WORSHIP TOGETHER

WELCOME AND CALL TO WORSHIP

PRAISE TO THE LORD

Praise to the Lord,
the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now, to His temple draw near—
Join me in glad adoration!

Praise to the Lord,
who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth;
Shelters thee under his wings, yea, so gently sustaineth.
Hast thou not seen how thy desires e’er have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord,
who doth prosper thy work and defend thee!
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do
If with his love he befriend thee!

Praise to the Lord!
O let all that is in me adore him!
All that hath life
and breath, come now with praises before him!
Let the Amen sound from his people again,
Gladly for aye we adore him!
Let the Amen sound from his people again,
Gladly for aye we adore him!

Words: Joachim Neander, 1680; Transl. Catherine Winkworth, 1863; Music: German Tune, 1665; PD; CCLI License #11029770

O LOVE THAT WILL NOT LET ME GO

O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.

Words: George Matheson, 1882; Music: Christopher Miner; ©1997 Christopher Miner Music; CCLI License #11029770

CONFESSION OF FAITH

NEW CITY CATECHISM 48

Q. What is the church?

A. God chooses and preserves for himself a community elected for eternal life and united by faith, who love, follow, learn from, and worship God together. God sends out this community to proclaim the gospel and prefigure Christ’s kingdom by the quality of their life together and their love for one another.

PASTORAL PRAYER

GIVING

JESUS, CAST A LOOK ON ME

Jesus, cast a look on me,
Give me sweet simplicity,
Make me poor and keep me low,
Seeking only Thee to know

All that feeds my busy pride
Cast it evermore aside!
Bid my will to Thine submit,
Lay me humbly at Thy feet.

Make me like a little child:
Of my strength and wisdom spoiled,
Seeing only in Thy light,
Walking only in Thy might.

Leaning on Thy loving breast,
Where a weary soul can rest,
Feeling well the peace of God
Flowing from His precious blood.

In this posture let me live,
And hosannas daily give!
In this temper let me die,
And hosannas ever cry!

Words: John Berridge, 18th cent.; Music: Matthew Perryman Jones; © MPJ Music; CCLI License #11029770

SERMON

SERIES: THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

SERMON: LET LOVE BE GENUINE

SCRIPTURE: ROMANS 12:9–21

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

LET LOVE BE GENUINE

Let Love Be Genuine
Let Love Be Consistent
Let Love Be Gracious

OH HOW GOOD IT IS (PSALM 133)

Oh how good it is
When the family of God
Dwells together in spirit
In faith and unity.
Where the bonds of peace,
Of acceptance and love
Are the fruit of His presence here among us.

So with one voice we’ll sing to the Lord
And with one heart we’ll live out His word
Till the whole earth sees
The Redeemer has come
For He dwells in the presence of His people.

Oh how good it is
On this journey we share
To rejoice with the happy
And weep with those who mourn.
For the weak find strength
The afflicted find grace
When we offer the blessing of belonging.

So with one voice we’ll sing to the Lord
And with one heart we’ll live out His word
Till the whole earth sees
The Redeemer has come
For He dwells in the presence of His people.

Oh how good it is
To embrace His command
To prefer one another
Forgive as He forgives.
When we live as one
We all share in the love
Of the Son with the Father and the Spirit.

So with one voice we’ll sing to the Lord
And with one heart we’ll live out His word
Till the whole earth sees
The Redeemer has come
For He dwells in the presence of His people.

Words/Music: Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, Ross Holmes, Stuart Townend; © 2012 Gettymusic; Parakeet Boots Music; Townend Music; CCLI License #11029770

BENEDICTION