The service began with the Psalm 72, the Gloria Patri and the hymn of praise was "Come Thou Fount of every Blessing." We had words of joy and testimony, and special music.
The sermon was based on the Acts of the Apostles. Pastor Robbie wanted to teach us about the historical background and setting for the apostles' work.
Ac 1:1
The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
Ac 1:2
Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
Ac 1:3
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
Ac 1:4
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
Ac 1:5
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Pastor Robbie said Theophilus may have been a real person, or may have been a metaphorical person according to different interpretations. Pastor Robbie said the eye witness accounts helped to reinforce belief.
Ac 1:6
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Ac 1:7
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
Pastor Robbie said God does does experience time like we do, so there is no way for us to predict when His Kingdom will come to pass.
Ac 1:8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Ac 1:9
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
This last part refers to the Exultation of Christ. Pastor Robbie showed us maps of the Holy Land -- first Jerusalem, and then a large map of the Travels of Paul. Even before his conversion to Christianity, Paul (as Saul) spread God's word. As Christians fled from him, they scattered, spreading the teachings of Christ.
Later Paul traveled throughout the ancient world, even as far as Rome, which was 1800 miles from Jerusalem. Pastor Robbie pointed out on the map the regions where Paul traveled, as evidenced by his epistles: Corinth, Thesselonia, Collose, Galatia, Philipi, and other parts of the Roman empire.
The closing hymn was "The Church's One Foundation."
