Sunday Meditation, May 23

The Loving Christ Who Gives His Indwelling Spirit

Scripture for Meditation: John 14:23

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 

Prayer of Blessing

Responsive Reading: I John 4:7-12

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 

No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

Prayer of Corporate Confession

Silence for Personal Confession

Assurance of Pardon: I John 2:1

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Response: Thanks be to God

Instrumental Meditation

Ministry of the Word

Transition to Singing

Feel free to leave at this time or stay for the singing.

Hymn of Faith: The Apostles’ Creed

Hymn of Joy: O God, My Joy

O God, my joy, You reign above
In radiant splendor and beauty.
Your Word has drawn my heart to love
The awesome sight of Your glory.
Your blazing light and gospel grace
Shine brightly from my Savior’s face.
No other wonder would I see
Than Christ enthroned in His glory!

Sustained by joy in trial and pain,
I trust Your wisdom and mercy.
Through suff'ring that Your love ordains,
More like Your Son You will make me.
For Christ embraced the cross of shame,
Beholding glorious joys to come.
O give me faith like His to see
That suff’ring lifts me to glory!

Compelled by joy, I fight the sin
That turns my gaze from Your glory.
Your Holy Spirit dwells within;
His presence arms me for vict’ry.
Let death and hell against me rise;
Through death I'll gain eternal joys.
All pow'rs of hell will bend the knee
Before my great King of glory!

Words by Paul Keew & Brian Pinner
© 2008 Watchsong Music (www.watchsong.com). All rights reserved. 

Hymn of Praise: O Praise the Name

*All Scripture, English Standard Version. © 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission.