GRACEMOUNT COMMUNITY CHURCH | 090820

[1] Call to Worship | ‘The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Seek the Lord while he may be found, call on him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.’ [Psalm 145:18 & Isaiah 55:6-7]

[2] Song ONE | O PRAISE THE NAME

[3] Prayer | Lord, Your Word that we’re about to read is living and active, and it knows even the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. As God you see everything; even our secret sins are in the light of your presence. So please keep us from the foolishness of trying to deceive you, from our dishonesty of trying to deceive others, and from the danger of being self-deceived. Help us to understand You and ourselves rightly, and so show us our need of Jesus. In His name we pray, amen.

[4] Reading | ACTS 12:1-24

[5] Sermon

[6] Song TWO | WE REST IN THEE

[7] Song THREE | WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

[8] Reading | ISAIAH 61:1-11 | In Acts 12 we’ve seen the persecution of the church and the pride of humanity. Through Isaiah God makes a promise, hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, that his coming Saviour-King will preach into being a new, liberated people, who will pray into existence his new, redeemed world…

[9] Affirmation of Faith [Heidelberg Catechism, Question 2]

Q. What must you know to live and die in the joy and comfort of Jesus?

A. Three things: first, how great my sin and misery are [Romans 3:9-10; 1 John 1:10]; second, how I am set free from all my sins and misery [John 17:3; Acts 4:12; 10:43]; third, how I am to thank God for such deliverance [Matthew 5:16; Romans 6:13; Ephesians 5:8-10; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 2:9-10].

[10] Prayer | As well as responding to God’s Word in Acts and Isaiah, take some time to pray for the 20schemes church plant in Bingham [video on playlist].

[11] Song FOUR | I WILL WAIT FOR YOU [Psalm 130]

[12] Song FIVE | HE WILL HOLD ME FAST

[13] Blessing | 1 CORINTHIANS 15:58 | ‘Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.’