you ponder His work, and remember His wonders of old, what testimony could you give to His faithfulness?  How has He made known to you His might?  Could you give a witness to the faithfulness of God this Sunday as we gather together for worship?  I hope you can.

This Sunday we will sing Wonderful, Merciful Savior. It is a prayer of praise and a declaration of our need for the hope and healing found only in Christ.  Use these words as a beginning point for answering the above questions.

Wonderful, merciful Savior; 

Precious Redeemer and Friend;

Who would have thought that a Lamb could 

rescue the souls of men

Oh you rescue the souls of men

Counselor, Comforter, Keeper; 

Spirit we long to embrace

You offer hope when our hearts have 

hopelessly lost the way

Oh, we hopelessly lost the way

You are the One that we praise, 

You are the One we adore

You give the healing and grace 

our hearts always hunger for

Oh, our hearts always hunger for

Almighty, infinite Father, 

Faithfully loving Your own

Here in our weakness You find us 

falling before Your throne

Oh, we're falling before Your throne

You are the One that we praise, 

You are the One we adore

You give the healing and grace 

our hearts always hunger for

Oh, our hearts always hunger for