Download: Readings and Song Lyrics for April 24, 2022
Reflection
…we have renounced secret and shameful things,
not acting deceitfully or distorting the word of God,
but commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience
by an open display of the truth.
2 Corinthians 4:2
Call To Worship
We confess the supremacy of God in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Call to Worship
Adapted from Hebrews 12:22-25; 28, 29
On this Lord’s Day, we come to Mount Zion,
and to the city of the living God,
the heavenly Jerusalem,
to an innumerable company of angels,
to a festive gathering.
Today we come to the assembly of the firstborn
who are registered in heaven,
to God, the Judge of all,
to the spirits of the righteous made perfect.
Today we come to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant,
and to the sprinkled blood
that speaks better things than the blood of Abel.
See that you do not refuse Him who speaks to you today
for you are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken!
So let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably
with reverence and godly fear.
We will not refuse Him who speaks
for our God is a consuming fire!
Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Our Sung Call to Worship
How Great Is Our God
Verse 1
The splendor of the King, clothed in majesty,
Let all the earth rejoice, all the earth rejoice.
He wraps Himself in light, and darkness tries to hide,
And trembles at his voice, trembles at his voice. (Chorus)
Chorus
How great is our God, sing with me,
How great is our God, and all will see,
How great, how great is our God.
Verse 2
Age to age He stands, and time is in His hands,
Beginning and the end, beginning and the end.
The Godhead, three in one: Father, Spirit, Son,
The Lion and the Lamb, the Lion and the Lamb.
(Chorus)
Bridge
Name above all names,
Worthy of all praise,
My heart will sing
How great is our God. (Repeat)
(Chorus)
Words and Music by Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves and Ed Cash
©2004 sixsteps Music, Vamos Publishing, worshiptogether.com songs, Wondrously Made Songs
Confession
We confess our need for mercy through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Confession
Adapted from The Mediator, The Valley of Vision
Everlasting Creator and Father,
we have destroyed ourselves,
our nature is defiled,
the powers of our souls are degraded;
we are vile, miserable, and strengthless,
but our hope is in you.
If ever we are saved it will be
by goodness undeserved and astonishing,
by abundant mercy,
and by exceeding riches of grace;
And this you have revealed, promised, exemplified
in and through the gospel.
You have devised means to rescue us from sin’s clutches
and to restore us to happiness, honor, and safety.
We bless you for the everlasting covenant
and for the appointment of a mediator,
our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Time of silent confession.
Our Sung Confession
How Deep The Father’s Love for Us
Verse 1
How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss.
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.
Verse 2
Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders.
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life.
I know that it is finished.
Verse 3
I will not boast in anything:
No gifts, no power, no wisdom.
But I will boast in Jesus Christ:
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart:
His wounds have paid my ransom.
Tag
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart:
His wounds have paid my ransom.
Words and Music by Stuart Townend
©1995 Thankyou Music
Assurance and Peace
We profess our assurance of salvation and peace in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Remember the Gospel
Adapted from The Mediator, The Valley of Vision
We rejoice that Jesus did not fail, nor was He discouraged,
but He accomplished the work God gave Him to do;
and said on the cross, “It is finished.”
We exult in the thought that
your justice is satisfied,
your truth established,
your law magnified,
and a foundation was laid for our hope.
We look to a present and personal interest in Christ and say,
He has borne our griefs,
carried our sorrows,
won our peace,
and healed our souls.
Justified by His blood, we are saved by His life.
We glory in His cross as we bow before Him.
Having His Spirit, we possess His mind,
and with one voice we cry,
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Our Sung Profession of Assurance
O Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)
Verse 1
One day when Heaven was filled with His praises,
One day when sin was as black as could be,
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin,
Dwelt among men, my example is He.
The Word became flesh and the light shined among us,
His glory revealed. (Chorus)
Chorus
Living, He loved me, dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away.
Rising, He justified freely forever.
One day He’s coming,
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day.
Verse 2
One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain.
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree.
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected,
Bearing our sins my Redeemer is He.
