Call to Worship

Leader: We worship a God who is beyond us and yet near to us.

All: We worship a God who speaks to us in creation, Scripture, and the Holy Spirit.

Leader: We revere God for God’s power and might.

All:  We draw near to a God who loves us tenderly.

Leader: Let us offer our prayers and praise to God.

All:  Let us listen for the ways God will speak to us today.
Invocation

O God, who is the rock of our salvation: Grant us the wisdom to build our lives on you and your faithfulness. Through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

Hymn                  O God, Our Help In Ages Past                      Isaac Watts

(Verse 1)

Our God, our help in ages past,

our hope for years to come,

our shelter from the stormy blast,

and our eternal home:

 

Scripture Lesson                   James 1:1-4

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that Your grace is sufficient for every trial and difficulty that we will face in our lives. Keep us looking to Jesus and depending on Him in all things. Help us never to forget that You have promised to work all things together for good, to Your praise and glory. May we be ready and willing to learn the lesson that You would teach us in each situation in life and may we learn to patiently endure with joyful thanks – by grace through faith in Christ Jesus my Lord, AMEN.

 

Hymn                 O God, Our Help In Ages Past                      Isaac Watts

(Verse 2)

Under the shadow of your throne

your saints have dwelt secure;

sufficient is your arm alone,

and our defense is sure.

 

Scripture Lesson                   James 1:5-8

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us to learn the lessons that You would teach us in life, especially during those times of sadness and suffering and give us the wisdom we need, so that we do not waste the opportunities, knowing that the testing of our faith produces steadfastness. May we always approach Your throne of grace in faith and without doubting – and we praise and thank You for the good work that You are doing in our lives, in Jesus name we pray, AMEN.

 

Hymn                 O God, Our Help In Ages Past                      Isaac Watts

(Verse 4)

A thousand ages in your sight

are like an evening gone;

short as the watch that ends the night

before the rising sun.

 

Scripture Lesson                   James 1:9-16

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for this sober warning. We pray for wisdom, discernment and honesty of heart so that we are not deceived by the enemy who seeks to distort the character of God and cause us to stray from the Word of Truth. We pray that we may endure in the trials we face, in the power of the Spirit knowing that You are using all things to work together for good to refine our character into being the persons You want us to be. May we live for Your greater glory, in Jesus name we pray, AMEN.

 

Hymn               O God, Our Help In Ages Past                      Isaac Watts

(Verse 5)

The busy tribes of flesh and blood,

with all their lives and cares,

are carried downward by your flood,

and lost in foll’wing years.

 

Scripture Lesson                   James 1:17-22

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the wise teachings of James. We realize how important it is to not only have a genuine faith by trusting in the finished work of the Lord Jesus at Calvary, but to be a fruitful Christian in word and in deed. Keep us from worldly ways and from slipping back in the lust of fleshly living, but may we grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ – as we abide in Him and bring forth much fruit to Your praise and glory – this I ask in Jesus name, Amen.

 

Hymn                     O God, Our Help In Ages Past                      Isaac Watts

(Verse 7)

Our God, our help in ages past

our hope for years to come:

O be our guard while troubles last,

and our eternal home.

 

Scripture Lesson                   James 1:23-27

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word of Truth and the wisdom that it contains. Help us to live our lives as unto the Lord in close communion with Christ so that our faith may be pure and undefiled in Your sight. We pray that the words of our mouths may be gracious and that the works of our hands may be carried out to Your praise and glory – so that our lives become reflections of Christ in us, the hope of glory, in Jesus name we pray. AMEN.

 

Doxology                                                                   Thomas Ken

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Amen.