Life Is To Please God, And The Most Important Thing Is Love." - plus much
more.
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By Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director - LoveAllPeople.org
Search our pages => http://loveallpeople.org/searchallpages.html
Worship Service, Featuring "The Purpose Of Life Is To Please God, And The
Most Important Thing Is Love." - plus much more.
Everything here is in the Public Domain, free for all people to use
without restriction, except verses from the Revised Standard Version Bible
(RSV), which are copyrighted and used by permission.
Welcome
Welcome to the online worship service at Internet Church Of Christ. Here
is a good place to worship our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. You are
invited and are welcome at any time. Blessings to you in Him.
Opening Song
"Be Still, My Soul"
To watch the video please go to =>
http://internetchurchofchrist.org/idc/idc070311.html
A Service Of Christmusic At LoveAllPeople.org
Please also see => http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSYLzbjT6Cg - (different
artist)
"Be Still, My Soul"
by Catharina von Schlegel, 1697-?
Translated by Jane Borthwick, 1813-1897
1. Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
2. Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.
3. Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears;
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears.
Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay
From His own fulness all He takes away.
4. Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
Hymn #651
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Psalm 46:10
Author: Catharine Amalia Dorothea von Schlegel, 1752, cento
Translated by: Jane Borthwick, 1855
Titled: "Stille, mein Wille"
Composer: Jean Sibelius, b. 1865, arr.
Tune: "Finlandia"
Notes above courtesy of =>
http://www.lutheran-hymnal.com/lyrics/tlh651.htm
More about this song at =>
"http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/songsearch/songsearch-bestillmysoul.html
More songs like this at => http://www.loveallpeople.org/christmusic.html
... and at =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/songsearch/songsearch-indexpage.html
Invocation
O Lord, we come together in Your name,
And as You promised, we know You are here.
AND SO WE WELCOME YOU WITH OPEN ARMS,
AND PRAY THAT YOU FIND PLEASURE HERE WITH US,
AS WE, YOUR LOVING CHILDREN WORSHIP YOU.
We now invite You to reveal Yourself,
And share with us Your presence, openly,
FOR YOU ARE EVERYTHING THAT WE DESIRE,
AND EVERYTHING WE HAVE, WE GIVE TO YOU.
In Jesus' holy name we pray, Amen.
If you are a new Christian, we invite you to visit our page at
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/newchristian.html
The Lord's Prayer
with MP3 audio file
The Lord, Himself, taught us to pray like this . . .
Play Prayer Here =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/lordsprayer2.mp3
Reading by Rev. Bill McGinnis - Public Domain
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.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Source: Book Of Common Prayer, based on
Matthew 6:9-13
You can hear the Lord's Prayer on an MP3 file by clicking on
internetchurchofchrist.org/binaries/lordsprayer2.mp3. This MP3 file, and
the text on which it is based, are in the Public Domain, free for all
people to use without restriction. As always, permission is granted to
link to any of our files.
Declaration Of Faith - The Apostles' Creed
This historic affirmation of faith comes to us from the early centuries of
the Christian church.
MP3 audio file at
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/binaries/apostlescreed.mp3 - free,
Public Domain
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;
He descended into hell;
The third day he rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven
And sitteth at 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.
* Note: "catholic church" here means the entire body of
believers in Christ, not just one particular church.
Featured Segment . . .
The Purpose Of Life Is To Please God,And The Most Important Thing Is Love
By Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director - LoveAllPeople.org
Are you looking for a clear purpose in life? Do you wonder, "Why are we
here?" Do you think life is meaningless?
If so, then this is what you are looking for:
"The purpose of life is to please God."
How do we know this? Because the Bible tells us. Our purpose is the same
as the purpose of the whole universe: to please God.
_____________________________________________________________
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power:
for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are
and were created. (Revelation 4:11 KJV)
_____________________________________________________________
"Yes, but maybe it's impossible to please Him," you might say. Wrong. He's
not that hard to please.
"For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people:"
(Psalms 149:4a KJV)
WE HUMANS ARE ABLE TO PLEASE GOD
The following scriptures prove that we humans are able to please God.
1 Chronicles 29:17a - I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and
hast pleasure in uprightness.
1 Corinthians 7:32 - But I would have you without carefulness. He that is
unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please
the Lord:
1 Corinthians 7:34 - There is difference also between a wife and a virgin.
The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be
holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the
things of the world, how she may please her husband.
