Accept the offering of our lives, O God; we do not know quite what to do with them. We place them before You as they are, encumbered and fragmented, with no hints, no suggestions, no attempts to order the working of Your Spirit upon us. Accept our lives, our Father—work them over. Correct them. Purify them. Hold them in Your focus ... Amen. + Howard Thurman, “The Light of His Spirit”
Sermon Audio | Free to Be Filled with the Spirit & Truth in Worship Together
Sermon Scriptures | John 4:23-24; Ephesians 5:18-20; Philippians 3:3; 1 Corinthians 2:4-5; Acts 4:29-31; 2 Timothy 1:7
Sermon Song Story + Lyrics |
Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle—true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh twenty years. Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheel chair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them. One day while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle's reply was simple: "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me." The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me. The hymn "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" was the outcome of that experience. + Civilla Martin
His Eye Is on the Sparrow
Civilla Martin | Charles Gabriel, 1905 A.D.
Based on Psalm 32:8; Matthew 6:26, 10:29-31
Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart feel lonely and long for heavenly home
When Jesus is my portion and constant friend is He?
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.
I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free!
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me!
Sermon Book Reference | More Than You Can Handle: When Life's Overwhelming Pain Meets God's Overwhelming Grace by Nate Pyle
"Rejoicing together is a defiant act of hope in the face of the forces that seek to steal, kill, and destroy."
+ Evil wants to make you believe that you are a failure, but filled with the Spirit and Truth, we can sing to each other of God's satisfying and fulfilling goodness!
+ Evil wants to make you believe that you can't do this, but filled with the Spirit and Truth, we can sing to each other of God's great enabling power!
+ Evil wants to make you believe that your situation will define your future, but filled with the Spirit and Truth, we can sing to each of God's glorious and mighty deeds.
Holding onto God's grace, being filled with the Spirit and Truth and worshiping in song together is our offensive attack against evil.
Sermon Creed | Our World Belongs to God 28 + 29: The Spirit
At Pentecost (and with Emmaus City Church today), promises old and new are fulfilled. The ascended Jesus becomes our baptizer, drenching us with His Spirit, creating a new community where Father, Son, and Holy Spirit make their home. Revived and filled with the breath of God, our women and men, young and old, dream dreams and see visions. The Spirit renews our hearts and moves us to faith, leads us into Truth, and helps us to pray, stands by us in our need, and makes our obedience fresh and vibrant. God the Spirit lavishes gifts on (Emmuas City) Church in astonishing variety—prophecy, encouragement, healing, teaching, service, tongues, discernment—equipping each member to build up the body of Christ and to serve our neighbors.
Call to Worship | Psalm 149:1-4
Come People of the Risen King
Stuart Townend, 2007 A.D.
Come people of the Risen King,
Who delight to bring Him praise.
Come all and tune your hearts to sing
To the Morning Star of grace.
From the shifting shadows of the earth
We will lift our eyes to Him,
Where steady arms of mercy reach
To gather children in.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Let every tongue rejoice!
One heart, one voice,
O Church of Christ, rejoice!
Come those whose joy is morning sun
And those weeping through the night.
Come those who tell of battles won,
And those struggling in the fight.
For His perfect love will never change,
And His mercies never cease,
But follow us through all our days
With the certain hope of peace.
(Chorus)
Come young and old from every land,
Men and women of the faith.
Come those with full or empty hands,
Find the riches of His grace.
Over all the world, His people sing,
Shore to shore we hear them call
The Truth that cries through every age;
"Our God is all in all!"
(Chorus)
Spirit Break Out
Kim Walker Smith, 2015 A.D.
Our Father, all of Heaven roars Your name
Sing louder, let this place erupt with praise
Can you hear it?
The sound of Heaven touching earth,
The sound of Heaven touching earth!
Spirit break out, break our walls down!
Spirit break out, Heaven come down!
