Preparation (9:45AM)
This is a time to look upward and to commune with the Lord.
- Sit in silence for five minutes to “just be.” Just be “still” to know that God is “good.” Try to still your busy mind and put it into a mode of listening. If you find “thought monkeys” that disturb your silence, jot them down, and then continue in silence.
- Praying Psalm 23. In your Bible, read Psalm 23 and then recite each line as your own personal prayer.
After completing these exercises, you may ask:
- Did you find any of the exercises difficult? If so, why?
- What, if anything, did you learn about God or yourself through the exercises?
Listening: Do we have ears to hear?
“Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:43)
Sing Together: Speak O Lord
VERSE 1
Speak O Lord as we come to You
To receive the food of Your Holy Word
Take Your truth plant it deep in us
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness
CHORUS 1
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith
Speak O Lord and fulfill in us
All Your purposes for Your glory
VERSE 2
Teach us Lord full obedience
Holy reverence true humility
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity
CHORUS 2
Cause our faith to rise
Cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority
Words of pow’r that can never fail
Let their truth prevail over unbelief
VERSE 3
Speak O Lord and renew our minds
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity
CHORUS 3
And by grace we’ll stand on Your promises
And by faith we’ll walk as you walk with us
Speak O Lord till your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory
Kindness: How do we know God is good?
We know God is good because he is our shepherd who is always with us through the darkest valleys and will lead us to green pastures.
Sing Together: Psalm 23 (Surely Goodness, Surely Mercy)
VERSE 1
The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want
In green pastures He makes me lie down
He restores my soul
And leads me on for His Name
for His great Name
CHORUS
Surely goodness surely mercy
Right beside me all my days
And I will dwell in Your house forever
And bless Your Holy Name
VERSE 2
You prepare a table right before me
In the presence of my enemies
Though the arrow flies
And the terror of night
Is at my door I’ll trust You Lord
CHORUS
Surely goodness surely mercy
Right beside me all my days
And I will dwell in Your house forever
And bless Your Holy Name
BRIDGE
Even though I walk through the valley
Of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil
Even though I walk through the valley
Of the shadow of death
You are on my side (2X)
CHORUS
Surely goodness surely mercy
Right beside me all my days
And I will dwell in Your house forever
And bless Your Holy Name
Atonement: How does God makes us one with him?
The Lord is not only a shepherd who leads, he is the good shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep. What we could not do, living a sinless life always loving God and always loving others, Jesus did for us to make us one with God.
Sing Together: Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me
VERSE 1
What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer
There is no more for Heaven now to give
He is my joy my righteousness and freedom
My steadfast love my deep and boundless peace
CHORUS 1
To this I hold my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to His
Oh how strange and divine I can sing all is mine
Yet not I but through Christ in me
VERSE 2
The night is dark but I am not forsaken
For by my side the Saviour He will stay
I labour on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need His power is displayed
CHORUS 2
To this I hold my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley He will lead
Oh the night has been won and I shall overcome
Yet not I but through Christ in me
VERSE 3
No fate I dread I know I am forgiven
The future sure the price it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And He was raised to overthrow the grave
CHORUS 3
To this I hold my sin has been defeated
Jesus now and ever is my plea
Oh the chains are released I can sing I am free
Yet not I but through Christ in me
VERSE 4
With every breath I long to follow Jesus
For He has said that He will bring me home
And day by day I know He will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne
CHORUS 4
To this I hold my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I but through Christ in me
TAG
When the race is complete
Still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I but through Christ in me (3X)
Instruction: What does God expect of you?
Scripture: Romans 12:1-21
Sermon: Living Sacrifice
Sacrifice/Surrender: How can I offer my life to God?
The logical response to Christ giving his life for us is for us to give our life to him.
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose” (Galatians2.20)
Sing Together: Take My Life
VERSE 1
Take my life and let it be
Consecrated Lord to Thee
Take my moments and my days
Let them flow in ceaseless praise
Let them flow in ceaseless praise
VERSE 2
Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee
Swift and beautiful for Thee
VERSE 3
Take my voice and let me sing
Always only for my King
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee
Filled with messages from Thee
VERSE 4
Take my will and make it Thine
It shall be no longer mine
Take my heart it is Thine own
It shall be Thy royal throne
It shall be Thy royal throne
VERSE 5
Take my love my Lord I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store
Take myself and I will be
Ever only all for Thee
Ever only all for Thee
Communion with Christ: How can we remember our union with Christ?
