June 7, 2015 PREP

Theme: "Therefore, We Do Not Lose Heart"

Special Notes: Please note, the Offering has changed location in the 10:40am worship per the Stewardship Team's request.

 Sound Notes:

Reference Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 & Acts 4:32-36, 9:26-30
2 Corinthians 4:13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”^[a] Since we have that same spirit of^[b] faith, we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴ because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. ¹⁵ All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

5:1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

Acts 4:32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. ³³ With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all ³⁴ that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales ³⁵ and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
³⁶ Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), ³⁷ sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Acts 9:26-30  When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. ²⁷ But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. ²⁸ So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹ He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,^[a] but they tried to kill him. ³⁰ When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

 

Call To Worship:

Leader: We gather to give thanks to You, O Lord,

People: With all our heart!

Leader: We will sing Your praises before all creation,

People: We rejoice in Your steadfast love!

Leader: You have created us O Lord, and made us for Yourself,

People: In You we become everything You have made us to be!

Invocation: 

O Lord our God, we come together with songs of praise in our hearts,

because of your unfailing love and faithfulness.

Listening God, we come together with prayers of thanks in our hearts,

because you hear and answer our prayers.

Welcoming God, we come together in reverent worship filling our minds,

because your faithful love endures forever. Hear us now as we pray together, as your Son taught us, Our Father....

 — written by Joan Stott,

Hymn Suggestions:

Opening Music: "Open the Eyes of My Heart"  Chalice Praise

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord.
Open the eyes of my heart, 
I want to see you.
I want to see you.    (Sing twice) 

Hymn of Praise: CH # 56 "For the Beauty of the Earth"  sts. 1, 3, 5

Prayer Hymn: CH #283  "Jesus, Stand Among Us"  ALL

      

Communion Hymn: CH #393 "One Bread, One Body"  1 & 2

 Hymn of Invitation: If we know, CH #638 "In the Bulb There Is a Flower" ALL

 

Closing Music: CH286 "This is the Day"