REFLECTION

“…we never roam beyond the Shepherd's eye. In our sorrows He observes us incessantly, and not a painful emotion escapes Him; in our toils He notices all our weariness, and He writes all the struggles of His faithful ones in His book. These thoughts of the Lord encompass us in all our paths and penetrate the innermost region of our being. Not a nerve or tissue, valve or vessel of our bodily frame is uncared for; all the details of our little world are thought upon by the great God.” 

- Charles Surgeon

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CALL TO WORSHIP & PRAYER (Psalm 147:1–50

Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting. The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.

SONG "Jesus Messiah"

He became sin who knew no sin

That we might become His righteousness

He humbled himself and carried the cross

Love so amazing love so amazing

          (Chorus)

          Jesus Messiah name above all names

          Blessed Redeemer Emmanuel

          The rescue for sinners the ransom from Heaven

          Jesus Messiah Lord of all

His body the bread His blood the wine

Broken and poured out all for love

The whole earth trembled and the veil was torn

Love so amazing love so amazing

          (Chorus)

          Jesus Messiah name above all names

          Blessed Redeemer Emmanuel

          The rescue for sinners the ransom from Heaven

          Jesus Messiah Lord of all

          (Bridge)

          All our hope is in You all our hope is in You

          All the glory to You God the light of the world

          (Chorus)

          Jesus Messiah name above all names

          Blessed Redeemer Emmanuel

          The rescue for sinners the ransom from Heaven

          Jesus Messiah Lord of all

          Jesus Messiah Lord of all

PASTORAL PRAYER (The Lord's Prayer)

Our Father which art in heaven, 

Hallowed be thy name. 

Thy kingdom come,

thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 

Give us this day our daily bread. 

And forgive us our debts, 

as we forgive our debtors. 

And lead us not into temptation, 

but deliver us from evil: 

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, 

and the glory, forever Amen.

SONG "At The Cross"

There's a place where mercy reigns and never dies

There's a place where streams of grace flow deep and wide

Where all the love I've ever found

Comes like a flood comes flowing down

          (Chorus)

          At the cross at the cross I surrender my life

          I'm in awe of You I'm in awe of You

          Where Your love ran red and my sin washed white

          I owe all to You I owe all to You Jesus

There's a place where sin and shame are powerless

Where my heart has peace with God and forgiveness

Where all the love I've ever found

Comes like a flood comes flowing down

          (Chorus)

          At the cross, at the cross I surrender my life

          I'm in awe of You I'm in awe of You

          Where Your love ran red and my sin washed white

          I owe all to You I owe all to You

          (Bridge)

          Here my hope is found here on holy ground

          Here I bow down here I bow down

          Here arms open wide Here You save my life

          Here I bow down here I bow down

          Here my hope is found here on holy ground

          Here I bow down here I bow down

          Here arms open wide Here You save my life

          Here I bow down here I bow down

          (Chorus)

          At the cross, at the cross I surrender my life

          I'm in awe of You I'm in awe of You

          Where Your love ran red and my sin washed white

          I owe all to You I owe all to You

          At the cross, at the cross I surrender my life

          I'm in awe of You I'm in awe of You

          Where Your love ran red and my sin washed white

          I owe all to You I owe all to You

SERMON "Hope Lives"  (1 Peter 1:3-12)

[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, [5] who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. [6] In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, [7] so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. [8] Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, [9] obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

[10] Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, [11] inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. [12] It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. 

CLOSING SONG "The Lion and The Lamb"

He's coming on the clouds

Kings and kingdoms will bow down

And every chain will break

As broken hearts declare His praise

For who can stop the Lord Almighty

          (Chorus)

          Our God is the Lion the Lion of Judah

          He's roaring with power and fighting our battles

          And every knee will bow before Him

          Our God is the Lamb the Lamb that was slain

          For the sins of the world His blood breaks the chains

          And every knee will bow before the Lion and the Lamb

          Every knee will bow before Him

So open up the gates

Make way before the King of Kings

The God who comes to save

Is here to set the captives free

For who can stop the Lord Almighty

          (Chorus)

          Our God is the Lion the Lion of Judah

          He's roaring with power and fighting our battles

          And every knee will bow before Him

          Our God is the Lamb the Lamb that was slain

          For the sins of the world His blood breaks the chains

          And every knee will bow before the Lion and the Lamb

          Every knee will bow before Him

          (Bridge)

          For who can stop the Lord Almighty

          Who can stop the Lord Almighty

          Who can stop the Lord Almighty

          Who can stop the Lord Almighty

          Who can stop the Lord

          (Chorus)

          Our God is the Lion the Lion of Judah

          He's roaring with power and fighting our battles

          And every knee will bow before Him

          Our God is the Lamb the Lamb that was slain

          For the sins of the world His blood breaks the chains

          And every knee will bow before the Lion and the Lamb

          Every knee will bow before Him

BENEDICTION (Jude 24–25)

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.