Spirit and Truth: 11/6/11

Centering & Call to Worship

Deuteronomy 10:17-21

For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. You shall fear the LORD your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear. He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen.

This Sunday is Orphan Sunday. As we center around God’s Word we will read this passage in Deuteronomy that reminds us that God is the mighty defender of the weak (v18) and lover and redeemer of the sojourner.

Songs of Testimony & Adoration

Everlasting God by Brenton Brown & Ken Riley, 2005

We will respond to the Truth we’ve heard by singing this great modern text taken from Isaiah 40.

You are the everlasting God!
You do not faint you won’t grow weary.
You’re the defender of the weak,
you comfort those in need,
you lift us up on wings like eagles.

The Father’s Love by Joel Sczebel
(Sovereign Grace Worship), 2009

This modern worship songs accentuates the great love of the Father by which we receive the spirit of adoption (Rom 8).

How has the sinner been forgiven? How has the rebel been made clean or blinded eyes been made to see? How have the orphans been adopted? Who hated your love and ran from grace, despised and rejected all your ways?

1 John 3:1

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God…

Passing the Peace of Christ

As those who have been given the spirit of adoption and have peace with God through Christ, we will practice the peace of Christ by extending it to one another.

Song of Adoration

Precious Children by Joel Sczebel, Meghan Baird, and Abbott Jones
(Sovereign Grace Worship)

As we respond in Spirit to the truth of the Gospel that makes us children of god, the only appropriate response is genuine worship. While we were still sinners, God saved us by his mercy. May that truth resonate with our hearts as we sing,

Hallelujah! We belong to you!
You have washed our stains and have raised us up with Christ,
precious children in your eyes.

Preaching of The Word: Orphan Sunday

James 1:27

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Song of Response

All I Have is Christ by Jordan Kauflin, (Sovereign Grace Worship), 2008

As children of God we know that it is only by God’s grace that our eyes have been opened to receive the Gospel that brings salvation. We realize that the very strength to follow Christ comes from God whose Spirit empowers us to be obedient.

As we respond in worship we will recognize Christ’s all sufficient merit before the Father on our behalf and proclaim, “Hallelujah! All I have is Christ!”

Closing Song of Proclamation

Alive by Steve & Vikki Cook and Joel Sczebel, (Sovereign Grace Worship), 2011

As we prepare to scatter as The Church let us celebrate the new life Christ has given us! Like orphans who have been given a new life, a new name, a new inheritance, we have been sought out, bought with a price, redeemed and raised up in Christ!

Verse 1
My heart of stone was dead to You, Asleep within a world that scorned its maker
Until You breathed into my soul, And I woke up to You, my glorious Savior
You became my all, You became my all!

Chorus
Now I am alive, I am alive in You
You are alive, You are alive in me
You called my name and raised me from the dead
Now I am alive I am alive in You

Verse 2
In You my life’s completely new, I’m blameless in Your eyes because of Calv’ry
The Father welcomes me with joy, Your Spirit makes me know Your great love for me
Jesus, You’re my all. Jesus, You’re my all!

Bridge
Bought with a price that cannot be measured
Chosen before all time
You are my joy, my prize, and my treasure
Jesus, You are my life
Closing Scriptural Blessing & Commission to “Go, be The Church”

Ephesians 1:3-6

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.