Rise and Make Your Bed

Good Morning Church! Covenant Members, would you join me in welcoming all of our first time and returning guests? ( energetic applause) So good to see all of you and to be here. I hope you have been made to feel welcome today. This church is about walking out this life together in the RADICAL GRACE of JESUS CHRIST. It’s our heart that here a Concord, that you are made to feel “Know, Loved, and that you Belong.” Scripture tells us:‌ ESVbut God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.That means you don’t have to get it all figured out before you come. You come and we figure it out together. Whatever season you are in, we know the struggles of this sinful world…but we also know that our God is bigger than our circumstances.

guest connection:

Keep it upbeat— Also, for our Guests we want to connect with you! With that said, I hope you received a program this morning you’ll notice in that program there’s more info about who we are and what we offer as a church. There you will find information about various ministries for the whole family. Also inside the program, along with the insert, there is a connect envelope. Later on in our service we will worship through a time of offering together. During this offering time we will give all of you a moment to fill out the connect envelopes (and they also serve as a place you can give any money or financial gift that you would offer to the Lord). ^—something to this extent -------------------------------|During that time you will have an opportunity to connect with us and be obedient and pray over your gift (or substitute words: offering to the Lord, generosity, or generous) to the Lord as well. Then simply place the connect envelope in the offering plate as it passes. We desire to connect with you and help you get plugged in.

covenant connection:

Now Covenant Members, if you will grab the insert inside your program and take it out, it is promoting some awesome things that we want to highlight so please take a look at that and see how you can get plugged in the various ministry opportunities we have.One way we want to encourage you to get involved is through our GROUPS ministry.

D-GROUPS

With each generation, we see a widening gap between those following Christ and those following culture. At Concord the Holy Spirit has pressed into us the need to disciple people; teach people, help them in their journey to follow Jesus (something that, sadly today’s church has gotten away from). Through the Holy Spirits prompting we have commited as leaders of the church to be apart of D-Groups.

D-Groups are where 4-5 people of the same gender commit to meeting once a week off campus and study the Bible together and get in deep community with each other for 6 months to a year.

This does not replace Groups (meeting here on Sunday morning, or Concord U on Wed nights), this is not even a “church program.” It’s about growing in obedience to the teachings of Christ in real (heart-filled) conversation.

“We have a job before us.” Join a D-Group. “Disciple, share the hope of Christ and walk with people into spiritual maturity. Future generations depend on it.”

Heading 3

“We have a job before us.” Join a D-Group. “Disciple, share the hope of Christ and walk with people into spiritual maturity. Future generations depend on it.”

INFO ON D-GROUPS CONTACT: lead pastor Joe Brantley by email. joe@concordchurch.tv

A CALL TO WORSHIP

Responsive Reading

Ask the congregation to stand and join you as we begin our worship through a proclamation of God’s goodness through His Holy Word in a responsive reading

Instruct: you will read the first couple lines and when you finish the congregation will read the bold print on the screen loudly and in unison—or something like that

Greg: Come all to the ends of the earth. Remember and turn to the LORD, and let all the families of the nations worship before you. Congregation: For this we come, O LORD, from among the nations, to sing to your name. That all the ends of the earth remember and turn to the LORD and that all the families of the nations will worship before you.

Congregation: Those who look to him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed.

Short Prayer over our time of praising and worshiping through proclaiming, singing, preaching, praying and generosity.

CONFESSION of SINS

exit the stage

We confess here that “It’s ok to not be ok, but it’s not ok to stay that way.” So one of the ways that we flesh that out is by taking a moment to turn our sins over to Christ. We believe the truth of Scripture’s promise that, “If we confess our sins, He [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness” (). It’s within this promise we take our sins to Jesus. I want read this Scripture over us to remind us to be obedient and confess our sins to our Holy God. Hear the Word of the Lord and let it take you to a moment of solemn confession of your sins before God

FORGIVEN || worship leader: Cole Pevey || before music begins

ESV1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Call to Worship through reading of Scripture and through Song: The Assurance of Pardon

Hannah (or Slide Team): Make sure Scriptures are ready to cue up as Cole says, *“The Word assures us*...” not before or too far after…please be alert.

All slides must be changed when the reader moves to the next verse (no delay). Total focus!

Jeremiah 17:14 ESV

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.

We don’t want the congregation distracted or reading the screen premature to the verse be read, nor waiting on the right verse to show up.

Moment of soluitude for personal confession of sinThen lead a corporate prayer of confessionexit the stage

Jer

Encourage your team to pursue this will excellence.

Call to Worship through reading of Scripture and through Song: The Assurance of Pardon

Jeremiah 17:14 ESV

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.

