What’s So Unique About The Ethiopian Eunuch? Christ The KING Presbyterian Ministries (APC) Rev Paul Wallace
Paul Wallace
Ordained Pastor, Both Conventional & Social Media Ministries, Fire Department Chaplain, Maintenance Worker 1, Certified Safety Professional, Proven Governmental Leader, True Team Builder, You will love all of this resume
What’s So Unique About The Ethiopian Eunuch?
This Title as many of the Titles I use should get our minds to search Scripture and reflect on just why the Eunuch is so important to this lesson, and for that matter even mentioned in the Bible in General.
We would be able to debate just how can the Eunuch could be come the Father of the Ethiopian Church as He has been made unclean through castration and the Law is clear!
As we will discuss however the Eunuch as with the Lepers and Ruth the Moabite are absolutely KEY to understand the Biblical Narrative and our understanding of this Narrative suggests whether we actually understand the Bible.
Don’t get depressed the Majority of our Pastors don’t get this as they still in the application point suggest we can correct ourselves.
We will see that the point of the Law of GOD was to declare us ALL Unclean and indeed dead in our trespass and sin, it is Jesus Christ ALONE who is Clean and HE washers we The Unclean and Unredeemable.
I know you will enjoy the Lesson, it’s one of my Favorites and I thoroughly Enjoyed Writing it.
Now Let’s Run To Worship
Call To Worship
Psalm ?18:2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Processional
Sing Praise To GOD Who Reigns Above
Vintage Coral Presbyterian Church Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Passing Of The Peace Of Christ
May the Peace of Christ Be With You
ALL: And Also With You!!
Please take a minute to pass the peace of Christ
Hymn
Rejoice The LORD Is KING
Second Presbyterian Church Memphis, Tennessee
First Reading
Deuteronomy 23
1 ? "No one who is emasculated or has his male organ cut off shall enter the assembly of the LORD.
?2 "No one of illegitimate birth shall enter the assembly of the LORD; none of his descendants, even to the tenth generation, shall enter the assembly of the LORD.
?3 "No Ammonite or Moabite shall enter the assembly of the LORD; none of their descendants, even to the tenth generation, shall ever enter the assembly of the LORD,
?4 because they did not meet you with food and water on the way when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.
?5 "Nevertheless, the LORD your God was not willing to listen to Balaam, but the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you because the LORD your God loves you.
?6 "You shall never seek their peace or their prosperity all your days.
?7 "You shall not detest an Edomite, for he is your brother; you shall not detest an Egyptian, because you were an alien in his land.
?8 "The sons of the third generation who are born to them may enter the assembly of the LORD.
?9 ? "When you go out as an army against your enemies, you shall keep yourself from every evil thing.
?10 "If there is among you any man who is unclean because of a nocturnal emission, then he must go outside the camp; he may not reenter the camp.
?11 "But it shall be when evening approaches, he shall bathe himself with water, and at sundown he may reenter the camp.
?12 "You shall also have a place outside the camp and go out there,
?13 and you shall have a spade among your tools, and it shall be when you sit down outside, you shall dig with it and shall turn to cover up your excrement.
?14 "Since the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp to deliver you and to defeat your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy; and He must not see anything indecent among you or He will turn away from you.
?15 ? "You shall not hand over to his master a slave who has escaped from his master to you.
?16 "He shall live with you in your midst, in the place which he shall choose in one of your towns where it pleases him; you shall not mistreat him.
?17 "None of the daughters of Israel shall be a cult prostitute, nor shall any of the sons of Israel be a cult prostitute.
?18 "You shall not bring the hire of a harlot or the wages of a dog into the house of the LORD your God for any votive offering, for both of these are an abomination to the LORD your God.
?19 "You shall not charge interest to your countrymen: interest on money, food, or anything that may be loaned at interest.
?20 "You may charge interest to a foreigner, but to your countrymen you shall not charge interest, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land which you are about to enter to possess.
