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WELCOME TO NOCBC

Working together to extend God’s kingdom (Isaiah 54:2).

June 11, 2023

Today’s Sermon:

Acts 6:1–7

“Serving God as a Congregation”

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Welcome

We’re glad you’re here!

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Magnificent Marvelous Matchless Love

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Magnificent marvelous matchless love

Too vast and astounding to tell

Forever existing in worlds above

Now offered and given to all

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Oh fountain of beauty eternal

The Father the Spirit the Son

Sufficient and endlessly generous

Magnificent marvelous matchless love

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Creation is brimming with thankfulness

The mountains exultant they stand

The seasons rejoice in Your faithfulness

All life is sustained by Your hand

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You crown every meadow with color

You paint every shade in the sky

Each day the dawn wakes as an encore of

Magnificent marvelous matchless love

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What grace that You entered our brokenness

You came in the fullness of time

How far we had fallen from righteousness

But not from the mercies of Christ

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Your cross is our door to redemption

Your death is our fullness of life

That day how forgiveness flowed as a flood

Magnificent marvelous matchless love

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United in Your resurrection

You lift us to infinite heights

Could anything sever or take us from

Magnificent marvelous matchless love

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Be Thou My Vision

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Be Thou my vision

O Lord of my heart

Naught be all else to me

Save that Thou art

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Thou my best thought

By day or by night

Waking or sleeping

Thy presence my light

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Be Thou my wisdom

Be Thou my true Word

I ever with Thee

And Thou with me Lord

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Thou my great Father

I Thy true son

Thou in me dwelling

And I with Thee one

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Riches I heed not

Nor man's empty praise

Thou mine inheritance

Now and always

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Thou and Thou only

Be first in my heart

High King of heaven

My treasure Thou art

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High King of heaven

When victory is won

May I reach heaven's joys

O bright heaven's Sun

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Heart of my own heart

Whatever befall

Still be my vision

O Ruler of all

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Scripture Reading

Acts 6:1–7

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Acts 6:1–7

1 Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. 2 And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.

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Acts 6:1–7

3 Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, 4 while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.” 5 What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.

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Acts 6:1–7

6 They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

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Worshiping God through Tithes and Offerings

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Behold Our God

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Who has held the oceans in His hands

Who has numbered every grain of sand

Kings and nations tremble at His voice

All creation rises to rejoice

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Behold our God seated on His throne

Come let us adore Him

Behold our King nothing can compare

Come let us adore Him

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Who has given counsel to the Lord

Who can question any of His words

Who can teach the One who knows all things

Who can fathom all His wondrous deeds

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Behold our God seated on His throne

Come let us adore Him

Behold our King nothing can compare

Come let us adore Him

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Who has felt the nails upon His hands

Bearing all the guilt of sinful man

God eternal humbled to the grave

Jesus Savior risen now to reign

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Behold our God seated on His throne

Come let us adore Him

Behold our King nothing can compare

Come let us adore Him

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You will reign forever

You will reign forever

You will reign forever

You will reign forever

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Behold our God seated on His throne

Come let us adore Him

Behold our King nothing can compare

Come let us adore Him

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Prayer

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SERMON

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Serving God as a Congregation

Acts 6:1–7

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Three Major Forms

  1. Episcopal
  2. Presbyterian
  3. Congregational

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Acts 6:1–7

  1. Participation of all the congregation

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Acts 6:1–7

1 Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. 2 And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.

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Acts 6:1–7

3 Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, 4 while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.” 5 What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.

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Some Other Passages

  • Matthew 18:15–17
  • Acts 13:1–3
  • Acts 15
  • 1 Corinthians 5:4–5
  • 2 Corinthians 2:6

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Acts 6:1–7

  1. Participation of all the congregation
  2. Priesthood of every believer

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1 Peter 2:9

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

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Acts 6:1–7

  1. Participation of all the congregation
  2. Priesthood of every believer
  3. Possible challenges

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Acts 6:1–7

6 They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

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William B. Johnson

(1782–1862)

  • pastor
  • educator
  • denominational leader

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Come As You Are

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Come out of sadness from wherever you've been

Come broken-hearted let rescue begin

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Come find your mercy O sinner come kneel

Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal

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Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal

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Lay down your burdens

lay down your shame

All who are broken

lift up your face

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O wanderer come home

You're not too far

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So lay down your hurt

lay down your heart

Come as you are

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There's hope for the hopeless

And all those

who've strayed

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Come sit at the table

come taste the grace

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There's rest for the weary

Rest that endures

Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't cure

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Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't cure

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Lay down your burdens

lay down your shame

All who are broken

lift up your face

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O wanderer come home

You're not too far

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So lay down your hurt

lay down your heart

Come as you are

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There's joy for the morning O sinner be still

Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal

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Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal

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Lay down your burdens

lay down your shame

All who are broken

lift up your face

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O wanderer come home

You're not too far

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So lay down your hurt

lay down your heart

Come as you are

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First Semiannual Church Member Business Meeting

  • Sunday, June 11, 12:30–1:00 P.M.
  • Agenda
    • Induction of new members
    • Deacon board report
    • Church financial report

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Closing Prayer

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Share your faith!

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Application

  1. Show concern for others’ spiritual welfare.
  2. Don’t play around with sin.
  3. Pray.

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Friday Night Fellowship

  • Time: 6:15–8:00 p.m.
  • Where: Gym

Come grow your relationship with God and each other!

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English Fellowship Cleaning Day Today!

  • Set up tables for fellowship lunch
  • Clean up gymnasium after lunch