Sunday, October 23
Reformation Season
Welcome to our Order of Service page and Reformation Season!
As we look back on the monumental period in church history known as the Reformation, it is helpful to define the key beliefs that continue to describe reformational churches today. As a Baptist church, Grace Baptist does not align with all the Reformed denominations in areas of baptism, church structure, and eschatology, but we do stand with them in the foundational doctrines that continue to unite all those Christ-followers who stand in the grand tradition of the Reformation.
This tradition is concisely represented in the five Solas of the Reformation. Sola is Latin for only, or alone, and is used to distinguish the biblical doctrines of Scripture, Grace, Faith, Christ, and Glory to God from the beliefs, definitions, and components added to them by the Medieval church. Simply put, the Solas scrape away the human compromises which the church had attached to these essential doctrines in order to present biblical truth as it was meant to be understood. We remember the Reformation Season, not as a memorial to Martin Luther or any other man, but as a celebration of God’s grace in bringing the glorious light of the Gospel back to the church. For this reason, a new latin motto was born during the Reformation era: Post Tenebras Lux —After Darkness Light.
On each Sunday in October, we are going to highlight and celebrate one of the Solas leading up to the final Sunday of the month, Reformation Sunday.
Hard copy booklets like “A Reformation Season Companion” are available on our resource wall in the Worship Center Lobby and at the Engage Center on Sunday Mornings.
Order of Service
WELCOME & CALL TO CORPORATE WORSHIP
Video: Sola Gratia
Psalm 145:1-4
ADORATION
Grace Alone
RESPONSIVE SCRIPTURE READING
Titus 2:11-14, Psalm 139:23-24
CONFESSION
Shine Into Our Night
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Christ Our Hope in Life and Death
THANKSGIVING
Pastoral Prayer
OFFERTORY
On That Day
PROCLAMATION
No Longer Despairing, but Filled with Hope | Pastor David Hegg
Romans 8:18-25
RESPONSE SONG
Is He Worthy?
COMMISSION
Announcements & Benediction
Why do we have youth choirs?
We believe that every church has a deeply rooted responsibility to the next generation. It's our mission, then, to raise up the next generation of worshippers and worship leaders. One means of accomplishing that goal is to have children's and young adult choirs. Here at Grace, we have three represented by grade (K-2nd, 3rd-6th, 7th-12th); they meet weekly and join us on select Sunday services throughout the year.
There are many benefits of having these types of musical programs. Here are a few: Youth Choirs...
Provide an environment and repertoire to catechize our kids. We want to teach them that sound theology (doctrine) should elicit heartfelt doxology (praise).
Can instruct them to use their musical gifts to serve others, especially when most children's ministries, like Summer Adventure, Sunday School, and Basecamp, are designed to serve them.
Can teach them music theory and harmony, which may enable them to serve the church more effectively as they grow older.
Provide opportunities to build Christian character. A choir is a team with a common goal; the qualities of promptness, cooperation, self-control, and commitment must be developed if the group is to accomplish its purpose of praising the Lord with undistracting excellence.
Youth choirs are a living, breathing portrait of the Christian life. God did not save us to be soloists but purchased us to express and enjoy living "in harmony with one another." (Rom. 12:16)
Our age is increasingly more of a "listening" culture than a "singing" one. Involving kids in a choir at an early age counteracts that tendency.
Not every kid finds involvement in a choir exciting or enjoyable. But, even if they're not enrolled in one of our choirs, we hope that you hear the stanzas and praise choruses they've learned in Basecamp resounding from the Sunday School classroom to the car, in the home, and follow them throughout their life.
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 19:14 ESV)