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Worship Service At Internet Church Of Christ
www.InternetChurchOfChrist.org/worship.html

For Week Of Sunday, September 3, 2006

Featuring "There Is No Such Thing As The One True Church"
To see see previous worship services, please click => http://www.loveallpeople.org/recentworshipservices.html

         _____________________________________________________________
       
            "So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do
             so to them; for this is the law and the prophets."

                               Matthew 7:12 (RSV)
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If you have not yet accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour, you have the opportunity to do so now by clicking HERE! => http://www.internetChurchOfChrist.org/jesusdirect.html

Welcome

Welcome to the online worship service at Internet Church Of Christ. Here is a good place to worship our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. You are invited and are welcome at any time. Blessings to you in Him.

Opening Hymn

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Lyrics by Charles Wesley (1747); music is the hymn tune BEECHER, by John Zundel (1870); MIDI file by Bill McGinnis, altered from an existing Public Domain MIDI file. Everything here is Public Domain.

MIDI music file at http://patriot.net/users/bmcgin/lovdivb.mid




LOVE DIVINE, ALL LOVES EXCELLING - by Charles Wesley, 1747 -
                                       Public Domain 


             Love divine, all loves excelling,
             Joy of heav'n, to earth come down;
             Fix in us Thy humble dwelling,
             All Thy faithful mercies crown;
             Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
             Pure, unbounded love Thou art;
             Visit us with Thy salvation,
             Enter ev'ry trembling heart.

             Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit
             Into ev'ry troubled breast;
             Let us all in Thee inherit,
             Let us find Thy promised rest;
             Take away the love of sinning;
             Alpha and Omega be;
             End of faith, as its beginning,
             Set our hearts at liberty.

             Come, Almighty to deliver,
             Let us all Thy life receive;
             Suddenly return, and never,
             Never more Thy temples leave;
             Thee we would be always blessing,
             Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
             Pray, and praise Thee without ceasing,
             Glory in Thy perfect love.

             Finish then Thy new creation,
             Pure and spotless let us be;
             Let us see Thy great salvation,
             Perfectly restored in Thee;
             Changed from glory into glory,
             Till in heav'n we take our place,
             Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
             Lost in wonder, love, and praise.

                              Amen.

                
More songs like this at http://www.Christmusic.ws

Invocation



             O Lord, we come together in Your name,
             And as You promised, we know You are here.

             AND SO WE WELCOME YOU WITH OPEN ARMS,
             AND PRAY THAT YOU FIND PLEASURE HERE WITH US,
             AS WE, YOUR LOVING CHILDREN WORSHIP YOU.

             We now invite You to reveal Yourself,
             And share with us Your presence, openly,

             FOR YOU ARE EVERYTHING THAT WE DESIRE,
             AND EVERYTHING WE HAVE, WE GIVE TO YOU.

             In Jesus' holy name we pray, Amen.


The Lord's Prayer

MP3 digital audio file available at http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/lordsprayer.mp3
FREE. Public Domain.

The Lord, Himself, taught us to pray like this . . .



                     The Lord's Prayer 
   

          Our Father, who art in heaven,
            hallowed be thy Name,
            thy kingdom come,
            thy will be done,
              on earth as it is in heaven.
          Give us this day our daily bread.
          And forgive us our trespasses,
            as we forgive those who trespass against us.
          And lead us not into temptation,
            but deliver us from evil.
          For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
            for ever and ever. Amen.

                      Source: Book Of Common Prayer, based on
                              Matthew 6:9-13    


                       *             *           *


         "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father
          will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their
          trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
          (Matthew 6:14-15 KJV)

          


                       *             *           *
          

Worship Poem

Holy, Holy, Holy!

Words by Reginald Heber; music - "Nicaea," by John B. Dykes. MIDI sequence, anonymous. All are Public Domain.

MIDI music file at http://www.patriot.net/users/bmcgin/nicaea.mid



HOLY, HOLY, HOLY! - by Bishop Reginald Heber, 1827 - Public Domain


        Holy, holy, holy!
        Lord God Almighty!
        Early in the morning
        Our song shall rise to Thee!
        Holy, holy holy!
        Merciful and mighty!
        God in Three Persons,
        Blessed Trinity!

