Creeds for Communion

Almighty and Merciful Father Almighty and merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep; we have followed too much the devices and desires of our hearts; we have violated Your holy laws; COVENANT CHURCH ● 781-646-9027 ● 9 WESTMINSTER AVENUE, ARLINGTON, MA 02474 ● WWW.COVMIN.ORG we have left undone those things which we ought to have done; Sunday, November 22, 2020 and we have done those things which we ought not to have done. But You, O Lord, have mercy upon us; Order of Service spare those who confess their faults; restore those who are penitent; Call to Worship according to Your promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord; Singing and grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and 1. (see pp. 2 for lyrics) sober life, 2. Such an Awesome God (see p. 2 for lyrics) to the glory of Your holy Name. 3. Thank You (see p. 3 for lyrics) Amen. 4. Rescue (see p. 3 for lyrics) Offertory Prayer The Good News of Jesus Christ We believe in the Good News of Jesus Christ Sermon: which has been preached to us, Beware the Crowd: Jeremiah 26:7-15, 24 (see pp. 4- which we have received, 6) and upon which we have taken our stand: that Christ died for us Communion (see p. 1 for creeds) according to the Scriptures that he was buried, Final Song: that he was raised on the third day See a Victory (see p. 6-7 for lyrics) according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to many faithful witnesses. Corporate Prayer (everyone on Zoom) We believe that Christ has indeed been raised from Announcements and Benediction (everyone on Zoom) the dead, The firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, So in Christ all will be made alive.

We believe that Jesus Christ must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet, And that the last enemy to be destroyed is death.

-1- Song Lyrics

Song #1: This Is Amazing Grace Song #2: Such An Awesome God CCLI Song # 6333821 CCLI Song # 7130622 Jeremy Riddle | | Heath Balltzglier | Johnny Hamilton | Jonathan Jay | Mitch Wong © 2012 Phil Wickham Music (Admin. by BMG Rights Management [c/o Music © Heritage Worship Music Publishing (Admin. by Publishing) | Services, Inc.]) | Seems Like Music (Admin. by BMG Rights Management [c/o Centricity Songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) | Music At North Point Music Services, Inc.]) | Sing My Songs (Admin. by BMG Rights Management (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) | Integrity’s Praise! Music (Admin. by [c/o Music Services, Inc.]) | WC Music Corp. (Admin. by Warner-Tamerlane Capitol CMG Publishing [Integrity Music, David C Cook]) | Let There Be Publishing Corp.) | Bethel Music Publishing Songs (Admin. by Heritage Worship Publishing) | Maverick City Publishing All rights reserved. www.ccli.com | CCLI License # 405367 (Admin. by Heritage Worship Music Publishing) [Admin. by Heritage Worship Publishing] Who breaks the power of sin and darkness All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 405367 Whose love is mighty and so much stronger You call the sun to rise The King of Glory the King above all kings And You lay it down to rest You hold this heart of mine Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder And You hold my every breath And leaves us breathless in awe and wonder The King of Glory the King above all kings CHORUS Such an awesome God So mighty, So Holy, So Wonderful CHORUS Such an awesome God This is amazing grace So selfless, So generous, So faithful You are This is unfailing love That You would take my place Seated in majesty Reigning in holiness That You would bear my cross The table is set for me You laid down Your life You are the living bread That I would be set free Oh Jesus I sing for all that You’ve done for me CHORUS Bridge Who brings our chaos back into order Nothing comes close to the Lord Almighty Who makes the orphan a son and daughter Nothing as sweet as Your love and mercy The King of Glory the King of Glory Nothing comes close to the Lord Almighty Nothing as sweet as Your love and mercy (sing 4 times) Who rules the nations with truth and justice Jesus the Son of God Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance Hung on a cross to die The King of Glory the King above all kings But not even death itself Could hold You down CHORUS You rose to life CHORUS 2x BRIDGE Worthy is the Lamb who was slain Bridge 2 Worthy is the King who conquered the grave The name of God is Mercy Worthy is the Lamb who was slain O the name of God is Love O the name of God is promise Worthy is the King who conquered the grave And he’s pouring out on us Worthy is the Lamb who was slain The name of God is Mercy Worthy is the King who conquered the grave O the name of God is Love Worthy is the Lamb who was slain O the name of God is kindness Worthy worthy worthy And your [pouring out on us] Oh your [pouring out on us CHORUS [pouring out on us] redefining love to me And it’s pouring out of us [pouring out of us] Now it’s pouring out of us CHORUS 2x So faithful, you are faithful to me.

