September 6, 2020: Seizing Situations for the Gospel

And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God’s high priest?” And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”
Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.
The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”

(Acts 23:1–11)

September 6, 2020
ORDER OF WORSHIP
Announcements
Introit
Call to Worship: Psalm 150
Prayer of Invocation
Opening Hymn: #55 To God Be the Glory
Scripture Reading: Acts 22:22–29
Confession of Faith: The Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 35. IV
Prayer of Confession of Sin
Doxology
Pastoral Prayer
Anthem
Sermon Title: Seizing Situations for the Gospel
Acts 22:30–23:11
(Rev. Martin Hawley)
Closing Prayer
Closing Hymn: #263 Lift High the Cross
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
Benediction
Words to hymns and choruses printed in the bulletin and live streamed, using license CCLI #440621