+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening sentence
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory. You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.
Listen for the voice of the Lord and enter into His peace.
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Galatians 1:15-16 NLT
But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles.
When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being.
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The call of God is not a call to serve Him in any particular way. My contact with the nature of God will shape my understanding of His call and will help me realize what I truly desire to do for Him. The call of God is an expression of His nature; the service which results in my life is suited to me and is an expression of my nature. The call of the natural life was stated by the apostle Paul — “When it pleased God . . . to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him [that is, purely and solemnly express Him] among the Gentiles . . . .”
Service is the overflow which pours from a life filled with love and devotion. But strictly speaking, there is no call to that. Service is what I bring to the relationship and is the reflection of my identification with the nature of God. Service becomes a natural part of my life. God brings me into the proper relationship with Himself so that I can understand His call, and then I serve Him on my own out of a motivation of absolute love. Service to God is the deliberate love-gift of a nature that has heard the call of God. Service is an expression of my nature, and God’s call is an expression of His nature. Therefore, when I receive His nature and hear His call, His divine voice resounds throughout His nature and mine and the two become one in service. The Son of God reveals Himself in me, and out of devotion to Him service becomes my everyday way of life.
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Prayer: Lord, Your Word comes so quietly and all-pervadingly…. Take me as Your servant, Lord, I offer You my love and devotion. Open my mind, my heart, and my spirit to the opportunities You give me to serve You in my everyday life… and give me the strength to follow through. I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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“When It’s All Been Said and Done” – Robin Mark
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Canticle
Christ, as a light illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening sentence
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory. You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.
Listen for the voice of the Lord and enter into His peace.
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Isaiah 6:8 NLT
Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”
When we talk about the call of God, we often forget the most important thing, namely, the nature of Him who calls…. The call is the expression of the nature of the One who calls, and we can only recognize the call if that same nature is in us. The call of God is the expression of God’s nature, not ours. God providentially weaves the threads of His call through our lives, and only we can distinguish them. It is the threading of God’s voice directly to us over a certain concern, and it is useless to seek another person’s opinion of it. Our dealings over the call of God should be kept exclusively between ourselves and Him.
The call of God is not a reflection of my nature; my personal desires and temperament are of no consideration. As long as I dwell on my own qualities and traits and think about what I am suited for, I will never hear the call of God. But when God brings me into the right relationship with Himself, I will be in the same condition Isaiah was. Isaiah was so attuned to God, because of the great crisis he had just endured, that the call of God penetrated his soul. The majority of us cannot hear anything but ourselves. And we cannot hear anything God says. But to be brought to the place where we can hear the call of God is to be profoundly changed.
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Prayer:“Let me hear Your voice” — that is my prayer. I am willing beyond all my expression to hear You, to perceive You, to be thrilled with Your presence. Humble me before Your presence, Lord, and speak – Your servant is listening….
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“Lord, Speak to Me”
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Canticle
Christ, as a light illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening Prayer:
Creator God, in Christ You call man and woman to the fullness of glory for which You created them in Your image. Heal our hardened hearts, renew our obedience to Your spoken will, and conform our lives to Your gracious design. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
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Hymn: “Hail, Holy Light! The World Rejoices”
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A Reading from the Old Testament: Genesis 2:18-24 (NLT)
[In the order of creation, man and woman are meant to be together.]
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him.
So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man.
“At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’”
This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 128:1-6 (NLT)
How joyful are those who fear the Lord — all who follow his ways! You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be!
Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home. Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table.
That is the Lord’s blessing for those who fear him. May the Lord continually bless you from Zion.
May you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live. May you live to enjoy your grandchildren. May Israel have peace!
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“Shir LaMa-alot Esa Einai” (Psalm 128) by Salamone Rossi
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A Reading from the Letters: Hebrews 2:9-11 (NLT)
[Hebrews was written to show that Jesus fulfilled the needs of Jews and Greeks alike.]
What we do see is Jesus, who was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.
So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.
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A Reading from the Gospels: Mark 10:2-16 (NLT)
[Jesus instructs his followers about family life, repeating the teaching given in Genesis and telling all to be as trustful as little children.]
Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife?”
Jesus answered them with a question: “What did Moses say in the law about divorce?”
“Well, he permitted it,” they replied. “He said a man can give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away.”
But Jesus responded, “He wrote this commandment only as a concession to your hard hearts. But ‘God made them male and female’ from the beginning of creation. ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”
Later, when he was alone with his disciples in the house, they brought up the subject again. He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries someone else, she commits adultery.”
One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.
When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.
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“Your Heart Today”
Where there is fear, I can allay / Where there is pain, I can heal / Where there are wounds, I can bind / And hunger, I can fill
Lord, grant me courage / Lord, grant me strength / Grant me compassion / That I may be Your heart today
Where there is hate, I can confront / Where there are yokes, I can release / Where there are captives, I can free / And anger, I can appease
When comes the day I dread / To see a broken world / Compel me from my cell grown cold / That Your people I may behold
And when I’ve done, all that I could / Yet there are hearts, I cannot move / Lord give me hope / That I may be Your heart today
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Intercessions:
Creator God: You are the giver of life, the source of all our blessings. Hear us as we ask for Your help and strength.
