by Pastor Joel E. Wood
"Almost Persuaded"
Acts 26
https://literalword.com/esv?q=Acts+26
https://www.newlifelamesa.org/pages/worship-guide
CCLI License #390757

9:30a Service
Welcome and Announcements

Choral Introit   “In Christ Alone”
In Christ alone my hope is found.
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease.
My Comforter, my all in all,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones he came to save.
‘Til on the cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied.
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am his and he is mine,
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
‘Til He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I stand.

No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
‘Til He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I stand.
Here in the power of Christ I stand.

Words and Music by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty
Arr. by David Angerman

GREETING AND CALL TO WORSHIP   Psalm 107:1–3
Leader: Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
People: For his steadfast love endures forever!

Leader: Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble.
All: And gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

PRAYER OF ADORATION, ASSISTANCE, AND BLESSING
Hymnal #613   “Give Thanks unto the Lord, Jehovah”
Give thanks unto the Lord, Jehovah,
for he is good, O praise his name!
Let Israel say: "The Lord be praised;
his mercy ever is the same."
Let Aaron's house now praise Jehovah;
the Lord is good, O praise his name.
Let all that fear the Lord extol him;
his mercy ever is the same.

In a large place the Lord has set me;
in my distress he heard my cry.
I will not fear; the Lord is with me -
What can man do, when God is nigh?
The Lord is chief among my helpers;
and I shall see my foes o'erthrown:
far better than in man or princes,
my trust I place in God alone.

I shall not die, but live, declaring
the works of God, who tried me sore,
and chastened me, but in his mercy
not unto death has giv'n me o'er.
The gates of righteousness set open,
the gate of God! I'll enter in
to praise you, Lord, who pray'r have answered,
and have saved me from all my sin.

The stone — O Lord, it is your doing —
the stone, the builders did despise,
is made the headstone of the corner,
and it is marv'lous in our eyes.
This is the day, of days most glorious,
the Lord hath made; we'll joy and sing.
Send now prosperity, we pray, Lord;
and, O our God, salvation bring!

REFLECTION ON GOD’S LAW
Leader: What is the sum of the six commandments which contain our duty to man?
People: To love our neighbor as ourselves, and to do to others what we would have them to do to us. 

Leader: Jesus said:
People: “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)

SILENT PRAYER OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF GRACE   Ephesians 1:7

Hymnal #690    “I Know That My Redeemer Lives”
I know that my Redeemer lives,
And ever prays for me;
A token of his love he gives,
A pledge of liberty.

I find him lifting up my head;
He brings salvation near;
His presence makes me free indeed
And he will soon appear.

He wills that I should holy be:
Who can withstand his will?
The counsel of his grace in me
He surely shall fulfil.

Jesus, I hang upon your Word:
I steadfastly believe
You will return and claim me, Lord,
And to yourself receive.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH.   Elder Dave Fredrickson

Psalm 92   “It's Good to Thank the LORD”
It’s good to thank the LORD,
To praise Your name, Most High;
To tell Your love at dawn,
Your faithfulness by night
With ten-stringed lyre,
Resounding music played upon the harp and lyre.

Your deeds, LORD, made me glad;
I’ll sing of what You’ve done.
How great Your works, O LORD,
How deep Your thoughts each one.
A senseless man
Devoid of knowledge, this truth will not understand:

All sinners grow like grass,
The wicked multiply;
And yet they’ll be destroyed.
But, LORD, You stay on high.
Your foes, LORD, fall;
Your foes will perish, evil doers scattered all.

You’ve poured oil on my head,
Like oxen I’m made strong.
I’ve seen and heard the fate
Of those who’ve done me wrong.
Like thriving palm
The righteous grows, like cedars tall on Lebanon.

Those planted by the LORD
Will in God’s courts be seen;
When old they’ll still bear fruit
And flourish fresh and green,
And this proclaim:
How upright is the LORD, my Rock, no wrong in Him.

GOD’S WORD READ   Acts 26
GOD’S WORD PREACHED.   “Almost Persuaded” 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 #307   “Nothing but The Blood”
What can wash away my sin?
nothing but the blood of Jesus;
what can make me whole again?
nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain:
O precious is the flow
that makes me white as snow;
no other fount I know,
nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my cleansing this I see —
nothing but the blood of Jesus;
for my pardon this my plea —
nothing but the blood of Jesus. [Refrain]

Nothing can for sin atone —
nothing but the blood of Jesus;
naught of good that I have done —
nothing but the blood of Jesus. [Refrain]

This is all my hope and peace —
nothing but the blood of Jesus;
this is all my righteousness —
nothing but the blood of Jesus. [Refrain]

Now by this I'll overcome —
nothing but the blood of Jesus;
now by this I'll reach my home —
nothing but the blood of Jesus. [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

Song   “Jesus Is Lord"
“Jesus is Lord”
The cry that echoes through creation;
Resplendent pow'r eternal Word, our Rock.
The Son of God.
The King ,whose glory fills the heavens,
Yet bids us come to taste this living bread.

Jesus is Lord,
Whose voice sustains the stars and planets,
Yet, in His wisdom, laid aside His crown.
Jesus ,the man
Who washed our feet, who bore our suff’ring,
Became a curse to bring salvation's plan.

Jesus is Lord,
The tomb is gloriously empty!
Not even death could crush this King of love!
The price is paid,
The chains are loosed, and we're forgiven,
And we can run into the arms of God.

“Jesus is Lord”
A shout of joy, a cry of anguish,
As He returns, and ev’ry knee bows low.
Then ev’ry eye
And ev’ry heart will see His glory;
The Judge of all will take His children home.
Keith Getty | Stuart Townend
© 2003 Thankyou Music Ltd
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