Sunday July 30, 2023
Call To Worship:
1 John 4:7-12
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Songs:
King of My Heart
Verse 1
Let the King of my heart
Be the mountain where I run
The fountain I drink from
Oh He is my song
Let the King of my heart
Be the shadow where I hide
The ransom for my life
Oh He is my song
Chorus 1
You are good good oh
You are good good oh
You are good good oh
You are good good oh
Verse 2
Let the King of my heart
Be the wind inside my sails
The anchor in the waves
Oh He is my song
Let the King of my heart
Be the fire inside my veins
The echo of my days
Oh He is my song
Misc 1
(Bridge)
You're never gonna let
Never gonna let me down
You're never gonna let
Never gonna let me down
You're never gonna let
Never gonna let me down
You're never gonna let
Never gonna let me down
Misc 2
(Ending)
When the night is holding on to me
God is holding on
When the night is holding on to me
God is holding on
Cornerstone
Verse 1
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus' Name
(REPEAT)
Chorus 1
Christ alone cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Saviour's love
Through the storm He is Lord
Lord of all
Verse 2
When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
My anchor holds within the veil
Misc 1
(Interlude)
He is Lord Lord of all
Verse 3
When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless stand before the throne
Thou Oh Lord
Thou Oh Lord art a shield about me
You’re my glory, You’re the lifter up of my head
Thou oh Lord art a shield about me
You’re my glory, You’re the lifter up of my hand
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, You’re the lifter up of my head
Indescribable
Verse 1
From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of Fall to the fragrance of Spring
Ev'ry creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming
Chorus 1
Indescribable uncontainable
You placed the stars in the sky
And You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful untamable
Awestruck we fall to our knees
As we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Verse 2
Who has told ev'ry lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom
Misc 1
(Interlude)
You are amazing God
Chorus 2
Indescribable uncontainable
You placed the stars in the sky
And You know them by name
You are amazing God
Incomparable unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart
And You love me the same
You are amazing God
Misc 2
(Ending)
You see the depths of my heart
And You love me the same
You are amazing God
(REPEAT)
You see the depths of our hearts
Teaching: “Seeking God’s Kingdom First: Love from 1 John”
1 John 1:1-4
“we declare to you what was from the beginning (there is that regrounded language right out the door), what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it and declare to you the eternal life that was with the father and was revealed to us- what we have seen and heard we also declare to you so that you also may have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.”
1 John 2:7
“Beloved I am writing you no new commandment but an old commandment that you have heard from the beginning.”
1 John 2:21
“I wrote to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it…”
1 John 3:11
“For this is the message you have heard from the beginning…”
1 John 1:7
“But if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
1 John 2:4
“Whoever says, I have come to know him but does not obey his commands is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist. But whoever obeys his word, truly in this present he love of God has reached perfection. By this we know that we are in him: whoever says, ‘I abide in him’ ought to walk in the same way as he walked.”
Ephesians 5:1-2
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
1 John 3:11
“For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.”
1 John 3:16
“We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.”
1 John 3:23
“And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he commands us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.”
1 John 4:7ff
“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is Love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us.”
1 John 4:16-21
“God is love (this is the second time he’s said this), and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. (we are becoming like him in other words). There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, I love God, and hate a brother or sister are liars, for those who do not love a brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: Those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.”
1 John 5:1-5
Everyone who believes that Jesus is Christ (he has just spent all 5 chapters trying to convince them of this very fact) has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent (God) loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
Communion:
head up to the front to take communion
head back to your seat and reflect on these questions:
How are you loving people well in your life?
Where do you need more grace?
Pray over these things as you reflect on the life and work of Jesus
Benediction:
Our Father in heaven,
May your name be revered as holy.
May your kingdom come.
May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.
May the strength of God pilot us;
May the wisdom of God instruct us,
May the hand of God protect us,
May the word of God direct us.
Be always ours this day and for evermore.
Amen