1 Corinthians 10:5 - But with many of them God was not well pleased: for
they were overthrown in the wilderness.
Ecclesiastes 5:4 - When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it;
for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
Ecclesiastes 7:26 - And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose
heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall
escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
Ezekiel 18:23 - Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?
saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
Ezekiel 18:32 - For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth,
saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
Ezekiel 33:11 - Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no
pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way
and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O
house of Israel?
Ezra 10:11 - Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your
fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of
the land, and from the strange wives.
Haggai 1:8 - Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house;
and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD.
Hebrews 11:5 - By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death;
and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his
translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he
that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 13:16 - But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with
such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Isaiah 42:21 - The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he
will magnify the law, and make it honourable.
Isaiah 56:4 - For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my
sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my
covenant;
Jeremiah 48:38 - There shall be lamentation generally upon all the
housetops of Moab, and in the streets thereof: for I have broken Moab like
a vessel wherein is no pleasure, saith the LORD.
1 Kings 3:10 - And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked
this thing.
Malachi 1:8 - And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and
if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy
governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the
LORD of hosts.
Malachi 1:10 - Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for
nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no
pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an
offering at your hand.
Micah 6:7 - Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten
thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my
transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
2 Peter 1:17 - For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when
there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Philippians 2:13 - For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to
do of his good pleasure.
Proverbs 16:7 - When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his
enemies to be at peace with him.
Psalm 5:4 - For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness:
neither shall evil dwell with thee.
Psalm 35:27 - Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my
righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified,
which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
Psalm 69:31 - This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock
that hath horns and hoofs.
Psalm 103:21 - Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his,
that do his pleasure.
Psalm 147:11 - The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those
that hope in his mercy.
Psalm 149:4 - For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify
the meek with salvation.
Revelation 4:11 - Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and
power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and
were created.
Romans 8:8 - So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
1 Thessalonians 2:15 - Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own
prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are
contrary to all men:
1 Thessalonians 4:1 - Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and
exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought
to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
Source of scriptures: King James Version (KJV)
So what are some of the things we can do to please him? The Bible is full
of things that please Him and things which displease Him. Read the Bible
and see what He likes and what He doesn't like. Then give Him what He
likes and avoid giving Him what He doesn't like.
But the most important thing is love: He wants us to love other people the
same as we love ourselves.
LOVE FOR OTHERS FULFILLS ALL OF GOD'S LAW
The Bible states it very clearly, so there can be no possible
misunderstanding:
_____________________________________________________________
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, "You shall love your
neighbor as yourself." (Galatians 5:14 RSV)
_____________________________________________________________
And who is your neighbor? Everyone is your neighbor. This is shown in the
Parable Of The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).
But what about love for God? Doesn't that come first? Yes, but God accepts
our love for others as if it were love for Himself. So when we love
others, we are loving Him at the same time. This is shown in the Parable
Of The Sheep And The Goats (Matthew 25:31-46).
But what about The Ten Commandments? Aren't we supposed to obey them? Yes,
but The Ten Commandments are only an approximation of what God wants from
us. The Pharisees obeyed all of the Ten Commandments, yet God was very
displeased with them because they did not have love. The exact thing God
wants from us is that we should love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
Everything else is subordinate to this.
But what about holiness? Aren't we supposed to avoid improper sex, etc.
and be pure and chaste? Aren't we supposed to deny our physical selves in
order to strengthen our spiritual selves? Yes, but our feeble attempts at
being holy do not even come close to God's high standards. To Him, they
are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). But if we have love for others, God
will overlook a multitude of our sins (1 Peter 4:8). And if we forgive
others of their offenses against us, He will forgive us of our offenses
against Him (Matthew 5:14-15). Love makes everything holy, since God is
love (1 John 4:8, 4:16).
So all of God's laws boil down to this one command: "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR
NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." If you truly do this one thing only, it is enough.
It then doesn't matter if you fall short on some of the dozens of others.
But if you do not do this, all of the others together are not enough. This
is the big one, more important than all the others combined.
"Love For Others Fulfills The Law"
Galatians 5:14 (RSV)
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, "You shall love your
neighbor as yourself."
Romans 13:8 (RSV)
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves
his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:9 (RSV)
The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not
kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other
commandment, are summed up in this sentence, "You shall love your
neighbor as yourself."
Romans 13:10 (RSV)
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling
of the law.