?21 "When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it, for it would be sin in you, and the LORD your God will surely require it of you.
?22 "However, if you refrain from vowing, it would not be sin in you.
?23 "You shall be careful to perform what goes out from your lips, just as you have voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God, what you have promised.
?24 "When you enter your neighbor's vineyard, then you may eat grapes until you are fully satisfied, but you shall not put any in your basket.
?25 "When you enter your neighbor's standing grain, then you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not wield a sickle in your neighbor's standing grain.
(NAS95)
This Is The WORD Of The LORD
Response By All: Thanks Be To GOD
Hymn
Let Us Love And Sing And Wonder
Congregation at Faith Presbyterian Church, Tacoma, Washington
The LORD’S Prayer & Apostles Creed Read By All
Matthew 6:9 ? And Jesus said "In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
?10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
?11 Give us this day our daily bread.
?12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
?13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Christian What Do You Believe?
I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried:
He descended into hell;
The third day he rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
The Holy Catholic Church;
The Communion of Saints;
The Forgiveness of sins;
The Resurrection of the body,
And the Life everlasting.
Amen.
The Doxology
Praise GOD From Whom All Blessings Flow: Tune All Creatures of Our God and King
Second Reading And Lesson: What’s So Unique About The Ethiopian Eunuch?
Acts 6:2-5, Acts 8:4-12, 26-40, Acts 28:8
Ac 6:2 So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.
?3 "Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.
?4 "But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
?5 The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.
Acts 8:4? Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.
?5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.
?6 The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.
?7 For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.
?8 So there was much rejoicing in that city.
?9 Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great;
?10 and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, "This man is what is called the Great Power of God."
?11 And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts.
?12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.
Ac 8:26 ? But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, "Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a desert road.)
?27 So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship,
?28 and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
?29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot."
?30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"
?31 And he said, "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
?32 Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: "HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER; AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT, SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH.
?33 "IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY; WHO WILL RELATE HIS GENERATION? FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH."
?34 The eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?"
?35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.
?36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch *said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?"
?37 And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
?38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.
?39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.
?40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.
Ac 21:8 ? On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him.
(NAS95)
This Is The WORD Of The LORD
Response By All: Thanks Be To GOD
领英推荐
Lesson: What’s So Unique About The Ethiopian Eunuch?
Understanding the Baptism of the Ethiopian Eunuch one of the First singular Baptisms recorded in the New Testament is key to understanding the Bible in general, and as we will see clearly IS a Camel Through the Eye Needle moment.
We will first dispel the notion that the Phillip who Baptizes the is possibly one of the Apostles, as this Phillip is clearly identified as one of the seven in both Chapter 6, and Chapter 21 as we previously read.
Why did we have to identify who this Phillip is?
Well it seems there are Scholars who have to debate everything who will suggest this Phillip was not the same as one of the first Deacons or as one wrote “He was no longer performing the duties of a Deacon when He (Phillip) was Baptizing and evangelizing, even though Luke clearly tells us in Chapter 21 the Phillip is one of the 7 and an Evangelist.
Next is a brief background
Apostles proper. His name stands in the fifth place in the three lists (Matthew 10:2-4 ; Mark 3:14-19 ; Luke 6:13-16 ) after the two pairs of brothers, Peter and Andrew, James and John. The Fourth Gospel records three episodes concerning Philip which occurred during the epoch of the public teaching of the Saviour:
These three episodes furnish a consistent character-sketch of Philip as a na?ve, somewhat shy, sober-minded man. No additional characteristics are given in the Gospels or the Acts although he is mentioned in the latter work (1:13 ) as belonging to the Apostolic College.