        Holy, holy, holy!
        All the saints adore Thee!
        Casting down their golden crowns
        Around the glassy sea;
        Cherubim and seraphim
        Falling down before Thee,
        Who wert, and art, and
        Evermore shalt be.

        Holy, holy, holy!
        Though the darkness hide Thee!
        Though the eye of sinful man
        Thy glory may not see;
        Only Thou art holy!
        There is none beside Thee,
        Perfect in pow'r in
        Love, and purity.

        Holy, holy, holy!
        Lord God Almighty!
        All Thy works shall praise Thy name,
        In earth, and sky, and sea;
        Holy, holy holy!
        Merciful and mighty!
        God in Three Persons,
        Blessed Trinity!

              Amen.


Scriptures And Teachings

There Is No Such Thing As "The One True Church"

Some Christians think that God wants one big unified Church organization, with one correct doctrine, and one correct form of practice. The Catholics believe this, and they think that the Catholic church is the one true Church. Similarly, Orthodox Christians believe this, and they think that the Orthodox Church is the one true Church. Mormons make the very same mistake, and they incorrectly think they are the one true Church. And even some mainstream Protestant denominations seem to believe this, and they are trying to form mergers, working toward yet another "one true church."

But they all are wrong. The whole idea of "one true Church" is wrong. The words "one church" and the words "true church" never appear anywhere in the entire Bible! I searched the whole Bible by computer, and these words are not in there! It is a doctrine of man based on a misreading of Ephesians 4:4-6.



       EPHESIANS 4:4-6 (RSV)
       
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        4
               There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called
               to the one hope that belongs to your call,
        5
               one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
        6
               one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through
               all and in all.
         _____________________________________________________________
       


The "one faith" mentioned in in verse 5 does not mean "one correct doctrine" covering all questions, like the Catholics and the Orthodox and the Mormons try to have. And it certainly does not mean one big Church organization, with centralized control by fallible human beings! God forbid!

No. The "one faith" is simply this: that "Jesus Christ is the only-begotten Son of God, risen from the dead." This is the one thing that separates Christians from non-Christians. If you believe it and are willing to say it in public, you are a Christian. If not, you are not a Christian.

These are the only conditions for salvation, as clearly expressed in Romans 10:9 . . .


         _____________________________________________________________
       
       because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and
       believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will
       be saved. (Romans 10:9 RSV)
         _____________________________________________________________
       

IF WE HAVE "THE FAITH," WE ARE CHRISTIANS AND WE ARE SAVED. THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IS IN US BECAUSE OF THIS, "THE FAITH." IF WE DO NOT HAVE "THE FAITH," THEN WE ARE NOT CHRISTIANS AND WE ARE NOT SAVED.

This is of course, the same idea as presented in John 3:16, the most powerful verse in the Bible. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16 KJV)

How do we know if we have the faith? Here is the best test, as described by the Christian writer known as Witness Lee in his book "Life-Study Of Romans." He writes that years ago, he was questioning if he had the faith or not, and the Lord told him, "Do you not believe? Try your best not to believe." He tried and he tried, but he was unable *not* to believe in Jesus Christ. Because of this, he knew that he had the faith and he was saved.

I tried this myself, not to believe in Jesus Christ as Son of God, risen from the dead. I cannot do it either. Praise the Lord! This means that I, too, have "the faith" and am saved!

Now it's your turn. Do *you* have "the faith?" If so, I am very happy for you. If not, you need to get it.



           A Study Of "The Faith," As Recorded In The King James Bible



            Acts 6:7
            And the word of God increased; and the number of the
            disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great
            company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

            Acts 13:8
            But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by
            interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the
            deputy from the faith.

            Acts 14:22
            Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to
            continue in the faith, and that we must through much
            tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

            Acts 16:5
            And so were the churches established in the faith, and
            increased in number daily.

            Acts 24:24
            And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife
            Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him
            concerning the faith in Christ.

            Romans 1:5
            By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience
            to the faith among all nations, for his name:

            Romans 14:1
            Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful
            disputations.

            1 Corinthians 16:13
            Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be
            strong.

            2 Corinthians 13:5
            Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your
            own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus
            Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

            Galatians 1:23
            But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times
            past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

            Galatians 2:16
            Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law,
            but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in
            Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of
            Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of
            the law shall no flesh be justified.

            Galatians 2:20
            I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I,
            but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the
            flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me,
            and gave himself for me.

