Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Emmaus City Values Series | Big "C" Church Unity (Jn. 17:15-21; Eph. 4:4-6, 11-15; Acts 13:1-5) + Saturday, September 8

Image from The Global Church Project Website 


 

The Unity We Seek to Manifest Adopted by the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America, 1966 A.D.


We believe God calls forth through His Holy Spirit
from among lost people His Church whom He
commissions to proclaim to the world His Gospel
of Christ's redemption. This calling and commissioning
belong to one Church, a united fellowship, having one
Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father, which
is commissioned with one task to the human race.
We believe our task is the proclamation of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ as we worship the Lord when we hear
His Word and celebrate His sacraments, as we witness
to the mighty acts of God in history, and as we serve the
world with a ministry of love.

In obedience to this divine revelation, we resolve to
manifest the God-given unity of the Church by working
to overcome our divisions. The ways and means to unity
are not always known. The goal of our unity is a venture of faith.
Therefore, in trusting in the Holy Spirit for guidance,
we shall be open to His counsel, willing to converse
with any local church, ready to cooperate with all
Christians, committed to participate in councils of Church
on all levels, prepared to merge with any local church when
it is clearly the will of God, eager to heal the brokenness
of the body of Christ in all ways made known to us,
until all are one, so that the world may know that the Father 

has sent the Son as Savior and Lord.

Homily Scriptures |
John 17:15-21; Ephesians 4:4-6, 11-15; Acts 13:1-5

Homily Christian Practice Questions:

+ From your own tradition, who or what church do you need to forgive that harmed you? 
+ Would you reach out to someone in Emmaus City who comes from a Christian tradition other than your own and ask how their tradition helped them become more like Jesus? 
+ Would you make the time to check out Emmaus City's Who We Are page and read about someone from other traditions who you don't know?

Prayers of Preparation for Eucharist
Matthew 26:26-291 Corinthians 11:23-26

Prayer seeking more from Jesus
Jesus, You claim to be the Way,
the Truth and the Life.
If what You claim is true,
please reveal to me who You are.
Give me an understanding of You
that is clear and convincing. Amen.

Prayer for Communion with Jesus
Jesus, grant that we may be filled
by You, the true Bread and Vine.
Be present with us, strengthen us,
and empower us to be Your witnesses
together as we seek first Your Kingdom
until You return and make all things new. Amen.


Apostles' Creed
390 A.D.

I believe in God,
the Father almighty,

Maker of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ,
His only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
,
born of the virgin Mary.

suffered under Pontius Pilate, 

was crucified, dead, and buried;

He descended to hell.

The third day He rose again!

He ascended to heaven

and is seated at the right hand
of God the Father almighty;
from there He shall 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.

*Catholic stands for Jesus' Church
"according to the whole,"
across time, cultures, and nations,
that He established
and continues to build by His
grace, truth, and resurrection power. 

Establish the Work of Our Hands 
Porter's Gate Worship Project, 2017 A.D.

If You don't build it, we labor in vain.
Without Your Spirit, we stand with no strength.
I know my life is passing away,
But the works of Your hands are what will remain.

Let the favor of the LORD rest upon us.
Oh LORD, establish the work of our hands!
Oh LORD, establish the work of our hands! 


Teach us to number the length of our days.
Pour out Your power, we'll pour out Your praise.
Teach us to run, to finish the race,
For only what's done in love will remain.
(Chorus


Father Let Your Kingdom Come
Porters Gate Worship Project, 2017 A.D.

Hallelu! Hallelujah!
Father, let Your Kingdom come!
(x4)

May the works of my hands
Bring You joy. (x4 + Chorus)

May the words from my mouth
Speak Your peace. (x4 + Chorus)

You make all things new, You make all things new
In places we don't choose; You make all things new!
(Chorus)

No Longer Slaves
Bethel Music, 2015 A.D.

You unravel me with a melody,
You surround me with a song
Of deliverance from my enemies
'Til all my fears are gone.

I'm no longer a slave to fear.
I am a child of God.
No, I'm no longer a slave to fear.
I am a child of God.

From my mothers womb,
You have chosen me.
Love has called my name.
I've been born again into Your family,
Your blood flows through my veins.
(Chorus)

Woah, Woah ...

You split the sea
So I could walk right through it!
My fears were drowned in perfect love!
You rescued me so I can stand and sing
"I am a child of God!"

Build Your Kingdom Here
Rend Collective, 2012 A.D.

Come, set Your rule and reign
In our hearts again.
Increase in us, we pray.
Unveil why we’re made.
Come set our hearts
Ablaze with hope
Like wildfire in our very souls.
Holy Spirit, come invade us now!
We are Your Church.
We need Your power in us.

We seek Your Kingdom first.
We hunger and we thirst.
Refuse to waste our lives
For You’re our joy and prize.
To see the captive
Hearts released,
The hurt, the sick,
The poor at peace,
We lay down our lives for
Heaven’s cause.
We are Your Church.
We pray, “Revive this earth!”

Build Your Kingdom here!
Let the darkness fear!
Show Your mighty hand!
Heal our streets and land!
Set Your Church on fire!
Win the nations back!
Change the atmosphere!
Build Your Kingdom here!
We pray!


Unleash Your
Kingdom’s power
Reaching the near and far!
No force of Hell can stop
Your beauty changing hearts!
You made us for
Much more than this!
Awake the Kingdom seed in us!
Fill us with the strength
And love of Christ!
We are Your Church.
We are hope on earth.
(Chorus)


Questions as You Consider Jesus

Are you curious? Consider asking someone a question or two about Jesus and Christian spirituality even if you don't believe.

Are you open? Consider your emotional and spiritual needs, and step into asking if Jesus can meet them and help you.

Are you searching? Consider exploring more about Jesus even if you are not sure who He is; example: "If I could ask Jesus one honest question that would help me trust Him, what would I ask?"

Are you beginning to believe? Consider how your life would be transformed if you followed Jesus. Ask God to help you understand the Good News that through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, He is restoring everything sin has ruined in your life and in the world.


Benediction 

For this reason I kneel before the Father
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.
I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory,
to be strengthened with power in your inner being through His Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love,
may be able to comprehend with all the saints
what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love,
and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge,
so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond
all that we ask or think according to the power
that works in us—to Him be glory in the Church
and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. 
+ Ephesians 3:14-21

Next sermon audio and liturgy: Emmaus City Values Series | The Mission of God's People 

Christ is all,

Rev. Mike "Sully" Sullivan


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