The second-century tradition concerning him is uncertain, inasmuch as a similar tradition is recorded concerning Philip the Deacon and Evangelist — a phenomenon which must be the result of confusion caused by the existence of the two Philips. In his letter to St. Victor, written about 189-98, bishop Polycrates of Ephesus mentions among the "great lights", whom the Lord will seek on the "last day", "Philip, one of the Twelve Apostles, who is buried in Hieropolis with his two daughters, who grew old as virgins", and a third daughter, who "led a life in the Holy Ghost and rests in Ephesus." On the other hand, according to the Dialogue of Caius, directed against a Montanist named Proclus, the latter declared that "there were four prophetesses, the daughters of Philip, at Hieropolis in Asia where their and their father's grave is still situated." The Acts (21:8-9 ) does indeed mention four prophetesses, the daughters of the deacon and "Evangelist" Philip, as then living in Caesarea with their father, and Eusebius who gives the above-mentioned excerpts (Church History III.32 ), refers Proclus' statement to these latter. The statement of Bishop Polycrates carries in itself more authority, but it is extraordinary that three virgin daughters of the Apostle Philip (two buried in Hieropolis) should be mentioned, and that the deacon Philip should also have four daughters, said to have been buried in Hieropolis. Here also perhaps we must suppose a confusion of the two Philips to have taken place, although it is difficult to decide which of the two, the Apostle or the deacon , was buried in Hieropolis. Many modern historians believe that it was the deacon ; it is, however, possible that the Apostle was buried there and that the deacon also lived and worked there and was there buried with three of his daughters and that the latter were afterwards erroneously regarded as the children of the Apostle. The apocryphal "Acts of Philip," which are, however purely legendary and a tissue of fables, also refer Philip's death to Hieropolis. The remains of the Philip who was interred in Hieropolis were later translated (as those of the Apostle) to Constantinople and thence to the church of the Dodici Apostoli in Rome . The feast of the Apostle is celebrated in the Roman Church on 1 May (together with that of James the Younger), and in the Greek Church on 14 November. [Editor's Note: The feast is now celebrated on 3 May in the Roman Church .]
Let’s walk through 4 Questions and all are as I said true Keys to understanding the Full Story of the Bible.
1: What is the background of this encounter with the Ethiopian Eunuch?
2: What is the Biblical standing of a Eunuch?
3: Knowing this how could he possibly be the first Baptized singular encounter of the New Testament?
4: How does this bring us to the proper understanding of the Law & Grace, and just how Christ really sees us?
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1: What is the background of this encounter with the Ethiopian Eunuch?
1st instead of assuming that we all know what the roll of a Eunuch is, let’s still explore it as it has a bearing on what our point will be.
A Eunuch in that culture was more than likely not a voluntary position ( I am pretty sure today it would not be voluntary) Eunuchs would probably be servants or slaves who, because of their function, had been castrated , usually in order to make them reliable servants of a royal court where physical access to the ruler could wield great influence.[3] Seemingly lowly domestic functions—such as making the ruler's bed, bathing him, cutting his hair, carrying him in his litter , or even relaying messages—could in theory give a eunuch "the ruler's ear" and impart de facto power on the formally humble but trusted servant. Similar instances are reflected in the humble origins and etymology of many high offices (e.g., chancellor originally denoted a servant guarding the entrance to an official's study). Eunuchs supposedly did not generally have loyalties to the military, the aristocracy, nor to a family of their own (having neither offspring nor in-laws, at the very least), and were thus seen as more trustworthy and less interested in establishing a private 'dynasty'. Because their condition usually lowered their social status, they could also be easily replaced or killed without repercussion. In cultures that had both harems and eunuchs, eunuchs were sometimes used as harem servants (compare the female odalisque ) or seraglio guards.[citation needed ]
Wikipedia
This is obvious but IT IS IMPOSSIBLE for Him to Father Children, please remember this point.
The Eunuch was going to Jerusalem to worship, and was returning.
He is traveling by chariot 1,590 miles to go from the capital of Ethiopia to Jerusalem
With the average Chariot able to travel up to 144 miles a day (source Bob Wiengarterner who use to drive one) This is about an 11 to 12 day trip one way, meaning that the Queen had such confidence in him as to allow him to go away for one month.