-2- Song #3: Thank You Song #4: Rescue

CCLI Song # 7150174 CCLI Song # 4084763 Chandler Moore | | Jared Anderson © 2019 Bethel Worship Publishing (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing) | © 2003 Integrity Worship Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing [Integrity Maverick City Publishing (Admin. by Heritage Worship Music Publishing) Music, David C. Cook]) (Admin. by Heritage Worship Publishing) | Ivory & Ink Publishing (Admin. by All rights reserved. www.ccli.com | CCLI License # 405367 Watershed Music Group) | Watershed Worship Publishing (Admin. by Watershed Music Group) | Remaining portion is unaffiliated You are the source of life All rights reserved. www.ccli.com | CCLI License # 405367 And I can't be left behind I can sing a billion songs No one else will do Dance till my feet are numb And I will take hold of You Spin till I’m empty and poor CHORUS Can’t praise You enough ‘Cause I need You Jesus Shout till my voice gives way To come to my rescue Where else can I go Leap till I have no strength There's no other name Lose my breath trying to explain By which I am saved Can’t praise You enough Capture me with grace And if time were to stall, I can never tell it all I will follow You Words are few, this will have to do My heart is Yours for life I need my hand in yours CHORUS No one else will do I just wanna thank You (3X) I put my trust in You I’m so grateful [repeat] INTERLUDE You sang till I found my song I will follow You You danced till my heart woke up CHORUS Now I move to the rhythm of love I can’t praise You enough BRIDGE I will follow You (x2) You wept my till I found my way This world has nothing for me You lost your breath dying to save (Repeat Bridge) I’ll never go back to that grace I can’t praise You enough And if time were to stall, I can never tell it all Words are few, this will have to do CHORUS

BRIDGE Standing in the promise Surrounded by Your goodness You have overwhelmed us Hallelujah Standing in the promise Surrounded by Your goodness You’re just getting started Hallelujah And if time were to stall, I can never tell it all Words are few, this will have to do CHORUS

BRIDGE

-3- Sermon Handout

Beware the Crowd: Jer 26:7-16, 24 Covenant Church Sunday, November 15, 2020 Zack Phillips, Pastor

Jer 26:7-16, 24 (NRSV)

7 The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD. 8 And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, “You shall die! 9 Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without inhabitant’?” And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.

10 When the officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to the house of the LORD and took their seat in the entry of the New Gate of the house of the LORD. 11 Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to all the people, “This man deserves the sentence of death because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.”

12 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people, saying, “It is the LORD who sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard. 13 Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, and the LORD will change his mind about the disaster that he has pronounced against you. 14 But as for me, here I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you. 15 Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will be bringing innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the LORD sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.”

16 Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man does not deserve the sentence of death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.”

* * * * *

24 But the hand of Ahikam son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah so that he was not given over into the hands of the people to be put to death.

I. Introduction

1. Summary of This Chapter

Notice the recurring role of “the people”

2. How Do We Understand What Has Been Called the People’s “Fickleness”?

3. “Crowds” in the Bible

-4- 1. First, there is a meaningful distinction between the “crowds” and the “disciples.”

2. Second, the crowds are portrayed in various ways at various times.

3. Third, the fickleness of the crowds in Jeremiah 26 recurs in Scripture:

First…

Matt 21:8-11 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.” then…

Matt 27:15, 21-23, 25 15 Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted… 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”… 25 Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”

First…

Exod 24:1-7 1 Then [God] said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship at a distance. 2 Moses alone shall come near the LORD; but the others shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him.”

3 Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, and said, “All the words that the LORD has spoken we will do.”… 7 Then [Moses] took the book of the covenant, and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” then…

Exod 32:1-4 1 When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered around Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” 2 Aaron said to them, “Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off the gold rings from their ears, and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took the gold from them, formed it in a mold, and cast an image of a calf; and they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”

II. The Mob

-5- 1. First, a crowd is “not a mere aggregation of people” but rather is a “state of mind.” —Everett Dean Martin1

2. “[P]eople behave differently in a crowd from the way they behave when isolated …” —Everett Dean Martin2

3. Crowd psychology can represent either our higher or lower nature: “Fear is conspicuously absent in battle, pity in a lynching mob.” —Everett Dean Martin3

III. Social Media

Yes, Jesus engaged the crowds—but I don’t know that he engaged them as mobs in their mob-like frenzies.

• He goes up a mountain and teaches those that follow him (whom Matthew calls “disciples”) (Matt 5:1); he doesn’t teach them anything when they are shouting Hosanna and putting their clothes on the road in front of him (Matt 21:8-9).

• He goes to the seashore and teaches those who come and gather around him (Matt 13:1-2); he doesn’t reason with them when they tried to throw him off a cliff but instead escapes from them (Luke 4:28-30)

• When a crowd comes to make Jesus a king by force, he withdraws from them (John 6:15).

IV. Formation

Final Song: Mighty to Save

CCLI Song # 4591782 Ben Fielding | Reuben Morgan © 2006 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) All rights reserved. www.ccli.com | CCLI License # 405367

Ev’ryone needs compassion So take me as You find me Love that’s never failing All my fears and failures Let mercy fall on me Fill my life again Ev’ryone needs forgiveness I give my life to follow The kindness of a Saviour Ev’rything I believe in The hope of nations Now I surrender

CHORUS BRIDGE Saviour He can move the mountains Shine your light and let the whole world see My God is mighty to save We’re singing He is mighty to save For the glory of the risen King Forever Author of salvation Jesus He rose and conquered the grave Shine your light and let the whole world see Jesus conquered the grave We’re singing For the glory of the risen King

1 Everett Dean Martin, The Behavior of Crowds: A Psychological Study in What is Mob Mentality? 8 Essential Books on Crowd Psychology, trans. G. D. H. Cole (e-artnow e-book, 2017), loc. 14847-58. 2 Martin, loc. 14828. 3 Martin, loc. 14847. -6-

-7-