Service Preview for September 19

Service Preview for September 19

Download: Readings and Song Lyrics for September 19

Reflection

You can run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Sooner or later God’ll cut you down
Sooner or later God’ll cut you down

Go tell that long tongue liar
Go and tell that midnight rider
Tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter
Tell ’em that God’s gonna cut ’em down
Tell ’em that God’s gonna cut ’em down

Well my goodness gracious let me tell you the news
My head’s been wet with the midnight dew
I’ve been down on bended knee talkin’ to the man from Galilee
He spoke to me in the voice so sweet
I thought I heard the shuffle of the angel’s feet
He called my name and my heart stood still
When he said, “John go do My will!”

God’s Gonna Cut You Down
Traditional American Folk Song

Call To Worship
We confess the supremacy of God in Christ through both responsive reading and song.

Our Spoken Call to Worship
From Isaiah 33:2, 5-6 (CSB)

Lord, be gracious to us! We wait for you.
Be our strength every morning
and our salvation in time of trouble.

Lord, be gracious to us! We wait for you.

The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high;
he has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.

Lord, be gracious to us! We wait for you.

There will be times of security for you —
a storehouse of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge.
The fear of the Lord is Zion’s treasure.

Lord, be gracious to us! We wait for you.

Our Sung Call to Worship
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Verse 1
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear. (Chorus)

Chorus
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

Verse 2
O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight. (Chorus)

Verse 3
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
And order all things far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And cause us in her ways to go. (Chorus)

Verse 4
O come, Desire of nations, bind
All peoples in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease;
Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace. (Chorus 2 X’s)

Latin Hymn vs. 1 & 2 translated by John Mason Neal, vs. 3 & 4 translated by Henry Sloane Coffin
Public Domain

Confession
We confess our need for mercy through both responsive reading and song.

Our Spoken Lament
From Ps 55:1-2; Job 7:11; Ex 34:6; Ps 10:1; 19:7,11; 119:176; 34:10; 22:15; 88:13-14,16,18

God, listen to my prayer
and do not hide from my plea for help.
Pay attention to me and answer me.
I am restless and in turmoil with my complaint.
I will not restrain my mouth.
I will speak in the anguish of my spirit;
I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

You are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth.
So why do you stand so far away?
Why do you hide in times of trouble?

Your word is perfect, reviving the soul—
and in keeping it there is abundant reward.
But I wander like a lost sheep,
though I do not forget your commands.

You say, “Taste and see that the Lord is good!
Those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing.”
But my strength is dried up like baked clay;
my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.

I call to you for help, Lord;
in the morning my prayer meets you.
Lord, why do you reject me?
Why do you hide your face from me?

Your wrath sweeps over me;
your terrors destroy me.
You have distanced loved one and neighbor from me;
darkness is my only friend.

Time of silent lament.

Our Sung Confession
Christ is Mine Forevermore

Verse 1
Mine are the days that God has numbered;
I was made to walk with Him.
Yet I look for worldly treasure
and forsake the King of kings.
But mine is hope in my Redeemer—
though I fall His love is sure!
For Christ has paid for every failing;
I am His forevermore!

Verse 2
Mine are tears in times of sorrow,
darkness not yet understood.
Through the valley, I must travel
where I see no earthly good.
But mine is peace that flows from heaven
and the strength in times of need.
I know my pain will not be wasted—
Christ completes His work in me.

Verse 3
Mine are days here as stranger,
pilgrim on a narrow way.
One with Christ, I will encounter
harm and hatred for His name.
But mine is armour for this battle,
strong enough to last the war.
And He has said He will deliver
safely to the golden shore.

Refrain
And mine are keys to Zion city,
where beside the King, I walk.
For there, my heart has found its treasure—
Christ is mine forevermore.

Bridge
Come rejoice now, O my soul,
for His love is my reward!
Fear is gone, and hope is sure—
Christ is mine forevermore. (Repeat)

Ending
And mine are keys to Zion city,
where beside the King, I walk.
For there, my heart has found its treasure—
Christ is mine forever more.

Music and Words by Jonny Robinson and Rich Thompson
©2016 CityAlight Music

Assurance and Peace
We profess our assurance of salvation and peace in Christ through both responsive reading and song.

Remember the Gospel & The Lord’s Supper
From Isaiah 1:18; 44:22; Revelation 5:12–13 (CSB)

“Come, let’s settle this,” says the Lord.
“Though your sins are scarlet,
they will be as white as snow;
though they are crimson red,
they will be like wool.
I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud,
and your sins like a mist.
Return to me,
for I have redeemed you.”

Hallelujah to the Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world!

Distribution of elements. Singing of It is Well With My Soul

Celebration of the Lord’s Supper

Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered
to receive power and riches
and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and blessing!

Blessing and honor and glory and power
be to the one seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb, forever and ever! Amen!

Our Sung Profession of Assurance
It is Well With My Soul

Verse 1
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Verse 2
Tho’ Satan should buffet, tho’ trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Verse 3
My sin oh, the bliss of this glorious tho’t:
My sin not in part, but the whole
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Verse 4
And, Lord, haste the day when faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend,
“Even so,” it is well with my soul.
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Words by Elvina M. Hall
Music by John T. Grape
Public Domain

O Praise the Name

Verse 1
I cast my mind to Calvary,
Where Jesus bled and died for me.
I see His wounds, His hands, His feet.
My Saviour on that cursed tree.

Verse 2
His body bound and drenched in tears.
They laid Him down in Joseph’s tomb.
The entrance sealed by heavy stone.
Messiah still and all alone. (Chorus)

Chorus
O praise the Name of the Lord our God.
O praise His Name forevermore.
For endless days we will sing Your praise.
Oh Lord, oh Lord, our God.

Verse 3
And on the third at break of dawn,
The Son of heaven rose again.
O trampled death where is your sting?
The angels roar for Christ the King. (Chorus)

Verse 4
He shall return in robes of white.
The blazing sun shall pierce the night.
And I will rise among the saints,
My gaze transfixed on Jesus’ face. (Chorus)

Tag
O Lord, O Lord our God.
O Lord, O Lord our God.

Music and Words by Benjamin Hastings, Dean Ussher, and Marty Sampson
©2015 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia

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 9:1-19
1But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless,
hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said,
“Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying,
11and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”
13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;
19 and taking food, he was strengthened.
For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.

This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!

Sermon
Acts 9:1-19a – Who’s Your ONE? – 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
Based on Revelation 22:21 (CSB)

Go! And may the grace of the Lord Jesus
be with everyone.
Amen.

Recognition of New Members
Scott & Linsey Prescott

Scripture Passage for Next Week: Acts 9:19b-31