A Word for Hopelessness

Series: Words of Comfort

A Word for Hopelessness

May 23, 2021 | Mike Stancak

Our Father comforts as a good father does: sometimes with a snuggle, and other times with a clap on the back as we get back in the game.  Christian hope is the latter; it is a fortifying hope.  The comfort it gives is the kind that invites us into overflowing life, because Christ is alive.

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TCC Order of Worship, 05.23.21

WELCOME 

CALL TO WORSHIP

1 Peter 1:3-5

CONFESSION

(Book of Common Prayer 2019)

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 offended against your holy laws. 

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 apart from your grace, there is no health in us. 

O Lord, have mercy upon us. 

Spare all those who confess their faults. 

Restore all those who are penitent, 

according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, 

that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, 

to the glory of your holy Name. 

Amen.

CONFESSION OF FAITH (based on 1 Cor. 15:50-57)

Leader: I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. 

Congregation: For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 

Leader: When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

Congregation: 

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

“O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?”

Leader: The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 

Congregation: But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Leader: Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 

 

This I Believe

by Ben Fielding and Matt Crocker

 

Verse 1

Our Father everlasting, 

the all creating One

God Almighty

Through Your Holy Spirit; 

conceiving Christ the Son

Jesus Our Savior

 

Chorus 1

I believe in God our Father, 

I believe in Christ the Son

I believe in the Holy Spirit, 

our God is three in one

I believe in the resurrection, 

that we will rise again

For I believe 

in the Name of Jesus

 

Verse 2:

Our Judge and our Defender;

suffered and crucified

Forgiveness is in You

Descended into darkness, 

You rose in glorious life

Forever seated high

 

Bridge (x2):

I believe   in You

I believe You rose again

I believe that Jesus Christ is Lord

 

Chorus 2:

I believe in life eternal, 

I believe in the virgin birth

I believe in the Saints' communion 

and in Your holy Church

I believe in the resurrection; 

when Jesus comes again

For I believe in the Name of Je - sus    

 

Holy Spirit

By Bryan Torwalt and Katie Torwalt

 

Verse 1

There's nothing worth more that will ever come close

No thing can compare You're our living hope

Your Presence,    Lord

I've tasted and seen of the sweetest of loves

Where my heart becomes free and my shame is undone

In Your Presence,   Lord

 

Chorus 

Holy Spirit You are welcome here

Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere

Your glory God is what our hearts long for

To be overcome by Your Presence Lord 

Your Presence   Lord

 

Bridge

Let us become more aware of Your Presence

Let us experience the glory of Your goodness 

 

SERMON

 

Jesus Is Better

By Brett Land and Aaron Ivey

 

Verse 1

There is no other so sure and steady

My hope is held in Your hand

When castles crumble and breath is fleeting

Upon this rock I will stand

upon this rock I will stand

 

Chorus

Glory Glory we have no other King

But Jesus Lord of All

We raise the anthem, our loudest praises ring

We crown Him Lord of All

 

Verse 2

Your kindly rule has shattered and broken

The curse of sin's tyranny

My life is hidden 'neath Heaven's shadow

Your crimson flood covers me

Your crimson flood covers me

 

Bridge

In all my sorrows Jesus is better make my heart believe

In every victory Jesus is better make my heart believe

Than any comfort Jesus is better make my heart believe

More than all riches Jesus is better make my heart believe

Our souls declaring Jesus is better make my heart believe

And our song eternal Jesus is better make my heart believe

 

Champion

By Bryan Torwalt and Katie Torwalt

 

Verse 1

O Victory You have won   

victorious You have come

What was stolen       

You brought back to us

(repeat)

 

Chorus

Our Champion You fight for us

You made a way where there was none

Our Champion You're strong in us

The debt we owed You paid in blood

 

Verse 2

The One in whom we belong 

we'll lift our voice join Your song

We were orphaned now forever Yours

 

Bridge 

We will shout it out from the mountaintops

That our God is good He has overcome

Let all the earth ev'ry tribe and tongue

We will sing it out He has overcome

COMMUNION

Great Are You Lord

By Leslie Jordan and David Leonard

Verse 1

You give life You are love

You bring light to the darkness

You give hope You restore ev'ry heart that is broken

And great are You Lord

Chorus 1

It's Your breath in our lungs

So we pour out our praise

We pour out our praise

It's Your breath in our lungs

So we pour out our praise to You only

Bridge

And all the earth will shout Your praise

Our hearts will cry these bones will sing

Great are You Lord

(REPEAT)

My One Comfort

By Dustin Kensrue

Verse 1

My one comfort both in life and death

Is that I am not my own

I was bought with blood and I confess

I belong to You alone

Chorus

By the Father's good decree

Jesus You've delivered me

By Your Spirit set me free

To follow You

Bridge

Jesus You have taken hold of me 

And in Your grip of grace I'm finally free

BENEDICTION

Series Information

Though we may be emerging from the pandemic, many of us are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with feelings of fatigue and fear. This past year made clear to us all the weakness of our institutions, the frailty of our lives, and our desperate need for grace. In times like this, calls to action can fall flat because we’re simply struggling to get out of bed.
But Christ is not just the Lord of the Great Commission, but he is the gentle and lowly Shepherd. For the next four Sundays we want to take time to remember the great words of comfort that we have been given - for security, for hope, for courage - and spend time abiding in the goodness of Christ, which lasts longer than the trials at hand. 

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