The service began with the Psalm 89, and the hymn of praise was "Joy To The World." We had words of joy and testimony, special music by Jim and Barbara Bond, and two junior church members sang a lovely hymn and accompanied it on the piano.
The theme for today's sermon was new territories.
Ge 12:1
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
Ge 12:2
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
Ge 12:3
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Ge 12:4
So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
Ge 12:5
And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
Ge 12:6
And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
Ge 12:7
And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
Ge 12:8
And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.
Pastor Robbie talked about Abraham and his significance to the religions of the world, and how Abraham (as Abram) was called to go forth into other lands. We viewed a map of the ancient world, and Pastor Robbie spoke about the travels of Abraham.
Mt 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mt 28:20
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Ps 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Pastor Robbie said when we are called to go into new territories, we don't go alone - for God is always with us. Let the Lord direct our path, our every journey. Abraham is so revered because of his great faith in God. Abraham listened when God called him, and so is a model of faith for us.
The closing hymn was "Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling."
