by Pastor Joel E. Wood
"A Promise in Persecution"
Acts 22:30-23:11
https://literalword.com/esv?q=Acts+22:30-23:11
https://www.newlifelamesa.org/pages/worship-guide
CCLI License #390757 

9:30a Service
Welcome and Announcements

Choral Introit   “They Shall Soar Like Eagles”
Refrain: 
They shall soar like eagles; rise up and soar like eagles.
They who wait upon the Lord shall not be weary. 
They shall never stumble, but gain new strength and power.
They who wait upon the Lord.

Those who are weary and burdened with sorrow 
need not despair there is hope for tomorrow.
God will be there each time you call on Him. Refrain.

They who wait upon the Lord.
They who wait upon the Lord.

Text: Based on Isaiah 40:29-31
Words and Music by Laura Manzo

GREETING AND CALL TO WORSHIP   Psalm 113:4–9
Leader: The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens!
People: Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?

Leader: He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
People: To make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.

Leader: He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children.
All: Praise the Lord!

PRAYER OF ADORATION, ASSISTANCE, AND BLESSING

Hymnal #100   “Holy, Holy, Holy”
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
who wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee
perfect in pow'r, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

REFLECTION ON GOD’S LAW
Leader: The Tenth Commandment is:
People: You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s. (Exodus 20:17)

Leader: Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have,
People: For he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

SILENT PRAYER OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF GRACE   John 3:16

Song   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! [Chorus]

Ada Ruth Habershon, Matthew Merker
© 2013 Getty Music Publishing; Matthew Merker Music
CCLI #390757

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH.   Elder Vince Ortiz

Psalm 96:7-13  “Ascribe Unto the Lord”
Ascribe unto the LORD,
All families of earth,
Ascribe unto the LORD His strength
And His most glorious worth.
Ascribe unto the LORD
The glory of His name;
Come, make your way into His courts,
And bring an offering.

In holy splendor robed,
Bow down before the LORD;
Before Him tremble all the earth.
To nations speak this word:
“The LORD reigns over all!”
The world unmoved will be,
It firm remains; He’ll nations rule
And judge with equity.

O let the skies be glad,
And let the earth rejoice.
Let seas and all that they contain
Lift up their roaring voice.
Let every beast exult,
Let fields with gladness sing;
The joyful singing of the trees
Shall make the forests ring.

They’ll sing before the LORD,
For He is drawing near
To be the judge of all the earth;
He surely will appear.
Then He will rule the world
In perfect righteousness,
And govern all the nations in
His truth and faithfulness.

GOD’S WORD READ   Acts 22:30-23:11

GOD’S WORD PREACHED.   “A Promise in Persecution” 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. 

Hymnal #256   “There Is A Green Hill Far Away”
There is a green hill far away,
without a city wall,
where the dear Lord was crucified,
who died to save us all.

We may not know, we cannot tell,
what pains he had to bear;
but we believe it was for us
he hung and suffered there.

He died that we might be forgiv'n,
he died to make us good,
that we might go at last to heav'n,
saved by his precious blood.

There was no other good enough
to pay the price of sin;
he only could unlock the gate
of heav'n, and let us in.

O dearly, dearly has he loved,
and we must love him too,
and trust in his redeeming blood,
and try his works to do.

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. 

SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

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 for the Lord’s Supper

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Song   “Speak O Lord "
Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of Your holy word. 
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us; 
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness, 
That the light of Christ might be seen today 
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith. 
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us
All Your purposes, for Your glory

Teach us Lord full obedience, 
Holy reverence, true humility. 
Test our thoughts and our attitudes 
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise,
Cause our eyes to see Your majestic love and authority.
Words of pow’r that can never fail;
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us.
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time,
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises;
And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.

Keith Getty, Stuart Townend
© 2005 Thankyou Music
CCLI License #390757

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.

THE BENEDICTION

Postlude