Order of Service 26/1/2025

Order of service 

Call to Worship: An invitation to worship

Leader: Come, let us worship and bow down. Congregation: Let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker. Leader: For He is our God, Congregation: And we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Leader: Today, if you hear His voice, Congregation: Do not harden your hearts. Leader: Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; Congregation: Let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise. All: Let us worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness, for the Lord is great and greatly to be praised!

Chorus No 2 in the blue book - Give thanks with a great-full heart

Chorus No 53 in the blue book - For I’m building a people of power

Hymn No 95 in the blue book - When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound

Bible readings: Readings from the Old and New Testaments

Elizabeth

will now read the New Testament reading to us from the NIV pew bible.

She begins with

“Hear the Word of God as it is written in Nehemiah 8:1-10”

She ends with “This is the word of God”.

Congregation: “Thanks be to God”.

Evelyn-Rose

will now read the New Testament reading to us from the NIV pew bible.

She begins with

“Hear the Word of God as it is written in Luke 4:14-21”

She ends with “This is the word of God”.

Congregation: “Thanks be to God”.

Hymn: Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet

Sermon: A sermon based on the Bible readings

4. THE WITNESSING CHURCH—PART 1 Acts 2:14–23 ILLUSTRATION: In 1900 Korea had no Protestant church. Today, there are over 7,000 churches in just the city of Seoul, South Korea. At the end of the 19th century, the southern portion of Africa was only 3 percent Christian. Today, 63 percent of the population is Christian, while membership in the churches in Africa is increasing by 34,000 people per day. In India, 14 million of the 140 million members of the “untouchable” caste have become Christians. More people in the Islamic world have come to Christ in the last 25 years than in the entire history of Christian missions. In Islamic Indonesia, the percentage of Christians is now so high (around 15 percent) that the Muslim government will no longer print statistics. In China, it is estimated that there are now more self-avowed disciples of Jesus than members of the Communist party. Even the most conservative estimates suggest that China will soon have more Christians than any country. Across the planet, followers of Jesus are increasing by more than 80,000 per day. 510 new churches form every day. The irony is that, except for the Middle East (where Christianity was born) and Europe and America (to whose civilization it gave birth), Christianity is expanding everywhere today.

PETER TESTIFIED … 1. TO THE TRANSFORMATION OF HIS BRETHREN For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.—Acts 2:15 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.—1 Corinthians 2:14 PETER TESTIFIED …

2. TO THE FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.—Acts 2:16–21 PETER TESTIFIED …

3. TO THE DIVINE APPROVAL OF JESUS OF NAZARETH Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know.—Acts 2:22 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.—John 15:24 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.—John 14:10–11 PETER TESTIFIED …

4. TO THE GUILT OF REJECTING CHRIST Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.—Acts 2:23 And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!—Luke 22:22

Pastoral Prayer: A prayer from the pastor

Gracious and Loving God, We gather together today in Your holy presence, grateful for the opportunity to worship and praise You as a community. We thank You for the gift of fellowship and for the love that binds us together as brothers and sisters in Christ. Lord, we come before You with humble hearts, seeking Your guidance and wisdom. As we navigate the challenges and joys of our daily lives, help us to remain steadfast in our faith and to trust in Your divine plan. Strengthen our resolve to follow You and to live according to Your will. We lift up to You those in our congregation who are hurting, whether in body, mind, or spirit. Comfort them with Your healing touch and surround them with Your peace that surpasses all understanding. May they feel Your presence and know that they are not alone. Bless our leaders, both within our church and in our broader community. Grant them wisdom, compassion, and integrity as they serve and lead. Help us all to be instruments of Your love and grace in the world, shining Your light in the darkest of places. Lord, we thank You for the many blessings You have bestowed upon us. Help us to be good stewards of Your gifts and to use them to bless others. Fill us with Your Spirit, that we may serve You with joy and bring glory to Your name in all that we do. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

The Lord's Prayer: A prayer sung by the congregation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrXHO9SrKD0

Intimations: John Oberholzer

Collection: Let us worship God with our substance

Music: Hymns, solos, or other music

Hymn

Benediction

Now unto Him