Agree to Disagree

Preparing for Worship

Joshua 24:14-15 (NKJV)

“Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Prayer

O Lord God Almighty, we choose to love and serve You all the days of our lives. We will not give ourselves in worship to any other gods nor exalt any human beings above You. Our devotion belongs to You alone. You alone are God. You alone are worthy of all our worship and obedience. Be exalted above everything. We bow and worship You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Worship Through Songs

R-49 CHRISTIAN LOVE 主內的愛

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (NKJV)

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Sermon

Song of Response

Worship Through Prayer

1. Lord, make me Your instrument of peace. Help me not to take part in dividing the people through dissensions. Give me wisdom to communicate my opinions in a God-honoring and respectful way. Remind me that I do not know all things and that my opinions are not conclusive. Just as I desire to be heard by others, give me the humility to graciously listen in order to understand others as well.

2. Lord, I acknowledge that You are sovereignly in control of all human affairs. Help me to accept that in Your wisdom You have allowed the depravity of mankind to take its course and at times to let evil prevail for a season. Help me to live by faith and overcome evil by treating others the way You want me despite the differences in our positions and convictions in matters of life and faith. It's not about me, but You in me. 

3. Lord, to love others the way You have loved me is such a difficult command. To love those I love is already very hard. How can I even love those whom I hate? O, remind me of Your gracious and merciful love towards a sinner like me. Help me. I admit I can't do this on my own. I need You. This is what You have commanded so I want to obey. Help me to treat those I dislike and hate with grace and kindness in my thoughts, words and actions. When I do so, may You be glorified. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Worship Through Giving