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Call To Worship
We confess the supremacy of God in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Call to Worship
Adapted from Hebrews 12:22-25; 28, 29
On this Lord’s Day we have come to Mount Zion,
and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,
to an innumerable company of angels.
Today we come to the general assembly
and to the church of the firstborn
who are registered in heaven,
to God, the Judge of all,
to the spirits of just men made perfect.
Today we come to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant,
and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things
than that of Abel.
See that you do not refuse Him who speaks to you today
for you are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken!
So let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably
with reverence and godly fear.
We will not refuse Him who speaks
for our God is a consuming fire!
Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Our Sung Call to Worship
Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder
Verse 1
Let us love and sing and wonder,
Let us praise the Savior’s name.
He has hushed the law’s loud thunder,
He has quenched Mount Sinai’s flame.
He has washed us with His blood,
He has washed us with His blood,
He has washed us with His blood,
He has brought us nigh to God.
Verse 2
Let us love the Lord who bought us,
Pitied us when enemies,
Called us by His grace and taught us,
Gave us ears and gave us eyes.
He has washed us with His blood,
He has washed us with His blood,
He has washed us with His blood,
He presents our souls to God.
Verse 3
Let us sing though fierce temptation
Threatens hard to bear us down,
For the Lord, our strong salvation,
Holds in view the conqueror’s crown.
He who washed us with His blood,
He who washed us with His blood,
He who washed us with His blood,
Soon will bring us home to God.
Verse 4
Let us wonder grace and justice
Join and point to mercy’s store.
When through grace in Christ our trust is,
Justice smiles and asks no more.
He who washed us with His blood,
He who washed us with His blood,
He who washed us with His blood,
Has secured our way to God.
Verse 5
Let us praise and join the chorus
Of the saints enthroned on high.
Here they trusted Him before us,
Now their praises fill the sky.
Thou hast washed us with Thy blood,
Thou hast washed us with Thy blood,
Thou hast washed us with Thy blood,
Thou art worthy Lamb of God.
Words and Music by John Newton and Laura Taylor
©2001 Laura Taylor Music
Confession
We confess our need for mercy through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Confession
Adapted from “The Mediator” The Valley of Vision
Everlasting Creator and Father,
we have destroyed ourselves,
our nature is defiled,
the powers of our souls are degraded;
we are vile, miserable, and strengthless,
but our hope is in You.
If ever we are saved it will be by goodness
undeserved and astonishing,
not by mercy alone but by abundant mercy,
not by grace but by exceeding riches of grace;
And this You have revealed and promised,
exemplified in and through the gospel.
You have devised means to rescue us from sin’s clutches
to restore us to happiness, honor and safety.
We bless Thee for the everlasting covenant and
for the appointment of a mediator, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Time of silent confession.
Our Sung Confession
King of Kings
Verse 1
In the darkness we were waiting
Without hope, without light,
Till from Heaven You came running,
There was mercy in Your eyes.
To fulfill the law and prophets,
To a virgin came the Word,
From a throne of endless glory,
To a cradle in the dirt. (Chorus)
Chorus
Praise the Father,
Praise the Son,
Praise the Spirit, three in one.
God of Glory, Majesty,
Praise forever to the King of Kings
Verse 2
To reveal the kingdom coming
And to reconcile the lost,
To redeem the whole creation,
You did not despise the cross.
For even in Your suffering,
You saw to the other side.
Knowing this was our salvation,
Jesus, for our sake You died. (Chorus)
Verse 3
And the morning that You rose,
All of heaven held its breath,
Till that stone was moved for good,
For the Lamb had conquered death.
And the dead rose from their tombs,
And the angels stood in awe,
For the souls of all who’d come,
To the Father are restored.
Verse 4
And the Church of Christ was born,
Then the Spirit lit the flame.
Now this Gospel truth of old,
Shall not kneel, shall not faint.
