Download: Readings and Song Lyrics for February 27
Reflection
“For I want very much to see you,
so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you,
that is, to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.”
Romans 1:11-12 (CSB)
Call To Worship
We confess the supremacy of God in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Call to Worship
Psalms 113:1-6
Hallelujah! Give praise, servants of the Lord;
Praise the name of the Lord.
Let the name of the Lord be blessed both now and forever.
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
Let the name of the Lord be praised.
The Lord is exalted above all the nations,
His glory above the heavens.
Who is like the Lord our God-the One enthroned on high,
Who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?
Let the name of the Lord be blessed both now and forever.
The Lord is exalted above all the nations,
His glory above the heavens.
Hallelujah!
Our Sung Call to Worship
Revelation Song
Verse 1
Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain
Holy, holy is He.
Sing a new song to Him who sits on
Heaven’s mercy seat. (Chorus)
Chorus
Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come.
With all creation I sing, praise to the King of kings,
You are my ev’rything and I will adore You.
Verse 2
Clothed in rainbows, of living color,
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder,
Blessing and honor, strength and glory,
And power be to You the only wise King. (Chorus)
Verse 3
Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your name.
Jesus, Your name is power, breath and living water
Such a marv’lous mystery yeah. (Chorus)
Words and Music by Jennie Lee Riddle
©2004 Gateway Create Publishing
Confession
We confess our need for mercy through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Confession
Adapted from the writings of J.C. Philpot
Let us bring our confessions to the Lord.
Look upon us with mercy and forgiveness, gracious Savior.
Forgive us for
every adulterous look;
every covetous thought;
every light and trifling word;
every wicked movement of our depraved hearts.
We feel our need of continual mercy and forgiveness
as our sins abound,
as our guilt is felt,
as our corruption works,
as our conscience is burdened,
as the iniquities of our heart are laid bare, and
as our hearts are opened up in the Spirit’s light.
Look upon us with mercy and forgiveness, gracious Savior,
as we silently bring our confessions to You.
Time of silent confession.
Assurance and Peace
We profess our assurance of salvation and peace in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Remember the Gospel
Adapted from Henry Law
Believer, look to Christ! See the precious blood
washing out every stain
and obliterating the crimson dye!
In Christ we are whiter than the whitest snow!
Put on Christ and adore Him Who was made sin for us,
that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Blessed be His name,
Who was and is and is to come!
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.
Words and Music by Charitie Lees Bancroft and Vicki Cook
©1997 Sovereign Grace Worship
Christ is All
Verse 1
I’ve found a treasure that can’t be taken;
Found a well that won’t run dry.
O worldly pleasure, be now forsaken;
Behold what love, what life is mine.
Verse 2
Could endless striving now make me righteous?
Could all my works now grant me hope?
Oh, hallelujah! The blood of Jesus—
my only plea, my only boast. (Chorus)
Chorus
Christ is all, Christ is all;
And my song will ever be.
Christ is all, all in all;
And my song will ever be: Christ is all.
Verse 3
And in the trial, when storms are raging;
Though tears may fall, my soul will rise.
For there’s a peace that is mine unchanging;
There is a joy that never dies. (Chorus)
Verse 4
When life is passing and strength is fading,
I’ll see the One that I adore.
Let this world vanish, oh give me Jesus;
My great desire, my true reward. (Chorus)
Words and Music by Matt Papa and Matt Boswell
©2017 Getty Music Publishing, Messenger Hymns, Getty Music Hymns and Songs, Love Your Enemies Publishing
For The Cause
Verse 1
For the cause of Christ the King we give our lives, an offering
‘Til all the earth resounds with ceaseless praise to the Son.
For the cause of Christ we go with joy to reap, with faith to sow
As many see and many put their trust in the Son. (Chorus)
Chorus
Christ we proclaim,
The Name above every name:
For all creation, every nation,
God’s salvation through the Son!
Verse 2
For the King once lifted high to cries of rage, of “crucify!”
Endured the cross as every sin was laid on the Son.
To the King who conquered death to free the poor and the oppressed
For lasting peace for life and liberty in the Son. (Chorus)
Verse 3
Let it be my life’s refrain: To live is Christ, to die is gain;
Deny myself, take up my cross and follow the Son!
Let it be my life’s refrain: To live is Christ, to die is gain;
Deny myself, take up my cross and follow the Son! (Chorus)
Words and Music by Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty and Stuart Townend
©2016 Getty Music Publishing,Townend Songs
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 18:18-19:10 (CSB)
18 After staying for some time, Paul said farewell to the brothers and sisters and sailed away to Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. He shaved his head at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken. 19 When they reached Ephesus he left them there, but he himself entered the synagogue and debated with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he declined, 21 but he said farewell and added, “I’ll come back to you again, if God wills.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.
22 On landing at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church, then went down to Antioch.
23 After spending some time there, he set out, traveling through one place after another in the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples
24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was competent in the use of the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately about Jesus, although he knew only John’s baptism. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. After Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately. 27 When he wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers and sisters wrote to the disciples to welcome him. After he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.
19:1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
“No,” they told him, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
3 “Into what then were you baptized?” he asked them. “Into John’s baptism,” they replied.
4 Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.”
5 When they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy. 7 Now there were about twelve men in all.
8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly over a period of three months, arguing and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became hardened and would not believe, slandering the Way in front of the crowd, he withdrew from them, taking the disciples, and conducted discussions every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word 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 18:18-19:10 – Coworkers, Striving Side by Side – 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
John MacDuff
May the grace of our Lord
guide you by His counsel,
guard you from temptation,
and lead you in the everlasting way.