Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Freedom in the Spirit Series | Free to Be God's Spirit-Fueled People on His Mission w/ Rev. Justin Ruddy + Saturday, July 13





God chooses a people for His mission so that others will look and see and say, "Oh, that's what it looks like to live life with that God." And He willingly gives them Himself, His Spirit, so that His people will be a proclaiming people, a devoted people, and a compelling people.


Sermon Audio | Free to Be God's Spirit-Fueled People on God's Mission

Sermon Scriptures | Acts 2:37-47

Pass the Peace | In the Story of God, Jesus declared, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you" (John 14:26) during humanity's darkest, most tragic weekend of His death. And then after Jesus was crucified and resurrected, defeating evil and death, He said, "Peace be with you ... Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20:21-22). Somehow, with Jesus, peace is possible even in our darkest moments. During this time, we desire to share with each other peace that passes understanding, empowered by the Spirit of Christ.

The peace of the Lord by always with you.
And also with you.

Call to Worship | Psalm 90:12-17
12 Teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with Your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as You have afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let Your work be shown to Your servants,
and Your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the LORD our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!


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)

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! (Repeat 3x)

For Your Gift of God the Spirit
Edith Margaret Clarkson, 1960 A.D.

For Your gift of God the Spirit,
Power to make our lives anew,
Pledge of life and hope of glory,
Savior, we would worship You.
Crowning gift of resurrection
Sent from Your ascended throne,
Fullness of the very Godhead,
Come to make Your life our own.

He, Himself, the living Author,
Wakes to life the sacred Word,
Reads with us its holy pages
And reveals our risen Lord.
He it is who works within us,
Teaching rebel hearts to pray,
He whose holy intercessions
Rise for us both night and day.

Father, grant Your Holy Spirit
In our hearts may rule today,
Grieved not, quenched not, but unhindered,
Work in us His sovereign way.
Fill us with Your holy fullness,
God the Father, Spirit, Son;
In us, through us, then, forever,
Shall Your perfect will be done. 


May Your Power Rest on Me
Sojourn (via poem by I. Watts), Early 1700s A.D.

Let me hear my Savior say, “Your strength shall return.”
Then I’ll rejoice in my weakness
As I lean on Your grace, as I lean on Your grace.

May Your power rest on me.
You are strong when I am weak.
I can bear all things when temptation springs
For You sustain me all my days.


Let me know my Savior’s face. 

Let my hope be secure.
Then I’ll rejoice in my weakness
As I lean on Your grace, as I lean on Your grace. (Chorus)

Once from the Lord withdrawn
I thought that I could live my life alone.
Leaving the solid ground, I sank beneath His wisdom.
The harder I tried to climb the closer I was to find
How great is my weakness. (Chorus)

Though the trial still goes on, Your grace will be my song!
For I can bear all things when temptation springs
For You sustain me all my days.

Spirit Lead Me
Influence Music, 2018 A.D.

This is my worship, this is my offering.
In every moment, I withhold nothing.
I’m learning to trust You,
Even when I can’t see it.
Even in suffering, I have to believe it.

If You say it’s wrong, then I’ll say "No."
If You say release, I’m letting go.
If You’re in it with me, I’ll begin.
And when You say to jump, I’m diving in
If You say be still, then I will wait.
If You say to trust, I will obey
I don’t want to follow my own way.
I’m done chasing feelings,
"Spirit, lead me."


It felt like a burden, but once I could grasp it
You took me further, further then I was asking.
Simply to see You, it’s worth it all
My life is an altar, let Your fire fall. (Chorus)

When all hope is gone and Your Word is all I got.
I have to believe You still bring water from the Rock
To satisfy my thirst, to love me at my worst.
And even when I don’t remember,
You remind me of my worth.
I don’t trust my ways, I’m trading in my thoughts.
I’d lay down everything, cause’ You’re all that I want.
I’ve landed on my knees, this is the cup You have for me.
And even when it don’t make sense,
I’m going to let Your Spirit lead!

Spirit lead me, Spirit lead me ... (Chorus)

Fill Me Up
Tasha Cobbs + Will Reagan, 2015 A.D.

You provide the fire, I'll provide the sacrifice.
You provide the Spirit, I will open up inside.

Fill me up, God (x3) ... Fill me up.


Love of God, overflow. Permeate all my soul.
Fill me up until I overflow! I want to run over,
I want to run over!


Prayers of Confession and Assurance

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
Matthew 26:26-291 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

Our World Belongs to God, 2008 A.D.
Q&A 30

Q. What is the Holy Spirit doing among us?

A. The Spirit gathers people from every tongue,
tribe, and nation into the unity of the body of Christ.
Anointed and empowered by the Spirit, Jesus' Church is
sent into the world, ambassadors of God’s peace,
announcing forgiveness and reconciliation,
proclaiming the Good News of grace.
Going before them and with them, the Spirit
convinces the world of sin and pleads the cause of Christ.
Men and women, impelled by the Spirit, go next door and far away into science and art, media and marketplace—every area of life, pointing to the reign of God with what they do and say.


Benediction Based on Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace
as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with
hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Now go be among your
neighbors, joining in the Spirit's work to share the Gospel
with the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.


Next sermon audio + liturgy notes: Free to Be with Jesus in the Spirit w/ Scott Brill

Emmaus City Church is a local church made up of City Groups.

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,

Rev. Mike "Sully" Sullivan


No comments:

Post a Comment