Every believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit as a down payment guaranteeing our inheritance of eternal life. God abides directly with his people, who are built into a spiritual temple for him. Like God dwelt in the tabernacle, the temple, and in the person of Jesus, he now dwells with the Church. The sacrifice of Christ purified once and for all a dwelling place for God. The Holy Spirit permanently dwells in us.

Invocation: Our Prayer of Acclamation
Thank you, our God and Father, for the gift of your Holy Spirit. You offered him to us as the down payment of your generous inheritance you offered to us in Christ, your Son. He is the pledge and proof of your generosity, and he will be with us till we finally receive the full blessing of your promise. Through your Spirit you have made us your heirs, and joint heirs with Christ. Thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit!

Call to Worship
Blessed are you, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed is your Kingdom, both now and forever, amen.

Te Deum Laudamus 
You are God: we praise you; you are the Lord; we acclaim you; you are the eternal Father: All creation worships you. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise you. The noble fellowship of prophets praise you. The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you; Father, of majesty unbounded, your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father. When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin’s womb. You overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God’s right hand in glory. We believe that you will come and be our judge. Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting.

Praise and Thanksgiving (songs and prayers)

Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, amen.

The 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 Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he arose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and sits 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 Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

*In the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, the term catholic refers to the Church’s universality, through all ages and times, of all languages and peoples. It refers to no particular tradition or denominational expression (e.g., as in Roman Catholic).

Prayers of Confession
Let us now confess our sins to God and receive mercy and grace to help in our time of need.

Assurance of Pardon
Having faithfully confessed and renounced your sin, Christ also has been faithful to forgive your sins and to purify you from all unrighteousness. It is certain, that there is One who has spoken to the Father in your defense, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One who is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and for the sins of the whole world. His grace and peace are with you now. Amen.

Petitions and Supplications, Ending with The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

~ Matthew 6.9-13 (KJV)

Doxology (and/or closing song)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Benediction 
Lord Jesus, in you we have believed, and since we heard the truth, the gospel of your salvation, we have been sealed with the promise you gave to your disciples, the gift of your Holy Spirit. He indwells us now, he who is the pledge and guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire full possession of that same inheritance. We acknowledge your gift, and give glory to your name! In you we pray, amen.

Pray without Ceasing – Flash Prayer for the Day
We are sealed by the Holy Spirit, who is the down payment that guarantees our inheritance in Christ.

Weekly Reflection on the Sovereign Love of God
We are the people of this story. We stand inside the unfolding drama of the Triune God. We live between Acts and Revelation as a part of the biblical narrative. What do we do? What part do we play? We respond to and participate in God’s person and work. Our goal is simply to help infuse the whole life of the Church with the story of God. The subjective side of the Story of God outlines four dimensions of our part in the story. Guarding the good deposit will mean rediscovering our sacred roots in our theology (or beliefs), worship, spirituality, and witness.

~ Ryan Carter, Guard the Good Deposit.
Wichita: TUMI Press, 2019. Loc. 318, 322, Kindle.

Let God Arise! Seasonal Focus
Your Word Is Truth: Divine Inspiration: The Word of God,
2 Peter 1.20-21

Book Reading
Heine, Classical Christian Doctrine

Our Corporate Disciplines
Book Discussion: Wednesday, September 22, 2021