+ For all who follow Christ – that we may have the trustfulness of little children…. Lord, hear us.
+ For men and women joined together in marriage – that Your grace may continue to work in them, especially in difficult times…. Lord, hear us.
+ For our children and grandchildren – that they may grow wiser and stronger each day, and grow in favor with Your people…. Lord, hear us.
+ For single people, the widowed or separated – that they may be blessed with good friends on their journey through life…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those who are gravely ill – that every moment of life may be cherished and that death may be accepted, when it comes…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those who face persecution, suffering and death because of their faith – that they may bring honor to Christ in life, and enter into His glory in death…. Lord, hear us.
+ For our family members and friends whose days in this world are over – that they may enter their heavenly homeland with joy…. Lord, hear us.
O Lord our God, You bless those who trust You: hear our prayers offered in faith, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Hymn: “Creation Sings” – Stuart Townend
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Benediction:
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. (Jude 24-25)
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
30 Days with Oswald Chambers: “My Utmost for His Highest”
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening sentence
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory. You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.
Listen for the voice of the Lord and enter into His peace.
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Philippians 1:20 NLT
For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.
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Day 1: My Utmost for His Highest – “… I will never be ashamed….”
We will all feel very much ashamed if we do not yield to Jesus the areas of our lives He has asked us to yield to Him. It’s as if Paul were saying, “My determined purpose is to be my utmost for His highest — my best for His glory.” To reach that level of determination is a matter of the will, not of debate or of reasoning. It is absolute and irrevocable surrender of the will at that point.
An undue amount of thought and consideration for ourselves is what keeps us from making that decision, although we cover it up with the pretense that it is others we are considering. When we think seriously about what it will cost others if we obey the call of Jesus, we tell God He doesn’t know what our obedience will mean. Keep to the point — He does know. Shut out every other thought and keep yourself before God in this one thing only — my utmost for His highest. I am determined to be absolutely and entirely for Him and Him alone.
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Prayer:Lord, the range of Your power, the touch of Your grace, the breathing of Your Spirit — how I long for these to bring me face to face with You. Forgive my tardiness; it takes me so long to awaken to some things. Transform my mind, my heart, and my will by the power of Your Word and Spirit so that I can give You my best today. I ask in Jesus’ name.
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“I Surrender” – Hillsong Live
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Canticle
Christ, as a light illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening sentence
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory. You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.
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Romans 16:25-27 NLT
Now all glory to God, who is able to make you strong, just as my Good News says. This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time. But now as the prophets foretold and as the eternal God has commanded, this message is made known to all Gentiles everywhere, so that they too might believe and obey him. All glory to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, forever. Amen.
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Conclusion: The providence of God in the ministry of Paul (Romans 15:14–16:27)
Paul takes the Roman church into his confidence about the salient characteristics of his ministry… giving us insight into the outworking of God’s providence in his life and work.
Paul’s doxology (25-27)
Paul’s doxology is an eloquent and appropriate conclusion to his letter, for he takes up its four central themes, summarizes them and relates them to one another.
First, Paul writes of the power of God.
Romans begins and ends with a reference to the power of God through the gospel. If the gospel is God’s power to save, it is also God’s power to establish… i.e. to nurture new converts and strengthen young churches…. The vision conjured up by the doxology’s opening words is of God’s ability to establish the multi-ethnic church in Rome, of which Paul has been dreaming, and to strengthen its members in truth, holiness and unity.
Second, Paul writes of the gospel of Christ.
God’s secret, hitherto concealed but now revealed, is essentially Jesus Christ himself in his fullness, and in particular Christ for and in the Gentiles, so that Gentiles now have an equal share with Israel in God’s promise…. The mystery also includes good news for Jews as well as Gentiles, namely that one day ‘all Israel will be saved’. And it looks forward to the future glory, when God will bring all things together under one head, Christ. Thus the mystery begins, continues and ends with Christ.
Christ Anglican Church Carefree, AZ
Third, Paul writes of the evangelization of the nations.
It is important to grasp that Paul is stating three truths about the mystery, which are summed up by the verbs hidden, revealed and made known. It is not just that the mystery was long concealed, but has now been revealed, namely through the life, death, resurrection and exaltation of Jesus. The third fact is that this good news must be, and is already being, made known throughout the world: made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him.
This scheme of the making known of the gospel through Scripture, by God’s command, unto obedience of faith, for all the nations, exactly corresponds to the letter’s opening, which refers to the gospel as being, among other things, according to the Scriptures, through the grace and apostleship given to Paul and others, unto obedience of faith, and for all the nations.
Fourth, Paul concludes in praise of God’s wisdom: to the only wise God be glory for ever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
God’s wisdom is seen in Christ himself… above all in his cross which, though foolish to human beings, is the wisdom of God, in God’s decision to save the world not through its own wisdom but through the folly of the gospel, in the extraordinary phenomenon of the emerging multiracial, multicultural church; and in his purpose ultimately to unite everything under Christ.
God’s redeemed people will spend eternity ascribing to him ‘praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength’… i.e. they will worship him for his power and wisdom displayed in salvation.
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“Unto the Lamb” – Diana with Atlanta Chamber Choir
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Canticle
Christ, as a light illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
The Peanut Gallery 