Sunday, September 02, 2018

Encouragement in tough times

Rock of Ages Cleft for Me was a favorite song of Queen Victoria and her prince. 

Michelle Redekopp Olympian and radio personality. Special music. 

You were the Word at the beginning. What a beautiful Name it is the name of Jesus Christ my King. 

  • There You Are
  • Carolyn Arends
  • Play the Carolyn Arends Quiz
    on Melody Facts

    I was hoping You would write to me a message in the stars
    As if the stars themselves were not enough
    And I awaited Your arrival here from some place very far
    As if I couldn't feel Your constant touch
    Why did I think that You'd send thunder
    To wake me from my slumber
    When anytime I open up my eyes

    There You are loving me like crazy
    There You are, I am unaware
    There You are when my heart is doubting
    Even there You are

    Well, I was wishing for a miracle and waiting for a sign
    As if each breath I take is not a gift
    And I was acting just as if the way You gave your life for mine
    Didn't have my foolish heart convinced
    What did I think could 'cause this hunger
    Did I ever stop to wonder
    Why anytime I open my eyes

    There You are loving me like crazy
    There You are, I am unaware
    There You are when my heart is doubting
    Even there

    There You are loving me like crazy
    There You are, I am unaware
    There You are when my heart is doubting
    Even there You are

    I was hoping You would write to me a message in the stars
    As if the stars themselves were not enough              
  • Written by Carolyn Arends 
 
Welcome to the long weekend service. This is the final weekend for many of you. 30 congregations represented here. 

Michelle
You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
You say I am held when I am falling short
When I don't belong, oh You say I am Yours
And I believe, oh I believe
What You say of me
I believe

Pastoral prayer

Acts 18
After this Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth.  There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to depart from Rome. Paul approached them, and because he worked at the same trade, he stayed with them and worked with them (for they were tentmakers by trade).  He addressed both Jews and Greeks in the synagogue every Sabbath, attempting to persuade them.
Acts 18:1‭-‬4 NET

Encouragement in tough times
2 boys wanted to shovel a driveway because the owner had started and they got most of their business from people that were worn out and ready to quit. 
Paul was ready to quit. This was the most corrupt city. There were 1000 temple prostitutes.  Having sex with them was part of worship. Lots of perversion. homosexuals

The Lord said to Paul by a vision in the night, "Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent, because I am with you, and no one will assault you to harm you, because I have many people in this city." So he stayed there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
Acts 18:9‭-‬11 NET

Now a days 11m$ is being spent on pornography every hour. Our society is so like the Corinthians. No morality. 

God said don't be discouraged. Even when he was by himself. He tried teaching the Jews but they rejected him. He slammed the door because he was tired. So he went to the gentiles.
He was often homeless. He worked to support himself when necessary. 

The city was discouraging
The church was discouraging. He wrote 29 chapters to help and rebuke them about immorality and greed. 
The amazing thing is that a church that gets messy still learns to serve the Lord. 
Since Constantine the church has been the foundation of society. In the last generation our society is falling apart. But the gospel can still change hearts. 
Do not be afraid. "Because I have many people in this city."

Duet 
You are Lord of All
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