Sunday Worship
August 31, 2025
9:00 AM
God Invites Us and Calls Us to Worship
Greeting - Romans 1.7
7 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Call to Worship - Psalm 8.1-2
1 O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.
Invocation - Presider
Song of Praise
I Want To Know You
Verse 1
I’ve tried in vain a thousand ways
My fears to quell, my hopes to raise
But what I need, Your Word has said
Is ever only Jesus
Verse 2
You died, You live, You reign, You plead
There’s love in all Your words and deeds
This weary heart finds all it needs
In ever only Jesus
Chorus
I want to know You
Jesus my Lord
King of the Heavens
King of my soul
I trade my treasures
And all my rewards
Jesus to know You
Then know You more
Verse 3
Though some should curse me for your name
I have no fear I have no shame
You stand with me for all my days
My ever only Jesus
Bridge
Like wave after wave on the ocean
Like all of the sand on the shore
Your beauty and glory are endless
O Jesus I must know You more
Words and Music by James Proctor, Jonny Robinson, Michael Farren, Rich Thompson. © 2016 CityAlight Music; Farren Love And War Publishing; Integrity's Alleluia! Music. Used by Permission. CCLI License #11375060.
God Purifies Us
Call to Confession - Psalm 11.4-5
4 The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord's throne is in heaven;
his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
5 The Lord tests the righteous,
but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
Individual Prayer
Representative Prayer - Presider
Assurance of Pardon - Psalm 13.5-6
5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.
Song of Thanksgiving
How Great Thou Art
Verse 1
O Lord my God
When I in awesome wonder
Consider all
The worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars
I hear the rolling thunder
Thy pow’r throughout
The universe displayed
Chorus
Then sings my soul
My Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art
Then sings my soul
My Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art
Verse 2
And when I think
That God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die
I scarce can take it in
That on the cross
My burden gladly bearing
He bled and died
To take away my sin
Verse 3
When Christ shall come
With shout of acclamation
And take me home
What joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow
In humble adoration
And there proclaim
My God, how great Thou art
Words and music by Carl Boberg (translated by Stuart K. Hine). Public Domain.
Confession of Faith - The Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed was a result of the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325. The creed emphasizes the doctrine of the Trinity in response to the teachings of Arius, a clergyman who denied the divinity of the Son, the second member of the Trinity. This orthodox statement of faith is used by many denominations, including the PCA.
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.
And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. And we believe in one holy catholic1 and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
God Speaks Through His Word
Pastoral Prayer
Scripture Reading
Judges 16.23-31
23 Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice, and they said, “Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand.” 24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god. For they said, “Our god has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, who has killed many of us.” 25 And when their hearts were merry, they said, “Call Samson, that he may entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars. 26 And Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.” 27 Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained.
28 Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 29 And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. 30 And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life. 31 Then his brothers and all his family came down and took him and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had judged Israel twenty years.
Sermon - Samson and some sin
Rev. Jonny Chung
The Lord’s Supper
Song of Response
Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me
Verse 1
What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give
He is my joy, my righteousness and freedom
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace
Chorus 1
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to His
Oh how strange and divine
I can sing, “All is mine”
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
Verse 2
The night is dark, but I am not forsaken
For by my side, the Savior, He will stay
I labor on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need, His power is displayed
Chorus 2
To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley, He will lead
Oh the night has been won
And I shall overcome
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
Verse 3
No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven
The future’s sure, the price, it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And He was raised to overthrow the grave
Chorus 3
To this I hold, my sin has been defeated
Jesus, now and ever is my plea
Oh, the chains are released
I can sing, “I am free”
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
Verse 4
With every breath, I long to follow Jesus
For He has said that He will bring me home
And day by day, I know He will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne
Chorus 4
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete
Still my lips shall repeat
“Yet not I, but through Christ in me”
Outro
When the race is complete
Still my lips shall repeat
“Yet not I, but through Christ in me” (x2)
“Yet not I, but through Christ in me”
Words by Jonny Robinson, Michael Farren, and Rich Thompson. © 2018 CityAlight Music; Farren Love And War Publishing; Integrity's Alleluia! Music. Used by Permission. CCLI License #11375060.
Thanksgiving Prayer
Benediction
Rev. Jonny Chung
Announcements
Happy Birthday
Happy birthday to Dean McLaughlin (9/9)!
Congratulations
Please continue to pray for the Luos as they had a healthy baby boy (Marco).
Retreat
Thank you to everyone who volunteered to help with retreat!
Anniversary Joint Service
Next Sunday (9/14) is our anniversary service. We will have a joint worship at 10am in the main sanctuary with the KM and then go to Half Day Forest Preserve for a picnic and games. EM has been asked to coordinate games for our fellowship time.
September G5/Member’s Meeting
Our G5 for September will be a going away party for Dean on 9/21. We will have a short member’s meeting today to do some quick planning.
Prayer Request
Please continue to pray for Dean and his family as they mourn the loss of his father.
Childcare
We are looking for a couple volunteers to help with childcare for 30 to 60 minutes on Sundays as needed after lunch. Please let Jonny know if you are able to help.
Sermons
The weekly sermon will be posted on the “Sermons” tab on our website. If you’d like to watch the previous week’s livestream, it will be posted on the church’s YouTube site.
Connect With Our Pastor
Pastor Jonny would like to start meeting with our church members to get to know you and to see how he can support you in prayer and in your walk with the Lord. Don’t be surprised if you get a text or email to try and set up a time to meet for lunch or for a coffee.
Digital Giving
Give contributions to church with Zelle through your mobile banking app or through the Zelle app. Our email for Zelle is highland.giving@gmail.com.
Welcome
We are glad to be with you today! Do stick around after our worship service for lunch and fellowship!
Prayer Requests
Please pray for Josiah. Josiah has a rare genetic neurodevelopmental condition caused by a variation in the TNPO2 gene. His condition is extremely rare; only a few dozen individuals in the entire world have it. Please keep Josiah and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Pray that God would work miracles in Josiah’s life and use Josiah to show the grace and faithfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Please pray for Seungha and Michael as they had a healthy baby boy on 8/7!
Please pray for the McLaughlins (Dean’s family) as they mourn the loss of Dean’s father this past week.
Connect With Our Deacons
Are you or another church member in need of help? Want to get more involved with sympathy and service in our church fellowship? Notice something in our building that needs attention? Or do you have any questions or concerns about our church overall? If so, then please don’t hesitate to connect with our deacons! Our EM deacons are Aaron, Brian, Joey, and Tim, and they are here to serve you and minister God’s compassion and care in our church. Feel free to connect with them via phone, text, or email (highlandemdeacons@gmail.com). Let’s grow together with our deacons for the glory of Christ Jesus!
Signup For Sunday Lunches
Consider supporting lunches for our church on Sundays! Every lunch we enjoy on Sundays are provided by the generous support of our church members. For 2024, members can either provide/cook/buy food on their own or give $100 to our church and have a dedicated cooking team buy/prepare/cook food on their behalf. Check out the signup sheet next to the kitchen window!