By his blood and in His name,
In His freedom I am free
For the love of Jesus Christ,
Who has resurrected me. (Chorus)
Ending
Praise forever to the King of Kings
Words and music by Brooke Ligertwood, Jason Ingram, and Scott Ligertwood
©2019 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Fellow Ships Music (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)
So Essential Tunes (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)
Assurance and Peace
We profess our assurance of salvation and peace in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Remember the Gospel
Adapted from “The Mediator”
The Valley of Vision
We rejoice that Jesus did not fail, nor was He discouraged,
but He accomplished the work You gave Him to do;
and said on the cross, “It is finished.”
We exult in the thought that Your justice is satisfied,
your truth established,
your law magnified,
and a foundation was laid for our hope.
We look to a present and personal interest in Christ and say,
surely He has borne our griefs, carried our sorrows,
won our peace and healed our souls.
Justified by His blood we are saved by His life.
We glory in His cross as we bow before Him,
having His Spirit we possess His mind
and with one voice we cry,
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Our Sung Profession of Assurance
Before the Throne of God
Verse 1
Before the throne of God above,
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands.
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in heav’n He stands,
No tongue can bid me thence depart,
No tongue can bid me thence depart.
Verse 2
When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there,
Who made an end to all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me,
To look on Him and pardon me.
Verse 3
Behold Him there, the risen Lamb!
My perfect, spotless righteousness.
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of Glory and of Grace.
One with Himself, I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood.
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God,
With Christ, my Savior and my God.
Tag
One with Himself, I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood.
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God,
With Christ, my Savior and my God.
Words and Music by Charitie Lees Bancroft and Vicki Cook
©1997 Sovereign Grace Worship (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (Integrity Music, David C Cook))
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.
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/ or place your offering in the boxes at the back of the sanctuary or send a check in the mail.
Scripture Reading
1 Peter 3:13-22 (ESV)
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are
zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed.
Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and
Proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight
persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
This the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
Sermon
1 Peter 3:13-22 – The Gospel is the Final Word – Pastor Eric Schumacher
The Lord’s Supper
This morning we will be observing the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper is a covenant meal for the people of God whereby we remember the person and work of Christ on the cross to redeem us from our sin. It is a time to reflect, remember and repent. It is also the application of the sermon whereby we confess our sin and continually turn to Jesus for grace.
If you have trusted Christ as your Lord and Savior, have been baptized by immersion and are a member in good standing of a local church we invite you to share in this covenant meal with us.
We also ask that everyone who takes this covenant meal with us remember the warning given by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:27-29, “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.” So we ask that you examine your heart and your relationship with God through the person and work of Christ.
If you are not able to receive the Lord’s Supper with us, please use this time to meditate on one of the following prayers.
A PRAYER FOR THOSE SEARCHING FOR THE TRUTH
Lord Jesus, You claim to be the Way, the Truth and the Life. If what You claim is true, please guide me, teach me and open me to the reality of who You are. Grant that I might be undaunted in my pursuit of knowing You. Give me an understanding of You that is coherent and convincing, and that leads me to the life in You. Amen.
A PRAYER FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO CONFESS FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST
Lord Jesus I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever dared admit, but through You I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. I thank You for paying my debt on the cross, taking what I deserve in order to purchase my complete forgiveness. Knowing that You have been raised from the dead, I turn from my sins and receive You as My Savior and Lord. Amen.
A PRAYER OF COMMITMENT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE CONFESSED FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST
Lord Jesus, You have called us to follow You in baptism and in a life of committed discipleship in Your church. Grant that I may take the necessary steps to be one with Your people, and live in the fullness of Your Spirit in a local community of Christ followers. Amen.
adapted from D. A. Carson, ed., Worship by the Book (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002)
Gluten free elements are available for those with this dietary need.
Please dispose of your Lord’s Supper cup in the waste receptacles near the doors or put them in the cup holders of the chairs with book racks under them.
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
The Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavn’ly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Words by Thomas Ken. Music by Louis Bourgeois. Public Domain