Pastor Joel E. Wood
“Generous Mercy in Christ's Body”: Acts 4:32-37
Worship Guide: 03Dec23_AM_Worship
Welcome and Announcements
Instrumental Introit – “Gesu Bambino”
GREETING & CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 68:20, 26, 35
Leader: Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
People: Bless God in the great congregation, the Lord, O you who are of Israel's fountain!
Leader: Awesome is God from his sanctuary;
People: The God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
PRAYER OF ADORATION, ASSISTANCE AND BLESSING
Trinity Hymnal #195 “Joy to the World! The Lord Is Come”
Joy to the world! The Lord is come:
let earth receive her King;
let every heart prepare him room,
and heav'n and nature sing,
and heav'n and nature sing,
and heav'n, and heav'n and nature sing.
Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns:
let men their songs employ;
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
nor thorns infest the ground;
he comes to make his blessings flow
far as the curse is found,
far as the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.
REFLECTION ON THE LAW
Leader: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
People: This is the great and first commandment. (Matt. 22: 37-38)
Leader: God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the Lord your God.
You shall have no other gods before me."
People: For although there may be so-called "gods" in heaven or on earth… yet for us there is one God. (1 Cor. 8:5-6)
Leader: You shall not make for yourself an idol.
People: What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God. (2 Cor. 6:16)
Leader: You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
People: Let your "yes" be yes and your "no" be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. (Jam. 5:12)
Leader: Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
People: There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. (Heb. 4:9-10)
Confession of Sin
Assurance of Pardon – John 10:27-28
Hymn (CCLI Song #7016161) “He Will Hold Me Fast”
When I fear my faith will fail
Christ will hold me fast
When the tempter would prevail
He will hold me fast
I could never keep my hold
Through life's fearful path
For my love is often cold
He must hold me fast
Chorus: He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
For my Savior loves me so
He will hold me fast
Those He saves are His delight
Christ will hold me fast
Precious in His holy sight
He will hold me fast
He'll not let my soul be lost
His Promises shall last
Bought by Him at such a cost
He will hold me fast [Chorus]
For my life He bled and died
Christ will hold me fast
Justice has been satisfied
He will hold me fast
Raised with Him to endless life
He will hold me fast
Till our faith is turned to sight
When He comes at last
Prayer of the Church: Pastor M. Connor Underseth
Psalm 24:1-10 “The Earth and the Riches” [Book of Psalms for Worship; tune: Trinity Hymnal #55]
The earth and the riches that in it is stored,
The world and its dwellers belong to the LORD.
For He is the One who first caused it to stand,
And up from the seas He established the land.
O who can the path to the LORD’s mount ascend?
And who in the place of His holiness stand?
The man of pure heart and of hands without stain,
Who swears not to idols nor worships what’s vain.
Yes, he from the LORD shall a blessing obtain,
And from God his Savior he’ll righteousness gain.
Thus looking to Him is a whole blessed race;
All those who, like Jacob, are seeking Your face.
O gates, lift your heads! Ancient doors, lift them high!
The great King of glory to enter draws nigh!
O who is the King that in glory draws near?
The LORD, mighty LORD of the battle, is here!
O gates, lift your heads! Ancient doors, lift them high!
The great King of glory to enter draws nigh!
This great King of glory, O who can He be?
The LORD God of hosts, King of glory is He!
God’s Word Read: Acts 4:32-37
God’s Word Preached: “Generous Mercy in Christ’s Body” by Pastor Joel E. Wood
Prayer of Application and the Lord’s Prayer
All: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
Songbook #91 “We Worship at Your Feet”
Come and see, come and see
Come and see the King of love
See the purple robe and crown of thorns He wears
Soldiers mock, rulers sneer
As He lifts the cruel cross
Lone and friendless now He climbs towards the hill
Chorus - We worship at your feet
Where wrath and mercy meet
And a guilty world is washed by love's pure stream
For us He was made sin
Oh help me take it in
Deep wounds of love cry out 'Father forgive '
I worship, I worship the Lamb who was slain
Come and weep, come and mourn
For your sin that pierced Him there
So much deeper than the wounds of thorn and nail
All our pride, all our greed
All our fallenness and shame
And the Lord has laid the punishment on Him [Chorus]
Man of heaven, born to earth
To restore us to Your heaven
Here we bow in awe beneath Your searching eyes
From Your tears comes our joy
From Your death our life shall spring
By Your resurrection power we shall rise [Chorus]
CCLI Song # 192405
Trinity Hymnal p. 845 - “Apostles Creed”
Minister: Christian, what do you believe?
All: I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Words of Institution and Warning
Minister: The Lord be with you;
People: And also with you.
Minister: Lift up your hearts;
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Minister: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God;
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Communion Prayer
Approach the Table
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Songbook #41 - “I Stand in Awe” (CCLI #23914)
You are beautiful beyond description,
Too marvelous for words;
Too wonderful for comprehension,
Like nothing ever seen or heard.
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom?
Who can fathom the depth of Your love?
You are beautiful beyond description,
Majesty enthroned above.
And I stand, I stand in awe of You;
I stand, I stand in awe of You.
Holy God, to whom all praise is due,
I stand in awe of You.
Trinity Hymnal #731 – “Doxology”
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heav'nly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Benediction
Postlude
