Service Preview for August 28, 2022

Service Preview for August 28, 2022

Download: Readings and Song Lyrics for August 28, 2022

Reflection
So, here is the most important question of your existence:
What are you becoming? Whatever you are becoming reveals where you are going.
If you are savoring by faith a salvation and fullness from God,
you are already on your way to what Isaiah calls Zion in [Isaiah] 35.
But if you choose not to live by faith [in Jesus] . . . Isaiah 34 is showing you your future . . .
Two kinds of people, two destinations. Who are you? What are you becoming?

Ray Ortlund, Jr.

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

Our Spoken Call to Worship
Isaiah 43:1, 2 (CSB)

Now this is what the Lord says:

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; you are mine.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior.

Your mercy saved us.
Your might sustains us.
Therefore, we praise you—
God the Father, God the Son,
God the Spirit, Three in One.

Our Sung Call to Worship
Holy, Holy, Holy

Verse 1
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Verse 2
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

Verse 3
Holy, holy, holy! Tho’ the darkness hide Thee,
Tho’ the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.

Verse 4
Holy, holy, holy! Justice meets with mercy:
God the Father crushed the Son for our iniquity.
Crucified and buried, risen unto glory,
Now, by the Spirit, holy we shall be.

Verse 5
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea.
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Words by Reginald Heber, Music by John B. Dykes, Vs 4 words by Eric Schumacher
©Public Domain

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

Our Spoken Confession
Modified from The Worship Sourcebook

Merciful God,

For all the things we should not have done,
forgive us;
for all the things we should have done but did not,
forgive us;
for all the times we have acted without love,
forgive us;
for all the times we have reacted without thought,
forgive us;
for all the times we have withdrawn care,
forgive us;
for all the times we have failed to forgive,
forgive us;
for hurtful words said and helpful words unsaid,
forgive us;
for all our sins—known and unknown—
God of all mercy,
forgive us and help us
to lay down our burden
at the cross of Christ.

Amen.

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
Based on Acts 13:38; 1 Peter 2:24

Brothers and sisters, through Jesus Christ
forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you!
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree;
so that, having died to sins,
we might live for righteousness.
By his wounds, you have been healed!

Thanks be to God!

Our Sung Profession of Assurance
Not In Me

Verse 1
No list of sins I have not done,
No list of virtues I pursue,
No list of those I am not like,
Can earn myself a place with You.
O God! Be merciful to me—
I am a sinner through and through!
My only hope of righteousness
Is not in me, but only You.

Verse 2
No humble dress, no fervent prayer,
No lifted hands, no tearful song,
No recitation of the truth
Can justify a single wrong.
My righteousness is Jesus’ life,
My debt was paid by Jesus’ death,
My weary load was borne by Him
And He alone can give me rest.

Verse 3
No separation from the world,
No work I do, no gift I give,
Can cleanse my conscience, cleanse my hands;
I cannot cause my soul to live.
But Jesus died and rose again—
The pow’r of death is overthrown!
My God is merciful to me
And merciful in Christ alone.

Ending
My righteousness is Jesus’ life,
My debt was paid by Jesus’ death,
My weary load was borne by Him
And He alone can give me rest.
And He alone can give me rest.

Words and Music by Eric Schumacher and David L. Ward
© 2012 Hymnicity

Good And Gracious King

Verse 1
I approach the throne of glory,
Nothing in my hands I bring
But the promise of acceptance,
From a good and gracious King.

Verse 2
I will give to you my burden
As you give to me your strength.
Come and fill me with Your Spirit
As I sing to you this praise. (Chorus)

Chorus
You deserve the greater glory!
Overcome I lift my voice
To the King in need of nothing,
Empty handed I rejoice.
You deserve the greater glory!
Overcome with joy I sing!
By your love I am accepted.
You’re a good and gracious King.

Verse 3
O, what grace that you would see me
As your child and as your friend.
Safe, secure in you forever,
I pour out my praise again. (Chorus)

Bridge
Holy, holy, Lord Almighty!
Good and gracious, good and gracious!
Holy, Holy, Lord Almighty!
Good and gracious King! (2 X’s)

(Chorus)

Words and Music by Jonny Robinson, James Ferguson and Michael Farren
©2016 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
Isaiah 35:1-10 (CSB)

1The wilderness and the dry land will be glad;
the desert will rejoice and blossom like a wildflower.
2 It will blossom abundantly and will also rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.
3 Strengthen the weak hands, steady the shaking knees!
4 Say to the cowardly: “Be strong; do not fear!
Here is your God; vengeance is coming.
God’s retribution is coming; he will save you.”
5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy, for water will gush in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;
7 the parched ground will become a pool, and the thirsty land, springs. In the haunt of jackals, in their lairs, there will be grass, reeds, and papyrus.
8 A road will be there and a way; it will be called the Holy Way. The unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for the one who walks the path. Fools will not wander on it.
9 There will be no lion there, and no vicious beast will go up on it; they will not be found there. But the redeemed will walk on it,
10 and the ransomed of the LORD will return
and come to Zion with singing, crowned with unending joy. Joy and gladness will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.

This is the word of the Lord.
The grass withers, and the flower falls,
but the word of the Lord endures forever.

Sermon
Isaiah 34 & 35 – Streams in the Desert – 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

Let us go forth into the world,
rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.

Thanks be to God!

Scripture text for next Sunday: Isaiah 36-37