Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.
1 Chronicles 29:11
God, Help Us
God calls us to action
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith,
be men of courage be strong.
Do everything in love.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
We take the threats to our spiritual well being seriously because we are looking for Christ’s return. So we are alert to defeat these threats that will knock us off track. Because our focus is on heaven and Christ’s coming, we distance ourselves from temptation.
morning sermon, Rev. Tim Rackley, July 2, 2023
God calls us to hospitality
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
1 Peter 4:7-9
And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ So the last will be first, and the first last.”
Matthew 20:11-16
God calls us to understand the breadth of the kingdom
Oh how good it is
On this journey we share
To rejoice with the happy
And weep with those who mourn.
For the weak find strength
The afflicted find grace
When we offer the blessing
Of belonging.
So with one voice we’ll sing to the Lord
And with one heart we’ll live out His word
Till the whole earth sees
The Redeemer has come
For He dwells in the presence of His people.
If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
1 Corinthians 16:22-23
Love for God is life altering. It requires our allegiance to Him. . . . We live in God’s grace. It helps us to love Him, helps us to obey Him, and it forgives us when we fail. . . . There are believers across the country, across the world, who take God seriously. We must chill out and be humble, accepting our brothers and sisters who may not be identical to us, and that’s just fine. We may even find out that they love the Lord better than we do.
morning sermon, Rev. Tim Rackley, July 2, 2023
Father, we come before your throne.
It is a throne we cannot see,
yet it is a throne that is more real
It is a throne we cannot see,
yet it is a throne that is more real
than any throne in this world.
We know this because
Your word tell us this is true.
You have also demonstrated Your rule in our lives.
You have directed our paths.
You provided for us when we saw no way of provision.
You comforted us in our affliction
when no one else was able to do so.
We have seen You work out circumstances which we loathed
for our good and for Your glory.
In so many ways You demonstrate
Your rule in our lives and over the world.
We know this because
Your word tell us this is true.
You have also demonstrated Your rule in our lives.
You have directed our paths.
You provided for us when we saw no way of provision.
You comforted us in our affliction
when no one else was able to do so.
We have seen You work out circumstances which we loathed
for our good and for Your glory.
In so many ways You demonstrate
Your rule in our lives and over the world.
Still, we often don’t believe that You are on Your throne.
We can even doubt Your goodness to us
in the face of so much evidence otherwise.
Help our unbelief.
Convince us to our core of who You are.
Convict us of our need to draw near to You.
May we abide in You throughout our days.
Cause us to look for and find You at work in our lives.
Strengthen us spiritually
for the battles we know lie ahead.
Give us the hope of eternity with You in heaven.
We can even doubt Your goodness to us
in the face of so much evidence otherwise.
Help our unbelief.
Convince us to our core of who You are.
Convict us of our need to draw near to You.
May we abide in You throughout our days.
Cause us to look for and find You at work in our lives.
Strengthen us spiritually
for the battles we know lie ahead.
Give us the hope of eternity with You in heaven.
morning service, Rev. Tim Rackley, July 2, 2023