May 3, 2020
This will be Matthew week 12 at Park Church. The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the earliest biographies of Jesus, presenting Jesus not as a mere historical figure, but as “good news” for the world that should reshape every part of life.
We’ll continue in the Sermon on the Mount this week, discussing Jesus and Anger.
1. Read our text, Matthew 5:21–26.
In the next several sections of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus takes some of the most foundational commands in the law and shows what it looks like to be obedient from the heart. He is addressing the internal drive behind the external behavior, and is calling His new covenant people to a life that will only be possible with Spirit-filled hearts.
Here, Jesus teaches that the driving force behind the act of murder is a heart of anger. Anger is the heart-level sin that destroys relationships, families, and communities. In this new Kingdom, God’s children should be quick to pursue reconciliation and to extend forgiveness. When God’s people follow the way of their King as peacemakers and grace-givers, they will shine the light of God’s grace in the world.
2. Read, pray, and sing through the service:
Don’t have Spotify? Click the song title below to see song on YouTube.
CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 27:4–5
Praise To The Lord The Almighty (Joachim Neander, Catherine Winkworth arr. Citizens)
Grace Alone (Dustin Kensrue)
CONFESSION OF SIN:
Everlasting God,
fountain of all life and the true home of every heart:
our hearts are restless until they rest in You.
Yet we confess that our hearts have been enslaved by selfish passion and base desire.
We have sought after many things
and have neglected the one thing needful.
We have not loved You with our whole hearts;
help us to turn to You and find forgiveness.
Lead us home, that we may again find in You
our life and joy and peace.
Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Romans 5:6–8
I Am Loved (Jonathan Smith, Jason Ingram, Mack Brock)
PASSING THE PEACE
(Click to Read)
When we’ve met as a large group on Sundays, we’ve always had a time of greeting one another after singing. Many churches call this time “passing the peace.” In some church traditions, one person will say to another, “The peace of Christ be with you” to which the other person responds, “And also with you.”
While potentially unfamiliar for some, we felt that “passing the peace” during greeting times at home could be a powerful act in this age marked by very little external peace. In Isaiah 9, Jesus is described as the Prince of Peace. He wants His kingdom to be marked by this very peace! We want to “pass” to one another this peace that only Jesus can give, especially at a time like this.
It might feel a bit cheesy, but we encourage you to actually pray the peace of God over each other during our times. We encourage you to look into each other’s eyes as you say, “The peace of Christ be with you!” and have others respond with, “And also with you.” Be open-hearted to Jesus, asking Him to fill you with His peace.
SERMON & COMMUNION
All Hail King Jesus (Gretzinger, Jackson, Mattis, Riddle)