For April 1, 2012

Worship Next Sunday

April 1, 2012

Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee

Sermon text: Acts 10:25-48

Sermon title: “Adventure at Caesarea” (continued)

Music:

Opening Hymn 3 Give to Our God Immortal Praise

Preparation Hymn 437 O God to Us Show Mercy

Response Hymn 342 Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation

Closing Hymn 460 Amazing Grace

Confession of Faith: Apostles Creed

Old Testament Passage: Psalm 121

Preparation Guide

Sunday: Review morning sermon (evening service @ 5pm)

Monday: Acts 10:25-48

Tuesday: 2 Kings 2:1-11

Wednesday: 2 Kings 2:12-25

Thursday: Psalm 121

Friday: Matthew 22:37

Saturday: Acts 10

Suggested Bible Study and Prayers

(Passages that we will refer to in next Sunday's worship)

2 Kings 2

Sovereign Lord, take us up to heaven at just the right time. Grant to us wise hearts that will not cling to things here below. Thank You for our eternal hope, secured for us in the life and death of Your Son. We mourn the loss of those who depart, men of insight, full of Your Spirit. Yet You are the one who makes a man to be a strong servant for You. In the day that an Elijah goes to a better home, You are able to raise up an Elisha for the good of Your church. Grant us faithful servants, men of God who will truly speak Your Word. Grant us hearts that look to our great prophet Jesus Christ. May we always look to Him and live. Give us new hope and the fresh water of Your presence. Heal Your church. Supply great resources of heavenly wisdom for those who are young, that they might humbly turn to You and live.

Acts 10

God of the Nations, we rejoice in the obvious truth that salvation has been granted not only to Jews, but also to the Gentiles. How many a Cornelius have come to know the truth of this great Jewish Messiah! In this Christ we have been declared clean. How often do we treat others as unclean when You have cleansed them for the hearing of Your Word? Thank You for Your providence among men and angels whereby the truth of Jesus has been brought to the ends of the earth. Could it be that Your church would be strangely unmoved by this great expansion of Your kingdom? Are we really so captivated by our private concerns that we only see our own homes and families and the continual needs of our lives? Help us to fear You again and to do what is right. Help us to love the preaching of Jesus Christ here and in distant lands. Will we not be moved by the resurrection of Jesus Christ? Could it be that a man would claim to be alive to the resurrection of Jesus, and yet still be dead to the progress of Your Son’s kingdom throughout the world? Open our eyes, O Lord! Some unseen enemy must yet be against us or within us. Open our eyes so that we would love You and serve You! Grant us a more powerful cleansing by Your Spirit and a more wonderful knowledge of the truth so that we would be eager to serve You forever.

Psalm 121

Father God, our help comes from You. You have created us, and You keep us through all kinds of difficulties. You will help us as we move along in our journey to the heavenly Jerusalem. You will keep us forever.

For March 25, 2012

Worship Next Sunday

March 25, 2012

Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee

Sermon text: Acts 10:1-24

Sermon title: “Adventure at Caesarea”

Music:

Opening Hymn 80 Lord, with Glowing Heart I'd Praise Thee

Preparation Hymn 145 The Spirit Breathes upon the Word

Response Hymn 172 Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder

Closing Hymn 642 Be Thou My Vision

Confession of Faith: Apostles Creed

Old Testament Passage: Psalm 117

Preparation Guide

Sunday: Review morning sermon (evening service @ 5pm)

Monday: Acts 10:1-24

Tuesday: 2 Kings 1:1-8

Wednesday: 2 Kings 1:9-18

Thursday: Psalm 117

Friday: Luke 9:23-26

Saturday: Acts 10

Suggested Bible Study and Prayers

(Passages that we will refer to in next Sunday's worship)

2 Kings 1

Father God, we need You. It will do us no good to inquire of foreign gods. We need spiritual wisdom that can only come from You. You are the one God in heaven who rules over life and death. You have created all things, and You sustain everything by the Word of Your power. You are a consuming fire. We must worship You alone. Please have mercy on us, that we might live. Give us hope in the day of illness and trouble. Forgive our sins, draw us near to You in Christ, and turn us away from all idolatry.