Song of Pardon (2 songs)

Jer 17

Song of Pardon (2 songs)

Cole prays:

Band exits stage

As Cole prays Scripture Reader will make their way to the stage.

Scripture Reader takes the Stage during Cole’s Prayer (uses White labelled Mic) and then reads the Script

Scripture Reading || Psalm 103:2-3 ESV

by Covenant Member || Delia Giles

Delia says: Good morning church, and guests. Welcome to Concord. My name is Delia Giles, I am privileged to serve Concord as financial secretary for the church and our Mother’s DAY Out Ministry. I have been a covenant member here for _____ years now. I love my Group on Sunday mornings, I’m excited about starting the D-Group that I will be apart of this week, and I just love the opportunity to volunteer in Concord KIDS.

I love our this church and how our vision and mission are helping us grow together in walking with the Lord and reaching others and helping them follow Jesus.

This is our Mission here at Concord: We exist to connect people through loving community as we introduce them to Jesus and help them follow Him.

This morning I want to share God’s Word with you. Would you please turn in your Bibles or on your device, to the Old Testament book of the Psalms. We will be reading from chapter 103, starting in verse 2.

If you are joining us this morning and you do not have a Bible, you should see a White Paperback one lying around under your seats, feel free to use that one. And if you don’t own a Bible, consider that our free gift to you. We will even provide you with the page number on the screen to help you find our texts throughout our worship service.

Only mention the first verse so people won’t read ahead

Hannah: Put up first slide. Page number is already attached.

verse 2 can be found on page number 288 in the White Paperback Bible. As I read this over you, please read along with me (to yourself).

take a moment and a nice slow breath — count to 3 in your head — then READ: Book, Chapter, Verse, then Scriptures.

Psalm 103:2–3 ESV

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,

Say:

This is the Word of the Lord.

Exit the stage...

_________________________________________________________________________________

Sermon || lead pastor || Joe Brantley

Introduction

Anybody grow up being made to make up your bed? Somehow I got out of that…--You can tell a lot about a person who makes up their bed—for instance people that learn the discipline of making up their bed first thing in the morning are off the charts in attention to detail; task oriented; and usually successful people by today’s definition.

I’m not that guy, never have been. I’ve always left it messy… It’s funny how that transfers to life…The World tells us this, somewhat cliche-like, mordern proverb in that if we “Make our beds” we must lie in them.” Now that’s a reference to consequence. “Hey you made your bed, now you must lie in it.” In other words you made a mess out of this situation and so now return to your mess and wallow in it.

And that’s how we live….by societies rules. I’ve had low pnts. There have been times where I’ve made a messy bed of my finances and the world said “you made your bed now lie in it” and that’s fair. –my loops holes to get around what the world says… I’ve always been good at being selfish; getting out of making my bed, even when the reality of a sinful world is sooner or later you pay the consequences. The Bible says, “You reap what you sow.” Which kind of sounds like what the world is telling us, which gets confusing… Today I want to help us unwrap that confusion of worldly consequence and Biblical truth…believe it or not, the Gospel of Jesus teaches something very different than what the world does…

The Gospel teaches us that the things of this world are temporary (things: iPhones, computers, cars, our very lives; all these things will leave us; betray us; become uninteresting or old and most definitely pass away), but on the flip side, the reality of the of submitting one’s life to Jesus is eternal.

Exposition

Let’s unpack that. ...

The story moves from Saul to the Apostle Peter… as we read we see Peter involved in some supernatural things…specifically some pretty miraculous healing2. In the text we see the story of 2 healings: 1 Physical and 1 Death to Life.

Here’s what I want you to grab hold of today in our time together…

Physical healing lasts for a time, but Spiritual healing lasts forever!

Let’s do work...

Acts 9:32-43

Acts 9:32–43 ESV

32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. 36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.

I. Peter Heals Aeneas Physically

A. (v.32a)

Acts 9:32 ESV

32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.

Acts 9:32 ESV

32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.

-good student…”here & there among them all.”

i. 35 Jesus’ example “among ppl” promised 1(2 things) ea. encounter

give me a chance to find it in my Bible

Matthew 9:23 ESV

23 And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion,

Matthew 9:35 ESV

35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.

Matt 9:

ii. This gospel would cause rejection (, ) or reception ()

REJECTION

slides are before my lines so wait until I start to read

give me a chance to find it in my Bible

John 7:43 ESV

43 So there was a division among the people over him.

John 7:43 ESV

43 So there was a division among the people over him.

John 7:43

John &

John 7:12 ESV

12 And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.”

John 7:12

RECEPTION

slides are before my lines so wait until I start to read

John 7:40 ESV

40 When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.”

John 7:40 ESV

40 When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.”

John

John 7:40

Acts 9:32–33 ESV

32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.

