This summer you’re invited to submit questions to Pastor Peter for his sermon topics. You might have a question about Scripture or spirituality. You might wonder the Bible says about a current even or hot topic. The question you asked for this week is “how do I know what God wants for me?” It’s a question about discernment. All the words that we’ll be using for worship are below. Or, you can download a copy to print here.

PRELUDE                           Come, Christians Join to Sing                   

CALL TO WORSHIP – from Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
   He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
   he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
   for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
   I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
   your rod and your staff—
   they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
   all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
   my whole life long.

*HYMN #492     Come, Now Is the Time to Worship  #526            

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Most High and holy God, we have a longing to be led by you. We look back with gratitude on the ways that you have guided us. But, we confess that it’s not always easy to know your will. We can get lost in the details or be confused by the specifics. And, we confess to the times we knew your will very clearly and just didn’t like the answer. So, we turn again to you because our deepest longing is for your goodness and mercy. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

HYMN #622        God, Be Merciful To Me

please remain seated

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – from Romans 12:1-2

Brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

ANTHEM            Hallelujah                        

SCRIPTURE                        Romans 12:3-21             

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

SERMON                            How Do I Know What God Wants For me?          

*HYMN #622                    Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above                  

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION & THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.

OFFERTORY                      Thank You         

*BENEDICTION

*SENDING SONG #939   May the Love of the Lord