Acts 10

God of the Nations, we rejoice in the obvious truth that salvation has been granted not only to Jews, but also to the Gentiles. How many a Cornelius have come to know the truth of this great Jewish Messiah! In this Christ we have been declared clean. How often do we treat others as unclean when You have cleansed them for the hearing of Your Word? Thank You for Your providence among men and angels whereby the truth of Jesus has been brought to the ends of the earth. Could it be that Your church would be strangely unmoved by this great expansion of Your kingdom? Are we really so captivated by our private concerns that we only see our own homes and families and the continual needs of our lives? Help us to fear You again and to do what is right. Help us to love the preaching of Jesus Christ here and in distant lands. Will we not be moved by the resurrection of Jesus Christ? Could it be that a man would claim to be alive to the resurrection of Jesus, and yet still be dead to the progress of Your Son’s kingdom throughout the world? Open our eyes, O Lord! Some unseen enemy must yet be against us or within us. Open our eyes so that we would love You and serve You! Grant us a more powerful cleansing by Your Spirit and a more wonderful knowledge of the truth so that we would be eager to serve You forever.

Psalm 117

God of all the earth, everyone everywhere should worship You. Use us as Your servants to extend the glory of Your Name to lands that have never heard of You. Bring the power of redemption through the blood of Your Son to every nation.

For March 18, 2012

Worship Next Sunday

March 18, 2012

Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee

Sermon text: Acts 9:36-43

Sermon title: “Many Believed in the Lord”

Music:

Opening Hymn 18 You Holy Angels Bright

Preparation Hymn 330 Holy Ghost, Dispel Our Sadness

Response Hymn 156 O Lord, How Shall I Meet You

Closing Hymn 353 I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord

Confession of Faith: Heidelberg Catechism

Old Testament Passage: Psalm 113

Preparation Guide

Sunday: Review morning sermon (evening service @ 5pm)

Monday: Acts 9:36-43

Tuesday: 1 Kings 22:1-28

Wednesday: 1 Kings 22:29-53

Thursday: Psalm 113

Friday: Exodus 20:17

Saturday: Acts 9

Suggested Bible Study and Prayers

(Passages that we will refer to in next Sunday's worship)

1 Kings 22

Lord God, the danger of our sin is all around us. Not only do we have iniquity within us and in our assemblies and cities, but we also feel the danger of sin in high places in Your church and in our nations. Teach us to inquire of You in every situation. We humbly ask You to lead us every day. Order all the events before us. Help us to be sensible of the warfare all around us. Shall we go forth into battle without the truth of Your Word? We have a great King in Jesus Christ, our Lord. He pleads for us above. Send forth Your Holy Spirit with the truth this day. Keep false prophets far away from us. Help us by granting to us an accurate and bold presentation of Your Word. We thank You for the Scriptures. Give us the courage to approach You in humble prayer. Teach us to seek Your will above all things. We ask that You would use our prayers to grant to us those things that You desire for Your children. Teach us to have godly affections and requests. The battle rages all around us. Make us faithful to Your Word. If we die today, may we die the death of those who have loved You, and have been faithful to the commission that Your Son has given to His church. Where we fail, appoint others who will listen more attentively to Your voice in the Scriptures. From generation to generation move us along according to Your Word. Where we have been sadly stubborn in our rejection of truth, we pray that future generations of Your church will be moved to see the truth that we have rejected in our folly.

Acts 9

Glorious Lord, You can take a man who is breathing threats against You and Your people and make him into a great servant of the Word. Blessed be Your Name. You help such a man to see the truth that he once condemned. The power of Your gospel changes men, softening proud hearts, and making them willing to suffer for the Name that they hated. Remove from our eyes any remaining spiritual blindness. Help us to see even more clearly that Jesus is Your Son. He is the only Messiah, and this is clearly shown through even the Old Testament Scriptures. Grant that our ministers would preach boldly among men who may be seeking to kill us. Grant us peace and joy in the comfort that comes from Your Truth and from the Holy Spirit. Make us know Your love for us so fully that we cannot help but be overflowing with good works. Remove far from us all ungodly hatred, self-centered distractions, and laziness. Take away all false excuses that we used in earlier days to reject so many great opportunities to serve You.

