Service Based on Psalm 31
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Opening Scripture (3 Readers)
A Plea for Protection
READER 1: Lord, I seek refuge in you; let me never be disgraced. Save me by your righteousness.
READER 2: Listen closely to me; rescue me quickly. Be a rock of refuge for me, a mountain fortress to save me.
READER 3: For you are my rock and my fortress; you lead and guide me for your name’s sake.
Possible Transition Statement: If we ever needed to seek refuge in something or someone, it is now. Jesus Christ is our “Rock of Refuge,” our “Mountain Fortress,” and our “Guide” during these difficult days. Let’s praise Jesus Christ, who is our Solid Rock!
Song: “Solid Rock”
Possible Transition: Sometimes we do get caught up in “sinking sand.” And as that happens, isn’t it amazing that we have a God that cares for us enough to free us set our feet upon solid ground! In this Psalm, David continues to express his trust in his rock and his refuge. Listen to these words from Psalm 31 as they continue to guide our thoughts and our worship:
Scripture
Leader: You will free me from the net that is secretly set for me, for you are my refuge. 5 Into your hand I entrust my spirit; you have redeemed me, Lord, God of truth. 6 I hate those who are devoted to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord. 7 I will rejoice and be glad in your faithful love because you have seen my affliction. You know the troubles of my soul 8 and have not handed me over to the enemy. You have set my feet in a spacious place. (Psalm 31:4-8)
Group Prayer Time (Potential Prayer Prompts below)
Adoration:
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- We praise God that he is our Rock and our Refuge!
- We praise God that he is our Savior and Redeemer!
Confession:
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- We confess that we have stepped into nets that ensnare us.
- We confess that we looked to other people or things as our refuge from this storm.
- We confess that we have not rejoiced in God’s faithful love.
Thanksgiving:
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- We thank our Father God for rescuing us!
- We thank God for his faithful love for us!
- We thank God that he has seen our affliction and that he knows all about our troubles.
Petition:
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- We pray that others would come to know Jesus Christ, our Rock and our Refuge.
- We pray that God would rescue those afflicted by the virus.
- We pray for those grieving the loss of loved ones due to the virus and other diseases.
- We pray for our church, our pastors and leaders, and government officials.
- We pray that God would end this pandemic and that believers would be strengthened to share their hope in Christ.
- We pray for health care workers…for their strength, their stamina, their health.
- We pray that the Lord would set our feet on the spacious place of trusting in him and leading others to do the same.
Leader – potential transition: The Lord never grows tired or weary hearing from his children. Even though our prayers may sound similar to last week’s in our desire for this virus situation to end. So we come to the Lord through our prayers and our songs to call on him for help, and to express our trust in his sovereign goodness. Let’s sing:
Hymn: “Day By Day” or “All I Have is Christ”
Scripture (Psalm 31:19-24)
Reader 1: How great is your goodness that you have stored up for those who fear you and accomplished in the sight of everyone for those who take refuge in you. 20 You hide them in the protection of your presence; you conceal them in a shelter from human schemes, from quarrelsome tongues.
Reader 2: Blessed be the Lord, for he has wondrously shown his faithful love to me in a city under siege.22 In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from your sight.” But you heard the sound of my pleading when I cried to you for help.
Reader 3: Love the Lord, all his faithful ones. The Lord protects the loyal, but fully repays the arrogant. 24 Be strong, and let your heart be courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord.
Small Group Discussion of the Above Passage:
Leader: Possible Discussion Question: In what ways do the above verses resonate with what we have been going through in our world?
Transition: Through all of the circumstances in our lives, we can say, “Praise the Lord, let the people rejoice…give him the glory, great things he has done!”
Hymn: “To God Be the Glory” or “O Great God”
Closing Prayer