Lord’s Supper
“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.” (1Corinthians11.23-29)
- In this passage we see that the Lord’s Supper should be taken: 1) Sentimentally, 2) Expectantly, 3) Carefully
- Because of the significance of the Lord’s Table, only baptized believers in the Lord Jesus Christ should partake.
- Also, if you are willingly living in sin, you should refrain.
- If you are unable to partake of the Lord’s Table today, you may still partake of Christ! The Lord’s Table is just an aid in your relationship with Christ. Without it, you can still go to Christ.
- There are some prayers below that you may use to guide you.
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Prayer for those searching
Oh God, I am discovering that the more I have, the more I need to have, the more I am loved, the more I need to be loved, the more I achieve, the more I need to achieve. Nothing seems to satisfy me. “Nothing tastes.” Could it be, as someone once said, that “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee.” Dear God, if this is true, and if as the Bible teaches there is life and life eternal in Christ alone, please guide me to him. Open me to the reality of the one who alone can satisfy my restless heart. Give me the courage to believe that which I cannot see but can understand through your Word, sacraments and church family. Lord I want to believe, please help me in my unbelief! Amen.
Prayer of belief
Lord God, I now see that I am weaker and more flawed than I ever before believed, but in Christ, I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. Even as I have not loved you or my neighbor with all of my heart, you have shown your love for me in that while I am still sinning, Christ died for me and took upon himself the condemnation that I deserve. I now know that You owe me nothing for my efforts, but you offer acceptance, love and blessing into all eternity because of Christ’s efforts on my behalf. I therefore ask that you would enable me to turn away from trusting in my own efforts to gain your acceptance and forgiveness, and trust in the perfectly righteous efforts of Christ on my behalf in order to be accepted by you and entered into your holy family. And just as you raised Christ from the dead, so too I ask that you would give me a new life in Christ, one that will lead eventually to heaven itself. Thank you for Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit to believe in him alone for my salvation. And as You have called us to follow You in baptism and in a life of committed discipleship in Your church, grant that I may take the necessary steps to be one with Your people, and live in the fullness of Your Spirit. Amen.
Communion with body of Christ: How can we serve one another?
Intercession
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15)
“praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:18–20)
Take this time to pray for the people seated near you. Also, pray for Ethos Communion Church, as well as other churches you know of.
Commission to the World: How can we serve the world?
Intercession
“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15)
“At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—” (Colossians 4:3)
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,” (1 Timothy 2:1–3)
Take this time to pray for open doors for missionaries and evangelists to proclaim the gospel with boldness and winsomeness and pray for those in authority may govern well in order to provide conditions for the church to thrive in its ministries.
Sing Together: Psalm 23 (Surely Goodness, Surely Mercy)
VERSE 1
The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want
In green pastures He makes me lie down
He restores my soul
And leads me on for His Name
for His great Name
CHORUS
Surely goodness surely mercy
Right beside me all my days
And I will dwell in Your house forever
And bless Your Holy Name
VERSE 2
You prepare a table right before me
In the presence of my enemies
Though the arrow flies
And the terror of night
Is at my door I’ll trust You Lord
CHORUS
Surely goodness surely mercy
Right beside me all my days
And I will dwell in Your house forever
And bless Your Holy Name
BRIDGE
Even though I walk through the valley
Of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil
Even though I walk through the valley
Of the shadow of death
You are on my side (2X)
CHORUS
Surely goodness surely mercy
Right beside me all my days
And I will dwell in Your house forever
And bless Your Holy Name
Benediction: What is the hope with which you go out?
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”(Romans 15:13)
Announcements
- Tithes and offerings may be given online at EthosChurch.Co. FYI the fees are 2.15% + $0.30/donation for credit and debit card donations, and 0% + $0.30 per ACH bank transfer donation. So using your bank is preferred.
- Having looked upward during the worship service, we now want to look outward, in sharing the love of Christ we have in our hearts for one another. To do that, food always helps, so following the service we will have a refreshment hour followed by a meal. Today’s menu: Grass-fed Beef Hamburgers