Psalm 113

Lord God, You have blessed us in so many ways. We thank You sincerely. You are above all nations. There is no god like You. You saw us in our poverty and need. You met us in our barrenness. You have granted us godliness with contentment. You have promised us a future forever in Your Kingdom. We praise You.

For March 11, 2012

Worship Next Sunday

March 11, 2012

Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee

Sermon text: Acts 9:32-35

Sermon title: “They Turned to the Lord”

Music:

Opening Hymn 30 Our God, Our Help in Ages Past

Preparation Hymn 335 Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me.

Response Hymn 461 Not What My Hands Have Done

Closing Hymn 345 Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken

Confession of Faith: Nicene Creed

New Testament Passage: Hebrews 12:18-29

Preparation Guide

Sunday: Review morning sermon (evening service @ 5pm)

Monday: Acts 9:32-35

Tuesday: 1 Kings 21:1-16

Wednesday: 1 Kings 21:17-29

Thursday: Psalm 105

Friday: Exodus 20:16

Saturday: Acts 9

Suggested Bible Study and Prayers

(Passages that we will refer to in next Sunday's worship)

1 Kings 21

Lord, we need wisdom to fight against indwelling sin. Why is there a continuing evil impulse within the souls of the redeemed? Help us to put that lurking foe to the sword. Make us wise in the battle. Let us petition the King of kings to send all His powerful resources to hunt down this brutal adversary who is troubling us. Help us to see that any evil is not alone, but is part of an army of wickedness. If one foe is put to death, another one rises up. Will we give in to sin without a serious fight? Would anyone believe the resolves that we make against sin, when we still reserve for ourselves some secret place of evil? We will surely run there when we feel the tug of our depravity. Help us to hear of Your judgment against Ahab and Jezebel. It will only be by Your mercy that the judgment against us will be put away in the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ.

Acts 9

Glorious Lord, You can take a man who is breathing threats against You and Your people and make him into a great servant of the Word. Blessed be Your Name. You help such a man to see the truth that he once condemned. The power of Your gospel changes men, softening proud hearts, and making them willing to suffer for the Name that they hated. Remove from our eyes any remaining spiritual blindness. Help us to see even more clearly that Jesus is Your Son. He is the only Messiah, and this is clearly shown through even the Old Testament Scriptures. Grant that our ministers would preach boldly among men who may be seeking to kill us. Grant us peace and joy in the comfort that comes from Your Truth and from the Holy Spirit. Make us know Your love for us so fully that we cannot help but be overflowing with good works. Remove far from us all ungodly hatred, self-centered distractions, and laziness. Take away all false excuses that we used in earlier days to reject so many great opportunities to serve You.

Psalm 105

Glorious Lord of All, we worship You and give You thanks. It is wonderful to sing to You. We seek You and we remember what You have done. Your judgments are wise. You keep all Your promises. You made a covenant with us in Christ, and You are fulfilling that good plan in great ways. You have announced news of a future age through Your prophets. So much has already come to pass, and yet much more is still ahead of us. We marvel at Your works in gathering a people for the glory of Your Name. Even today You continue to rescue us from the sin that distracts and ensnares us. You bring us out of danger and cause us to trust again in Your Son. Be with us as we go through this life. We are looking forward to the coming age of glory. May we keep Your Son’s commandments as we wait for the day of His return.

For March 4, 2012

Worship Next Sunday

March 4, 2012

Preaching: Intern Nathan Snyder

Sermon text: 2 Samuel 6

Sermon title: “Worshiping our holy and good God”

Music:

Opening Hymn 9 All You That Fear Jehovah's Name

Preparation Hymn 377 Jesus Where'er Your People Meet

Response Hymn 358 For All the Saints

Closing Hymn 420 At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing

Confession of Faith: Heidelberg Catechism

New Testament Passage: Hebrews 12:18-29

Preparation Guide

Sunday: Review morning sermon (evening service @ 5pm)

