Sunday Meditation, July 4

Love One Another

Scripture for Meditation: 1 Peter 2:1-3

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Hymn of the Word: How Firm a Foundation

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word! What more can He say than to you He hath said, To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed.
For I am thy God; I will still give thee aid.
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go, The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o'rflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless, And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, 

I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.

Words adapted from Rippon's Selection of Hymns, 1787

Hymn of Longing: Laden with Guilt and Full of Fears

Laden with guilt and full of fears, I fly to Thee my Lord; And not a glimpse of hope appears, but in Thy written Word The volumes of my Father’s grace does all my griefs assuage. Here I behold my Savior’s face in every page.

This is the field where hidden lies the pearl of price unknown, That merchant is divinely wise, who makes the pearl his own; Here consecrated water flows to quench my thirst of sin.
Here the fair tree of knowledge grows; no danger dwells within.

This is the judge that ends the strife where wit and reason fail, My guide to everlasting life through all this gloomy vale.
Oh may Thy counsels, mighty God, my roving feet command, Nor I forsake the happy road that leads to Thy right hand.

Words by Isaac Watts, 1674-1748, alt. by Sandra McCracken
Music by Sandra McCracken © 2001 Same Old Dress Music (ASCAP) Used by permission. All rights reserved. CCLI #2783020

Prayer of Blessing

Responsive Reading: Psalm 119:97-104

Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.

Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.

I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.

I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me.

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

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

Hymn of Suffering: When Trials Come

When trials come no longer fear
For in the pain our God draws near
To fire a faith worth more than gold
And there his faithfulness is told
And there his faithfulness is told

Within the night I know your peace
The breath of God brings strength to me
And new each morning mercy flows
As treasures of the darkness grow
As treasures of the darkness grow

I turn to wisdom not my own
For every battle you have known
My confidence will rest in you
Your love endures, your ways are good
Your love endures, your ways are good

When I am weary with the cost
I see the triumph of the cross
So in its shadow I shall run
Til you complete the work begun
Til you complete the work begun

One day all things will be made new
I'll see the hope you called me to
And in your kingdom paved with gold
I'll praise your faithfulness of old
I'll praise your faithfulness of old

Keith and Kristyn Getty. © 2005 Thank you Music. CCLI #2783020

Ministry of the Word

Hymn of Confession: Purify My Heart

Purify my heart, touch me with Your cleansing fire.
Take me to the cross, Your holiness is my desire.
Breathe Your life in me, kindle a love that flows from Your throne. O purify my heart, purify my heart.
(Repeat)

Jeff Nelson
© 1993 Maranatha Praise, Inc./Heart Service Music, Inc. Used by permission. CCLI #2783020

Prayer of Corporate Confession

Silence for Personal Confession

Assurance of Pardon: The Lord’s Supper

Prayer of Thanksgiving for the Bread

Hymn of Provision: Jesus, Strong and Kind

Jesus said that if I thirst I should come to him; No one else can satisfy. I should come to him.

Jesus said if I am weak
I should come to him;
No one else can be my strength. I should come to him.

Chorus:

For the Lord is good and faithful; He will keep us day and night. We can always run to Jesus, Jesus, strong and kind.

Jesus said that if I fear
I should come to him;
No one else can be my shield. I should come to him.

Chorus

Jesus said if I am lost
He will come to me,
And he showed me on that cross He will come to me.

Chorus 2x:

Jesus, strong and kind.

Words and music by Colin Buchanan, Michael Farren, Jonny Robinson, & Rich Thompson. © 2019 CityAlight Music. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
CCLI #2783020

Prayer of Thanksgiving for the Cup

Hymn of Good News: It Is Well

When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, “It is well, it is well, with my soul.”

Refrain:

It is well (It is well) with my soul (with my soul).

It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin—O the bliss of this glorious thought— My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul.

And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend, Even so, it is well with my soul.

Horatio Spafford, 1828-1888