WE’RE GLAD YOU’VE JOINED US TODAY.

WHO WE ARE.

• We are a community of city-centred, gospel-focused people striving to serve and renew Toronto through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

WHO WE WELCOME.

• We welcome people of all races, ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds and faiths – both religious and irreligious.

WHO WE BELIEVE IN.

• We believe Christ is relevant to every person in every situation, and we want to help you discover him.

‍‍

GOD CALLS

CALL TO WORSHIP

‍

—Psalm 124:8, NRSV

‍

LEADER:

Our help is in the name of the LORD,

ALL:

who made heaven and earth.

‍

‍

SONG - BE THOU MY VISION

(© Public Domain. CCLI # 30639)

‍

Be Thou my vision

O Lord of my heart

Naught be all else to me

Save that Thou art

Thou my best thought

By day or by night

Waking or sleeping

Thy presence my light

‍

Be Thou my wisdom

Be Thou my true Word

I ever with Thee

And Thou with me Lord

Thou my great Father

I Thy true son

Thou in me dwelling

And I with Thee one

‍

Riches I heed not

Nor man's empty praise

Thou mine inheritance

Now and always

Thou and Thou only

Be first in my heart

High King of heaven

My treasure Thou art

‍

High King of heaven

When vict'ry is won

May I reach heaven's joys

O bright heaven's Sun

Heart of my own heart

Whatever befall

Still be my vision

O Ruler of all

‍

‍

SONG - MIGHTY TO SAVE

(© 2006 Hillsong Publishing. CCLI # 4591782.)

‍

Ev’ryone needs compassion

Love that's never failing

Let mercy fall on me

Ev’ryone needs forgiveness

The kindness of a Saviour

The hope of nations

‍

Saviour He can move the mountains

My God is mighty to save

He is mighty to save

Forever Author of salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

‍

So take me as You find me

All my fears and failures

Fill my life again

I give my life to follow

Ev’rything I believe in

Now I surrender

‍

Shine your light and let the whole world see

We're singing

For the glory of the risen King

Jesus

Shine your light and let the whole world see

We're singing

For the glory of the risen King

‍

‍

SONG - TRUST IN GOD

(© Brandon Lake Music; Music by Elevation Worship Publishing; A Wong Made Write Publishing; Integrity's Praise! Music. CCLI Song # 7206001)

‍

Blessed assurance

Jesus is mine

He's been my fourth man in the fire

Time after time

Born of His Spirit

Washed in His blood

And what He did for me on Calvary

Is more than enough

‍

I trust in God

My Saviour

The One who will never fail

He will never fail

‍

Perfect submission

All is at rest

I know the author of tomorrow

Has ordered my steps

So this is my story

And this is my song

I’m praising my risen King and Saviour

All the day long

‍

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

That’s why I trust Him

That’s why (I trust Him)

‍

‍

GOD CLEANSES

‍

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

‍

LEADER:

Almighty and merciful God,

we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep.

We have followed too much

the devices and desires of our own hearts.

We have offended against your holy laws.

We have left undone those things which we ought to have done;

and we have done those things which we ought not to have done.

‍

ALL:

O Lord, have mercy upon us.

Spare those who confess their faults.

Restore those who are penitent,

according to your promises declared to the world

in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

And grant, O merciful God, for his sake,

that we may live a holy, just, and humble life

to the glory of your holy name.

Amen.

‍

SILENT CONFESSION

‍

WORDS OF ASSURANCE

‍

—Isaiah 53:4-6, NRSV

‍

Surely he has borne our infirmities

and carried our diseases;

yet we accounted him stricken,

struck down by God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions,

crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the punishment that made us whole,

and by his bruises we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray;

we have all turned to our own way,

and the LORD has laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

‍

‍

SONG OF ASSURANCE - ALL I HAVE IS CHRIST

(© 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise. CCLI# 5174122)

‍

I once was lost in darkest night

Yet thought I knew the way

The sin that promised joy and life

Had led me to the grave

I had no hope that You would own

A rebel to Your will

And if You had not loved me first

I would refuse You still

‍

But as I ran my hell-bound race

Indifferent to the cost

You looked upon my helpless state

And led me to the cross

And I beheld God's love displayed

You suffered in my place

You bore the wrath reserved for me

Now all I know is grace

‍

Hallelujah all I have is Christ

Hallelujah Jesus is my life

‍

Now Lord I would be Yours alone

And live so all might see

The strength to follow Your commands

Could never come from me

O Father use my ransomed life

In any way You choose

And let my song forever be

My only boast is You

‍

‍

PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH AND THE CITY

‍

COMMUNITY LIFE ANNOUNCEMENTS

‍‍

KIDS CAFE

• Join us for a kid-friendly coffee hour on Sunday, January 25th after the first service. Enjoy fellowship, delicious baked goods, and specialty hot drinks! Cost of entrance is one canned food item per person.

