Here is the worship guide for Sunday, May 18, 2025.
PDF version of the worship guide to download or print.
The livestream will begin at 10:30 a.m. on our Facebook page or YouTube page.
Welcome and Announcements
Opening Prayer
Call to Worship
2 Peter 1:16–21 (ESV)
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Hymn: “Wonderful, Merciful Savior”
Words: Dawn Rodgers and Eric Wyse. Music: Dawn Rodgers.
Wonderful, merciful Savior,
precious Redeemer and Friend;
who would have thought that a Lamb
could rescue the souls of men?
Oh, you rescue the souls of men.
Counselor, Comforter, Keeper,
Spirit we long to embrace;
You offer hope when our hearts have
hopelessly lost the way.
Oh, we’ve hopelessly lost the way.
You are the One that we praise,
You are the One we adore.
You give the healing and grace
our hearts always hunger for,
Oh, our hearts always hunger for.
Almighty, infinite Father,
faithfully loving Your own;
here in our weakness You find us
Falling before Your throne.
Oh, we’re falling before Your throne.
You are the One that we praise,
You are the One we adore.
You give the healing and grace
our hearts always hunger for,
Oh, our hearts always hunger for.
Hymn: “There Is a Redeemer”
Words and music: Melody Green.
There is a Redeemer—Jesus, God’s own Son;
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Holy One.
Thank You, O my Father, for giving us Your Son,
and leaving Your Spirit, till the work on earth is done.
Jesus my Redeemer, name above all names;
precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Hope for sinners slain.
Thank You, O my Father, for giving us Your Son,
and leaving Your Spirit, till the work on earth is done.
When I stand in Glory, I will see His face;
there I’ll serve my King forever in that Holy Place.
Thank You, O my Father, for giving us Your Son,
and leaving Your Spirit, till the work on earth is done.
Hymn: “Speak, O Lord”
Words and music by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
to receive the food of Your Holy Word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
that the light of Christ might be seen today
in our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us
all Your purposes for Your glory.
Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
holy reverence, true humility.
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
in the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see
your majestic love and authority.
Words of pow’r that can never fail,
let their truth prevail over unbelief.
Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us.
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
that will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we’ll stand on Your promises,
and by faith we’ll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built
and the earth is filled with Your glory.
Time of Prayer
Sermon: “Rightly Handling the Word of Truth”
2 Timothy 2:14–26 (ESV)
14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
Hymn: “How Firm a Foundation”
Words from John Rippon’s Selection of Hymns.
Music from Joseph Funk’s Genuine Church Music.
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
“Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.
“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace all-sufficient shall be thy supply;
the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
“The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no never forsake!”
Benediction
1 Peter 5:14b (ESV)
Peace to all of you who are in Christ.