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We hope these readings, prayers, songs, sermon notes + quotes are beneficial to you this week. See you next Sunday at 9 or 11 am, 10 am on TVC Online or anytime!
Sermon Notes for September 6, 2026
Acts 16:16-40
What Is God Up To? – Part 2
Pastor Tommy Bailey
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:3-6
1. The Multifaceted Guidance of God
2. The Surprising Provision of God
3. The Saving Power of God
The Saving Power of God
- Lydia (vv. 13-15)
- Unnamed slave girl (vv. 16-19)
God is on the move toward us, not the other way round. In the very midst of our confusion and incapacity, we are met by the oncoming Lord.
Fleming Rutledge, Advent
The Saving Power of God
- Lydia (vv. 13-15)
- Unnamed slave girl (vv. 16-19)
- Unnamed jailer (vv. 23-36)
At the cross, the most powerful man who ever lived submitted to the most brutal death ever died, to save the powerless. Christianity does not glorify violence. It humiliates it.
Rebecca McLaughlin, Confronting Christianity
“Father, make the truth of the Gospel intellectually intriguing and compelling to us. Make the goodness of the Gospel experientially more satisfying than anything else in the cosmos. Make the beauty of the Gospel—Jesus, himself—riveting, overwhelming, and whole-heart consuming.”
Scotty Smith
“Boasting in the cross is what we will do for eternity…humbled, liberated, rejoicing—gasping at God’s kindness and mercy. It is the need of our day: men and women for whom Christ in his crucified glory eclipses all other dreams, hopes, and purposes; men and women who find Christ more satisfying than everything.”
Michael Reeves, Authentic Ministry
Songs, Readings & Prayer for September 6, 2026
Songs
“All Creatures of our God and King“ by St. Francis of Assisi, translation by William H. Draper
“And Can It Be“ by Charles Wesley
“There Is A Fountain” by William Cowper and Lowell Mason
“Come Unto Jesus“ by Jordan Kauflin, Keith & Kristyn Getty, and Laura Story
“Hallelujah, What A Savior” by Philip Paul Bliss
“Doxology” by Thomas Ken and Louis Bourgeois
All songs are used with permission. CCLI License no. 2003690
Looking for our Hymns of the Week or resources to worship anytime? We’ve curated a playlist of hymns TVC Worship has led on our YouTube Channel!
Call To Worship
At The Cross
Most merciful God, thank You for sending to us Your Son, Jesus. We remember this day His redeeming death, that we might stand forgiven at the cross. Thank You for sending to us Your Son, Jesus, to Whom we belong, in life and in death. He bore our infirmities and carried our sorrows. Most holy God, thank You for sending to us Your Son, Jesus, Who became sin for us and suffered the punishment due to us, that we might stand forgiven at the cross. In the name of our Lord Jesus, amen.
Confession of Faith
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You this day, in thought, word, and deed; by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your Name.
Grant to Your people pardon and peace, that in Your great mercy, we may be forgiven all our sins, and serve You with a quiet and contrite heart.
In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
Classic Prayer
Anselm of Canterbury
O Lord my God—
teach my heart this day where and how to find You.
You have made me and remade me,
and You have bestowed on me
all the good things I possess,
and still I do not know You.
Teach me to seek You,
for I cannot seek You unless You teach me,
nor find You unless You show Yourself to me.
Dearest Father, let me find You by loving You,
and then ever love You when I find You.
For Your name’s sake. Amen.
TVC Prayer Ministry
TVC Ministry: Congregational Care Team
Vocation: Retail
Mission Highlight: Path United
Praying for the Persecuted Church: United Arab Emirates
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Discussion Questions for September 6, 2026
- In Acts 16, we are introduced to Lydia, who is described as a worshipper of God. When people think of us, is this what readily comes to mind about you and me? Why, or why not?
- When we face trials and difficulty, what is our response? Do we respond in prayer and praise, or do we drift into doubt and despair? How do we develop a rugged and resilient faith so that we can respond to our trials like Paul and Silas did? What can we learn from them about weathering our temporary troubles with a peaceful, prayerful, praiseful poise as we anticipate eternity?
- When the kingdom comes, things change. What happens when our natural inclinations and cultural conceptions collide with God’s kingdom? As we choose to seek His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven, what changes in the way we think about and relate to those around us? As we navigate this already (but not yet) kingdom, how do we see God at work right now? What is He up to? Are we ready to faithfully follow?
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