Prayer for the Gathering
Heavenly Father, we thank You for inviting us into Your presence, and for the access we have to You through Christ. Let us be united in our worship as we gather. May we sing of Your praise with our whole being, for You alone are worthy. Amen.
Reflection: Quote from John Newton
“May we sit at the foot of the cross; and there learn what sin has done, what justice has done, what love has done.”
Call to Worship: Revelation 5
[1] Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides, sealed with seven seals. [2] I also saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” [3] But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look in it. [4] I wept and wept because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or even to look in it. [5] Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Look, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered so that he is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
[6] Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth. [7] He went and took the scroll out of the right hand of the one seated on the throne.
[8] When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and golden bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. [9] And they sang a new song:
You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slaughtered,
and you purchased people
for God by your blood
from every tribe and language
and people and nation.
[10] You made them a kingdom
and priests to our God,
and they will reign on the earth.
[11] Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands. [12] They said with a loud voice,
Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered
to receive power and riches
and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and blessing!
[13] I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say,
Blessing and honor and glory and power
be to the one seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb, forever and ever!
[14] The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Worship in Song
Worship Set for 9/17/2023
Endless Praise | Worthy Of It All | Here I Am to Worship
The Word Preached: 1 Peter 2:11-17
A Call to Good Works
[11] Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. [12] Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.
[13] Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor as the supreme authority [14] or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. [15] For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. [16] Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves. [17] Honor everyone. Love the brothers and sisters. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
Response to the Word Preached
Response in Song: Take My Life and Let It Be