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SHELTER-IN-PLACE WORSHIP GUIDE

SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2020

 

Welcome to First AME Zion Church San Jose.  Your presence brings us great joy.  We thank God for you and pray that you are blessed by this worship experience.  Come on in this house.

 

The Call to Worship and Invocation

 

Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.  This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

 

Morning Hymn Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior

 

Pass me not, O gentle Savior, Hear my humble cry;

While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by.

 

Let me at Thy throne of mercy, Find a sweet relief

Kneeling there in deep contrition; Help my unbelief.

 

[Chorus:]
(We're calling you)
Savior, Savior, Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by.


 

Scripture Reading (1 Peter 4:12-19 ) 

 

 

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.

16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

18 And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

 

Gloria Patri 

 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen, Amen.

 

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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;

The third day he rose 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 Ghost, the Holy Catholic* Church, the Communion of Saints, the Forgiveness of Sins, the Resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.  Amen.

 

 

Altar Call/Pastoral Prayer -- Pray for Me

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are praying for you,

 

 

Rev. Keith Johnson, Octavian Rodriquez, Angelikka Carter, James Spaulding, Rev. and Mrs. Braxton, Dwaine Giggans,

Johnie Mae Williams, Christine Ferguson, Rev. Michael Henderson, Rev. Veronica Buckner, Curtis and Faye Bomar, Jean Wilson and Family, Pinkie Westry,  Paula Westry, and Brother Daniel

 

Most Gracious Father,

 

It is again that your servants have come before you with praise and thanksgiving in our hearts.  We ray your forgiveness of our sins and say that we are heartedly sorry for our trangressions.  Now Lord as we gather around your throne of grace, we ask that you will continue to be that hedge of protection around us.  We thank you Father that you have allowed us to see another day.  We thank you Heavenly Father that there is food on our tables, clothes on our backs, and provisions, more than we can count provided for us.  

 

As we enter another week of uncertainity in our homes, communities, and even in our churches, we rest assured that there is certainity in the fact that you will never leave or forsake and for that assurance we say thank you.  

 

We pray for the sick, the homeless the unemployed, and all of those who are less fortunate or leaving on the margins of life.  We pray that your will s done and that you will meet their needs.  For those who are lost in sin, we pray that they will turn and seek your face.  And, Lord help us to not be a stumbling block in their lives, but a beacon light of your tender mercy.  

 

Gracious Father, bless First Church and every "virtual " church door that is open.  In Jesus Name we pray.  Amen.

 

 

Song of Praise -- Because of Who You Are

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tithes and Offerings

 

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."  2nd Chronicles 9:7

 

Visit our Gift section on the Gift tab.  You may give via credit cards, PayPal Givelify.com (Download Givelify to your Smartphone).  If you prefer,  mail your tithes and offerings to First AMEZ Church, 95 S. 20th Street, San Jose CA 95116

 

Givelify.com (Download Givelify to your Smartphone) or mail your tithes and offerings to First AMEZ Church, 95 S. 20th Street, San Jose CA 95116

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          

 

   

 

 

Announcements

 

Congratulations to Pastor Rogers on his appointment as Presiding Elder of the Bay Cities District. We thank God for his leadership at First Church and pray God's blessings as he leads the Bay Cities District. 

 

Regarding our Church reopening, Bishop Staccato Powell sends this message:

 

“We concur with Bishop Kenneth Monroe’s message to encourage his people to embrace “A Place Called Wait.”  . . . “A Place Called Wait” allows us time for reflection. 

 

I am urging our pastors and people to not assemble indoors until further notice. . . We must acknowledge the sovereignty of God.  Simply stated, God is in charge, not mayors, governors, presidents, presiding elders, pastors, or bishops, for which we are delighted.  Thank you for adhering to these directives.  Continue to stay focused, serve faithfully, and stand firm.

 

Please check your text messages and email for further updates on the events and news about the schedule for all local AMEZ services. 

 

Sermonic Scripture Reading -- I Corinthians 6:12, 19-20

 

12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

 

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

 

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Song of Preparation -- I Give Myself Away

Performed by William McDowell

Performed by Pastor E. Dewey Smith

Performed by First Baptist Church of Glenarden's Sunbeams Choir

Sermon -- A Living Sacrifice - Part 2

Pastor Rogers

 

Last week we looked at Paul as he explained to the Christians at Rome the meaning and importance of being a living sacrifice unto God.  We also concluded that, just as it was with the Romans, people in today’s society do not understand that their lives are not their own to do with as they please.  For further discussion, we’re considering both Romans 12:1-5 and First Corinthians 6:12, 19 and 20.

 

In 1st Corinthians 6 we find Paul giving some principles on what a sacrificial life looks like.  Paul’s principles on Christian conduct begin in 1st Corinthians 6:12, which says,

 

 “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient.” And in  verses 19 and 20, he says,

“19 What?  Know ye not that that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit which are God’s.”

 

He applies the principles of Christian conduct, the avoidance of becoming a stumbling block, and the fallacy of thinking that everything is character building, as he ministers to the Christian believers.

         

When Paul said that “everything which God has made is good!”  He added a proviso!  -- “Everything which God has made is good – PROVIDED THAT WE USE IT THE RIGHT WAY.