            Ephesians 3:12
            In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the
            faith of him.

            Ephesians 4:13
            Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the
            knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the
            measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

            Philippians 3:9
            And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which
            is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ,
            the righteousness which is of God by faith:

            Colossians 2:7
            Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as
            ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

            1 Timothy 1:2
            Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and
            peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

            1 Timothy 3:9
            Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

            1 Timothy 3:13
            For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase
            to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith
            which is in Christ Jesus.

            1 Timothy 4:1
            Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times
            some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing
            spirits, and doctrines of devils;

            1 Timothy 5:8
            But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those
            of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than
            an infidel.

            2 Timothy 1:5
            When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in
            thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy
            mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

            2 Timothy 4:7
            I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have
            kept the faith:

            Titus 3:15
            All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in
            the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

            1 Peter 5:9
            Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same
            afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the
            world.




                *               *               *

So forget about the whole idea of "one true church!" We are never going to have it, and God does not want us to have it. For His own reasons, He wants the details of true doctrine to be unclear to us at this time. (Probably, this is to keep us from becoming too arrogant in our own self-righteousness.)

         _____________________________________________________________
       
      "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now
       I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."
       (1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV)
         _____________________________________________________________
       

The only "faith" that He wants us all to have is the simple faith that Jesus Christ is the only-begotten Son of God, risen from the dead. In this faith, all Christians are already united, as one in Him.

Blessings to you in Jesus Christ our Lord,

Rev. Bill McGinnis <><

For more Scriptures And Teachings, please see http://www.loveallpeople.org/pearlindx.html

Prayer For You

For Cheerfulness

MP3 Audio File at http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/forcheerfulness.mp3
Reading by Rev. Bill McGinnis, Free, Public Domain.

NOTE:  When you read this prayer, try to imagine hearing my voice as I
       speak it to you.  In this way, the prayer is reactivated, and it 
       the same as if I were actually praying for you at that moment. 
       (Just like television prayers are reactivated when you watch 
       them, although the videotape may have been shot years before.)
 
For Cheerfulness

I pray for you today that you be cheerful,
With head held high and sparkle in your eye;
With warmth of smile, and voice that holds no anger;
With quickened step, and purpose in your stride.
I pray the Lord will look on you with pleasure,
As parents look upon a cheerful child.
In Jesus' name I pray for you, Amen.

by William McGinnis (Rev. Bill McGinnis), Public Domain

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Please see all our prayers for you at http://www.loveallpeople.org/prayerindex.html

Holy Communion

A ceremony for Holy Communion is available to you HERE! - http://patriot.net/~bmcgin/pearl-holycommunion.html

If you are alone, you will needed to be both "Leader" and "Assembly," as described in the ceremony.

Closing Hymn

"Do You Know Jesus?"

This is an original Christian worship song, in the Public Domain. Words and music by Rev. Bill McGinnis.

Play and download the MIDI music file at http://patriot.net/users/bmcgin/knowp.mid



DO YOU KNOW JESUS? - by Rev. Bill McGinnis, 1995 - Public Domain


      Do you know Jesus?
      Do you know Jesus?
      Do you know Jesus,
      And the wonder of His love?

      Yes, I know Jesus!
      Yes, I know Jesus!
      Yes, I know Jesus,
      And the wonder of His love!


Also see separate HTML page at http://www.loveallpeople.org/doyouknowjesus.html

Benediction

As we complete our worship service today, I leave you with this blessing . . .

       EPHESIANS 3:14-21 (KJV)
       
       
        14
               For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord
               Jesus Christ,
        15
               Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
        16
               That he would grant you, according to the riches of his
               glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the
               inner man;
        17
               That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye,
               being rooted and grounded in love,
        18
               May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the
               breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
        19
               And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,
               that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
        20
               Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above
               all that we ask or think, according to the power that
               worketh in us,
        21
               Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout
               all ages, world without end. Amen.

                                     <><


          

This worship service is now completed. Go in peace.

Rev. Bill McGinnis

You can contact me at bmcgin@patriot.net. (Please mention "worship service" in the title line of your message, so I will be sure to see it.)

Please visit our home page at InternetChurchOfChrist.org
INTERNET CHURCH OF CHRIST

Blessings to you in Jesus Christ our Lord.

       Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director - LoveAllPeople.org

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