by Pastor Joel E. Wood
"Faith Under Fire?"
Acts 23:12-35
https://literalword.com/esv?q=Acts+23:12-35
https://www.newlifelamesa.org/pages/worship-guide
CCLI License #390757

Welcome and Announcements
Orchestral Introit   “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come”

GREETING AND CALL TO WORSHIP   Psalm 116:1-2, 5, 13
Leader: I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
People: Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful.

Leader: I will lift up the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.

PRAYER OF ADORATION, ASSISTANCE, AND BLESSING
Hymnal #179   “Hallelujah! Thine the Glory”
We praise thee, O God!
for the days of our youth,
for the bright lamp that shineth —
the Word of thy truth.

Refrain:
Hallelujah! thine the glory,
hallelujah! we sing;
hallelujah! thine the glory,
our praise now we bring.

We praise thee, O God!
for the Son of thy love,
for Jesus who died
and is now gone above. [Refrain]

We praise thee, O God!
for thy Spirit of light,
who has shown us our Savior
and scattered our night. [Refrain]

All glory and praise
to the Lamb that was slain,
who has borne all our sins and
has cleansed ev'ry stain! [Refrain]

REFLECTION ON GOD’S LAW
Leader: The preface to the Ten Commandments is:
People: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” (Ex. 20:2)

Leader: Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
People: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.” (Isaiah 44:6)

SILENT PRAYER OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF GRACE   I Corinthians 15:3-4

Song   “Come Unto Jesus”
Come unto Jesus all you who are weary.
Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel.
Here, bring your wounded hearts, broken and needy.
Come unto Jesus, mighty to heal.

Joy of the comfortless, Light for the straying,
Hope of the penitent, Peace in our strife.
Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying
My yoke is easy my burden is light.

Chorus:
Come unto Jesus.
Come unto Jesus.
Lay down your burdens, He is enough.
Come unto Jesus, rest in His love.

Come, taste the Bread of Life, broken for sinners.
Drink from the cup of His promise made sure.
Feast at His table as sons and as daughters.
Grace overflowing is yours evermore. [Chorus]

Come, now and follow Him, this life forsaking.
All that was gain, count as nothing but loss.
Trade all this world for His kingdom unfading.
Come unto Jesus, take up your cross.
Come unto Jesus, take up your cross.
Life everlasting He offers to us. [Chorus]
Jordan Kauflin, Laura Story, Matthew Merker
© 2023 Getty Music Hymns and Songs;
GettyMusic Publishing; Jordan Kauflin Music;
Laura's Stories and Songs; Matthew Merker Music
CCLI License # 390757

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
Vows of the Parents
1.  Do you acknowledge your child’s need of the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, and the renewing grace of the Holy Spirit?
2.  Do you claim God’s covenant promises in her behalf, and do you look in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ for her salvation, as you do for you own?
3.  Do you now unreservedly dedicate your child to God, and promise, in humble reliance upon divine grace, that you will endeavor to set before her a godly example, that you will pray with and for her, that you will teach her the doctrines of our holy religion, and that you will strive, by all the means of God’s appointment, to bring her up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord ?
Vow of the Congregation
Do you as a congregation undertake the responsibility of assisting the parents in the Christian nurture of this child?

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH.   Elder Bill Wood

Psalm 21:7-13   “Because the King Trusts in the Lord”
Because the king trusts in the LORD
His confidence is sure;
And through the love of Him Most High,
The king is kept secure.
Your hand will search for enemies
And find out all Your foes,
And all who harbor hate for You
Your right hand will oppose.

In anger You will burn them up
At Your appointed hour;
The LORD will swallow them in wrath,
In fiery flames devour.
Their fruit You will remove from earth,
Their children from mankind.
Their evil plots will not succeed,
Nor schemes they have designed.

For You will make them all retreat —
Your arrows are in place —
And on Your bowstring they are aimed
To strike them in the face.
In Your almighty strength, O LORD,
Exalt Yourself on high;
Then we will sing with psalms of praise,
Your power glorify.

GOD’S WORD READ   Acts 23:12-35
GOD’S WORD PREACHED.   “Faith Under Fire?” 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 #429   “Let Thy Blood In Mercy Poured”
Let thy blood in mercy poured,
let thy gracious body broken,
be to me, O gracious Lord,
of thy boundless love the token.

Refrain:
Thou didst give thyself for me,
now I give myself to thee.

Thou didst die that I might live;
blessed Lord, thou cam'st to save me;
all that love of God could give,
Jesus by his sorrows gave me. [Refrain]

By the thorns that crowned thy brow,
by the spear wound and the nailing,
by the pain and death, I now
claim, O Christ, thy love unfailing. [Refrain]

Wilt thou own the gift I bring?
All my penitence I give thee;
thou art my exalted King,
of thy matchless love forgive me. [Refrain]

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

Hymnal #469   “How Sweet and Awesome Is The Place"
How sweet and awesome is the place
With Christ within the doors,
While everlasting love displays
The choicest of her stores.

While all our hearts and all our songs
Join to admire the feast,
Each of us cries, with thankful tongue,
"Lord, why was I a guest?

"Why was I made to hear your voice,
And enter while there's room,
When thousands make a wretched choice,
And rather starve than come?"

'Twas the same love that spread the feast
That sweetly drew us in;
Else we had still refused to taste,
And perished in our sin.

Pity the nations, O our God,
Constrain the earth to come;
Send your victorious Word abroad,
And bring the strangers home.

We long to see your churches full,
That all the chosen race
May, with one voice and heart and soul,
Sing your redeeming grace.

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