To God be the glory; great things He has done!
He so loved the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin
And opened the lifegate that all may go in.
Chorus: Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice!
Oh, come to the Father through Jesus the Son
And give Him the glory – great things He has done!
Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To ev’ry believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives. CHORUS
Great things He has taught us, great things He has done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son,
But purer and higher and greater will be
Our joy and our wonder when Jesus we see. CHORUS
Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of Your holy Word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us all Your purposes for Your glory.
Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us—
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises,
And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, as Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.
A mighty fortress is our God. A trusty shield and weapon;
He helps us free from ev’ry need That has us now o’ertaken.
The ancient evil foe Now means to work us woe;
Deep guile and awful might Are his dread arms in fight;
On earth is not his equal.
With might of ours can naught be done; Soon were our loss effected.
But for us fights the valiant one Whom God Himself elected.
You ask who this may be? Christ Jesus it is he,
The almighty Lord. And there’s no other God:
He holds the field forever.
Though devils all the world should fill, All eager to devour us,
We tremble not, we fear no ill; They shall not overpow’r us.
The prince of darkness still May scowl fierce as he will,
His raging harms us none. He’s judged; the deed is done!
One little word can fell him.
The Word they still shall let remain, Nor any thanks have for it;
He’s by our side upon the plain With His good gifts and Spirit.
And should they take our life, Goods, honor, child, and wife,
Though all of these be gone, Our victory is won;
The kingdom’s ours forever!
Savior like a shepherd lead us,
Much we need Your tender care;
In Your pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use Your fold prepare.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
You have bought us, Yours we are,
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
You have bought us, Yours we are.
We are Yours, in love befriend us;
Be the Guardian of our way.
Keep Your flock; from sin defend us.
Seek us when we go astray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Hear Your children when they pray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Hear Your children when they pray.
Early let us seek Your favor;
Early let us do Your will;
Blessed Lord and only Savior,
With Your love our bosoms fill.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
You have loved us, love us still,
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
You have loved us, love us still.
Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand;
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.
Through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light.
Take my hand, precious Lord; Lead me home.
When my way grows drear, Precious Lord, linger near,
When my life is almost gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call; hold my hand lest I fall.
Take my hand, precious Lord; Lead me home.
When the darkness appears and the night draws near
And the day is almost gone.
At the river I stand; guide my feet, hold my hand,
Take my hand, precious Lord; Lead me home.
When all I see is the battle
You see my victory
When all I see is the mountain
You see a mountain moved
And as I walk through the shadow
Your love surrounds me
I know there's nothing to fear now
For I am safe with You
Chorus: So when I fight I'll fight on my knees
With my hands lifted high
Oh God the battle belongs to You
And every fear I lay at Your feet
I'll sing through the night
Oh God the battle belongs to You
And if, O God You are for me
Who can be against mex
I know that Jesus there's nothing
Impossible for You
When all I see are the ashes
You see the beauty
When all I see is a cross, God
You see the empty tomb Chorus
Bridge: Almighty Fortress You go before us
Nothing can stand against
The power of our God
You shine in the shadow
You win every battle
Nothing can stand against
The power of our God (Repeat bridge)
Chorus
Oh God the battle belongs to You
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”
21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.
INVOCATION
Pastor: We worship this morning in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Congregation: Amen.
OPENING SENTENCES (Revelation 19)
P: Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. Hallelujah!
C: For true and just are His judgments
P: Praise our God, all you His servants,
C: You who fear Him both small and great
P: For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Hallelujah!
C: Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory!
PRAYER
C: O God of peace, we turn aside from an unsettled world, seeking rest for our spirits, and light for our thoughts. We bring our work to be sanctified, our wounds to be healed, our sins to be forgiven, and our hopes to be renewed. In You there is perfect harmony and peace. Draw us to You and ease the tensions of our lives. Lead us out of the emptiness of this world and fill us with Your peace. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.
CONFESSION OF SINS
P: Dear friends, let us approach God with a true heart and confess our sins, asking Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive us.
C: Lord of life, I confess that I am by nature dead in sin.
For faithless worrying and selfish pride,
For sins of habit and sins of choice,
For the evil I have done and the good I have failed to do
You should cast me away from Your presence forever.
O Lord, I am sorry for my sins. Forgive me, for Jesus’ sake.
P: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. In His great mercy, God made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in our sins. Hear the word of Christ through His called servant: I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
Lord, I lift Your name on high.
Lord I love to sing Your praises.
I’m so glad You’re in my life.
I’m so glad You came to save us.
You came from heaven to earth to show the way;
From the earth to the cross my debt to pay;
From the cross to the grave,
From the grave to the sky;
Lord, I lift Your name on high. (Repeat)
PRAYER for a Life of Service
C: Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
Heavenly Father, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
In Your Son’s name, we pray. Amen.
NOTE: After each reading…
P: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
JOHN 10:11-21
1 PETER 5:6-11
APOSTLES’ CREED (Sung to the tune of #486 in the red hymnal)
I believe in God the Father, Maker of the heav’n and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, our Saviour, God’s own Son of human birth,
Virgin-born, the Lord incarnate, Whom the Spirit did conceive.
Suffered under Pontius Pilate. He’s the God whom I believe.
Crucified, was dead and buried; Down to hell in victory;
From the dead He rose the third day; Up to heav’n triumphantly.
There at God’s right hand He’s ruling. By His will the world is led.
He will come to judge the nations, Both the living and the dead.
I believe in God the Spirit, In His Church, His chosen band.
They are joined in sweet communion. Holy in His sight they stand.
I believe in sins forgiven. I believe I’ll rise again.
I believe in life eternal. Amen! Amen! Amen!
SERMON The Good Shepherd - Gathers the Scattered
(a message based on Luke 15:1-7; 1 Peter 5:8; John 10:12)
THANK OFFERING
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
(2 Corinthians 4:18)
Thanks, Thanks, I give You thanks
For all You’ve done.
I am so blessed; my soul is at rest.
O Lord, I give You thanks. (Repeat)
PRAYERS
THE LORD’S PRAYER: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours now and forever. Amen.
(Our prayer team is always ready to go to the throne of the Father for you.
For prayer chain requests, email prayer@livinghopereunion.church.
For confidential prayers, call or text Maria Hasten 720-243-0228.)
INVITATION & EXPLANATION
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them up to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
C: It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
P: Praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In love He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. In the past He spoke to us through the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, Who is the radiance of His glory.
Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ. To Him Who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and thanks and honor and glory for ever and ever.
C: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.
The whole earth is full of Your glory.
You are my God, and I will exalt You.
I will give You thanks, for You have become my salvation.
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.
The whole earth is full of Your glory.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
P: Our Lord Jesus Christ on the night He was betrayed took bread, when He had given thanks, He broke it. He gave it to His disciples saying, “Take and eat. This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”
Then, He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, “Drink from it all of you. This cup is the new covenant of My blood poured out for you for the forgiveness of all of your sins. Do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of Me.”
P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: Amen.
(The Scriptures teach that the celebration of the Lord’s Supper connects us intimately with Christ and with one another as Christians who are united around a common faith. We ask then that only those who have made that confession of faith through instruction or a visit with our pastor come for Communion. Guests, our pastor would love to visit with you about the blessings of this Supper. Please speak with the pastor after the service.)
BENEDICTION
P: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
GREETING & ANNOUNCEMENTS