Monday: 2 Samuel 6

Tuesday: 1 Kings 20:1-21

Wednesday: 1 Kings 20:22-43

Thursday: Hebrews 12:18-29

Friday: Exodus 20:15

Saturday: 2 Samuel 6

Suggested Bible Study and Prayers

(Passages that we will refer to in next Sunday's worship)

1 Kings 20

Father God, will men of evil continue to disregard the true Word that comes from You? Yet even dangerous men within Your church encounter a day of fear when they face an enemy who seems stronger than they are. Will they turn to You in that day? If they do, will it be only for a moment so that they can turn back to their sin when they feel safe again? Lord, You are so merciful, and we are so quickly enticed into foolish works of unrighteousness. Grant to us hearts that are very willing to hear Your Word, not for a brief moment only, but forever and ever. You are the God of the hills and of the plains. There is no place in all of creation that is free from Your sovereign power. Even our spirits are within Your sure control. How wonderful are Your great purposes, O Lord! The history of Your saving work is moving forward in our times. Nations are hearing the Word of Christ, and light is coming to dark places. Even when we begin to celebrate the new progress of Your Word, the contest has just begun in that place. We foolishly make a covenant with evil, and forget that our warfare is not over until Your Son returns. Our great King Jesus will make a full end of the wicked when He comes to rescue the righteous.

2 Samuel 6

God of Glory, there are so many disappointments that we face in this age of difficulty, yet You also bring moments of glory to us at just the right time. Help those who are facing severe trials. Many are ready to give up. Teach us the importance of Your Word. We know that obedience to You is not simply a matter of good intentions. Have mercy on us, for we are very weak. We rejoice before You with all our might. Though we may be despised by others because of our devotion to You, we pray that our hearts will not be unduly moved by the insults of those who do not love You. Make us pure in heart, mind, and body. We have been chosen by You that we might rejoice before You always.

Hebrews 12

Lord God, if we follow in the way of faith, we must set aside the entanglements of sin by Your grace and look to Jesus Christ moment by moment. We are Your children. We are disciplined by You because we are loved by You. We trust that You are working out good things in us, that we might somehow share in Your holiness. We will not be discouraged today, because Your promises and love are secure in Christ. We turn away from all bitterness and immorality. We will be accepted in the Beloved One who is at Your right hand in the Zion that is above. We look to You, O God. We long to be in the company of men and angels in the presence of Jesus Christ. We absolutely will not refuse You. We are afraid to make such a bold pledge, but we are convinced that we must, and that Your strength is enough to help us in our obvious weakness. You are speaking to us clearly by Your Word. We will not refuse You. Give us more grace to keep our pledge. Forgive us again and again through Christ and restore us to Your fellowship when we foolishly wander away.

For February 26, 2012

Worship Next Sunday

February 26, 2012

Preaching: Pastor Steve Magee

Sermon text: Acts 9:31

Sermon title: “Meanwhile, the church multiplied...”

Music:

Opening Hymn 17 Praise the Lord: Ye Heavens Adore Him

Preparation Hymn 331 Come, O Come, Thou Quickening... 

Response Hymn 363 We Gather Together

Closing Hymn 1 All People That on Earth Do Dwell

Confession of Faith: Heidelberg Catechism

Old Testament Passage: Psalm 100

Preparation Guide

Sunday: Review morning sermon (evening service @ 5pm)

Monday: Acts 9:31

Tuesday: 1 Kings 19:1-8

Wednesday: 1 Kings 19:9-21

Thursday: Psalm 100

Friday: Exodus 20:14

Saturday: Acts 9

Suggested Bible Study and Prayers

(Passages that we will refer to in next Sunday's worship)

1 Kings 19

Lord God, even after we win a great struggle by Your hand, when we awake in the morning we are still here in this wicked world. Dangerous enemies that face some setback regroup for yet another assault. Jezebels lose one day, and are thus enraged to perform greater works of evil the next. We must not live in fear of them. We are not alone. You are with us, and Your people are everywhere. You have reserved many thousands who have not bowed the knee to Baal. You have work for us to do even today. Lead Your servants in a good direction, lest we waste our time in foolish pursuits. Help us to die to self, that we might live to Christ in the fullness of Your Word and Spirit.

