Sunday Meditation, November 15

The Unexpected Love of Jesus

Scripture for Meditation: John 11:5-7

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”

Prayer of Blessing

Responsive Reading: Ezekiel 37:1-4, 7-10

The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered,

“O Lord God, you know.” 

Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. . . .

So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 

And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” 

So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

Prayer of Corporate Confession

Silence for Personal Confession

Assurance of Pardon: John 11:25-27

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him,

“Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

Ministry of the Word

Transition to Singing

Feel free to leave at this time or stay for the indoor singing.

Hymn of Sacrifice: Wonderful, Merciful Savior

Wonderful, merciful Savior,
Precious Redeemer and Friend,
Who would have thought that a Lamb could
Rescue the souls of men,
Oh, You rescue the souls of men. 

Refrain:
You are the one that we praise,
You are the one we adore,
You give the healing and grace
Our hearts always hunger for,
Oh, our hearts always hunger for.  

Counselor, comforter, keeper,
Spirit we long to embrace,
You offer hope when our hearts have
Hopelessly lost the way,
Oh, we’ve hopelessly lost the way.

Almighty, infinite Father,
Faithfully loving Your own;
Here in our weakness You find us
Falling before Your throne,
Oh, we’re falling before Your throne.  

Words and music by Dawn Rodgers and Eric Wyse
© Copyright 1989 Word Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)/Dayspring Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.). All rights reserved. Used by permission. CCLI #2783020

Hymn of Love: Oh the Deep, Deep Love

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me,
Underneath me, all around me is the current of Your love,
Leading onward, leading homeward, to Your glorious rest above. 

Chorus:      
Oh the deep, deep love, All I need and trust
Is the deep, deep love of Jesus. 

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread His praise from shore to shore,
How He came to pay our ransom through the saving cross He bore;
How He watches o’er His loved ones, those He died to make His own,
How for them He’s interceding, pleading now before the throne. 

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus, far surpassing all the rest,
It’s an ocean full of blessing in the midst of every test.
Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus, Mighty Savior, precious Friend,
You will bring us home to glory, where Your love will never end.

Original Words by Samuel Trevor Francis (1834-1925). Music, chorus, and alternate words by Bob Kauflin. © 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI). Sovereign Grace Music, a division of Sovereign Grace Ministries. From Come Weary Saints. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. North American administration by Integrity Music. International administration by CopyCare International.
Used by permission. CCLI #2783020

Hymn of Life: Christ Is Risen

*All Scripture, English Standard Version. © 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission.