Sunday Meditation, November 8
The Shepherd Who Calls and Preserves His Sheep
Scripture for Meditation: John 10:27-30
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”
Prayer of Blessing
Responsive Reading: Psalm 100
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Ministry of the Word
Prayer of Corporate Confession
Silence for Personal Confession
Assurance of Pardon: The Lord’s Supper
Instrumental Meditation for the Bread: Behold the Lamb
Behold the Lamb who bears our sins away,
Slain for us, and we remember
The promise made that all who come in faith
Find forgiveness at the cross.
So we share in this bread of life,
And we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of peace
Around the table of the King.The body of our Saviour Jesus Christ,
Torn for you, eat and remember
The wounds that heal, the death that brings us life
Paid the price to make us one.
So we share in this bread of life,
And we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of love
Around the table of the King.Words and Music by Keith and Kristyn Getty
& Stuart Townend
CCLI #2783020
Ministry of the Word
Instrumental Meditation for the Cup: Behold the Lamb
The blood that cleanses every stain of sin,
Shed for you, drink and remember
He drained death's cup that all may enter in
To receive the life of God.
So we share in this bread of life,
And we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of grace
Around the table of the King.And so with thankfulness and faith we rise
To respond, and to remember
Our call to follow in the steps of Christ
As His body here on earth.
As we share in His suffering
We proclaim Christ will come again!
And we’ll join in the feast of heav’n
Around the table of the King.Words and Music by Keith and Kristyn Getty
& Stuart Townend
CCLI #2783020
Transition to Singing
Feel free to leave at this time or stay for the indoor singing.
Hymn of Invitation: How Sweet and Awful Is the Place
How sweet and awful is the place
With Christ within the doors,
While everlasting love displays
The choicest of her stores!While all our hearts and all our songs
Join to admire the feast
Each of us cry with thankful tongues
“Lord, why was I a guest?”“Why was I made to hear Thy voice
And enter while there’s room
When thousands make a wretched choice
And rather starve than come?”’Twas the same love that spread the feast
That sweetly drew us in;
Else we had still refused to taste,
And perished in our sin.We long to see Thy churches full,
That all the chosen race
May with one voice, and heart, and soul,
Sing Thy redeeming grace.Isaac Watts, 1674-1748
Hymn of Security: A Debtor to Mercy Alone
A debtor to mercy alone, of covenant mercy I sing;
I come with your righteousness on, my humble off’ring to bring.
The judgments of Your holy law with me can have nothing to do;
My Savior’s obedience and blood hide all my transgressions from view.The work which Your goodness began, the arm of Your strength will complete;
Your promise is yes and amen, and never was forfeited yet.
The future or things that are now, no power below or above,
Can make You Your purpose forgo, or sever my soul from Your love.My name from the palms of Your hands eternity will not erase;
Impressed on Your heart it remains, in marks of indelible grace.
Yes, I to the end will endure, until I bow down at Your throne;
Forever and always secure, a debtor to mercy alone."A Debtor to Mercy Alone” Original lyrics by Augustus M. Toplady, music and alternate lyrics by Bob Kauflin.
Copyright 1998 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI). Sovereign Grace Music, a division of Sovereign Grace Ministries. Used by permission.
CCLI #2783020
Hymn of Hope: See, What a Morning
See, what a morning, gloriously bright,
With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem;
Folded the grave-clothes, tomb filled with light,
As the angels announce, "Christ is risen!"
See God's salvation plan,
Wrought in love, borne in pain, paid in sacrifice,
Fulfilled in Christ, the Man,
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!See Mary weeping, "Where is He laid?"
As in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb;
Hears a voice speaking, calling her name;
It's the Master, the Lord raised to life again!
The voice that spans the years,
Speaking life, stirring hope, bringing peace to us,
Will sound till He appears,
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!
One with the Father, Ancient of Days,
Through the Spirit who clothes faith with certainty.
Honor and blessing, glory and praise
To the King crowned with pow'r and authority!
And we are raised with Him,
Death is dead, love has won, Christ has conquered;
And we shall reign with Him,
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!"See, What a Morning" (Resurrection Hymn)
Words and Music by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2003 Kingsway Thankyou Music
Used by permission CCLI #2783020.
*All Scripture, English Standard Version. © 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission.