by Pastor Joel E. Wood
“Peacemaking in the Body of Christ: Providential Kindness v. Gospel"
Acts 15:36-41
https://esv.literalword.com/?q=Acts+15%3A36-41
https://www.newlifelamesa.org/pages/worship-guide
CCLI License #390757
April 6, 2025
9:30a Service
Welcome and Announcements
Introit
GREETING & CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
People: Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful.
Leader: I will lift up the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
PRAYER OF ADORATION, ASSISTANCE, & BLESSING
Hymnal #521 “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less”
My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' name.
Refrain:
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
in every high and stormy gale
my anchor holds within the veil. [Refrain]
His oath, his covenant, his blood
support me in the whelming flood;
when all around my soul gives way,
he then is all my hope and stay. [Refrain]
When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in him be found;
dressed in his righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne. [Refrain]
REFLECTION ON GOD’S LAW
Leader: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
People: This is the great and first commandment.
Leader: God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before me."
People: For although there may be so-called "gods" in heaven or on earth…
yet for us there is one God.
Leader: You shall not make for yourself an idol.
People: What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God.
Leader: You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
People: Let your "yes" be yes and your "no" be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.
Leader: Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
People: There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
SILENT PRAYER OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF GRACE
Hymnal #647 “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds”
How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
in a believer's ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
and drives away his fear.
It makes the wounded spirit whole,
and calms the troubled breast;
'tis manna to the hungry soul,
and to the weary rest.
Dear Name! the rock on which I build,
my shield and hiding place,
my never-failing treas'ry filled
with boundless stores of grace;
Jesus, my Shepherd, Brother, Friend,
my Prophet, Priest, and King,
my Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
accept the praise I bring.
Weak is the effort of my heart,
and cold my warmest thought;
but when I see thee as thou art,
I'll praise thee as I ought.
Till then I would thy love proclaim
with every fleeting breath;
and may the music of thy name
refresh my soul in death.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Pastor Elder B. Wood
Hymnal #66 “God Is Known among His People”
God is known among his people,
every mouth his praises fill;
from of old he has established
his abode on Zion's hill;
there he broke the sword and arrow,
bade the noise of war be still.
Excellent and glorious are you,
with your trophies from the fray;
you have slain the mighty warriors,
wrapped in sleep of death are they;
when your anger once is risen,
who can stand in that dread day?
When from heav'n your sentence sounded,
all the earth in fear was still,
while to save the meek and lowly
God in judgment wrought his will;
e'en the wrath of man shall praise you,
your designs it shall fullfil.
Vow and pay unto Jehovah,
him your God forever own;
all men, bring your gifts before him
worship him, and him alone;
mighty kings obey and fear him,
princes bow before his throne.
GOD’S WORD READ
Acts 15:36-41
GOD’S WORD PREACHED
“Peacemaking in the Body of Christ: Providential Kindness v. Gospel”
by Pastor Joel E. Wood
Prayer Of Application & The Lord’s Prayer
All: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
Song “My Only Comfort”
My only comfort in life and death
Is that I belong to my faithful Savior.
Who with His blood paid for all my sins,
And delivered me from the pow’r of the devil.
And so preserves me, in my salvation,
and Christ assures me of eternal life, eternal life.
I am delivered from all my sins
And the Spirit makes me willing and ready
To live my live unto Jesus Christ
And be thankful to God, and be thankful to God,
And be thankful to God for such salvation.
Hymnal p. 845 “Apostles’ Creed”
Minister: Christian, what do you believe?
All: I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION & WARNING
Minister: The Lord be with you;
People: And also with you.
Minister: Lift up your hearts;
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Minister: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God;
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
COMMUNION PRAYER
Approach the Table for the Lord’s Supper
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Song “Let the Earth Resound”
Let the earth resound with songs of praise
To the Father's pow’r and love.
For the One who set each star in place
Chose to set His heart on us.
To the One whose might gives victory
Yet whose mercies never cease,
As the tapestry of history
Tells the story of His grace.
Chorus:
King immortal, faithful God,
Crowned with splendour, rich in love.
Let the heavens and the earth resound
With songs of praise to You.
Let the earth be stilled before the sight
Of a Father's sacrifice,
That revealed the depths of love divine
In the face of Jesus Christ.
Through a life of full obedience,
And a death in agony,
He removed the rebel's punishment
And He set the pris'ner free. [Chorus]
Let the earth resound with songs of faith
At the wonder yet to come,
When all sin and pain are put to death
And the church and Christ are one.
When we stand as God's great family
And we meet the Father's gaze
And we share in His eternal joy
As we join in ceaseless praise. [Chorus]
Hymnal #731: “Doxology”
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below:
Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:
THE BENEDICTION
Postlude
