Sunday, September 13
As stewards of God’s words and works, it is with delight that we have the opportunity to gather as His people in worship by way of a reminder of the truth, power, and goodness of the sacred Scriptures. May we gather in His name and for His glory as we endeavor to make much of Christ through scripture, prayer, song, and the preaching of His Word. We look forward to gathering together this Lord’s day – For Christ, to God’s Glory, and Man’s Joy!
Order of Service
Preservice
We Gather Together
Welcome/Announcements
Read the Word / Pray the Word
Acts 14:21-28
(Erroll Dietz)
Sing the Word
Reading: Psalm 98:1-4
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Reading: Ephesians 1:3-6
Blessed Be Our God and Father
Reading: Hebrews 6:17–20
Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor
Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me
Preach the Word
The Measure of Missions | Acts 14:21-28
(Manny Pereira)
Hymn of Response / Closing
The Church’s One Foundation
Benediction
This Sunday’s Sermon
The Measure of Missions | Acts 14:21-28 | Manny Pereira
The church’s first missionary journey in history reaches its goal and the narrative presents a measure. How is missionary success measured? How do you measure a mission? By converts counted, dangers endured, or the advancement of better living conditions? Here, Scripture quietly overturns the usual scorecard. The church is central throughout. The report, when it comes, names no strategy and no hardship of their own. It weighs the labor in churches established, in a sending church gathered to listen, and in a door that God alone had opened for His church. Then the missionaries rest. Scripture’s scales weigh a mission not the way men do. May we be attentive to this most relevant and helpful measure.
Featured Song
Today’s Song Lyrics
We Gather Together
Verse 1
We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing:
Sing praises to His name; He forgets not His own.
Verse 2
Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
The Lord was at our side: all glory be Thine!
Verse 3
We all do extol Thee, Thou leader triumphant,
And pray that Thou still our defender wilt be.
Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!
(Additional Verse 4)
We praise Thee, O God, our Redeemer, Creator,
Who is and Who was, and Is to come!
Give thanks unto You, Lord, our God Almighty;
We bless Thy Holy Name, glad praises we sing!
Words: Adrianus Valerius, 1626; tr. Theodore Baker, 1894 | Music: Neder-landtsch Gedenck-Clank, 1626; harm. Eduard Kremser, 1877 © Public Domain
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Verse 1
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,
The King of creation;
O my soul, praise Him,
For He is thy health and salvation.
All ye who hear,
Now to His temple draw near:
Join me in glad adoration!
Verse 2
Praise to the Lord,
Who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings,
Yea, so gently sustaineth.
Hast thou not seen
How thy desires e'er have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?
Verse 3
Praise to the Lord,
Who with marvelous wisdom hath made thee,
Decked thee with health, and with
Loving hand guided and stayed thee.
How oft in grief
Hath He not brought thee relief,
Spreading His wings for to shade thee!
Verse 4
Praise to the Lord,
Who doth prosper thy hand and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy
Here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew
What the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee.
Verse 5
Praise to the Lord,
Oh, let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath,
Come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen
Sound from His people again,
Gladly for aye we adore Him.
Words: Joachim Neander, 1680; tr. sts. 1–2, 4–5, Catherine Winkworth, 1863; st. 3, The Lutheran Hymnary, 1913; Music: Ander Theil des Erneuerten Gesangbuchs, pt. 2, 1665 © Public Domain
Blessed Be Our God and Father
Verse 1
Blessed be our God and Father
Who has filled our lives with blessing:
Every gift from heaven’s fullness
Now is ours in Jesus Christ.
Oh, what riches of his favor
Poured out freely from His throne!
We rejoice in praise
For the glory of His grace.
Verse 2
Blessed be our God and Father
Who before the world’s foundation
Knew He’d make us pure and blameless,
Changing sinners into saints.
Oh, what mercy to be chosen
And in love to bear His name!
We rejoice in praise
For the glory of His grace.
(Chorus 1)
Hallelujah! to Your name be all the glory!
Hallelujah! to Your name be all praise!
Verse 3
Blessed be our God and Father
Who with unimagined kindness
Gave His only Son to save us
For the glory of His name.
Oh, what power in His passion,
Raised from death to endless reign!
We rejoice in praise
For the glory of His grace.
