Come, ye sinners
poor and wretched,
weak and wounded
sick and sore
Jesus ready stands
to save you –
full of pity
joined with power
He is able,
he is able,
he is willing –
doubt no more!
Come, ye needy
come and welcome
God’s free bounty –
glorify
True belief and true
repentance –
every grace that
brings us nigh
Without money,
without money,
come to Jesus Christ
and buy
Come, ye weary
heavy laden
bruised and broken
by the fall
If you tarry
‘till you’re better,
you will never
come at all
Not the righteous,
not the righteous –
sinners,
Jesus came to call
Let not conscience
make you linger
nor of fitness
fondly dream
All the fitness
he requires
is to feel your
need of him
This he gives you,
this he gives you –
‘tis the Spirit’s
rising beam
Lo, the Incarnate
God ascended
pleads the merit
of his blood
Venture on him
venture wholly –
let no other
trust intrude
None but Jesus,
none but Jesus
can do helpless
sinners good
Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion;
to you our vows will be fulfilled.
O you who hear prayer,
to you all men will come.
When we were overwhelmed by sins,
you forgave
our
transgressions.
You answer us with awesome deeds
of righteousness, O God our Savior,
the hope of all the ends of the
earth
and of the farthest seas,
who formed the mountains by your
power,
having armed yourself with strength,
who stilled the roaring of the
seas,
the roaring of their waves,
and the turmoil of the nations.
Those living far away fear your
wonders;
where morning dawns and evening
fades
you call forth songs of joy.
You care for the land and water it;
you enrich it abundantly.
The streams of God
are filled with water
to provide the people with
grain,
for so you have ordained it.
You drench its furrows
and level its ridges;
you soften it with showers
and bless its crops.
You crown the year with your bounty,
and your carts overflow with
abundance.
The grasslands of the desert overflow;
the hills are clothed with gladness.
The meadows are covered with flocks
and the valleys are mantled with grain;
they shout for joy and sing.
Psalm 65
New International Version
The earth is charged
with your great grandeur
the stars above
shine for you
And the world below
responds in wonder,
God
and we’re all lost in you,
in all you say and do
You are worthy
of your glory
God Almighty,
you are Lord – forever!
The waves resound,
they pound your praises
The flowers bloom
and stretch to you
Let everything you’ve
made now praise you,
God
Oh, let all creation sing!
You are worthy
of your glory
God Almighty,
you are Lord – forever!
You’re robed in honor,
you’re armed with power
God forever,
you are Lord – forever!
Awake my soul and
sing,
awake my soul and
sing,
awake my soul and sing
–
Hallelujah, hallelujah
hallelujah - you are
Lord,
forever Lord
Hallelujah, hallelujah
hallelujah - you are
Lord,
forever Lord!
You are worthy
of your glory
God Almighty,
you are Lord – forever!
You’re robed in honor,
you’re armed with power
God forever,
you are Lord – forever!
So what can I say
and what can I do,
but offer this heart, O God
completely to you?
So what can I say
and what can I do,
but offer this heart, O God
completely to you?
I’ll stand with arms high
and heart abandoned
in awe of the One
who gave it all
I’ll stand –
my soul, Lord
to you surrendered –
all I am is yours
I’ll stand with arms high
and heart abandoned
in awe of the One
who gave it all
I’ll stand –
my soul, Lord
to you surrendered –
all I am is yours
I’ll stand with arms high
and heart abandoned
in awe of the One
who gave it all
I’ll stand –
my soul, Lord
to you surrendered –
all I am is yours
So what can I say
and what can I do,
but offer this heart, O God
completely to you?
Hebrews 11
 Misconceptions
• Blind, irrational or unreasonable, naïve, etc.
 Faith
and Natural Theology
• God has revealed Himself in creation
• Mere knowledge that God exists is insufficient
 We
should think in terms of ‘trust’
• “Faith is belief (trust in) and action based on
who/what one considers to be trustworthy”
 Biblical
faith involves acting in
accordance with one’s belief
 The classic discussion of this aspect of
faith is found in Hebrews chapter 11
• The Greek root pisits/pisteuō is used in Hebrews
(40x)
• These words occur 24x in chapter 11
 The
first sentence of chapter 11 presents
an interpretive challenge
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped
for, the conviction of things not seen. [11:1;
NRSV]
 Reason
#1: Many people have read this
statement as if it were a stand alone
definition of faith
• Yet we must not ignore the context of this
statement in Hebrews and the whole of scriptural
teaching re faith (cf. e.g., John 20:31; 1 Corinthians 15:14)
 Reason
#2: Two key words are
ambiguous
• Hypostasis may have a subjective sense
(assurance) or an objective sense (substance)
• Elenchos may have a subjective sense (conviction)
or an objective sense (evidence)
 Subjective
translation
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the
conviction of things not seen. [11:1; NRSV]
 This
associates ‘faith’ with one’s
psychological state; one’s state of mind
(cf. Hebrews 3:14)
• For we have become partners of Christ, if only we hold our first
confidence firm to the end.
 Objective
translation
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen. [11:1; KJV]
 This
associates ‘faith’ with something
concrete (cf. Hebrews 1:3a)
• He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's
very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word.
