(Download: Worship Service Readings for March 29, 2020)
Call To Worship
We confess the supremacy of God in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Call to Worship
From Psalm 46 (ESV):
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Come, behold the works of the LORD,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Our Sung Call to Worship
How Great Thou Art
Lament
We confess our need for mercy through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Lament
Based on Psalms 4:1; 5:1-3; 6:1-5, 8-9 (CSB)
Let us raise our voices in lament!
Let us groan with all creation!
Let us mourn the sickness that threatens,
and seek the Lord who saves.
Answer us when we call,
God, who vindicates us.
You freed us from affliction;
be gracious to us and hear our prayer.
Moment of silent lament.
Listen to our words, LORD; consider our sighing.
Pay attention to the sound of our cry,
our King and our God, for we pray to you.
In the morning, LORD, you hear our voice;
in the morning we plead our case to you and watch expectantly.
Moment of silent lament.
LORD, do not rebuke us in your anger;
do not discipline us in your wrath.
Be gracious to us, LORD, for we are weak;
heal us, LORD, for our bones are shaking;
our whole being is shaken with terror.
And you, LORD—how long?
Moment of silent lament.
Turn, LORD! Rescue us;
save us because of your faithful love.
For there is no remembrance of you in death;
who can thank you in Sheol?
Depart from us, all evildoers,
for the LORD has heard the sound of our weeping.
The LORD has heard our plea for help;
the LORD accepts our prayer.
Our Sung Confession
Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul
Assurance and Peace
We profess our assurance of salvation and peace in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Remember the Gospel
From Psalm 23 (ESV)
Let us remember the goodness of our Shepherd.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
Our Sung Profession of Assurance
The Old Rugged Cross
Thanksgiving and Petition
We Give Thanks in Prayer and Offer Petitions to God
We express our gratitude to God our Father for Christ’s work on the cross for us and bring our requests before him. In bringing our requests, we confess that we believe God truly is a good father, who cares about our needs and gives us what he knows is best.
Elder Prayer (PDF)
Heavenly Father,
Grant that we may know well the times in which we live as you promise in Romans 13. Wake us from spiritual slumber induced by the pursuit of lives of ease, pleasure, power, health, wealth and leisure. May you use the scourge of the coronavirus plague to the great end of helping us to clarify the vector of our lives and focus us on eternity and to turn us from only mere temporal pursuits. Open our eyes to the fleeting days of our lives to see that the salvation of eternity is nearer to us now than when we first believed. Give us understanding of the times to know that the night of this broken world, the flesh and the devil is far gone and the daytime of life in eternity with you is at hand.
Give us grace to renounce and put off the works of darkness and put on the whole armor of God to walk properly as in the light of daytime.
Give us wisdom and strength to pray at all times in the Spirit with all prayer and supplication. Make us alert with all perseverance making supplication for all the saints. To that end we pray for the members of this church while we are unable to gather, that we would find ways to build one another up in your word, prayer, acts of kindness and mercy as well as words of encouragement. We pray that you would make us faithful in continuing to contribute generously to the work of your kingdom especially through this church as well as to those in benevolent need around us. During this time of scattering may you also make us especially diligent to instruct our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Thank you for each of the children you have given to our families and this church. We pray for those members overseas at this time that you would protect and guide them and make them bright lights for the Gospel to many in the dark places where they live and work.
May the work of the ministry of sowing your word today bring forth a bountiful harvest of righteousness in the lives of the hearers and those lives they will touch this week.
Amen.
We Give Thanks by Giving
We give financial offerings to support the work of the church because of our gratitude to God. By giving we confess we are trusting in God’s provision for us as well. On the first Sunday of each month we have two offerings—one for the general fund and a second one for the benevolence ministry of our church.
You may give electronically at gabcames.org/giving.
You may also send a check by mail.
We Give Thanks in Song
Psalm 62
Scripture Reading
Hosea 11:12-12:6 (ESV)
11:12 Ephraim has surrounded me with lies,
and the house of Israel with deceit,
but Judah still walks with God
and is faithful to the Holy One.
12:1Ephraim feeds on the wind
and pursues the east wind all day long;
they multiply falsehood and violence;
they make a covenant with Assyria,
and oil is carried to Egypt.
2 The LORD has an indictment against Judah
and will punish Jacob according to his ways;
he will repay him according to his deeds.
3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel,
and in his manhood he strove with God.
4 He strove with the angel and prevailed;
he wept and sought his favor.
He met God at Bethel,
and there God spoke with us—
5 the LORD, the God of hosts,
the LORD is his memorial name:
6 “So you, by the help of your God, return,
hold fast to love and justice,
and wait continually for your God.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
Sermon (manuscript)
Hosea 11:12-12:6 — Yahweh Indicts and Invites His People — Pastor Eric Schumacher
Sending
Having heard and confessed the Gospel, we are sent into the world on mission in Christ, which we express in both song and spoken word.
Sending Song (Words printed below video)
Jesus Is Mine
Jesus is Mine
Words and Music by Matt Merker, Jordan Kauflin, and Keith Getty
Verse 1
Fade, fade, each earthly joy; Jesus is mine.
Stronger than fleeting hopes, Jesus is mine.
Dark is the wilderness, Earth has no resting place,
Jesus alone can bless; Jesus is mine.
Verse 2
In days of fragile peace, Jesus is mine.
Through tearful nights of grief, Jesus is mine.
His voice commands the storm, His presence stills my soul,
He will sustain my hope; Jesus is mine. (Chorus)
Chorus:
Jesus is mine, Jesus is mine,
When all else fails, He still remains;
Jesus is mine!
Verse 3
When on that final day, Jesus is mine;
Before his radiant face, Jesus is mine.
Safe in his arms I’ll cling, Praising my Savior King,
Forevermore I’ll sing: “Jesus is mine.” (Chorus)
Blessing
From 2 Thessalonians 3:5 (ESV)
May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God
and to the steadfastness of Christ.
Amen.