We Mourn the Reality of Sin
Hymn of Confession - Thy Mercy My God
Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my song,
The joy of my heart. and the boast of my tongue;
Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last,
Has won my affections, and bound my soul fast.
Without Thy sweet mercy I could not live here;
Sin would reduce me to utter despair;
But, through Thy free goodness, my spirits revive,
And He that first made me still keeps me alive.
Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart,
Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart;
Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the ground,
And weep for the praise of the mercy Ive found.
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own,
And the covenant love of Thy crucified Son;
All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine
Seals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine.
All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine
Your mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine.
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Father, we come before You not trusting in our own goodness, but in Your abundant mercy. We have sinned against You. We have loved ourselves more than others, treasured the gifts of this world more than You, and too often sought our own glory instead of Yours.
Our best efforts cannot erase our guilt or make us righteous before You. Yet You are rich in mercy, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.
Thank You that Your mercy is greater than our sin and that through Jesus we have forgiveness. By Your Holy Spirit, Turn our hearts from sin and toward Christ. Teach us to delight in Your grace, to walk in grateful obedience, and to live each day as those who have been redeemed by Your precious blood. We ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
[Pause for silent reflection and confession]
We Celebrate Christ as Our Redeemer
Hymn of Redemption - You've Already Won
There’s peace that outlasts darkness, hope thats in the blood
There’s future grace that's mine today that Jesus Christ has won
So I can face tomorrow, for tomorrow’s in Your hands
All I need you will provide, just like you always have
Chorus
I’m fighting a battle that you’ve already won
No matter what comes my way, I will overcome
I don’t know what you're doing, but I know what you’ve done
I’m fighting a battle You’ve already won
There’s mercy in the waiting, mana for today
And when it’s gone I know you’re not, You are my hope and stay
When the sea is raging, Your Spirt is my help
He’ll fix my eyes on Jesus Christ and I’ll say that it is well
Oh I know that it is well - Chorus
I know how the story ends, we will be with you again
You’re my Savior my defense, no More fear in life or death - 2x
I know how this story ends, we will be with You again
You’re my Savior my defense, no More fear in life or death
I know how this story ends - Chorus
In addition to taking children to Ridge Kids and using the restroom, take time to meet/greet one another. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Scripture Reading: Acts 17:16–34
16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.”
21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. 22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for “ ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “ ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” 32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 33 So Paul went out from their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris and others with them.
Sermon: “Proclaiming the Unknown God”
Bryan Thomas - Acts 17:16–34
- Acts 17 16-21: Take your Comfort in God
- Acts 17 22-32: Have Confidence in your Faith
- Acts 17 32-34: Have Clarity of Mission