This Summer Robin & I traveled by air conditioned car to Texas 1275 Miles and I don’t need to tell you this is a commitment,?this obviously suggests the Eunuch has a strong GOD given burning desire to know about this GOD.
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But why is this background so important and I am contending it is.
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2: What is the Biblical standing of a Eunuch?
We need to look at the Standing Biblically of a Eunuch
DEUTERONOMY?23?“No one whose testicles are crushed or whose male organ is cut off shall enter the assembly of the LORD.
What is the law telling us?
Plenty as it is very possible this Eunuch might have been turned away at the Temple in Jerusalem.
It is also telling us that this Eunuch can NEVER be CLEAN AGAIN of his own doing period, even though his condition was most likely brought on by others!!!
Imagine you & I going about our own daily routine, We go to Church EVERY SUNDAY, sing God’s praises. Then one day a group of Government Soldiers comes into our Church Building, takes 1/3 of the males?(I am one of these)out of the building in handcuffs , and tells us the Government is making slaves of us, and part of that condition is we are to become Eunuchs!
From the moment the procedure is done WE CAN NEVER AGAIN by the Law become “Clean”.
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The Law is crystal clear the Eunuch can never enter the Assembly of the Lord!!
But wait you say He did not do this to himself, why is God punishing HIM????
Why is this fair???
How about the others that law states are unclean who were just born that way??
The Law gives No wiggle room and you are going to hear me quote this over and over
De 6:24 "So the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God for our good always and for our survival, as it is today.
?25 "It will be righteousness for us if we are careful to observe all this commandment before the LORD our God, just as He commanded us.
De 11:32 and you shall be careful to do all the statutes and the judgments which I am setting before you today.
Nu 15:40 so that you may remember to do all My commandments and be holy to your God.
?41 "I am the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt to be your God; I am the LORD your God."
(NAS95)
Le 11:45 'For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.'"
?Le 19:2 "Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, 'You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.
?Buy now I hoping we are all scratching our heads wondering how the Eunuch can even be in this Acts 8 passage, as it is Impossible for him to be CLEAN!
Yet Phillip is transported to and from this Eunuch by the hand of the LORD HIMSELF.
Yes to as well as Phillip was able to catch up on foot to a chariot!
HAS GOD Forgotten His own Law?????
Certainly not
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3: Knowing this how could he possibly be the first Baptized singular encounter of the New Testament?
As we just said this is impossible, and yes according to the Law of GOD, and GOD is NOT kidding the Eunuch IS DOOMED!
But how then is his Baptism one of the first Acts of the Church????
Well we need to first explore what it means to be Clean and Remind ourselves of what the Apostles who we sometimes think of as dull, but in the next passage we find were thunder struck when it became clear to them
Matthew 19:23 ? And Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.?24 "Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."?25 When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, "Then who can be saved?"
?26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
The Sunday School class I taught on Hebrews knows what I am about to say, but to them I can only say I personally need to hear this over and over again
The Lord in a sense of humor moment includes this passage in Hebrews
Hebrews 13:10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.
?11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp.
?12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
?13 So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
?Why is it humor???
Well the real reason we meet Jesus outside the Camp was because it is where we are!
Romans 3’s None Righteous no not one, and?All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God is what Thunder struck the Apostles, as They grasped None of us can be saved!!!
So let me get this right Wallace, are you saying NO one can be saved??????
Well of our own doing YES!!
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4: How does this bring us to the proper understanding of the Law & Grace, and just how Christ really sees us?
The whole point is actually clear, We meet Jesus outside the Camp, because NONE of us were qualified to live inside of it.
The Eunuch was blessed to have something on the outside, physical, to show him he was unclean.
The Apostles came to this conclusion and as we already read they were STUNNED when it dawned on them.