 Reason
#3: The misinterpretation of “the
evidence of things not seen”
• Many have understood this to mean faith is a
substitute for evidence
• Faith is all the evidence one needs
 When
we read this statement in context
we do not find much support for the
subjective interpretation
• The author is not emphasizing the sense of
assurance of the individuals he mentions
• Rather he is emphasizing the way they each gave
visible expression to their faith
 When
we read this statement in context
we do not find much support for the
subjective interpretation
• Faithful action (Active Faith) is the evidence of
what one actually believes
5
Observations re Active Faith
• Active Faith has been a characteristic of God’s
people throughout history
5
Observations re Active Faith
• Active Faith was/is not limited to the people of
Israel
 Abel, Enoch, Noah, Rahab
5
Observations re Active Faith
• Active Faith is able to look beyond the present
circumstances
 Abraham and birth of the promised son
 Abraham and the ‘sacrifice’ of Isaac
 Moses and his rejection of the treasures of Egypt
5
Observations re Active Faith
• Active Faith is able to endure through hardships
 Cf. vv 35-38
 Faith is not a guarantee of prosperity and comfort
5
Observations re Active Faith
• Active Faith will be vindicated
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God,
the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by
the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died,
and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose
again.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right
hand
of the Father.
He will come again to judge
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.
Exalt the Lord our God
(repeat)
and worship at his feet
(repeat)
Exalt the Lord our God
(repeat)
and worship at his feet
(repeat)
For he (repeat)
is holy!
For the Lord, our God –
he is holy
Exalt the Lord our God
(repeat)
and worship at his feet
(repeat)
Exalt the Lord our God
(repeat)
and worship at his feet
(repeat)
For he (repeat)
is holy!
For the Lord, our God –
he is holy
O how could it be
that my God
would welcome me
into this mystery?
Say, “Take this bread,
take this wine,
now the simple made
divine” –
for any to receive
By mercy we come
to your table,
by your grace
you are making us
faithful
Lord, we remember you
and remembrance
leads us to worship
And as we worship you
our worship leads
to communion
We respond
to your invitation –
we remember you
See his body, his blood
know that he has
overcome
every trial we will face
None too lost to be
saved,
none too broken or
ashamed –
all are welcome
in this place
By mercy we come
to your table,
by your grace
you are making us
faithful
Lord, we remember you
and remembrance
leads us to worship
And as we worship you
our worship leads
to communion
We respond
to your invitation –
we remember you
Dying, you destroyed
our death
Rising, you restored
our life
Lord Jesus,
come in glory –
Lord Jesus,
come in glory
Dying, you destroyed
our death
Rising, you restored
our life
Lord Jesus,
come in glory –
Lord Jesus,
come in glory
Lord, we remember you
and remembrance
leads us to worship
And as we worship you
our worship leads
to communion
We respond
to your invitation –
we remember you
Let us love
and sing and wonder,
let us praise
the Savior’s name
He has hushed
the law’s loud thunder,
he has quenched
Mount Sinai’s flame
He has washed us
with his blood…
he has brought us nigh
to God
Let us love the Lord
who bought us,
pitied us when enemies
Called us by his grace
and taught us,
gave us ears
and gave us eyes
He has washed us
with his blood…
he presents our souls
to God
Let us sing,
though fierce temptations
threaten hard
to bear us down
For the Lord,
our strong salvation
holds in view
the conqueror’s crown
He, who washed us
with his blood…
soon will bring
our souls to God
Let us wonder,
grace and justice
join and point
to mercy’s store
When through grace
in Christ our trust is,
Justice smiles
and asks no more
He, who washed us
with his blood…
has secured our way
to God
Let us praise
and join the chorus
of the saints
enthroned on high
Here they trusted him
before us,
now their praises
fill the sky
Thou hast washed us
with thy blood…
Thou are worthy,
Lamb of God!
A Reading From
James 2.14-17
New International Version
Grant, O Lord,
that what has been said with our
lips
we may believe in our hearts,
and that what we believe in our
hearts
we may practice in our lives,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Holy, holy
God Almighty
who was and is to come
God of glory
you’re so worthy –
All the saints bow down
Holy is your name
in all the earth
Righteous are your ways,
so merciful
Everything you’ve done
is just and true –
Holy, holy, God are you,
holy, holy, God are you!
Holy, holy
God Almighty
who was and is to come
God of glory
you’re so worthy –
All the saints bow down
Holy is your name
in all the earth
Righteous are your ways,
so merciful
Everything you’ve done
is just and true –
Holy, holy, God are you,
holy, holy, God are you!
All blessing, all honor
belongs to you
All power, all wisdom
is yours
Holy is your name
in all the earth
Righteous are your ways,
so merciful
Everything you’ve done
is just and true –
Holy, holy, God are you,
holy, holy, God are you!
“Come, Ye Sinners” by Matthew S. Smith & Joseph Hart
©2000 detuned radio music (ASCAP)
“You Are Worthy” by Jon Shirley
©2006 THIS IS A REVOLUTION Publishing
“The Stand” by Joel Houston
©2005 Hillsong Publishing (Adm. in US & Canada by Integrity’s Hosanna! Music)
“Exalt the Lord Our God” by Cindy Rethmeier
©1991 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing (Adm. by Music Services)
“Remembrance” by Matt Redman & Matt Maher
©2009 ThankYou Music|spiritandsong.com|sixsteps muisc|Said & Done Music (Adm. by EMI CMP)
“Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder” John Newton & Laura Taylor
©2001 Laura Taylor Music
“Holy Is Your Name” by Brenton Brown
©2001 Vineyard Songs (UK/Eire – Adm. by Vineyard Songs UK)
All Songs CCLI License #1022684