By the Blood of the Lamb
(Service #6)
- PREPARING/THINKING ABOUT IT:
- Read Compass article #6: God's Way: Atonement
Read "There is One"(based on Psalm 24) and "On This Mountain"(Ex 19, Gen 22, Isa 2, 25)
- OPENING:
- "Holy Place" by Joe and Leila Huerta(©1982, 1984 Maranatha! Music)
Greetings (to those freed by his blood) Rev 1:4-6
Call to Worship
:- We come to worship the great King, to bow before the holy God of all.
Isaiah 6:1-6 - (Time of silent meditation and prayer, leading into. . . )
- "Yahweh is Holy" by Lynn DeShazo(©1985 Integrity's Hosanna! Music)Integrity Hosanna! Bk 3:268
"Holy God, We Praise Your Name "
(based on Te Deum, a 4th century prayer, drawn in part from the worship scenes of Isaiah 6, Rev.4-5, 7) -
Confession & Cleansing
(Our Need) - Who can ascend the Lord's holy hill? (Ps 24:1)
Who can stand before him when he comes to his temple? (Mal 3:1-3) (GOD'S Provision)
- There is only one! The One sent by God himself.
Unison Reading: Isaiah 53:1-6
(or whole chapter by one or more readers: vv.1-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12)- "behold the lamb of god who takes away the sins of the world!"
"Lamb of God " by Twila Paris(©1985 StraightWay Music, div. of Star Song Communic.) Integrity Hosanna! Bk 2:149 - "behold the lamb of god who takes away the sins of the world!"
(Prayer(s) of Confession)
- We come, confessing our need of the sacrifice of the Lamb, our need to be cleansed from our sins.
And because God himself has provided the Lamb (Genesis 22:8,14), the atoning sacrifice for our sins, we have his sure promise,
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
"Hide Me in Your Holiness" by Steve Ragsdale(©1986 Maranatha! Music)
(time of silent confession during or after music)
(The Precious Blood: a Puritan prayer) -
Celebration -
"Not All the Blood of Beasts"
"Nothing But the Blood of Jesus"
"Power in the Blood"- "I Come by the Blood"(by Steve and Vikki Cook, ©1994 Word Music and PDI Music)
So let us praise the Lamb of God! Rev 5:9-10
- "By Your Blood" by Billy Funk(©1991 Integrity's Hosanna! Music) Integrity's Hosanna Bk 6:466
"Crown Him With Many Crowns"
"To Him Who Sits on the Throne" by Debbye Graafsma(©1984 Integrity's Hosana! Music) Integrity Hosanna! Bk 1:84
Prayers (Intercession) [add specifics!]
(Introduction) Pardoned and cleansed by his blood we approach God without fear, knowing that he will receive us, and hear us.- "Only by Grace" by Gerrit Gustafson(©1990 Integrity's Hosanna! Music) Integrity Hosanna! Bk 5:425
OR "He Was Wounded for Our Transgressions" by Thomas O. Chisholm and Merrill Dunlop (©1941 Singspriation Music) [based on Isaiah 53]
OR "O Man of Sorrows " (OR another setting of Isaiah 53)- By the blood of the Lamb, your Son, we come humbly and with confidence, in fear and in wonder that you yourself paid the awful price for us.
- We come for cleansing of our hearts and minds--cleansing from idols and from every desire that dishonors you.
- By your wounds forgive and heal us. Heal especially those among us broken in body and spirit. [sickness, distress]
- We draw near TOGETHER by the one sacrifice. So make us one people--holy and united and love.
- Draw to yourself a people, countless hosts from every nation under heaven, purchased and cleansed by the Lamb's blood. [missions]
- Cleanse your Bride from every spot and blemish, and wash her with clean water by your Word, proclaimed faithfully and in love. (Eph 5:25-27)
- (Close with Te deum)
- Offering:
- "how can i repay the lord for all his goodness to me?" (Psalm 116:12-13, 17-18)
There is no offering we can bring to pay for our own sins. There is Yet in thanks we gladly offer our lips to sing his praise (Heb.13:15) our bodies to serve him (Rom.12:1) and the firstfruits of his lavish gifts of love () to honor him and show his love to others. Sermon: At The Price Of God's Own Blood (Acts 20:28) (John Piper)
Communion:
The Passover lamb has been slain, his blood protects us, and so we come to the feast he has prepared for us.- "Come to the Table (of Mercy)" by Claire Cloninger and Martin J. Nystrom (©1991 Integrity's Hosanna! Music and Word Music) Integrity's Hosanna! Bk 6:471
Closing
We now go forth boldly.- God has assured of his favor and blessing. He strengthens us to overcome "by the blood of the lamb."
(Rev 12:10-11)
This is our hope: Revelation 7:9,14(-17) . - Benediction/Blessing: (Hebrews 13:20-21)
"At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing"