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Worship Guide for Sunday, May 28th:
CALL TO WORSHIP: “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.” Psalm 115:3
GLORIOUS ONE
God our glorious Creator,
we arise to give You praise
You created all from nothing;
for Your pleasure we are made
The heavens speak about Your glory;
Mountains, trees & fields rejoice
All men made in Your own image
will in praise lift up their voice!
God, You are the King of glory,
reigning strong in majesty
You are sovereign over all things,
always doing as You please
None can question Your authority;
none may say, “What have You done?”
Ruling high above all powers,
every victory You’ve won!
Glory to God! Glory to God!
Forever we give You praise!
God the glorious Judge, we fear You:
all must face Your judgment seat
You mete out a fiery justice,
separating tares from wheat
All will praise You for Your judgments:
God of wrath, Your power is great!
Justly punishing the wicked;
there is none who can escape!
God of mercy, glorious Savior,
we sing Your amazing love
Sending Your own Son to save us:
grace descending from above
Pouring out Your wrath on Jesus
in my place upon the tree
Blood of Christ for sin atoning;
Glorious One, You set me free!
Glory to God! Glory to God!
Forever we give You praise!
Creator God! King, Judge, and Savior,
Forever we give You praise!
Words and music by Cary Cox, ©2007 Indescribable Love Music; CCLI #1291654
IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, GOD ONLY WISE
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise!
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains high soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love!
To all life thou givest, to both great and small;
in all life thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish but naught changeth thee.
Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
All praise we would render, Oh, help us to see
‘Tis only the splendor of light hideth thee!
And so, in thy mercy, Almighty, impart
Through Christ our Redeemer, thy grace to our hearts!
Words by Walter C. Smith (1867); Tune (ST. DENIO) by John Roberts; Public Domain;
Additional lyrics: © 2022 Emu Music Ltd.; Liv Chapman & Philip Percival
YOU ARE GOD ALONE
You are not a god, created by human hands
You are not a god, dependent on any mortal man
You are not a god, in need of anything we can give
By Your plan, that’s just the way it is!
You are God alone!
From before time began,
You were on Your throne!
You are God alone!
And right now,
In the good times and bad,
You are on Your throne!
You are God alone!
You’re the only God whose power none can contend
You’re the only God whose name and praise will never end
You’re the only God who’s worthy of everything we can give
You are God, and that’s just the way it is!
You are God alone!
From before time began,
You were on Your throne!
You are God alone!
And right now,
In the good times and bad,
You are on Your throne!
You are God alone!
Unchangeable! Unshakable!
Unstoppable! That’s what You are!
(Repeat)
You are God alone!
From before time began,
You were on Your throne!
You are God alone!
And right now,
In the good times and bad,
You are on Your throne!
You are God alone!
Words and Music by Billy Foote, Cindy Foote; ©2004 Billy Foote Music; Integrity’s Hosanna! Music; CCLI #1291654
SCRIPTURE READING – ACTS 4:23-31
LORD HAVE MERCY (FOR WHAT WE HAVE DONE)
For what we have done and left undone
We fall on Your countless mercies
For sins that are known and those unknown
We call on Your name so holy!
For envy and pride, for closing our eyes
For scorning our very neighbor
In thought, word, and deed, we’ve failed You, our King
How deeply we need a Savior!
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy,
Lord have mercy on us!
(Repeat)
For what You have done, Your life of love
You perfectly lived, we praise You
Though tempted and tried, You fixed Your eyes
You finished the work God gave You
And there on the tree, a King among thieves,
You bled for a world’s betrayal
You loved to the end, our merciful friend
How pure and forever faithful!
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy,
Lord have mercy on us!
(Repeat)
For hearts that are cold, for seizing control,
For scorning our very Maker
In thought, word, and deed, we’ve failed You our King
How deeply we need a Savior!
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy,
Lord have mercy on us!
(Repeat)
Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, Aaron Keys, and James Tealy; ©2019 Getty Music Hymns and Songs (ASCAP) / Love Your Enemies Publishing (ASCAP) / Getty Music Publishing (BMI) / Messenger Hymns (BMI) / My Eleiht Songs (BMI) / Adm by MusicServices.org / Common Hymnal Publishing (ASCAP) / 10000 Fathers (ASCAP) / Adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com
AMAZING GRACE (MY CHAINS ARE GONE)
My chains are gone, I’ve been set free!
