Download: Readings and Song Lyrics for February 16, 2025
Pre-service Song
Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor
Christ, the sure and steady anchor
In the fury of the storm;
When the winds of doubt blow through me
And my sails have all been torn.
In the suffering, in the sorrow,
When my sinking hopes are few,
I will hold fast to the anchor;
It shall never be removed.
Christ, the sure and steady anchor
While the tempest rages on;
When temptation claims the battle
And it seems the night has won.
Deeper still then goes the anchor,
Though I justly stand accused;
I will hold fast to the anchor;
It shall never be removed.
Christ, the sure and steady anchor
Through the floods of unbelief;
Hopeless, somehow, O my soul now
Lift your eyes to Cavalry.
This my ballast of assurance,
See His love forever proved;
I will hold fast to the anchor;
It shall never be removed.
Christ the sure and steady anchor,
As we face the wave of death;
When these trials give way to glory
As we draw our final breath.
We will cross that great horizon,
Clouds behind and life secured;
And the calm will be the better
For the storms that we endured.
Christ, the shore of our salvation,
Ever faithful, ever true;
We will hold fast to the anchor,
It shall never be removed.
By Matt Boswell and Matt Papa
© 2015 Getty Music Hymns and Songs; Getty Music Publishing; Love Your Enemies Publishing; Messenger Hymns
Call To Worship
We confess the supremacy of God in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Call to Worship
Psalm 46:1-3, 8-11 (ESV)
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear
though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved
into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth,
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Our Sung Call to Worship
A Mighty Fortress is Our God
A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing.
Our helper He amid 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.
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!
Lord Sabaoth, His name!
From age to age the same!
And He must win the battle!
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!
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!
By Martin Luther, Translation by Frederick Hedge
©Public Domain
Confession
We confess our need for mercy through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Confession
2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1 (ESV)
Hear the Word of the Lord:
What agreement has the temple of God with idols?
For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
“I will make my dwelling among them
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
Therefore go out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”
Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit,
bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
Forgive our sins, Father, for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ,
and cleanse us from every impurity of the flesh and spirit
so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways
to the glory of your holy name.
Amen.
Time of silent confession.
Our Sung Confession
Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul
Dear refuge of my weary soul,
On Thee, when sorrows rise,
On Thee, when waves of trouble roll,
My fainting hope relies.
To Thee I tell each rising grief,
For Thou alone can heal.
Thy Word can bring a sweet relief
For every pain I feel.
But oh! When gloomy doubts prevail,
I fear to call Thee mine;
The springs of comfort seem to fail,
And all my hopes decline.
Yet gracious God, where shall I flee?
Thou art my only trust;
And still my soul would cleave to Thee,
Though prostrate in the dust.
Hast Thou not bid me seek Thy face,
And shall I seek in vain?
And can the ear of sovereign grace,
Be deaf when I complain?
No, still the ear of sovereign grace
Attends the mourner’s prayer.
Oh may I ever find access
To breathe my sorrows there.
Thy mercy seat is open still,
Here let my soul retreat.
With humble hope attend Thy will,
And wait beneath Thy feet,
Thy mercy seat is open still,
Here let my soul retreat;
With humble hope attend Thy will,
And wait beneath Thy feet.
Words by Anne Steele, Music by Matt Merker
© 2014 Matthew Merker Music; Sovereign Grace Praise
Assurance and Peace
We profess our assurance of salvation and peace in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Remember the Gospel
Galatians 3:10-13, 2:20, 6:14 (ESV)
Remember the Gospel!
For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse;
for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things
written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”
Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law,
for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith,
rather “The one who does them shall live by them.”
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—
for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”
I have been crucified with Christ.
It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.
And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave himself for me.
But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Our Sung Profession of Assurance
Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor
Christ, the sure and steady anchor
In the fury of the storm;
When the winds of doubt blow through me
And my sails have all been torn.
In the suffering, in the sorrow,
When my sinking hopes are few,
I will hold fast to the anchor;
It shall never be removed.
Christ, the sure and steady anchor
While the tempest rages on;
When temptation claims the battle
And it seems the night has won.
Deeper still then goes the anchor,
Though I justly stand accused;
I will hold fast to the anchor;
It shall never be removed.
Christ, the sure and steady anchor
Through the floods of unbelief;
Hopeless, somehow, O my soul now
Lift your eyes to Cavalry.
This my ballast of assurance,
See His love forever proved;
I will hold fast to the anchor;
It shall never be removed.
Christ the sure and steady anchor,
As we face the wave of death;
When these trials give way to glory
As we draw our final breath.
We will cross that great horizon,
Clouds behind and life secured;
And the calm will be the better
For the storms that we endured.
Christ, the shore of our salvation,
Ever faithful, ever true;
We will hold fast to the anchor,
It shall never be removed
By Matt Boswell and Matt Papa
© 2015 Getty Music Hymns and Songs; Getty Music Publishing; Love Your Enemies Publishing; Messenger Hymns
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.
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
Matthew 26:47-56 (ESV)
47 While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” 49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.”
Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” 55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me.
56 But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
This is the word of the Lord.
The grass withers and the flower falls
but the word of the Lord endures forever.
Sermon
Matthew 26:47-56 (ESV) – Jesus: Faithful in the Garden – 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 both song and spoken word.
Sending Song
“Man of Sorrows” What A Name
“Man of sorrows!” what a name
For the Son of God who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim!
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood,
Sealed my pardon with His blood;
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Guilty, vile, and helpless we,
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
Full atonement can it be?
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Lifted up was He to die,
“It is finished,” was His cry;
Now in heaven exalted high,
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew this song we’ll sing,
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
By Philip P. Bliss
©Public Domain
Blessing
Romans 11:36 (ESV)
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be glory forever.
Amen.
Scripture text for next Sunday: Matthew 26:57-68