October 2, 2022

Order of Worship

Sunday, October 2, 2022

Welcome and Announcements

Gathering the Family Together

Psalm 50A                                                                  Blue Psalter, pg 316

“The Mighty God with Power Speaks”

Call To Worship

Scripture Reading:                                                    Ephesians 3:14-21

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,

¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

¹⁶ that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

¹⁸ may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer of Invocation 

Declaring What We Believe

The Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord;

Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the virgin Mary;

Suffered under Pontius Pilate;

Was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell;

The third day He rose again from the dead;

He ascended into heaven,

And sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;

From whence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost;

The holy universal church; The communion of saints;

The forgiveness of sins; The resurrection of the body;

And the life everlasting. Amen.

We Respond to God’s Presence

Jesus, Draw Me Ever Nearer

Jesus, draw me ever nearer, as I labor through the storm.

You have called me to this passage, and I’ll follow, though I’m worn.

May this journey bring a blessing, may I rise on wings of faith;

And at the end of my heart’s testing, with Your likeness let me wake.

Jesus, guide me through the tempest; Keep my spirit staid and sure.

When the midnight meets the morning, let me love You even more.

May this journey bring a blessing, may I rise on wings of faith;

And at the end of my heart’s testing, with Your likeness let me wake.

Let the treasures of the trial form within me as I go

And at the end of this long passage, let me leave them at Your throne.

May this journey bring a blessing, may I rise on wings of faith;

And at the end of my heart’s testing, with Your likeness let me wake.

Lyrics by Margaret Becker © Modern M Music. Music by Keith Getty © 2001 Thankyou Music. Used by permission. CCLI #172212.

Spirit of Heaven

1. Spirit of Heaven, flood over me,

forming Christ in all that I do.

Turn every sinful desire in me

into holy passion for You.

Refrain:     O, Spirit of God, come down; Let mercy and grace abound.

My passionate prayer shall be: Christ in me.

2. Spirit of beauty and holiness,

come refine with fire from above,

Till I am cast in Your righteousness

and I love the things that you love.                (Refrain)

3. Breathe Your forgiveness when darkness falls

and my heart is heavy with sin.

Fill me with faith for the higher cause

of the ceaseless praise of the King.                (Refrain)

Copyright ©2007 Thankyou Music/Adm. By worthiptogether.com songs excl. UK & Europe, adm by Kingsway Music tym@kingsway.co.uk Used by permission CCLI

The Lord Is My Salvation

The grace of God has reached for me and pulled me from the raging sea

And I am safe on this solid ground. The Lord is my salvation.

I will not fear when darkness falls His strength will help me scale these walls

I’ll see the dawn of the rising sun. The Lord is my salvation

Refrain:

Who is like the Lord our God?  Strong to save, faithful in love

My debt is paid and the vict’ry won. The Lord is my salvation

My hope is hidden in the Lord; He flow’rs each promise of His Word

When winter fades I know spring will come. The Lord is my salvation

In times of waiting, times of need when I know loss, when I am weak

I know His grace will renew these days. The Lord is my salvation

Repeat Refrain

And when I reach my final day He will not leave me in the grave

But I will rise, Christ will call me home; The Lord is my salvation

Repeat Refrain

Doxology:

Glory be to God the Father; Glory be to God the Son

Glory be to God the Spirit; The Lord is our salvation  (Repeat Doxology)

Words and Music by Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, Nathan Nockels and Jonas Myrin©2016 Getty Music Publishing (BMI) / Sweater Weather Music (ASCAP) (admin by MusicServices.org) / Capitol CMG Paragon (BMI) / Son of the Lion (BMI) (admin at CaptiolCMGPubishing.com) CCLI: #172212

Children’s Sermon

Pastoral Prayer

The basket to receive His tithes and our offerings

is located on the left as you leave the Sanctuary.