Acts 9

Glorious Lord, You can take a man who is breathing threats against You and Your people and make him into a great servant of the Word. Blessed be Your Name. You help such a man to see the truth that he once condemned. The power of Your gospel changes men, softening proud hearts, and making them willing to suffer for the Name that they hated. Remove from our eyes any remaining spiritual blindness. Help us to see even more clearly that Jesus is Your Son. He is the only Messiah, and this is clearly shown through even the Old Testament Scriptures. Grant that our ministers would preach boldly among men who may be seeking to kill us. Grant us peace and joy in the comfort that comes from Your Truth and from the Holy Spirit. Make us know Your love for us so fully that we cannot help but be overflowing with good works. Remove far from us all ungodly hatred, self-centered distractions, and laziness. Take away all false excuses that we used in earlier days to reject so many great opportunities to serve You.

Psalm 100

Father, the duty of worship is not only for Israel. All Your people throughout the earth should love and serve You. We thank You for Your steadfast love, secured for us in the life and death of Your Son.

For February 19, 2012

Worship Next Sunday

February 19, 2012

Preaching: Pastor Steve Magee

Sermon text: Acts 9:26-30

Sermon title: “But I thought that you were on our side!”

Music:

Opening Hymn 6 O Come, My Soul, Bless Thou the Lord

Preparation 163 At the Name of Jesus

Response 463 A Debtor to Mercy Alone

Closing 305 Arise, My Soul, Arise

Confession of Faith: Nicene Creed

Old Testament Passage: Psalm 97

Preparation Guide

Sunday: Review morning sermon (evening service @ 5pm)

Monday: Acts 9:26-30

Tuesday: 1 Kings 18:1-16

Wednesday: 1 Kings 18:17-46

Thursday: Psalm 97

Friday: Exodus 20:13

Saturday: Acts 9

Suggested Bible Study and Prayers

(Passages that we will refer to in next Sunday's worship)

1 Kings 18

Father, You bring rain upon the earth at just the right time. In the days of Elijah, you worked through Your servant to confront evil rulers. It is a frightening thing to face the sword of the civil government when it is in the hand of a perverse man. Even today Your servants throughout the world face great dangers from corrupt and incompetent governments. They are quick to call Your true servants troublemakers, when their own sins have brought trouble upon so many people. Worse than this, even those who claim to follow You have been led astray into horrible idolatry. You are the God who hears. You do not sleep. You are not impressed with desperate and idolatrous acts of humiliation aimed at forcing Your hand. The gods of the nations are nothing. They have no voice. They do not answer. They can do nothing. Grant Your wandering children wisdom in the day of a holy contest. Send fire from heaven that would touch our hearts and call us back to clear spiritual thinking. May we see Your hand and fall on our faces, for You, O Lord, are God. Answer us when we pray to You. Turn the hearts of Your people back to You, and glorify Your holy Name. The day of Your vengeance is surely coming. Our only hope is in Your Son Jesus. He is the true Man of God. His prayers are completely effectual, and He has prayed for us. Grant us sweet rain from heaven, that we might be refreshed in Your service in a day of intense struggle.

Acts 9

Glorious Lord, You can take a man who is breathing threats against You and Your people and make him into a great servant of the Word. Blessed be Your Name. You help such a man to see the truth that he once condemned. The power of Your gospel changes men, softening proud hearts, and making them willing to suffer for the Name that they hated. Remove from our eyes any remaining spiritual blindness. Help us to see even more clearly that Jesus is Your Son. He is the only Messiah, and this is clearly shown through even the Old Testament Scriptures. Grant that our ministers would preach boldly among men who may be seeking to kill us. Grant us peace and joy in the comfort that comes from Your Truth and from the Holy Spirit. Make us know Your love for us so fully that we cannot help but be overflowing with good works. Remove far from us all ungodly hatred, self-centered distractions, and laziness. Take away all false excuses that we used in earlier days to reject so many great opportunities to serve You.

Psalm 97

Almighty Father, You rule over the earth. You are a mighty God. You should be feared by all men. All the earth should worship You. There is no god that men can make with their own hands. We have been made by You. We love You, O Lord. We turn away from evil. We rejoice in You.