KINGDOM COME

• Join us for an evening of encounter, worship, and praying for revival in Toronto. We will be gathering with churches across the city at St. Paul's Bloor Street on January 30th at 7 PM.

SLEEPING BAG DRIVE

• Jericho Road is pleased to announce that we managed to collect over 80 sleeping bags with the help of the congregation. Praise God for your generosity and contribution – our hearts are touched by your kindness, and our volunteers will continue distributing them throughout the winter season.

YOUNG ADULTS LOVE IN THE CITY

• It's time for one of our most anticipated events of the year: the young adults panel on friendship, dating, and romance. We'll be joined by special guests: Kevin & Emily Hong! Bring your friends and bring your questions on February 18th at 6:30 PM.

VBS REGISTRATION

• Join us for VBS! This year's theme is "Rainforest Falls: Exploring the Nature of God. We will be running a joint VBS with St. Paul's on Bloor from July 6th to 10th from 9 am to 4 pm. Registration is now open at gracetoronto.ca and ends in March.

‍PRAYER FOR THE WEEK

• UNITY (1 Corinthians 1:10–13) Paul pleaded with the church in Corinth to live in unity. In a world of deep division, reflect on how you can be a peacemaker in your relationships and community. Pray for humility and a spirit of reconciliation.

SUPPORT

• If you are in any form of need or if you are able to help others, please visit http://www.gracetoronto.ca/help  or visit http://www.gracetoronto.ca/prayer  to submit your prayers.

DIACONATE

• The Diaconate exists to contribute to the flourishing of gospel-centered community by meeting the practical needs of our church community, and extending help and compassion to those experiencing hardship or difficult circumstances. Click here for more information.

OFFERING

• To set up your online giving or to learn more about giving options, visitgracetoronto.ca/give.

‍

GOD COMMUNES

‍

SCRIPTURE READING

‍

James 1:9-18

‍

⁹ Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. ¹⁰ But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. ¹¹ For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

¹³ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴ but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ¹⁸ He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.

‍

‍

SERMON

Dan MacDonald

Q&A

Text your questions to 416-830-0335

‍

SONG OF RESPONSE - HE WHO IS TO COME

(© 2023 Capitol CMG Paragon; KPS 1.0; sixsteps Music; sixsteps Songs; worshiptogether.com songs; Writer's Roof Publishing. CCLI Song # 7228694)

‍

There is a day coming

When the old will pass away

Every wrong will be made right

No darkness no night

The Son will light the way

‍

There is a king coming

The one who conquered death and grave

No more pain and no more sorrow

This hope for tomorrow

Is our hope for today

‍

He who was He who is

He who was He who is

‍

He who is to come

Christ the Son of man

Riding on the clouds with a crown upon His head

Every eye will see Him

With the nail scars in His hands

Hallelujah hallelujah

‍

There's only One worthy

Of all glory and all praise

All wealth and all honour

Strength wisdom and power

To the Lamb that was slain oh

‍

Hallelujah hallelujah

‍

He is surely coming

Oh can you feel it too

All this tension growing stronger

It's just a sign He's getting closer

He's already on the move

‍

Yeah the story has been written

We all know how it ends

My future has an anchor

My eyes are on the Saviour

He's coming back again

‍

He who is to come

Christ the Son of man

Riding on the clouds with a crown upon His head

Every eye will see Him

With the nail scars in His hands

Hallelujah hallelujah

‍

Hallelujah hallelujah

Hallelujah hallelujah

‍

Lord we wait oh we pray

We're waiting on You

With our eyes on the horizon

We are hungry we are thirsty

Would You come

We pray we pray

‍

Come Lord Jesus come

Come Lord Jesus come

Come Lord Jesus come

Come Lord Jesus come (we wait we pray)

‍

‍

‍

COMMUNION
‍

PRAYER FOR THOSE SEARCHING FOR TRUTH

Lord Jesus, you claim to be the way, the truth, and the life.  Grant that I might be undaunted by the cost of following you as I consider the reasons for doing so. If what you claim is true, please guide me, teach me, and open me to the reality of who you are.  Give me an understanding of you that is coherent, convincing and that leads to the life you promise.  Amen.

‍

PRAYER OF BELIEF

Lord Jesus Christ, I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever dared admit, but through you I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope.  I thank you for paying my debt on the cross, taking what I deserved in order to offer me complete forgiveness. Knowing that you have been raised from the dead, I turn from my sins and receive you as my Saviour and Lord.  Amen.

‍

GOD COMMISSIONS

‍

BENEDICTION

‍

—based on 2 Corinthians 4:6, NIV

‍

May almighty God,

who caused light to shine out of darkness,

shine in our hearts, cleansing us from all our sins,

and restoring us to the light of the knowledge of God’s glory, in the face of Jesus Christ, our saviour. Amen.

‍

‍

PRAYER

Would you like prayer?  Send us an email at prayer@gracetoronto.ca.  We would love to intercede for you!

CONNECT WITH US

Need to get connected at Grace? Click here to fill in our Connections form!