The hands that healed nations stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me. (Chorus)
Verse 3
One day the grave could conceal Him no longer,
One day the stone rolled away from the door.
Then He arose over death He had conquered.
Now is ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him,
The grave could not keep Him From rising again. (Chorus)
Bridge
One day the trumpet will sound for His coming,
One day the skies with His glories will shine.
Wonderful day my Beloved One bringing.
My Savior Jesus is mine. (Chorus)
Ending after Chorus
O glorious day, glorious day.
O glorious day!
Words and Music by Michael Bleecker, J. Wilbur Chapman, and Mark Hall
©2009 Curb Songs, Be Essential Songs, My Refuge Music
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
Verse 1
Amazing grace how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
Verse 2
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed! (Chorus)
Chorus
My chains are gone, I’ve been set free.
My God, my Savior has ransomed me.
And like a flood His mercy reigns,
unending love, amazing grace.
Verse 3
The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures. (Chorus)
Verse 4
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, Who called me here below,
will be forever mine,
will be forever mine.
You are forever mine.
Words by John Newton, Louie Giglio, John P. Rees and Chris Tomlin
Music by Edwin O. Excell and Chris Tomlin
©2006 sixsteps Music, Vamos Publishing, worshiptogether.com 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 23:23-24:27 (Only 24:10-21 will be read)
23 He summoned two of his centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready with seventy cavalry and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. 24 Also provide mounts to ride so that Paul may be brought safely to Felix the governor.”
25 He wrote the following letter: 26 Claudius Lysias,
To the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.
27 When this man had been seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, I arrived with my troops and rescued him because I learned that he is a Roman citizen.
28 Wanting to know the charge they were accusing him of, I brought him down before their Sanhedrin. 29 I found out that the accusations were concerning questions of their law, and that there was no charge that merited death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you right away. I also ordered his accusers to state their case against him in your presence.
31 So the soldiers took Paul during the night and brought him to Antipatris as they were ordered. 32 The next day, they returned to the barracks, allowing the cavalry to go on with him. 33 When these men entered Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.
34 After he read it, he asked what province he was from. When he learned he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing whenever your accusers also get here.” He ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.
24:1 Five days later Ananias the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor. 2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him and said, “We enjoy great peace because of you, and reforms are taking place for the benefit of this nation because of your foresight. 3 We acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with utmost gratitude. 4 But, so that I will not burden you any further, I request that you would be kind enough to give us a brief hearing. 5 For we have found this man to be a plague, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to desecrate the temple, and so we apprehended him. By examining him yourself you will be able to discern the truth about these charges we are bringing against him.” 9 The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were true.
10 When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I know you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I am glad to offer my defense in what concerns me. 11 You can verify for yourself that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.
12 They didn’t find me arguing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or anywhere in the city. 13 Neither can they prove the charges they are now making against me. 14 But I admit this to you: I worship the God of my ancestors according to the Way, which they call a sect, believing everything that is in accordance with the law and written in the prophets. 15 I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 I always strive to have a clear conscience toward God and men. 17 After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my people. 18 While I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar. 19 It is they who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me. 20 Or let these men here state what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin, 21 other than this one statement I shouted while standing among them, ‘Today I am on trial before you concerning the resurrection of the dead.’”
22 Since Felix was well informed about the Way, he adjourned the hearing, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered that the centurion keep Paul under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from meeting his needs.
24 Several days later, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him on the subject of faith in Christ Jesus. 25 Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and replied, “Leave for now, but when I have an opportunity I’ll call for you.” 26 At the same time he was also hoping that Paul would offer him money. So he sent for him quite often and conversed with him.
27 After two years had passed, Porcius Festus succeeded Felix, and because Felix wanted to do the Jews a favor, he left Paul in prison.
This is the word of the Lord.
The grass withers, and the flower falls,
but the word of the Lord endures forever.
Sermon
Acts 23:23-24:27 – A Peaceful and Quiet Witness for Jesus – 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
2 Thessalonians 3:16 (CSB)
Go into the world, and may the Lord of peace himself give you peace always in every way.