This is an abbreviated service broadcasted from the pulpit amid the coronavirus pandemic (ACP) of 2020.

Included below are relevant items from the bulletin:

CALL TO WORSHIP:

This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
- Psalm 118:24

CONFESSION OF FAITH: The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
The third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit;
the holy catholic church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting.
Amen.

CONFESSION OF SIN:

O Lord, my every sense, member and affection, is a snare to me. I can scarce open my eyes but I envy those above me, or despise those below. I covet the honor and riches of the mighty, and am proud and unmerciful to the rags of others. If I behold beauty it is a bait to lust; or see deformity, it stirs up loathing and disdain. How soon do slanders and wanton speeches creep into my heart! You know that all these are snares by my corruption, and that my greatest snare is myself. Keep me ever mindful of my natural state, but let me not forget my heavenly title, or the grace that can deal with every sin.

PRIVATE CONFESSION

ASSURANCE OF PARDON:

The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. May the God of mercy, who forgives us all our sins, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen

OLD TESTAMENT READING: Genesis 12:1-9

PASTORIAL PRAYER/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;
and forgive us our debts;
as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not in temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom
and the power
and the glory, forever. Amen

SERMON PASSAGE: Acts 13:1-4

SERMON TITLE: “The Spirit’s Adventure, Part 1”

SERMON OUTLINE:

Fallen Condition Focus – The tendency to choose comfort over the adventure of the Christian life.

I. The Holy Spirit engages the whole body of Christ for an adventure (1-3)

II. The Holy Spirit designates the nature of the adventure (2, 4-5)

Proposition - Because the Holy Spirit makes life an adventure, Christians must boldly follow his lead.

NOTES ON THE CALLED FAST:

Fasting and Prayer for Wednesday 8 April 2020

The session of MPC wants to challenge you to a time of fasting and prayer. If there is ever a time to pray and fast, we are living in it now. Normally, on Wednesday, we at MPC have our fellowship meal in the evening, but we are on hold from that for wise reasons. So, instead of feasting, let us fast and pray together in the Lord. We’re asking families and individuals to do this.

It is a very biblical practice of God’s people that we see throughout the Old Testament and the New. Jesus himself fasted (Matt. 4:2).

There’s a method to fasting, but let’s start small. If your health allows, on Wednesday, pick a meal (or if you want to skip more that’s fine, but if you’ve never fasted, it is good to start small), so pick a meal, and skip it—don’t snack, but be sure to hydrate. If you can’t fast on Wednesday, pick another day. The important thing is to fast and pray.

Now, fasting isn’t just skipping a meal or a few meals. It is a discipline meant to focus us towards a particular purpose. The particular purpose of this fast, as a congregation, is for heartfelt and diligent prayer along seven points. With your scriptures open (seeking the Lord’s Word), pray to the Lord, and pray diligently.

The Seven Focus Points of this time of Prayer and Fasting:

1. Give thanks and praise to the Lord for his many blessings.

2. Pray according to whatever the Lord is putting on your heart.

3. Pray concerning this whole coronavirus situation (fill in the details—there are so many—a short list includes praying for the Lord’s mercy, our leaders, healthcare workers, healing, for the sick, for a cure, for those who mourn, for protection, and prayer concerning this whole situation’s impact on the community, nation, and world), praying particularly, about how we, as God’s people might be faithful to him during these times.

4. Pray the Lord will turn this terrible situation from being a victory for evil, and that he would overcome it, using it, somehow, according to his sovereign will, for his good purposes.

5. Pray for revival across the nation, even the world. Pray that if, as people say, things will be different from here on out, then may that difference include a resurgence of faith in the Lord Jesus everywhere.

6. Pray with a willingness to obey, when he answers your prayer—even if he’s calling you to missions or ministry in some way.

7. And again, pray according to whatever the Lord is putting on your heart.

Some verses to consider concerning fasting:

Matthew 4:1-2; Matthew 6:16-18; 2 Samuel 1:12; Ezra 8:21-23; Nehemiah 1:4; 9:1-3; Daniel 9:3, 20; Jonah 3:5-10; Esther 4:3; and many more.