We Worship Through Hearing

Sermon Hymn:

He Will Hold Me Fast

1    When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast

When the tempter would prevail, He will hold me fast

I could never keep my hold Through life’s fearful path

For my love is often cold, He must hold me fast

Chorus:     He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast

For my Savior loves me so, He will hold me fast

2    Those He saves are His delight, Christ will hold me fast

Precious in His holy sight, He will hold me fast

He’ll not let my soul be lost, His promises shall last

Bought by Him at such a cost, He will hold me fast

Repeat Chorus

3    For my life He bled and died, Christ will hold me fast

Justice has been satisfied, He will hold me fast

Raised with Him to endless life, He will hold me fast

Till our faith is turned to sight, When he comes at last

Repeat Chorus

— Original Words vv 1-2 by Ada HabershonNew Words and Music by Matt Merker©2013 Getty Music Publishing (BMI) / Matt Merker Music (BMI) (admin by MusicServices.org)

Today’s Message

“The Wilderness and God’s Purpose”

Luke 3:21 – 4:43

Rev. Bruce Anderson

Notes

The biblical wildernesses are metaphors of deprivation, isolation, and discomfort.

We all encounter forms of wilderness.  The good news is that the Holy Spirit is at work in the wilderness to fulfill God’s purpose.

From Luke 3&4, we see three works of the Spirit in the wilderness that lead to the fulfillment of God’s purpose.  In the wilderness, the Spirit…

1. AFFIRMS with fatherly love—Luke 3:22 ‘and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”’

The Father 1) values us as sons and daughters, 2) approaches us with affection and gentleness, 3) accepts us and is pleased with us, and 4) gives us his voice to stand against the other voices.

2. GUIDES by every circumstance—Luke 4:1 ‘And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil.’

‘In your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me.’ (Ps139:16)

Most of us struggle with rejecting ourselves in the areas of 1) my appearance, 2) my abilities, 3) my parentage, and 4) my environment/homeplace.

‘And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.’ (Rom 8:28)

3. EMPOWERS for a specific mission ministry—Luke 4:14 ‘And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.’

We see callings to a specific ministry and purpose in the lives of Jesus, Paul, Archippus, and the rest of the New Testament church.

To conclude, the good news is that the Holy Spirit is at work in the wilderness to fulfill God’s purpose.  He affirms us, guides us, and empowers us.

For reflection:

1. What are your personal and corporate wildernesses (or biggest tests or trials) right now?
2. How is the Lord working through your/our circumstances to guide you into his purpose?
3. Where has the Spirit empowered you to go?
4. What ministry have you received in the Lord? For what purpose have you been sent?  How are you doing with it?

Communion

Prayer of Contrition

Sharing of the Elements

We invite to the Lord’s Table all those who are baptized disciples of Jesus Christ and are under the authority of Christ and His body, the Church. By eating the bread and drinking the wine with us as a visitor, you are acknowledging to the elders of this local church that you are in covenant with God and an active member of a congregation in which the gospel is faithfully confessed, taught, and believed. You also acknowledge that you are a sinner, without hope except in the sovereign mercy of God, and that you are trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. If you have any doubt about your participation, please speak to the elders before or after the service.

Declaration of Forgiveness

We Are Sent Forth in Worship

to Share the Gospel

Hear the Call of the Kingdom

Hear the call of the kingdom, lift your eyes to the King,

Let His song rise within you as a fragrant offering

Of how God rich in mercy came in Christ to redeem

All who trust in His unfailing grace

Hear the call of the Kingdom to be children of light

With the mercy of heaven the humility of Christ

Walking justly before Him, loving all that is right

That the life of Christ may shine through us

Refrain:    King of Heaven we will answer the call

We will follow bringing hope to the world

Filled with passion filled with power to proclaim

Salvation in Jesus’ name

Hear the call of the Kingdom to reach out to the lost

With the Father’s compassion in the wonder of the cross

Bringing peace and forgiveness and a hope yet to come

Let the nations put their trust in Him

Repeat Refrain:

Stuart Townend/Keith Getty/Kristyn Getty. Copyright © 2006 Thankyou Music. CCLI #172212

Benediction