Sunday, May 16, 2021 - Being a Hopeful Presence
Theme - Sustainable Hope: Being a Hopeful Presence
Hymn To God Be the Glory
Welcome
Prayer
Acts 26:1-5 Common English Bible Translation
Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak for yourself.” So Paul gestured with his hand and began his defense. “King Agrippa, I consider myself especially fortunate that I stand before you today as I offer my defense concerning all the accusations the Jews have brought against me. This is because you understand well all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I ask you to listen to me patiently. Every Jew knows the way of life I have followed since my youth because, from the beginning, I was among my people and in Jerusalem. They have known me for a long time. If they wanted to, they could testify that I followed the way of life set out by the most exacting group of our religion. I am a Pharisee. (Question: How would you describe who you are and who you are to others?)
Acts 26:6-8
Today I am standing trial because of the hope in the promise God gave our ancestors. This is the promise our twelve tribes hope to receive as they earnestly worship night and day. The Jews are accusing me, King Agrippa, because of this hope! Why is it inconceivable to you that God raises the dead? (Ps 1:1) The truly happy person doesn’t follow wicked advice, doesn’t stand on the road of sinners, and doesn’t sit with the disrespectful. (Question: What do you hold onto when you feel like everything is falling apart?)
Hymn Come! Live in the Light! (In Person Only)
Acts 26:9-11
“I really thought that I ought to oppose the name of Jesus the Nazarene in every way possible. And that’s exactly what I did in Jerusalem. I locked up many of God’s holy people in prison under the authority of the chief priests. When they were condemned to death, I voted against them. In one synagogue after another – indeed, in all the synagogues – I would often torture them, compelling them to slander God. My rage bordered on the hysterical as I pursued them, even to foreign cities. (Question: What are some of the regrets you have in life?)
Acts 26:19-21
“So, King Agrippa, I wasn’t disobedient to that heavenly vision. Instead, I proclaimed first to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to the whole region of Judea and to the Gentiles. My message was that they should change their hearts and lives and turn to God, and that they should demonstrate this change in their behavior. Because of this, some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to murder me. (Question: How have you moved forward with your regrets?)
Hymn In the Bulb There Is a Flower (In Person Only)
Acts 26:22-23
God has helped me up to this very day. Therefore, I stand here and bear witness to the lowly and the great. I’m saying nothing more than what the Prophets and Moses declared would happen: that the Christ would suffer and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to my people and to the Gentiles.” (Ps 1:2-3) Instead of doing those things, these persons love the Lord’s Instruction, and they recite God’s Instruction day and night! They are like a tree replanted by streams of water, which bears fruit at just the right time and whose leaves don’t fade. Whatever they do succeeds. (Question: How does God’s presence in your life change your words and actions?)
Hymn We All Are One in Mission (In Person Only)
Reflection Together (In Person only)
Offering Ourselves to God
During this time let us reflect upon and commit ourselves to how we can connect to God through giving of our time, our thoughts, our resources, and our actions.
Hymn Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Prayers of the People and The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us;
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom and the power
and the glory, forever. Amen
Benediction
Hymn Standing on the Promises
Hymn List
Great Is Thy Faithfulness – 39 GTG
In the Bulb There Is a Flower – 250 GTG
To God Be the Glory – 634 GTG
We All Are One in Mission – 733 GTG
Come! Live in the Light! – 749 GTG
Standing on the Promises – 838 GTG
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Guiding Scripture for the Easter Season
Isaiah 33:2
“Lord, show us favor;
we hope in you.
Be our strength every morning,
Our salvation in times of distress.”
Pentecost May 23rd
Theme: Igniting Our Relationships
Sermon Series May 30th – June 27th
Theme: Prayers for Life