 

Genesis 1:25 bears the truth of Paul’s statement because it tells us,

“When God looked out upon his whole creation, he said that it was good.”

        

Everything started out good – in other words – everything started out right, but wrong evolved because man not only misused his own life, but he also misused the things which God had made.

         

Think about Adam and Eve in the garden.  They were good, the garden was good, and the fruit was good.   God had left them with the right instructions – “not to eat of the fruit.”  But because Adam and Eve ignored their knowledge of right and wrong and ate the fruit, every person since that time has been faced with the dilemma of distinguishing between right and wrong.   

    

Because Paul knew living a sacrificial life required the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, and the fact that there was a human tendency to do the wrong thing, the Christians at Corinth would have a problem, so Paul cautioned them that,

 

          “All things are not expedient,”

 

What he means here is that all things in God’s good creation can be used in ways that are bad and destructive.  First Church, you need to know that God’s creation is right -- but something is terribly wrong when you misuse and corrupt God’s gifts.

 

 In the last part of 1st Corinthians 6, verses 19 through 20, Paul drives home this basic principle by saying, and I’m paraphrasing.,

 

“All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.  Anything which enslaves me, anything which gets a dominating control over my mind, my body, or my will is wrong.  My body belongs to God.  It is the temple of His Holy Spirit.”

 

 As we go on, we see Paul emphasizing that “anything which defiles the Temple of the Spirit is a sin against God.”  In short, it is WRONG.    

 

Now that Paul had addressed “self,” I believe that he knew that it was important for the people to know how their actions influenced others.  Listen to what he said,

 

 “But, take heed, lest by any means this liberty of yours becomes a stumbling block to them that are weak.”

         

The avoidance of becoming a stumbling block

 

 There is no question as to the meaning of this message.  Christians must not do anything which causes those who are weaker to stumble or take a step back in their fight to overcome their weakness.  In this passage, Paul reminds us that we are responsible for our brothers, especially the younger or the weaker ones.  They are looking to us for an example.

 

Let’s look at it this way.  There’s a sister in the Church who needs a job.  This sister has had a problem with alcohol.  But, she needs a job and because I work at a temp agency, I can get her a job as a clerk in a liquor store.  I’m going to get a bonus if I place her in the liquor store position this week, rather than wait a couple of weeks until Macy’s is hiring in the cosmetic department.

 

Because we are self-serving people, we ignore the fact that she is an alcoholic and encourage her to take the liquor store job – where all she does is sell liquor – 8 hours a day – 5 days a week.

 

Well, nine times out of 10, no matter how well-intended we are, putting her in a place that will tempt her in her struggle with alcohol, will cause her to stumble in her Christian journey.  When we do this, we are sinning against God and against our sister.  And that is WRONG.

 

As Christians we need to realize that we all sin and fall short of the glory of God and not everything that we do builds us up!

 

The Fallacy of Thinking that Everything is Character Building

 

In Chapter 10, verse 23, a third principle is underlined.  Paul strips away the mask which covers so many of our moral decisions.  He uses these sharp words as a knife to cut away at our hearts:

 

“All things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.”

 

In other words, “Not everything builds me up – not everything builds character and there is a fallacy in thinking that it does.”  Now, my brothers and sisters, here is a principle to live by.

 

Listen Church, life is short, and time is precious. CORVID-19 is teaching us that this is true!  We simply do not have time to waste our minds and energy on things which tear others and ourselves down. 

 

  • I don’t care how much you like it – gossiping about your brothers and sisters in Christ tears you down.

  • No matter what you think and no matter what you said and why you said it, when you talk about people it is wrong and it tears down.  AND Christians ought to be about building up.

 

Christians do not have the right to read or indulge in anything which does not build them up and make them stronger and better-informed servants of God.

 

People of God, if we are going to know the difference between right and wrong, we’ve got to be about building up!

 

  • We ought to measure everything we read,

  • Everything we see,

  • Everything we say, and

  • Everything we do by this standard: 

 

Does it build me up in body, mind, and spirit?  Does it make my life purer and nobler? 

 

  • If it builds you and the body of Christ up in body, mind, and spirit –

  • If it makes your life purer and nobler and is an example of Christ in your life, then it is RIGHT AND GOOD.

 

Church, I’ll close with these thoughts: 

  • Never forget that we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  It is not about our outward appearance or the impressions we make. 

  • Knowing the difference between right and wrong is life changing.

  • The only mind that brings peace is the mind of Christ.  Until we have the same mind in us, as the mind of Christ, we will never really be able to make our lives the living sacrifice that God would have us to make.

 

Amen.

 

Invitation to Discipleship

 

The door of the church is open.  Now is the time when we offer Christ to you.   If you want to be a living sacrifice unto God, now is the time to make that decision.  Without discussion, dialogue or debate, take that step and unite with First AME Zion Church today.  Call (408) 688-6980 and First Church will celebrate with you as you make the best decision of your life.

 

Benediction– Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of  his glory with exceeding joy;  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now  and ever. Amen.

 

Expect the Best, Pastor Rogers

Performed by Andre' Crouch and Marvin Winans

This channel is coming soon!
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