Worship Guide – Oct 25, 2020 – Cebu Gospel Church

Preparing for Worship

Find a place free from distractions.
Gather your family (if applicable).
Refrain from checking messages on your devices.
Have your Bible ready.

Call To Worship

Psalm 150 : 1, 6

1 Praise the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens. 6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

詩篇 150 : 1, 6

1 你們要讚美耶和華！在神的聖所讚美他，在他顯能力的穹蒼讚美他！6 凡有氣息的都要讚美耶和華！你們要讚美耶和華！

Worship Through Songs

Good day brethren, beloved of the Lord. May this day find you safe, secure, and content in the arms of our Savior Jesus Christ.

In Luke chapter 15, Jesus was criticized for welcoming sinners and tax collectors—people whom no self-respecting rabbi would associate with. In response, Jesus told three parables to paint a word picture of what the kingdom of God was like, and more importantly, what the heart of its King was like. All three involved something that was lost and was later found. Things precious and worth seeking for and rejoicing over—at least from the perspective of the one to whom they belonged to. A lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son.

The first two were lost due to unfortunate circumstances, the son on the other hand was lost through his own self-serving choice. For the narrative clearly revealed he cared not for his father, only for his money. Minding not what he broke—whether the traditions of his people, the laws of God, or the heart of his father—he set out to live what he thought was a life of freedom and satisfaction. Physically distancing himself from his father in a faraway country, he merely actualized the separation that was already in his heart. And life was ‘good’ for him, at least for a while. Until the money ran out, and the friends with it, and a famine fell on the land. Then, friendless and destitute, he ended up tending pigs and envying their food.

At this point he remembered his father’s household and how they are much better fed than he was currently. He then set himself to return to his father’s house—a decision mainly not made from remorse over broken relationship but more from survival instinct, tempered only by a bit of shame. The drive for the venture home was not love for his father but desire for the food that was there. And yet, wonder of wonders, the father welcomes him back and still calls him ‘son’. Caring not what his reasons were, he was simply overwhelmed with delight that his son was alive and is back home. And as the father ran to embrace his filthy, stinking son, he merely actualized the grace and forgiveness already in his heart.

This, Jesus revealed, is the heart of our Heavenly Father. A heart that seeks and saves the lost. A heart that rejoices over every sinner that repents. A heart ready to forgive and ready to restore all who would come home. A heart that so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever would take him at his word, repent of their sin and trust in him, is saved from death to eternal life. For he who has the Son, Jesus Christ, has life, is found, and is finally home. Let us worship him this day!

‘Dear Christ Jesus, exalted Son of God. Precious Savior, Lord and Friend. We remember You today. We acknowledge your rightful place in our lives. We confess that You are Lord of all and extol You as our Sovereign King. You showed us what true love meant when you laid down your life for those whom You called your friends. Who are we that You should call us so? And what is our life that you should redeem it so? Why should You love us when You have no need for us, who, by reason of our sins, became altogether useless to You? We owe everything to You—life and breath and everything else—yet over and above that, You extend grace, forgiveness and acceptance through the new covenant in your blood. What a wonderful Savior You are. Perfect in righteousness. Perfect in mercy. You deserve our highest praise and our deepest devotion, our cheerful obedience, and our joyful service. Please help us for we are often weak. We know it and You know it. Give us grace day by day to love You as we should—not because it is another religious duty we must perform—but because You have loved us first. Grant this desire in our hearts as we pray in your Name, Amen.

Scripture Reading

For Rev. Rival:

John 3 : 1 – 15

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

約翰福音 3 : 1 – 15

1 有一個法利賽人，名叫尼哥底母，是猶太人的官。 2 這人夜裡來見耶穌，說「拉比，我們知道你是由神那來作師傅的；因為你所行的神蹟，若沒有神同在，無人能行。」 3 耶穌回答說：「我實實在在地告訴你，人若不重生，就不能見神的國。」 4 尼哥底母說：「人已經老了，如何能重生呢？豈能再進母腹生出來嗎？」 5 耶穌說：「我實實在在的告訴你，人若不是從水和聖靈生的，就不能進神的國。 6 從肉身生的就是肉身；從靈生的就是靈。 7 我說：『你們必須重生』，你不要以為希奇。 8 風隨著意思吹，你聽見風的響聲，卻不曉得從那裡來，往那裡去；凡從聖靈生的，也是如此。」 9 尼哥底母問他說：「怎能有這事呢？」 10 耶穌回答說：「你是以色列人的先生，還不明白這事嗎？ 11 我實實在在的告訴你，我們所說的是我們知道的；我們所見證的是我們見過的；你們卻不領受我們的見證。 12 我對你們說地上的事，你們尚且不信，若說天上的事，如何能信呢？ 13 除了從天降下、仍舊在天的人子，沒有人升過天。 14 摩西在曠野怎樣舉蛇，人子也必照樣被舉起來， 15 叫一切信他的都得永生（或作：叫一切信的人在他裡面得永生）。

For Pastor Po:

Deuteronomy 6 : 4 – 6

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lordour God, the Lord is one.[a] 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.

申命記 6 : 4 – 6

4 以色列阿，你要聽！耶和華 ─ 我們神是獨一的主。 5 你要盡心、盡性、盡力愛耶和華─ 你的神。 6 我今日所吩咐你的話都要記在心上，