King Jesus, You're the name we're lifting high,
Your glory, shaking up the earth and sky.
Revival, we want to see Your Kingdom here;
We want to see Your Kingdom here!
Fall Afresh
Jeremy Riddle, 2011 A.D.
Awaken my soul, come awake
To hunger, to seek, to thirst.
Awaken first love, come awake
And do as You did at first.
Come People of the Risen King
Stuart Townend, 2007 A.D.
Come people of the Risen King,
Who delight to bring Him praise.
Come all and tune your hearts to sing
To the Morning Star of grace.
From the shifting shadows of the earth
We will lift our eyes to Him,
Where steady arms of mercy reach
To gather children in.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Let every tongue rejoice!
One heart, one voice,
O Church of Christ, rejoice!
Come those whose joy is morning sun
And those weeping through the night.
Come those who tell of battles won,
And those struggling in the fight.
For His perfect love will never change,
And His mercies never cease,
But follow us through all our days
With the certain hope of peace.
(Chorus)
Come young and old from every land,
Men and women of the faith.
Come those with full or empty hands,
Find the riches of His grace.
Over all the world, His people sing,
Shore to shore we hear them call
The Truth that cries through every age;
"Our God is all in all!"
(Chorus)
Spirit Break Out
Kim Walker Smith, 2015 A.D.
Our Father, all of Heaven roars Your name
Sing louder, let this place erupt with praise
Can you hear it?
The sound of Heaven touching earth,
The sound of Heaven touching earth!
Spirit break out, break our walls down!
Spirit break out, Heaven come down!
King Jesus, You're the name we're lifting high,
Your glory, shaking up the earth and sky.
Revival, we want to see Your Kingdom here;
We want to see Your Kingdom here!
Fall Afresh
Jeremy Riddle, 2011 A.D.
Awaken my soul, come awake
To hunger, to seek, to thirst.
Awaken first love, come awake
And do as You did at first.
Spirit of the Living God,
Come fall afresh on me,
Come wake me from my sleep.
Blow through the caverns of my soul,
Pour in me to overflow,
To overflow.
Awaken my soul, come awake
To worship with all Your strength.
(Chorus)
Come and fill this place,
Let Your glory now invade!
Spirit, come and fill this place,
Let Your glory now invade! (Chorus)
Throne Room Song
People & Songs, 2019 A.D.
Jesus is in this room here right now, here right now
Making this place I stand holy ground, holy ground.
Your Spirit moves and breathes all around, all around,
All good and perfect things flowing down, flowing down.
If all of the heavens are singing along
With the saints and the elders in glorious song,
And the praises they sing never seem to get old,
Then I’ll stay here forever singing ...
"Holy, holy, holy Lord!
God almighty, over all!
You were, You are, and You’ll be forever,
The King, enthroned in glorious splendor!
Holy, holy Lord!"
Gentle love calling me closer still, closer still,
Jesus, You’re guiding me to Your will, to Your will.
(Pre-Chorus + Chorus)
The veil is torn and the doors fling wide,
I see glory, as I run inside
Your throne room, before You, I bow!
(Repeat 3x + Chorus)
Death Was Arrested
NP InsideOut, 2017 A.D.
Alone in my sorrow and dead in my sin,
Lost without hope with no place to begin.
Your love made a way to let mercy come in
When death was arrested and my life began.
Ash was redeemed, only beauty remains.
My orphan heart was given a name.
My mourning grew quiet, my feet rose to dance
When death was arrested and my life began!
Oh, Your grace so free washes over me,
You have made me new, now life begins with You!
It's Your endless love pouring down on us
You have made us new, now life begins with You!
Released from my chains, I'm a prisoner no more.
My shame was a ransom He faithfully bore.
He cancelled my debt and He called me His friend
When death was arrested and my life began! (Chorus)
Our Savior displayed on a criminal's cross.
Darkness rejoiced as though heaven had lost.
