Download: Readings and Song Lyrics for August 1
Reflection
Heavenly Father!
Send the good news of your salvation
to the ends of the earth.
Be with your missionary servants
who are engaged in preaching the gospel.
Take their feet, and let them be
Swift and beautiful for thee;
Take their lips and let them be,
Filled with the messages for thee.
Turn the hearts of many people to Christ,
and make them obedient to your truth.
Amen
David B. Calhoun
Call To Worship
We confess the supremacy of God in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Call to Worship
From Psalm 93 (NIV)
The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength;
indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.
Your throne was established long ago;
you are from all eternity.
The seas have lifted up, Lord,
the seas have lifted up their voice;
the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
mightier than the breakers of the sea—
the Lord on high is mighty.
Your statutes, Lord, stand firm;
holiness adorns your house
for endless days.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and shall be forever. Amen.
Our Sung Call to Worship
Be Unto Your Name
Verse 1
We are a moment, You are forever,
Lord of the ages, God before time.
We are a vapor, You are eternal,
Love everlasting, reigning on high. (Chorus)
Chorus
Holy, holy, Lord God Almighty,
Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain.
Highest praises, honor and glory,
Be unto Your name
Be unto Your name.
Verse 2
We are the broken, You are the healer,
Jesus, Redeemer, mighty to save.
You are the love song we’ll sing forever,
Bowing before You, blessing Your name. (Chorus)
(Chorus)
Words and Music by Lynn DeShazo and Gary Sadler
©1998 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
Confession
We confess our need for mercy through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Confession
We present our requests to you, Lord God,
for apart from you we can do nothing.
*Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!
Lord, have mercy! Have mercy, Lord.
For all people in their daily life and work;
For our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone.*
For this community, the nation, and the world;
For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.*
For the just and proper use of your creation;
For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.*
For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble;
For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and the needy.*
For the peace and unity of the Church of God;
For all who proclaim the Gospel, and all who seek the Truth.*
For the elders of our church and for all pastors and other ministers;
For all who serve God in his Church.*
For the forgiveness of our sins, in thought, word and deed;
For the forgiveness of what we have done and left undone.*
Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!
Lord, have mercy! Have mercy, Lord.
Christ, have mercy! Christ, have mercy!
Christ, have mercy! Have mercy, Lord.
Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!
Lord, have mercy! Have mercy, Lord.
Time of silent confession.
Our Sung Confession
Abide With Me
Verse 1
Abide with me: fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide:
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me!
Verse 2
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see:
O Thou who changest not, abide with me!
Verse 3
I need Thy presence ev’ry passing hour;
What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me!
Verse 4
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine thro’ the gloom, and point me to the skies:
Heav’n’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee:
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!
Words by Henry F. Lyte
Music by William Henry Monk
Public Domain
Assurance and Peace
We profess our assurance of salvation and peace in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Remember the Gospel
From 1 John 1:10-2:2, 12-14 (CSB)
If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar,
and his word is not in us.
But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—
Jesus Christ the righteous one.
He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins,
and not only for ours,
but also for those of the whole world.
Do you believe in the Son of God, Jesus Christ?
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s Son
whose death atoned for our sins
and whose resurrection guarantees our eternal life.
Hear, then, this good news from the Word of God:
Your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
You have come to know the one who is from the beginning.
You have come to know the Father.
You are strong, God’s word remains in you,
and you have conquered the evil one.
Our Sung Profession of Assurance
The Gospel Song
Holy God in love became,
Perfect Man to bear my blame,
On the cross He took my sin,
By His death I live again.
Music and Words by Bob Kauflin and Drew Jones
©2002 Sovereign Grace Praise, Sovereign Grace Worship
Before the Throne of God Above
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.
Words and Music by Charitie Lees Bancroft and Vicki Cook
©1997 Sovereign Grace Worship
Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me
Verse 1
What gift of grace is Jesus my Redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give
He is my joy, my righteousness and freedom
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace.
To this I hold: my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to his.
Oh, how strange and divine, I can sing: all is mine!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me.
Verse 2
The night is dark but I am not forsaken
For by my side, the Savior he will stay.
I labour on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need, his power is displayed.
To this I hold: my Shepherd will defend me;
Through the deepest valley he will lead.
Oh the night has been won, and I shall overcome!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me.
Verse 3
No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven;
The future sure, the price it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And he was raised to overthrow the grave.
To this I hold: my sin has been defeated
Jesus now and ever is my plea
Oh the chains are released, I can sing I am free!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me.
Verse 4
With every breath I long to follow Jesus
For he has said that he will bring me home.
And day by day I know he will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne.
To this I hold: my hope is only Jesus!
All the glory evermore to him!
When the race is complete,
still my lips shall repeat:
Yet not I, but through Christ in me.
Song ending
When the race is complete,
still my lips shall repeat:
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
Yet not I, but through Christ in me.
Words and Music by Jenny Robinson, Rich Thompson and Michael Farren
©2018 CityAlight Music, Farren Love And War Publishing, Integrity’s Alleluia! Music
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
Acts 4:23-37 (ESV)
23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,
“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed’—
27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
This the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
Sermon
Acts 4:23-37 – How to Handle Persecution – Pastor Michael Felkins
Sermon Discipleship Questions
1. What encouraged you?
2. What convicted you?
3. Is there anything in your life that needs to change?
Sending
Having heard and confessed the Gospel, we are sent into the world on mission in Christ, which we express in spoken word.
Blessing
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Next week’s scripture passage: Acts 5:1-16