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Opening with Scripture and Song:

While life can be hard, we need to press on knowing that God is at work in us and leading in the direction of his grace and our ultimate good as we live for his purpose:

For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose (Philippians 2:13).

As we find our way through life with all of its confusion, we trust that God is our "Way Maker" and will bring us unto himself in glory. Let's sing "Way Maker" with Leeland:

Focusing on the Scriptures:

The song, "All Things" led for us by Covenant Worship, helps to prepare us to hear Phil's message from Scripture:

Our Verse of the Day is a passage that has reassured many believers since the first century:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

Phil's message focuses on this verse along with the next verse:

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters (Romans 8:29).

The incredible promise in our Verse of the Day is not given to everyone. It is for those who love God and seek to live out his purpose in their lives. While this promise doesn't mean life will be easy, it does mean:

  1. We are never forgotten, abandoned, or alone.
  2. Our ultimate destination, a home with God, is secure.
  3. The Spirit empowers and leads us until we go home to Jesus in glory.
  4. Our glorious future with Jesus is far greater than any troubles and sufferings we endure here on earth.

Romans 8:28 is a great promise to memorize and to live by. This promise is something we should praise and thank God for giving us. Most of all, this is a promise on which we can build our lives and stand together, encouraging each other not to give up when things are difficult. God is at work and will work in all things for our ultimate good, then bring us home to himself!

Sharing The Supper:

(The next video does not include the lyrics. If you do not know the lyrics, you can turn on the closed captions [CC] on the video.)

The group, Big Daddy Weave, shares their song, "Overwhelmed" along with pictures from their Compassion International trip with Shaun Groves to visit sponsored children in Tanzania. (You can learn more about sponsoring a child; Phil and Donna Ware are personally committed to the Compassion International program through sponsoring children and participating in Compassion International trips to visit sponsored children.) Let's sing and be blessed by these beautiful faces and places:

We are wet concrete: God is at work in us, and on us, to fully fashion us.
Phil and Donna Ware share our Communion reflection with us this week. They remind us that Jesus is God's presence, the Son of God who came to touch and bless each of us. Jesus demonstrated God's love powerfully while he was on earth. Jesus is now the Son of God with power (Romans 1:3-6) at the right hand of Father. Because of Jesus' victory and return to the Father, we now "approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). Yes, God's grace is overwhelming! We now approach the Lord's Table with thankfulness:

The almighty God is our LORD and provider, YHWH (Jehovah) Jireh, who is always working in our lives for our ultimate good and his glory. Let's sing "Jireh" with Elevation Worship & Maverick City:

Closing with Praise and Prayer:

We sing "God Will Work It Out" with Maverick City Music, reminding us of our key verses, Romans 8:28-29, for ToGather this week:

We close with Paul's prayer for the Philippians that we adapt into our prayer for you:

[We] thank [our] God every time [we] remember you. In all [our] prayers for all of you, [we] always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel ..., being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. [Amen.] (Philippians 1:3-6)

May the presence of YHWH Jireh be with you and continue to work in your life for your good and his glory! Amen.

Special thanks to The Lumo Project and Free Bible Images for images related to the ministry of Jesus.