:: Download the 5.14.2017 Worship Study Guide and Sermon Notes
:: Download the 5.14.2017 Bulletin
:: Download the 5.14.2017 Sermon Audio
image :: The Morning After The Deluge, William Turner (1843, British)
Preparation for Worship on May 14 2017 :: The Favorable Time
“As having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” II Corinthians 6:10
Nothing have I of my own,
But sin and wretchedness;
All things are comprised in One,
And I that One possess:
God in man His Son reveals;
Fullness of the Deity,
Heaven itself in Jesus dwells,
And Jesus dwells in me.
John Wesley, Scripture Hymns
Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for May 14 include ::
:: O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing (Charles Wesley, 1739) CHART [bandcamp track=369330321 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: Trisagion (5th century Greek Hymn) CHART [bandcamp track=727383532 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: How Long, O Lord / Psalm 13 (Isaac Watts, 1719) CHART [bandcamp track=231763990 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: Come to Jesus (Chris Rice, 2003) CHART [bandcamp track=584216513 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: Grace Greater Than Our Sin (Julia H, Johnston, 1910) CHART [bandcamp track=3603744187 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: O The Deep Deep Love of Jesus (Samuel Trevor Francis, c.1890) CHART [bandcamp track=828526162 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: Doxology (Thomas Ken, 1709) CHART [bandcamp track=2257784892 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]
Call to Worship :: Isaiah 55:1,3,6
Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Incline your ear, and come to me;
hear, that your soul may live;
Seek the Lord while He may be found;
call upon Him while He is near.
Confession of Sin ::
God has said to us, “You shall have no other gods before me.” Father, we confess before You that we have sinned against You in our thoughts, words and deeds. We have worshipped other gods and run after them: Power, Comfort, Control, Self. These idols promise much but have become our cruel masters. Forgive us for seeking in them what You alone give by grace through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ: Peace, Righteousness, Purpose, Hope. Renew our hearts. Grant us repentance and faith. Good Shepherd, show us the Cross that we might be turned from sin and self to trust in Your salvation.
Words of Encouragement :: John 10:11,14,27-28
Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep… I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own and my own know me… My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
Old Testament Reading :: Isaiah 49:7-13
Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers:
“Kings shall see and arise;
princes, and they shall prostrate themselves;
because of the Lord, who is faithful,
the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
Thus says the Lord:
“In a time of favor I have answered you;
in a day of salvation I have helped you;
I will keep you and give you
as a covenant to the people,
to establish the land,
to apportion the desolate heritages,
saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’
to those who are in darkness, ‘Appear.’
They shall feed along the ways;
on all bare heights shall be their pasture;
they shall not hunger or thirst,
neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them,
for he who has pity on them will lead them,
and by springs of water will guide them.
And I will make all my mountains a road,
and my highways shall be raised up.
Behold, these shall come from afar,
and behold, these from the north and from the west,
and these from the land of Syene.”
Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;
break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the Lord has comforted his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted.
Sermon :: II Corinthians 6:1-13
1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.3 We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open.12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections.13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.