Here are some details about this week's service:

Songs we'll sing: "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (w/Joyful, Joyful)," "Hosanna (Praise Is Rising)," "Worthy Worthy," "The Lord Almighty Reigns," and "God Is for Us"

Sermon text: Zechariah 9

Cross-references: Zech. 4:6; Matt. 21:1-11, 26:26-29; Rom. 8:31-39;

1 Cor. 15:24-26, 57; 2 Cor. 2:14, 10:1-6; 2 Thes. 1:5-12; Heb. 2:14-15

Please pray for me as I try to pull everything together for this Lord's Day. Zechariah is not an easy book, and chapter 9 has not been an easy study.

But please pray for me and my preaching this week. I want to model the text as I preach the text. I think that means that I don't proclaim the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom but determine to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I pray the Lord enables me to be with you in weakness, so that my manner of speaking and my message demonstrate the Spirit's power and not my own, so that your faith rests in the power of God (1 Cor. 2:1-5). I pray that I entreat you, and everyone present this Lord's Day, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, not waging war according to my flesh. I pray I lean into the weapons of our warfare, which are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds and arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:1-6).

And please pray for our church and any lost who will be present this Lord's Day. Please pray that the Lord uses the preaching of the Word and the singing of the Word and the fellowship of the saints to work in, among, and through us. I pray that the God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ would make us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord as he convinces us that in the Lord our labor is not in vain (1 Cor. 15:57-58). I pray that the God who fights for us will use that truth to make us worthy of his calling, and that he will fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power so that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thes. 1:5-12).

Love you, church!