Download: Readings and Song Lyrics for January 30, 2022
Reflection
Sometimes a light surprises
The Christian while he sings;
It is the LORD who rises
With healing in his wings:
When comforts are declining,
He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining
To cheer it after rain.
from “Joy and Peace in Believing”
by William Cowper (1731-1800)
Call To Worship
We confess the supremacy of God in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Call to Worship
From Psalm 48:1-3, 9-10; 14 (CSB)
The Lord is great and highly praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain,
rising splendidly,
is the joy of the whole earth.
Mount Zion is the city of the great King.
God is known as a stronghold in its citadels.
God, within your temple,
we contemplate your faithful love.
Like your name, God, so your praise
reaches to the ends of the earth;
your right hand is filled with justice.
This God, our God forever and ever —
he will always lead us.
Our Sung Call to Worship
A Mighty Fortress is Our God
Verse 1
A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing.
Our helper He amidst the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe.
His craft and pow’r are great
And, armed with cruel hate—
On earth is not His equal.
Verse 2
Did we in our own strength confide
Our striving would be losing,
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He!
The Lord of Hosts, His name!
From age to age the same!
And He must win the battle!
Verse 3
And though this world with devils filled
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him!
His rage we can endure
For lo, his doom is sure—
One little word shall fell him!
Verse 4
That word above all earthly pow’rs,
No thanks to them, abideth!
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through Him who with us sideth!
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also.
The body they may kill—
God’s truth abideth still!
His kingdom is forever!
Words and Music by Martin Luther, Translation by Frederick Hedge, arr. Matt Boswell
Public Domain
Confession
We confess our need for mercy through both responsive reading and song.
Our Sung Confession
Lord Have Mercy (For What We Have Done)
Verse 1
For what we have done and left undone
We fall on Your countless mercies.
For sins that are known, and those unknown,
We call on Your name so holy.
For envy and pride, For closing our eyes:
For scorning our very neighbor.
In thought, word and deed We’ve failed You, our King;
How deeply we need a Savior.
Chorus
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy,
Lord have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy,
Lord have mercy on us.
Verse 2
For what You have done, Your life of love
You perfectly lived, we praise You.
Though tempted and tried, You fixed Your eyes;
You finished the work God gave You.
And there on the tree, A King among thieves,
You bled for a world’s betrayal.
You loved to the end, Our merciful friend;
How pure and forever faithful.
Chorus (Repeat)
Verse 3
For hearts that are cold, For seizing control;
For scorning our very Maker.
In thought, word, and deed,
We’ve failed You, our King;
How deeply we need a Savior.
Chorus (Repeat)
Words and Music by Matt Papa, Aaron Keys, James Tealy and Matt Boswell
©2019 10000 Fathers, Common Hymnal Publishing, Getty Music Hymns and Songs, Getty Music Publishing, Love Your Enemies Publishing, Messenger Hymns, My Eleiht Songs
Time of silent confession.
Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me
Verse 1
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.
Verse 2
Not the labors of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know
Could my tears forever flow,
This for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone:
Verse 3
Nothing in my hand I bring
Simply to thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
Verse 4
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee.
Ending
Let me hide myself
Let me hide myself
Let me hide myself in thee.
Words and Music by Augustus M. Toplady and Chris Rice
Public Domain
Assurance and Peace
We profess our assurance of salvation and peace in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Remember the Gospel
We know that we will not be cast off,
for Jesus brings us near.
We will not be condemned, for He has died in our place.
The mountains of our sin will be cast away,
for the Savior has removed them all.
His precious blood has washed out every crimson stain!
Christ’s spotless robe of righteousness, covers all our deformities!
We come to You, Jesus-
clinging to Your cross,
sheltered by Your side,
hidden in Your wounds,
cleansed in Your blood,
covered by Your spotless robe,
made perfect in Your salvation!
Our Sung Profession of Assurance
What Wondrous Love is This?
Verse 1
What wondrous love is this,
O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse
For my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.
Verse 2
When I was sinking down,
Sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down
Beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown
For my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.
Verse 3
To God and to the Lamb,
I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb, I will sing.
To God and to the Lamb
Who is the great “I Am”;
While millions join the theme,
I will sing, I will sing;
While millions join the theme, I will sing.
Verse 4
And when from death I’m free,
I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free
I’ll sing and joyful be;
And thro’ eternity,
I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And thro’ eternity, I’ll sing on.
Words American Folk Hymn, Music by William Walker & William J. Reynolds
Public Domain
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 16:16-40 (CSB)
16 Once, as we were on our way to prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She made a large profit for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 As she followed Paul and us she cried out, “These men, who are proclaiming to you a way of salvation, are the servants of the Most High God.” 18 She did this for many days.
Paul was greatly annoyed. Turning to the spirit, he said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out right away.
19 When her owners realized that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. 20 Bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews 21 and are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23 After they had severely flogged them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to guard them carefully. 24 Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison standing open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped.
28 But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Don’t harm yourself, because we’re all here!”
29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.
30 He escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house. 33 He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized. 34 He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had come to believe in God with his entire household.
35 When daylight came, the chief magistrates sent the police to say, “Release those men.”
36 The jailer reported these words to Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders for you to be released. So come out now and go in peace.”
37 But Paul said to them, “They beat us in public without a trial, although we are Roman citizens, and threw us in jail. And now are they going to send us away secretly? Certainly not! On the contrary, let them come themselves and escort us out.”
38 The police reported these words to the magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. 39 So they came to appease them, and escorting them from prison, they urged them to leave town. 40 After leaving the jail, they came to Lydia’s house, where they saw and encouraged the brothers and sisters, and departed.
This is the word of the Lord.
The grass withers, and the flower falls,
but the word of the Lord endures forever.
Sermon
Acts 16:16-40 – The Gospel Goes to Philippi – Pastor Eric Schumacher
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
Adapted from Isaiah 41:10
Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
Do not be dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.