My God, my Savior has ransomed me!
And like a flood, His mercy reigns;
Unending love, amazing grace!
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
was blind, but now I see!
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!
My chains are gone, I’ve been set free!
My God, my Savior has ransomed me!
And like a flood, His mercy reigns;
Unending love, amazing grace!
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come
‘tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home!
My chains are gone, I’ve been set free!
My God, my Savior has ransomed me!
And like a flood, His mercy reigns;
Unending love, amazing grace!
Words by John Newton (1779); Tune (NEW BRITAIN) anonymous; Additional chorus by Chris Tomlin & Louie Giglio, © 2006 worshiptogether.com songs; sixsteps Music; CCLI #1291654
Sermon: “Hope in the Sovereign God” (Genesis 37)
Review –
Read Genesis 37:1-11
I. The Seeds of Sin (v1-11). Growing sin in Jacob’s family…
1. Jacob’s Favoritism.
Jacob loved Joseph more than all his other sons (v3).
Favoritism a recurring sin in this family (25:28; 29:30) [Wenham]
A Special Robe for Joseph – (v3).
2. Joseph’s Dreams.
Joseph not blameless –
A Bad Report – (v2b).
Sharing his Dreams –
3. The Brothers’ Hatred.
Growing hatred: v4, v5, v8.
Hatred with a dose of jealousy (v11).
Read Genesis 37:12-36
II. The Shocking Crime (v12-36). The escalating problems explode into a shocking crime!
1. The Occasion (v12-17). Joseph is sent on a mission to his brothers.
2. The Plan (v18-25a). “they conspired against him to kill him” (v18)!
3. The Deed (v25b-36).
Thrown in a pit –
Sold to traders –
III. The Sovereign God.
Chapter 37 emphasizes the choices and actions of the humans involved.
But the end of Genesis emphasizes God’s sovereignty over those choices and actions.
A coming famine threatens the chosen family –
Genesis 45:5-7. Joseph says to his brothers “you sold me here,” but then says, “God sent me before you to preserve life…God sent me…So it was not you who sent me here, but God.”
Psalm 105:16-17: “When he summoned a famine on the land…he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.”
Who had sent Joseph?
Genesis 50:20. “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…”
Human responsibility is maintained –
God’s sovereignty is maintained, even over evil –
God’s Secret and Revealed Will – Deut 29:29.
The example of Jesus – Acts 2:27-28 – who was responsible for Jesus’ murder?
Concluding Statements: What this means for us is that:
(1) There is hope for us, even when we sin, because God is sovereign over our sins. Our failures will not mess up his sovereign plan, but are somehow incorporated into it!
(2) There is hope for us when evil is done against us, because God is sovereign over what happens to us.
We are living in Genesis 37, where all we see is our choices and actions. But one day, we will get to the Genesis 50 of our lives, and we will understand that God allowed it, God sent it, God meant it, and God used it for his glory!
Application and Takeaways:
(1) God’s Unfolding, Sovereign Plan in Genesis.
(2) We Are Responsible: Fight Sin!
(3) God is Sovereign: Have Hope!
BEHOLD OUR GOD
Who has held the oceans in his hand?
Who has numbered every grain of sand?
Kings and nations tremble at his voice!
All creation rises to rejoice!
Behold our God, seated on his throne!
Come, let us adore him!
Behold our King, nothing can compare!
Come, let us adore him!
Who has given counsel to the Lord?
Who can question any of his words?
Who can teach the One who knows all things?
Who can fathom all his wondrous deeds?
Behold our God, seated on his throne!
Come, let us adore him!
Behold our King, nothing can compare!
Come, let us adore him!
Who has felt the nails upon his hands,
bearing all the guilt of sinful man?
God eternal, humbled to the grave;
Jesus, Savior, risen now to reign!
Behold our God, seated on his throne!
Come, let us adore him!
Behold our King, nothing can compare!
Come, let us adore him!
Words and Music by Ryan Baird, Jonathan Baird, Meghan Baird, and Stephen Altrogge,
©2011 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP)/Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI); CCLI #1291654
The Church at Meadowlake 