July 26, 2020 - Sunday Service Worship Guide
TOday's Announcements
Good morning Mercy Hill and happy Sunday to you! If you're new with us, we just wanted to extend a special welcome to you. Feel free to fill out a Connection Card to get more info or prayer. We're glad to have you with us!
If you're tuning in for the Watch Party, you'll notice that the platform has tabs where you can find today's Worship Guide, read an online Bible, and even chat. While we're meeting virtually like this, we'd encourage everyone to please consider taking a moment to put a comment in the chat box there. Let us know who you are and maybe where you're tuning in from. Say hi. We miss you! And as we get into the message, feel free to share other Scriptures that come to mind, prayer requests that you have, questions that you'd like answered, etc. It would be great to interact even in this limited format.
Here are a few critical announcements to keep in mind:
- Mercy Hill Youth Hangout: All Mercy Hill Youth are invited for an online hangout after service on Sunday, August 9th! Come spend an hour catching up in fellowship, prayer, and sharing. We look forward to seeing you there! We will be meeting using Zoom's video conferencing platform - you can find the details for joining the meeting here.
- Mercy Hill Community Facebook Group: If you haven't joined already, we have a community Facebook group to help Mercy Hill foster organic community and connection. As we look for ways to build community during this time inside our homes, consider using this Facebook group as a way to connect with others in the church by sharing prayer requests, praises, or anything you think the church family would appreciate during this time.
- Prayer Room: In light of the current shelter-in-place order whereby we find ourselves unable to meet with one another in person, we wanted to create a regular and reliable online space for us to connect and pray. We are still having these weekly prayer meetings and encourage you to join us if you have a moment during your lunch break on Wednesday! To join the prayer room this upcoming Wednesday, click the link here for the Zoom meeting information.
- Sunday Service Afterparty: Remember to join us immediately following the Watch Party via Zoom for the Afterparty (which today will include a time for connection and prayer). You can find a link to join in here.
- Mercy Hill Kids Online Worship: Beginning at 11:30am today! Go here to read more and to find a link to sign in!
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- Home Groups: Many of our Home Groups are moving to a hybrid (in-person + virtual) format. Whatever your comfort level with meeting, you're welcome to come check one out. Find one to join here. You are not alone!
- COVID-19 SOS Form: If you or anyone you know needs help during this challenging time, we'd love to do what we can!
Today's Sermon
Title: When God Weeps
Text: Luke 19:41-44
Preacher: Nick Weber
Manuscript: If you appreciate following along with written material, you can find today's manuscript here.
Reflection Questions
- Nick began the sermon by saying: "The love of God for you in Christ is like a sky without circumference, an ocean without bottom, a wellspring with everlasting supply. If you could count up all the stars, then perhaps you could quantify it. If you could gather up every kernel of sand from every coastal shore and place it in on a scale, then perhaps you could weigh it. If you could drain the five oceans of their water, then perhaps you could exhaust it. But, as it is, you cannot!" Do you believe this? How might the verses we looked at in this sermon make a case for it? Have you ever personally struggled with believing God could love or receive you? Why? How might this image of Christ weeping over Jerusalem encourage your doubting heart?
- Are you giving Jesus any reason to weep over you? Or to put it like Oswald Chambers does in his reflection on these verses: “[Is there anything that is blinding] you to the peace of God ‘in this your day’?” Are you ready and waiting for a visitation from God, or are you busy running after other things?
- Dane Ortlund, in his book Gentle and Lowly writes: “That God is rich in mercy means that your regions of deepest shame and regret are not hotels through which divine mercy passes but homes in which divine mercy abides. It means the things about you that make you cringe most, make him hug hardest. It means his mercy is not calculating and cautious, like ours. It is unrestrained, flood-like, sweeping, magnanimous. It means our haunting shame is not a problem for him, but the very thing he loves most to work with. It means our sins do not cause his love to take a hit. Our sins cause his love to surge forward all the more. It means on that day when we stand before him, quietly, unhurriedly, we will weep with relief, shocked at how impoverished a view of his mercy-rich heart we had” (pp. 179–80). Do you know Jesus like this? How can you take a step towards experiencing more?
- How would you be feeling coming into Jerusalem if you knew all these things (rejection, betrayal, abandonment, crucifixion, etc.) were waiting for you? Would you be crying with concern for yourself or with concern for the very ones who would do such things to you? What is it, do you think, that gives Jesus the perspective and ability to weep with love for them? Are there people in your life towards whom your heart is hard? How can you pursue a heart like Jesus for them?
Call to Response
1. Sing:
- Seasons Change (United Pursuit)
- I Will Wait for You (Shane & Shane)
2. Pray:
If you need prayer in any way, please either: (1) request it during the Watch Party via the "Request Prayer" button; (2) fill out a Connection Card; or (3) post your request to our Mercy Hill Community Facebook Group. We’d love to be lifting you up and caring for you in this time!
3. Give:
If you’d like to give an offering this morning, please check out our Give page to find the best option for you!
Mercy Hill Kids
While difficult, this pandemic does create a wonderful chance for parents to step towards their God-given call as chief disciplers of their kids. We know this may feel overwhelming and that is why we want to help! Parents of Mercy Hill children should have already received an email from the Director of Mercy Hill Kids, Christina Lugo, regarding ways you can utilize the Gospel Project curriculum at home. This information has also been included on our blog here. Beyond this, each Sunday, we are also looking to host an online worship gathering for our kids. You can check here for more details. We'd love to have you join us!
If you have any questions or need help in any way, don't hesitate to reach out to Christina at
Have a Wonderful Week!