Download: Readings and Song Lyrics for December 26
Reflection
“There is no advance for the gospel without opposition.
Indeed, so clear is this truth that sometimes, paradoxically,
it’s only when an apparent disaster threatens,
or when the church is suddenly up against confrontation
and has to pray its way through,
that you can be quite sure you’re on the right track.”
N. T. Wright
Call To Worship
We confess the supremacy of God in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Call to Worship
My soul waits for the Lord
more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.
Out of the depths I have cried to You.
O Lord, hear my voice.
With my whole heart I want to praise You.
O Lord, hear my voice.
If you, Lord, kept a record of sin,
Who could stand? Who could stand?
I will wait for the Lord.
My soul waits,
and in His word do I hope.
Our Sung Call to Worship
Cannons
Verse 1
It’s falling from the clouds, a strange and lovely sound,
I hear it in the thunder and the rain.
It’s ringing in the skies, like cannons in the night,
The music of the universe plays.
We’re singing:
Chorus 1
You are holy, great and mighty.
The moon and the stars declare who You are.
I’m so unworthy, but still You love me.
Forever my heart will sing of how great You are.
Verse 2
Beautiful and free, the song of galaxies,
Reaching far beyond the Milky Way.
Let’s join in the sound, come on let’s sing it out
As the music of the universe plays.
We’re singing:
Chorus 2
You are holy, great and mighty,
The moon and stars declare who You are.
I’m so unworthy, but still You love me.
Forever my heart will sing of You.
Bridge
All glory, honor, power is Yours, amen.
All glory, honor, power is Yours, amen.
All glory, honor, power is Yours forever, amen.
(Chorus 1)
Words and Music by Phil Wickham
©2006 Phil Wickham Music, Seems Like Music, Sing My Songs
Confession
We confess our need for mercy through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Confession
Merciful God,
we confess to you and to one another that time after time
we have entered your presence with countless prayers
but with hearts that have been cold.
We have sung songs of praise to you,
but often our feet have walked in the ways of evil.
We have rehearsed your commandments
but have often refused to see your face in the needs of our neighbor.
We pray, Lord, that you forgive our lack of faith
and pardon our acts of injustice.
Grant us the healing that comes from your presence
and the cleansing of your all-powerful Word,
We plead for this in the name of Jesus.
Time of silent confession.
Our Sung Confession
I Am One of Those
Verse 1
I am one of those, at the table not invited,
And to all here at the feast it’s very plain,
I cannot hide in etiquette or conversation,
But Christ himself sent word to me and so I came.
Verse 2
I am one of those who was dead and fully buried,
And I still bear every stigma of decay,
There is no way I can cover just what I’ve been through,
‘cause when Jesus called I came out of the grave. (Chorus)
Chorus
Though the world may number me among the foolish,
I think Jesus Christ is all I need to know
Jesus suffered and paid blood to buy the lowest of the low
Hallelujah! Amen! That’s me! I am one of those!
Verse 3
I am one of those, who was a leper and contagious,
The deformities and scars I have today,
Yet while I was vile with sickness Jesus loved me,
And He healed, restored and through and through remade.
Verse 4
I am one of those who was doomed to death in prison,
And I’ve done more evil things than I could say,
Jesus broke inside and there unlocked my shackles,
And to set me free, he died and took my place. (Chorus)
Verse 5
I am one of those, who was hard to love and ugly,
Self-righteous critical religion was my stain.
So I ran to Christ to wash and be discovered,
Jesus came to me and covered up my shame. (Chorus)
Music and Words by Nathan Partain
©Nathan Partain, 2009
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
When you were dead in trespasses
and the uncircumcision of your flesh,
God made you alive together with Christ,
when he forgave us all our trespasses,
erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands.
He set this aside, nailing it to the cross.
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
Our Sung Profession of Assurance
God So Loved
Verse 1
Come all you weary, come all you thirsty.
Come to the well that never runs dry.
Drink of the Water, come and thirst no more.
Verse 2
Come all you sinners, come find His mercy.
Come to the table, He will satisfy.
Taste of His goodness, find what you’re looking for.
Chorus
For God so loved the world that he gave us
His one and only Son to save us,
Whoever believes in Him will live forever.
Verse 3
Bring all your failures, bring your addictions.
Come lay them down at the foot of the cross.
Jesus is waiting there with open arms. (Chorus)
Bridge 1
The power of hell forever defeated.
Now it is well, I’m walking in freedom.
For God so loved, God so loved the world.
Bridge 2
Praise God, praise God
From whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him, praise Him
For the wonders of His love. (Repeat)
(Chorus)
Words by Edward Martin Cash, Andrew Bergthold, Franni Cash, Edmond Martin Jr Cash, Scott McTyeire Cash
Music by We the Kingdom
©2019 Angie Feel Good Songs, Bay19, Capitol CMG Genesis, Capitol CMG Paragon, Scott Mctyeire Cash Music,We The Kingdom 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 13:1-12 (ESV)
1Now there were in the church at Antioch
prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. 6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
This is the word of the Lord.
The grass withers, and the flower falls,
but the word of the Lord endures forever.
Sermon
Acts 13:1-12 – Witnesses Sent Out- 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
May the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.