Acts 9:32-33

B. (v.32b-33)-Pet. came down to Saints; bc they were among the ppl

Acts 9:34–35 ESV

34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

Acts 9:34-35

C. (r>.v.34-35) fruits of reception Some RENEWED; Some RESCUED by pwr of Gospel— BI

· Was Aeneas saved? Before or after? (v.32) YES (down to saints) No (among ppl)-(v.33) 8yrs affliction-lost? No-effects of sinful wrld

The Gospel is GOOD NEWS to both SAINT & SKEPTIC!

II. Peter Restores Dorcas to Life

slides are before my lines so wait until I start to read

Acts 9:36–38 ESV

36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.”

Acts 9:36-

A. (r>v.36-38) Dorcas was known by other disciples(v.36b)-Pet. was close- 2 men urging “w/o delay.”

Acts 9:39 ESV

39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.

Acts 9:39

B. (v.39) Notice the widows—mourning her—they knew loss—remembering her—she was known, loved and she belonged to this local church (deep comm.)

Acts 9:40–41 ESV

40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

Acts 9:4

Acts 9:42–43 ESV

42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.

Acts 9:42-43

C. (vv.40-41) Pet. “presented her ALIVE” (this too was a Physical healing—temp.)-(v.42) “it became known…and many believed in the Lord.

Physical healing lasts for a time, but Spiritual healing lasts forever!

Both healings were physical…Aeneas and Dorcas and both were temp. Why? Bc life in this world is temp. no matter how supernatural the healing…all will exp. death in this worldly bodies.

Both healings were physical…Aeneas and Dorcas and both were temp.

Why?

Bc life in this world is temp. no matter how supernatural the healing…all will exp. death in this worldly bodies.

conclusion

The true miracle that both Aeneas and Dorcas were apart of and benefited from was Peter using physical healing to show the power of Christ so that all those who saw it “turned to the Lord!” and when “MANY BELIEVED in the Lord.

The physical healing was a tool to the true eternal healing!

Physical healing lasts for a time, but Spiritual healing lasts forever!

*The Gospel is GOOD NEWS to both SAINT & SKEPTIC! It’s renewal for one and rescue for the other, yet salvation to ALL who believe in Christ Jesus!

No matter how cool the temp healing is w/o the heart that is restored to life through grace by faith [BELIEF] in the finished work of Jesus on the cross…not matter if you temp go from paralyzed to running or death to temp life awakened in the moment-w/o the Spiritual healing of restoration offered by God through the sacrifice of His Son there is only death. *

Let me say it this way—the world says make your bed and you lie in it (great discipline-leads to worldly success…)

But what the gospel says…is your supposed to make your bed, but you didn’t; you’re too messy…too lazy…but instead of you lying in your consequence—Jesus makes your bed and He lies in it for you—So by His grace through faith in Him you are forgiven and you are pardoned! How do you respond to this truth? The same way all those who believed and turned to the Lord did. Don’t settle for the temp. trust in the eternal.

Physical healing lasts for a time, but Spiritual healing lasts forever!

*The Gospel is GOOD NEWS to both SAINT & SKEPTIC! It’s renewal for one and rescue for the other, yet salvation to ALL who believe in Christ Jesus!

–Here is what the Holy Spirit is speaking into your heart today (both saint and skeptic) RISE! Your Bed Has been made by Jesus, now, prepare to go home.

While you are in this temp place FOLLOW JESUS, LOVE LIKE JESUS, BE A Student of Jesus, Teach other’s what Jesus has revealed to you.

Just like Peter as you go here and there among the people, see their needs, meet their needs, but don’t do it alone.

Join in this deep community that Christ died for to be the tool used to show his power.

BELONG to His BRIDE the local Church!

Let’s pray

responsive worship || worship pastor || Cole Pevey

song 1

song 2

Joe comes up to lead in a time of response through: connection, generosity and prayer

Connect and Offering Moment

BAND leads instrumental during 1-2 min time of prayer

Joe comes back up front…the ushers come forwardJoe prays over the offering

Leave Text to Give # up until Cole starts to sing

Song of Generosity || Concord Worship

Sending Out || lead pastor || Joe Brantley

close of worship

Benediction

Put up slide when I start to say “If God is For Us...”

IF GOD IS FOR US…, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?

BAND jams

DO NOT TURN OFF STAGE LIGHTS OR SCREEN UNTIL ROOM STARTS TO CLEAR

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