Sunday Meditation, August 23

The Christ Whose Words Give Life

Scripture for Meditation: John 6:63

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Hymn of Life: Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God

Holy Spirit, living Breath of God,
Breathe new life into my willing soul.
Bring the presence of the risen Lord
To renew my heart and make me whole.

Cause Your Word to come alive in me;
Give me faith for what I cannot see;
Give me passion for Your purity.
Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me.

Holy Spirit, come abide within;
May Your joy be seen in all I do—
Love enough to cover ev'ry sin
In each thought and deed and attitude,

Kindness to the greatest and the least,
Gentleness that sows the path of peace.
Turn my striving into works of grace.
Breath of God, show Christ in all I do.

Holy Spirit, from creation's birth,
Giving life to all that God has made,
Show your power once again on earth;
Cause Your church to hunger for Your ways.

Let the fragrance of our prayers arise.
Lead us on the road of sacrifice
That in unity the face of Christ
Will be clear for all the world to see.

Keith Getty & Kristyn Getty. © 2006 Thankyou Music. Used by permission. CCLI #2783020

Hymn of Nourishment: Christ, Be My Glory

Christ, be my ransom; redeem me, I pray.
Purchase God's pardon, for I cannot pay.
God had been angry but now smiles on me;
His wrath, though righteous, is canceled by Thee.

Christ, be my vicar, my sole righteousness,
Standing before God in pure holiness.
Joy of the Father, my substitute be;
Earn in my place His good favor t’ward me.

Christ, be my wisdom, the light of my mind;
Shine in my thinking, else I would be blind.
Grant me the faith and the insight to see
Truth in its rad'ance embodied in Thee.

Christ, be my manna, O Life-bread Divine;
Work through my weakness that honor be Thine.
Fortify, feed me; I faint, and I fall.
Nourish Thy servant, Sustainer of All!

© 2004 Brian Pinner

Hymn of Praise: Boldly I Approach

By grace alone somehow I stand
Where even angels fear to tread,
Invited by redeeming love
Before the throne of God above;
He pulls me close with nail-scarred hands
Into His everlasting arms.

When condemnation grips my heart
And Satan tempts me to despair,
I hear the voice that scatters fear;
The Great I Am the Lord is here.
Oh praise the One who fights for me
And shields my soul eternally.

Refrain:
Boldly I approach Your throne;
Blameless now I'm running home.
By Your blood I come,
Welcomed as Your own
Into the arms of majesty.

Behold the bright and risen Son,
More beauty than this world has known;
I'm face to face with Love Himself,
His perfect spotless righteousness.
A thousand years, a thousand tongues
Are not enough to sing His praise.

Refrain

Rend Collective © 2014 Thankyou Music. CCLI #2783020

Transition Inside

Scripture for Meditation: Genesis 1:1-4a

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. 

Prayer of Blessing

Responsive Reading: Matthew 13:18-23

“Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.

This is what was sown along the path.

As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it.

He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Prayer of Corporate Confession

Silence for Personal Confession

Assurance of Pardon: John 6:68, 69

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Response: Thanks be to God.

Ministry of the Word

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