On our first Sunday in our brand new sanctuary we wanted to remember from day one that our calling is not to build buildings but to become part of God’s building. Our main text was from 1 Peter 2.
As you come to Jesus, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:4-5
The gospel is the good news of God’s rebuilding project. As we come to Jesus, God is building us into a spiritual house, making us worshipers. Let’s stand and sing.
Prayer of Praise
Lord, you are the fountain of every blessing. You are the fountain of living water. You are infinitely better than the best earthly Father. You know how to give good gifts to your children. And you know what we need and what we don’t need. You know best. “You didn’t spare Your own Son but gave him up for us all! Why should we ever doubt that You will not then graciously give us all things?” Bind our hearts to You this morning by reminding of this again. Amen.
Greeting
Look around. This is the beginnings of a “new wing” of God’s building. These are the living stones He’s going to build it with. Take a minute and greet one another. Learn some names. Maybe again. Don’t rush. (Be seated)
Call to Confession
I love that we are going to be worshiping in an old space that needed a complete overhaul and is being made new. Demolition had to happen first, then reconstruction. A huge dividing wall had to be torn down and removed to allow us to rebuild this space to be a place for us to worship. It’s going to look so much better, but still far from perfect (as you’ll see).
Just like us - so much better, but far from perfect. The major demolition work has been done by Jesus. He died for our sin and rose again. And by faith we’ve died with him and we’ve been raised with him. But the rebuilding process if far from over. Let’s never forget this, Grace Fullerton people. Every week as we meet, let’s allow these verses in 1 John 1 to be our guide:
Confession
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 John 1:5-10
Prayer of Confession
Lord, we have sinned. This week. This morning, even. Forgive us for all the ways we try to pretend we haven’t. To ourselves. To others. Even to You, as if that were even possible. This morning we come to You in our sin and need and we thank you for the blood of Jesus Your Son that cleanses us from it all. Amen.
Song: Come to Me
Assurance
John continues:
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 2:1-2
Song: At the Cross
Offering Meditation & Prayer
Sermon: Reflection Service (people of Grace)
Song of Response: Doxology
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