ONLINE WORSHIP:
“Unwritten rules”
May 3rd, 2020
Verse 1:
The Lord is my shepherd
And so I lack nothing.
In meadows of green grass
He lets me lie down.
Beside the still waters
He patiently leads me
Restoring my soul,
Restoring my soul.
Verse 2:
For His holy name’s sake
He guides me by right paths.
Though I may stray to
The vale of deep darkness
I fear no evil
For you are there with me
Beside me Your rod and staff,
They comfort me.
Verse 3:
You prepare a table
Before my enemies,
My head You’ve anointed,
My cup’s overflowing.
Your goodness and mercy,
Will follow me all the days of my life
And I’ll make homeplace,
In the house of the Lord.
And I’ll make my homeplace,
In the house of the Lord.
Confession: Psalm 23
The lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
O Lord, you are my constant companion.
There is no need that you cannot fulfill.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Whether your course for me takes me to the mountain tops of glorious ecstasy or to the valleys of human suffering, you are by my side, you are ever present with me.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You are close beside me when I tread the dark streets of danger, and even when I flirt with death itself, you will not leave me. When the pain is severe, you are near to comfort.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
When the burden is heavy, you are there to lean upon.
When depression darkens my soul, you touch me with eternal joy.
When I feel empty and alone, you fill the aching vacuum with your power.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
My security is in your promise to be near to me always, and in the knowledge that you will never let me go.
Forgive us, O Lord, when we seek fulfillment outside of your will.
Forgive us for when we walk in the paths of unrighteousness.
Forgive us for the times we are fearful instead of trusting.
Forgive us when we fail to lean upon you.
Forgive us for when we fail to realize how abundantly you have blessed us.
Forgive us for when we seek security other than in your goodness and mercy. For these and all of our sins, forgive us for Jesus’ sake.
Jesus the Good shepherd said, “truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. Trust in Jesus. Your sins are forgiven.
Acts 2: 42-47 The Fellowship of the Believers
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
1 Peter 2: 19-25 The Shepherd and Overseer of Our Souls
For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that he might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
John 10": 1-10 I Am the Good Shepherd
“Truly, Truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”