(Chorus 2)
Hallelujah! to Your name be all the glory!
Hallelujah! to Your name be all praise!
Hallelujah! to Your name be all the glory!
Hallelujah! to Your name be all praise!
Music & Words: Jon Althoff and David Zimmer © 2026 Sovereign Grace Praise/BMI (adm. by Integrity Music) Sovereign Grace Music, a division of Sovereign Grace Churches. All rights reserved; UBP CCLI License #249042
Christ, the Sure and Steady Anchor
Verse 1
Christ, the sure and steady anchor,
In the fury of the storm;
When the winds of doubt blow through me
And my sails have all been torn.
In the suffering, in the sorrow,
When my sinking hopes are few,
I will hold fast to the anchor,
It shall never be removed.
Verse 2
Christ, the sure and steady anchor
While the tempest rages on.
When temptation claims the battle
And it seems the night has won,
Deeper still then goes the anchor,
Though I justly stand accused.
I will hold fast to the anchor,
It shall never be removed.
Verse 3
Christ, the sure and steady anchor
Through the floods of unbelief.
Hopeless somehow, O my soul, now,
Lift your eyes to Calvary.
This my ballast of assurance,
See His love forever proved.
I will hold fast to the anchor,
It shall never be removed.
Verse 4
Christ, the sure and steady anchor
As we face the wave of death.
When these trials give way to glory,
As we draw our final breath,
We will cross that great horizon,
Clouds behind and life secure.
And the calm will be the better,
For the storms that we endure.
Christ, the shore of our salvation,
Ever faithful, ever true.
We will hold fast to the anchor,
It shall never be removed.
Words & Music: Matt Papa and Matt Boswell © 2014 Doxology & Theology (ASCAP), Love Your Enemies Publishing; UBP CCLI License #249042
Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me
Verse 1
What gift of grace is Jesus, my Redeemer;
There is no more for heaven now to give.
He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom,
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace.
To this I hold: my hope is only Jesus,
For my life is wholly bound to His.
Oh, how strange and divine,
I can sing: all is mine!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me.
Verse 2
The night is dark, but I am not forsaken,
For by my side, the Savior, He will stay.
I labor on in weakness and rejoicing,
For in my need His power is displayed.
To this I hold: my Shepherd will defend me;
Through the deepest valley He will lead.
Oh the night has been won,
And I shall overcome!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me.
Verse 3
No fate I dread; I know I am forgiven;
The future sure, the price, it has been paid.
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon,
And He was raised to overthrow the grave.
To this I hold: my sin has been defeated;
Jesus now and ever is my plea.
Oh, the chains are released,
I can sing: I am free!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me.
Verse 4
With every breath I long to follow Jesus,
For He has said that He will bring me home.
And day by day I know He will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne.
To this I hold: my hope is only Jesus;
All the glory evermore to Him.
When the race is complete,
Still my lips shall repeat:
Yet not I, but through Christ in me.
Words & Music: Michael Farren, Jonny Robinson, Rich Thompson © 2018 CityAlight Music / Farren Love And War Publishing / Integrity's Alleluia! Music (Integrity Music / www.integratedrights.com); UBP CCLI License #249042
The Church’s One Foundation
Verse 1
The Church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ, her Lord;
She is His new creation,
By water and the Word.
From heav’n He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her,
And for her life He died.
Verse 2
Elect from every nation,
Yet one o’er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation:
One Lord, one faith, one birth.
One holy name she blesses,
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With every grace endued.
Verse 3
‘Mid toil and tribulation,
And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
Of peace forevermore;
Till with the vision glorious
Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious
Shall be the Church at rest.
Verse 4
Though with a scornful wonder,
Men see her sore oppressed,
By schisms rent asunder,
By heresies distressed,
Yet saints their watch are keeping,
Their cry goes up, “How long?”
And soon the night of weeping
Shall be the morn of song!
Verse 5
Yet she on earth hath union
With God the Three in One,
And mystic sweet communion
With those whose rest is won;
O happy ones and holy!
Lord give us grace that we,
Like them, the meek and lowly,
On high may dwell with Thee.
Words: Samuel J. Stone, 1866; Music: Samuel Sebastian Wesley, 1864 © Public Domain
