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 135 : 1, 3
1 Praise the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord; praise him, you servants of the Lord, 3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.
詩篇 135 : 1, 3
1 你們要讚美耶和華！你們要讚美耶和華的名！耶和華的僕人站在耶和華殿中，站在我們神殿院中的，你們要讚美他！3 你們要讚美耶和華，耶和華本為善；要歌頌他的名，因為這是美好的。
Worship Through Songs
Good day dear people of God—chosen, redeemed and precious in his sight. May this day find you in the joy of the Lord strengthened and encouraged.
In the book of Nehemiah chapter 9—after the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt—the people gathered to hear from the book of the Law and to reaffirm their covenant with God. The Levites recounted the greatness of God’s saving hand in their nation’s history; as well as the depth of God’s merciful heart amid their recurring failures. They begin with lofty praise to the Eternal One who gives life to everything and everyone. Then, when remembering how He fulfilled his promises to Abraham, they declared that, ‘You have kept your promise because you are righteous.’
Next, they narrated how the LORD brought them out of Egypt; led them through the wilderness; and made a covenant with them at Sinai—followed by a description of how they were a stubborn and stiff-necked people. Yet, they proclaimed, ‘you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them … Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness.’
Thereafter, they described how God helped them take possession of the Promised Land and how they reveled in his great goodness. They recalled their waywardness, rebellion, and unfaithfulness amid their God-given abundance; and how as a result, God gave them over to their enemies. Yet, they affirmed to God, ‘…when they were oppressed they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers … in your compassion you delivered them time after time.’
Finally, in recollection of the destruction of Jerusalem and their subsequent decades-long exile in a foreign land under pagan kingdoms, they remembered how ‘For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you warned them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples. But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.’
So goes the story of God and his people—the story of a stiff-necked, ungrateful, and forgetful people, and the God, who in spite of his people’s unfaithfulness, remain constant, faithful and forgiving. No wonder, in so many places in the Bible, is God described as compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love—who does not always accuse nor remain angry forever; who does not treat us as our sins deserve nor repay us according to our iniquity. This is our God and Heavenly Father in Christ Jesus. The God from whom Christ implored forgiveness for the very ones mocking, insulting, and tormenting him. The God whose love is stronger than death; whose light is stronger than darkness; and whose grace is greater—much greater—than all our sin. Hallelujah! Let us celebrate his mercy this day.
‘Merciful God and Loving Heavenly Father. We draw near to You today. We come, not by any other grounds but by the finished work of Jesus Christ your Son—in whom we have forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with You. We thank You for our Lord Jesus Christ, through whose blood we are cleansed and through whose righteousness we are welcomed in your presence. Indeed how great is your love towards us that we should be called your children—born in the Spirit and recipients of Eternal life. What an awesome God! What a wonderful Savior! O Eternal One, The Ancient of days, our Everlasting Father, we praise You!
Empty us O God of all the shallow and empty things that clutter our lives—things the world runs after—that diminishes our affection for You and interfere with our devotion to You. Free us from the fear of men and their opinions about us that we may rest secure only in who You say we are and what You say we are worth. Rather, help us more and more, in simplicity of heart, to genuinely receive your love, and to live in our identity as your beloved children, so that from this unshakeable bedrock our lives will stand as authentic and beautiful testaments of divine mercy and grace joyfully pointing others to You—whatever the circumstance. We love You and we trust You Father. Please increase our love and deepen our trust, especially in these dark and difficult times. For your joy and your glory. In Christ, amen.’
Anthem
Crown Him With Many Crowns
Scripture Reading
Jeremiah 29 : 11 – 13
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
耶 利 米 書 29 : 11 – 13
11 耶 和 華 說 ： 我 知 道 我 向 你 們 所 懷 的 意 念 是 賜 平 安 的 意 念 ， 不 是 降 災 禍 的 意 念 ， 要 叫 你 們 末 後 有 指 望 。
12 你 們 要 呼 求 我 ， 禱 告 我 ， 我 就 應 允 你 們 。
13 你 們 尋 求 我 ， 若 專 心 尋 求 我 ， 就 必 尋 見 。
Sermon
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中文:
Tithes And Offering
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Response Song
