April 18, 2021

Criticized for Christ

Speaker: Kennedy Hakobwa Series: Guest Speaker Scripture: Acts 24:5–6

Prelude                                                                   

Welcome and Announcements

“Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.”

Psalm 95

Introit                                                                                               Choir

“In Memorium”

Caradog Roberts (1878-1935)

 

There’s a wideness in God’s mercy like the wideness of the sea;

There’s a kindness in His justice which is more than liberty.

There is no place where earth’s sorrows are more felt than up in heaven;

There is no place in earth’s failings have such kindly judgment given.

 

There is grace enough for thousands of new worlds as great as this;

There is room for fresh creations in that upper home of bliss.

For the love of God is broader than the measures of man’s mind;

And the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind.

 

Taken from “Welsh and English Hymns and Anthems” (Reformatted) © 1995 The Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association, Inc., 662 Melwood Drive N.E., Warren, OH 44483. Used by permission.

 

Call to Worship*                                                       Revelation 7:9-12

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.’

 

Hymn of Praise*                                                                             #55

“To God Be the Glory”

Invocation*

 

Confession of Faith                The Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q102:  What do we pray for in the second petition?

A:  In the second petition, which is, ‘Thy kingdom come,’ we pray that Satan’s kingdom may be destroyed; and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it; and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened.

Q103:  What do we pray for in the third petition?

A:  In the third petition, which is, ‘Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven,’ we pray that God, by His grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to His will in all things, as the angels do in heaven.

Preparation for Confession of Sin                                Luke 18-9-12

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’”

Confession of Sin

Assurance of Pardon                                             Luke 18:13-14

“But the tax collector, standing for off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Hymn of Assurance*                                                                #32

“Great is Thy Faithfulness”

 

Giving of Tithes and Offerings                                 

Prayer of Response

Scripture Reading*                      

Ezekiel 3:18-19; Matthew 28:18-20

 

Doxology*                                                     #731

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

 

Taken from "Trinity Hymnal Revised Edition", ©1990 Great Commission Publications, Inc. Used by permission

 

Preaching of God’s Word                           Pastor Kennedy Hakobwa

“Criticized for Christ”

Acts 24:5-6

 

Hymn of Affirmation*                                                                    #300

“Blessing and Honor and Glory and Power”

 

Benediction*                                                              

“Gloria Patri”

Henry W. Greatorex, 1851

 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen, amen.

 

Taken from "Trinity Hymnal Revised Edition", ©1990 Great Commission Publications, Inc. Used by permission

 

Blessing*                                    Romans 16:25-27

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen

Postlude*

 

other sermons in this series

Mar 3

2024

The Syro-Phoenician Woman

Speaker: Larry Rodgers Scripture: Matthew 15:21–28 Series: Guest Speaker

Feb 4

2024

United or Untied

Speaker: Will Hesterberg Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:1–31 Series: Guest Speaker

Dec 31

2023

I Have Plans for You

Speaker: Will Hesterberg Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1–14 Series: Guest Speaker