CALVARY INSTITUTE
WORSHIP
"Awe of God means I live knowing that there is a greater story than my little personal story. … Awe of God means that God has a plan far bigger and better than any plans I have for myself. Awe of God humbles me. It puts me in my place. It reminds me that I am small, that since I am a creature of One who is far greater, it cannot be all about me” (Paul Tripp, Awe, 61). As we worship on Sundays and throughout the week, may we declare with John “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)
Call to Worship Job 40:6-9 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right? Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his?
Adoration
Song - How Great Thou Art
Confession
Job 42:5-6 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Assurance of Grace
Song - His Mercy is More
Thanksgiving
Song (Just Chorus + Bridge) - What a Beautiful Name
SERMON
Scripture - Acts 4:23-31(ESV)
The Believers Pray for Boldness
23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant,[d] said by the Holy Spirit,
“‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’[e]—
27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
Discussion Questions:
What does the passage say about various roles or functions of the Holy Spirit? How do these actions relate to each other?
How did the believers use Scripture in response to opposition?
What do the believers say or pray about God’s sovereign actions?
What do the believers ask God to do?
How were their prayer requests related to God’s sovereign providence or predestined acts?
How are your prayer requests related to your understanding of God’s sovereignty?
BENEDICTION
Song - Even So Come