Sunday Meditation, July 18

Advancing the Gospel by the Spirit

Scripture for Meditation: Acts 1:8

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Call to Worship Hymn: Brethren, We Have Met to Worship

Brethren, we have met to worship and adore the Lord our God;
Will you pray with all your power, while we try to preach the Word?
All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down;
Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.

Brethren, see poor sinners round you slumbering on the brink of woe;
Death is coming, hell is moving, can you bear to let them go?
See our fathers and our mothers, and our children sinking down;
Brethren, pray and holy manna will be showered all around.

Sisters, will you join and help us? Moses’ sister aided him;
Will you help the trembling mourners who are struggling hard with sin?
Tell them all about the Savior, tell them that He will be found;
Sisters, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.

Let us love our God supremely, let us love each other, too;
Let us love and pray for sinners, till our God makes all things new.
Then He’ll call us home to Heaven, at His table we’ll sit down;
Christ will gird Himself and serve us with sweet manna all around.

Attributed to George Atkins, 19th century

Offertory Hymn of Resurrection: Christ, Our Hope in Life and Death

What is our hope in life and death?
Christ alone, Christ alone.
What is our only confidence?
That our souls to him belong.
Who holds our days within his hand?
What comes apart from his command?
And what will keep us to the end?
The love of Christ in which we stand.

Chorus:
O sing hallelujah! Our hope springs eternal.
O sing hallelujah! Now and ever we confess:
Christ our hope in life and death.

What truth can calm the troubled soul?
God is good, God is good.
Where is his grace and goodness known?
In our great Redeemer's blood
Who holds our faith when fears arise?
Who stands above the stormy trial?
Who sends the waves that bring us nigh unto the shore,
The rock of Christ?

Chorus:
O sing hallelujah! Our hope springs eternal.
O sing hallelujah! Now and ever we confess:
Christ our hope in life and death.

Unto the grave, what will we sing?
Christ, He lives! Christ, he lives!
And what reward will heaven bring?
Everlasting life with him.
There we will rise to meet the Lord;
Then sin and death will be destroyed.
And we will feast in endless joy,
When Christ is ours forevermore.

Chorus:
O sing hallelujah! Our hope springs eternal.
O sing hallelujah! Now and ever we confess:
Christ our hope in life and death.
(repeat)

Now and ever we confess:
Christ our hope in life and death.

Keith Getty, Jordan Kauflin, Matt Papa, Matt Boswell, Matthew Merker
2020 Getty Music Publishing, Messenger Hymns, Love Your Enemies Publishing, Matthew Merker Music, Getty Music Hymns and Songs, Jordan Kauflin Music (Admin by Music Services)
CCLI #2783020

Prayer of Blessing

Responsive Reading: Selections from Acts

“So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers…. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:41–42, 46–47)

“And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6:7)

“So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.” (Acts 9:31)

“But the word of God increased and multiplied. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.” (Acts 12:24–25)

“So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in number daily.” (Acts 16:5)

“So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.” (Acts 19:20)

“He [Paul] lived there [in Rome] two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” (Acts 28:30–31)

Hymn of Security: Complete in Thee

Complete in Thee! No work of mine
May take, dear Lord, the place of Thine;
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,
And I am now complete in Thee.

Refrain:
Yea, justified! O blessed thought!
And sanctified! Salvation wrought!
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,
And glorified I too shall be!

Complete in Thee! No more shall sin,
Thy grace hath conquered, reign within;
Thy voice shall bid the tempter flee,
And I shall stand complete in Thee.

Complete in Thee—each want supplied,
And no good thing to me denied;
Since Thou my portion, Lord, wilt be,
I ask no more, complete in Thee.

Dear Savior, when before Thy bar
All tribes and tongues assembled are,
Among Thy chosen will I be,
At Thy right hand, complete in Thee.

Stanzas: Aaron R. Wolfe, 1821-1902
Refrain: James M. Gray, 1851-1935
Music: Ben Nyce
Copyright 2003 Bible Revival Ministries. CCLI #2783020

Prayer of Corporate Confession

Silence for Personal Confession

Assurance of Pardon: Acts 2:38

“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Response: Thanks be to God.

Hymn of Faith: Speak, O Lord*

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of Your Holy Word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us
All Your purposes for Your glory.

Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility;
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of pow'r that can never fail—
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us—
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises,
And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.

Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music
Used by permission. CCLI #2783020

*Children may leave during this song.

Ministry of the Word

Hymn of Praise: See, What a Morning

See, what a morning, gloriously bright
With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem,
Folded the grave clothes, tomb filled with light
As the angels announce Christ is risen!
See God's salvation plan, wrought in love,
Borne in pain, paid in sacrifice,
Fulfilled in Christ, the Man,
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

See Mary weeping, "Where is He laid?"
As in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb;
Hears a voice speaking, calling her name;
It's the Master, the Lord raised to life again!
The voice that spans the years,
Speaking life, stirring hope, bringing peace to us,
Will sound till He appears,
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

One with the Father, Ancient of Days,
Through the Spirit who clothes faith with certainty.
Honor and blessing, glory and praise
To the King crowned with pow'r and authority!
And we are raised with Him,
Death is dead, love has won, Christ has conquered;
And we shall reign with Him,
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

Words and music by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend. Copyright © 2003 Kingsway Thankyou Music
Used by permission. CCLI #2783020

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