But then Jesus arose with our freedom in hand;
That's when death was arrested and my life began! (Chorus)
Oh, we're free, free, forever we're free!
Come join the song of all the redeemed!
Yes, we're free, free, forever, amen,
When death was arrested and my life began!
(Repeat Bridge)
Prayers to be Filled with the Spirit and Truth
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
for Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory
now and forever. Amen.
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
for Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory
now and forever. Amen.
Prayers of Preparation for Eucharist
Celebrant: He is risen! People: He is risen indeed!
Emmaus City Church is a local church made up of City Groups.
A City Group (CG) is a group of 10-30 people – children, women, and men included – who are befriending, serving, and loving a community together in Jesus' name in Worcester. CGs are small enough that people can know you and value you, but large enough to make an impact in communities throughout Worcester. Each CG gets together throughout a month (i.e. dinners, times of prayer or learning from the Story of God in the Bible, acts of service, parties, etc.) to see Worcester become a city of neighbors and friends that showcase Jesus' love and compassion to all. Those who are cautious or curious to hear and see what it means to follow Jesus are just as welcome as those who believe Jesus is Lord and God and seek to follow Him in every area of life.
Current City Groups: Lincoln Street City Group | W.R.A.P. City Group
To connect with one of the City Groups above, please contact info@emmauscitychurch.com
Christ is all,
Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Prayer Asking for Jesus' Help
Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.
I want to see. Please reveal to me who You are.
Give me ears to hear You, and understanding for
the Good News You are saying to me today. Amen.
Prayer for Communion with Jesus and Each Other
Jesus, by Your Spirit, fill us with Yourself,
the true Bread and Vine. We turn to You now to
unite us, strengthen us, and empower us
to be Your Kingdom family of servants and witnesses
together until You return and make all things new. Amen.
Eucharist | Thanking God for Communion with Christ and His Church
Benediction | Matthew 28:18-20Prayer Asking for Jesus' Help
Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.
I want to see. Please reveal to me who You are.
Give me ears to hear You, and understanding for
the Good News You are saying to me today. Amen.
Prayer for Communion with Jesus and Each Other
Jesus, by Your Spirit, fill us with Yourself,
the true Bread and Vine. We turn to You now to
unite us, strengthen us, and empower us
to be Your Kingdom family of servants and witnesses
together until You return and make all things new. Amen.
Eucharist | Thanking God for Communion with Christ and His Church
Celebrant: He is risen! People: He is risen indeed!
Celebrant: All power in heaven and on earth is given to Jesus.
Now go in the peace and power of His Holy Spirit to make
disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit, teaching them how to listen to and obey
every good, true, and beautiful thing Jesus said. And remember, He is with you always. You are sent out in Jesus' grace and peace!
Next sermon audio and liturgy notes: Free to Receive Gifts of the Spirit for the Common Good
Now go in the peace and power of His Holy Spirit to make
disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit, teaching them how to listen to and obey
every good, true, and beautiful thing Jesus said. And remember, He is with you always. You are sent out in Jesus' grace and peace!
Next sermon audio and liturgy notes: Free to Receive Gifts of the Spirit for the Common Good
A City Group (CG) is a group of 10-30 people – children, women, and men included – who are befriending, serving, and loving a community together in Jesus' name in Worcester. CGs are small enough that people can know you and value you, but large enough to make an impact in communities throughout Worcester. Each CG gets together throughout a month (i.e. dinners, times of prayer or learning from the Story of God in the Bible, acts of service, parties, etc.) to see Worcester become a city of neighbors and friends that showcase Jesus' love and compassion to all. Those who are cautious or curious to hear and see what it means to follow Jesus are just as welcome as those who believe Jesus is Lord and God and seek to follow Him in every area of life.
Current City Groups: Lincoln Street City Group | W.R.A.P. City Group
To connect with one of the City Groups above, please contact info@emmauscitychurch.com
Christ is all,
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