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.
- Scripture Meditation. A) In your Bible, read Philippians 2:3-11 slowly, pausing between clauses. B) After a minute of silence, read it again and look for words or phrases that catch your attention. C) Read it a third time and begin to wonder: “What might God want to say to me specifically?” D) Turn the previous question into a prayer, and then write down anything God might be saying to you. E) Be still and silent, and then ask yourself and God, “What am I being called to do as a result of the word I have been given?”
Listening: Do we have ears to hear?
“And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:11–13)
Sing Together: Still
VERSE 1
Hide me now
Under Your wings
Cover me
Within Your mighty hand
CHORUS
When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with You above the storm
Father You are King over the flood
I will be still know You are God
VERSE 2
Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know His power
In quietness and trust
CHORUS
When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with You above the storm
Father You are King over the flood
I will be still know You are God
Kindness: How do we know God is good?
“I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3.19-23)
We know God is good because his mercies are new every morning.
Sing Together: Goodness of God
VERSE 1
I love You Lord
Oh Your mercy never fails me
All my days I’ve been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
I will sing of the goodness of God
CHORUS
All my life You have been faithful
All my life You have been so so good
With every breath that I am able
I will sing of the goodness of God
VERSE 2
I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
In darkest nights You are close like no other
I’ve known You as a Father
I’ve known You as a Friend
I have lived in the goodness of God
CHORUS
All my life You have been faithful
All my life You have been so so good
With every breath that I am able
I will sing of the goodness of God
BRIDGE
Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me
Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me
With my life laid down
I’m surrendered now
I give You everything
Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me
CHORUS
All my life You have been faithful
All my life You have been so so good
With every breath that I am able
I will sing of the goodness of God
TAG
Oh I’m gonna sing
Of the goodness of God
Instruction: What does God expect of you?
Scripture: Romans 12:1-2
Sermon: Good, Pleasing, and Perfect Will of God
Sacrifice/Surrender: How can I offer my life to God?
Knowing the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God we can surrender and rest that he is working everything together for good in Christ Jesus.
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31–32)
Sing Together: Sovereign Over Us
VERSE 1
There is strength within the sorrow
There is beauty in our tears
And You meet us in our mourning
With a love that casts out fear
VERSE 2
You are working in our waiting
You’re sanctifying us
When beyond our understanding
You’re teaching us to trust
CHORUS
Your plans are still to prosper
You have not forgotten us
You’re with us in the fire and the flood
You’re faithful forever
Perfect in love
You are sovereign over us
VERSE 3
You are wisdom unimagined
Who could understand Your ways
Reigning high above the Heavens
Reaching down in endless grace
VERSE 4
You’re the lifter of the lowly
Compassionate and kind
You surround and You uphold me
And Your promises are my delight
CHORUS
Your plans are still to prosper
You have not forgotten us
You’re with us in the fire and the flood
You’re faithful forever
Perfect in love
You are sovereign over us
BRIDGE
Even what the enemy means for evil
You turn it for our good
You turn it for our good
And for Your glory
Even in the valley You are faithful
You’re working for our good
You’re working for our good
And for Your glory
CHORUS
Your plans are still to prosper
You have not forgotten us
You’re with us in the fire and the flood
You’re faithful forever
Perfect in love
You are sovereign over us
TAG
You’re faithful forever
Perfect in love
You are sovereign over us
Communion with Christ: How can we remember our union with Christ?
Heidelberg Catechism
Q1: What is your only comfort in life and death?
Answer:
- That I am not my own,
- but belong with body and soul,
- both in life and in death,
- to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ.
- He has fully paid for all my sins
- with his precious blood,
- and has set me free
- from all the power of the devil.
- He also preserves me in such a way
- that without the will of my heavenly Father
- not a hair can fall from my head;
- indeed, all things must work together
- for my salvation.
- Therefore, by his Holy Spirit
- he also assures me
- of eternal life
- and makes me heartily willing and ready
- from now on to live for him.
Q2: What do you need to know in order to live and die in the joy of this comfort?
Answer:
- First,
- how great my sins and misery are;
- second,
- how I am delivered
- from all my sins and misery;
- third,
- how I am to be thankful
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.
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.
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: Messiah / You’re Beautiful
VERSE 1
I see Your face in every sunrise
The colors of the morning are inside Your eyes
The world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say, You’re beautiful
VERSE 2
I see Your power in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
We are amazed in the light of the stars
It’s all proclaiming who You are, You’re beautiful
VERSE 3
I see You there hanging on a tree
You bled and then You died
And then You rose again for me
Now You are sitting on Your heavenly throne
Soon we will be coming home, You’re beautiful
VERSE 4
When we arrive at eternity’s shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your Bride will come together and we’ll sing
You’re beautiful
Benediction: What is the hope with which you go out?
“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” (2 Thess. 2:16–17)
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