James 2:8 (RSV)
If you really fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture,
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well.
Proverbs 10:12 (RSV)
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.
1 Peter 4:8 (RSV)
Above all hold unfailing your love for one another, since love
covers a multitude of sins.
--------------------------------------------------------
LOVE IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN FAITH
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (RSV)
[1] If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I
am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
[2] And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all
knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have
not love, I am nothing.
[3] If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but
have not love, I gain nothing.
[4] Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful;
[5]it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is
not irritable or resentful;
[6] it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right.
[7] Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures
all things.
[8] Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for
tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
[9] For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect;
[10] but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away.
[11] When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I
reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
[12] For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know
in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully
understood.
[13] So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is
love.
# # #
See more pages like this, at our Index of Pearls Of Faith, a treasury of
Biblical truths.
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/pearlindx.html -->
Bible Readings - Updated Automatically Each Day
New American Bible (with notes and links) -
http://www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml
Daily Light On The Daily Path -
http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/daily.light/
National Presbyterian Church (USA) -
http://www.natpresch.org/one_daily_reading.php
Poem
"All The Way My Saviour Leads Me," - by Fanny J. Crosby
ALL THE WAY MY SAVIOUR LEADS ME - by Fanny J. Crosby, 1875
- Public Domain -
All the way my Saviour leads me;
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His faithful mercies,
Who through life has been my guide?
Heav'nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him do dwell;
For I know whate'er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.
All the way my Saviour leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread;
Gives me strength for every trial,
Feeds me with the living bread.
Though my weary steps may falter,
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo, a spring of joy I see.
All the way my Saviour leads me,
O the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised,
In my Father's house above;
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day,
This my song through endless ages:
"Jesus led me all the way."
MP3 audio file at =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/binaries/allthewaymysaviourleadsme.mp3
- free, Public Domain
Prayer For You
"Go Ahead And Give Yourself To Christ"
NOTE: When you read this prayer, try to imagine hearing my voice as I
speak it to you. In this way, the prayer is reactivated, and it
the same as if I were actually praying for you at that moment.
(Just like television prayers are reactivated when you watch
them, although the videotape may have been shot years before.)
Perhaps you are a Christian even now,
You go to church and try to do your best,
You try to put His teachings in your life,
But still you do not feel that He is yours.
You do not feel the closeness that you crave.
If this is you, then say this prayer with me:
* * *
O Lord, I want you closer in my life,
I want you more to be a part of me.
I want the best relationship with you,
That anyone on earth could ever have.
I know that, "as we give, we shall receive,"
And so I now do give myself to you,
In full completeness, holding nothing back.
I'm yours, so you may use me as you will,
And take whatever things you want from me.
And now that I did give myself to you,
I pray that you will give yourself to me,
As bridegroom gives himself to his new bride.
In Jesus' holy name I pray, Amen.
by William McGinnis
Public Domain
Holy Communion
A ceremony for Holy Communion is available to you HERE! -
http://patriot.net/~bmcgin/pearl-holycommunion.html
If you are alone, you will needed to be both "Leader" and "Assembly," as
described in the ceremony.
How To Find A Real, Live Church
An online church is better than no church at all; but it is even better
for most Christians to actually belong to a real, live church, with real,
live people. Then, you can have your real church PLUS your online church,
so you gain the benefits of both. You can find a church for yourself by
clicking HERE! - http://patriot.net/~bmcgin/findachurch.html
Invitation To Accept Jesus Christ As Your Personal Lord And Saviour
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/jesusdirect.html
Closing Song
"When I Survey The Wondrous Cross"
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/whenisurvey.html
More about this song at =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/songsearch/songsearch-whenisurveythewondrouscross.html
More songs like this at => http://www.loveallpeople.org/christmusic.html
... and at =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/songsearch/songsearch-indexpage.html
Benediction
I pray the Lord that He will lead your path
Away from the temptations all around.
I pray that when temptation lingers near,
The Lord will lead you not into its reach.
But if temptation grabs you as you pass,
I pray the Lord that you will struggle free.
In Jesus' holy name I pray, Amen.
Blessings to you in Jesus Christ our Lord.
This chapel service is now complete.
Rev. Bill McGinnis
Pastor - http://InternetChurchOfChrist.org
Director - http://LoveAllPeople.org
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God's one law for all mankind: "Love All People As Yourself."
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