The Law and again this will be a constant theme is God’s Holy standard and it is impossible for us to meet, and with absolutely NO wiggle room what are we to do??
Jesus gives this away when he says with you it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
Salvation is not in us nor has it ever been, or ever will be.
The point of the Eunuch being one of the 1st individual Baptisms in the New Testament is meant to cause us to be stunned as well, but it also is meant to encourage us greatly.
You will hear me speak on this again and again, Jesus came to save Sinners, and we are all sinners.
As we go through the some of these passages of Jesus and the Unclean, I hope we see that the Leven (or Yeast) of the Pharisees is still the danger that the Church faces today as it did then, and we will see this over and over as we fight the thought that we are righteous.
But can’t we see the fruit of good works and following the law in the Church?
We sure can but this is a Gift solely of God and a proof of regeneration.
For God it was possible to save the most Impossible, Me, and as we look in the mirror we can insert all of our names, as with God Jesus tells us ALL things are possible.
I told you to keep the fact that the Eunuch could not physically Father Children in the back of your mind.
I want to close by reading from Abba Selama – First Bishop of Ethiopia
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?Introduction of Christianity into Ethiopia
The introduction of Christianity into Ethiopia took place in the beginning of the first century A.D. 34 just about four months after the death and resurrection of Christ when St. Philip baptized the Ethiopian Eunuch when he was returning from the Passover feast in Jerusalem as it is narrated in the Acts of the Apostles 8:26-39. The history of Saint Philip the Apostle baptizing the Ethiopian Eunuch is of great significance. The Eunuch was a man of high rank in Ethiopia, the finance minister of Candace, queen of Ethiopia. Upon his return he preached the doctrine of Christ among his countrymen. He was the first to bring the news, although he was not called an Apostle as he deserved. Eusebius speaks of him as the first fruit of the faithful in the whole world. Further at that time Saint Mathew the Apostle preached the Gospel to the Ethiopians he won some converts to the new doctrine and then left the country. (Yesehaq, 13)
The Eunuch baptized Queen Candace in the first century A.D and since then Ethiopia has been ruled and governed by Christians. Western historians and writers state that Ezana who reigned in Ethiopia about A.D. 320-356 was the first African King who became Christian and made Christianity the official religion of his empire. This is purosely done to make it seem that Rome was first and this would make Ethiopia Christendom’s second state after Constantine declared Rome a Christian state, but this is not so. The declaration of the doctrine of Christ by King Ezana in the fourth century was not done as a new introduction to the people but was done by the Emperor to prove himself as the true Christian leader of the nation and to make Christianity more effective throughout the nation.
The Ethiopian Eunuch had millions of Christian off spring, and from one as Good as Dead (I know you heard that before)
Abba Selama – First Bishop of Ethiopia
abbayesehaq.com/nwhistory_eunuch.htm
As we think over the story of own salvation, I hope we remember that the Holy Spirit wakes the soul of one who was Dead, and breaths in Life in Christ Jesus of Lord, by the will of the Father.
I saved for last a caution, that my Wife and I attended a service Last Sunday (7/3/2012) in NYC and the person taught on James Chapter 1.
As he rambled I could see the people in the Congregation putting their note pads away and one just started rubbing his head as if to say make this end, and the Person told us how to act, and what we must do?
The message was just awful and miss the fact that we understand the letter of James in light of the James 1:1 ? James, a SLAVE of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.
It is the amazing transformation of James the 1/2 Brother of Jesus HIMSELF from one who wanted Jesus Committed, to fully Committed to Jesus as a SLAVE (the true Greek word used).
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The verse this “seminary” train speaker omitted is the Key to the entire Letter and why His message was doomed from the start. Though he did do the multiple Greek word tap dance that we were cautioned only glazes the congregations eyes over and Sunday had its effect perfectly.
I beg you to read your Bible daily as it really is you defense against Preachers who don’t have a clue as we witnessed across this Country and yes again last Sunday.
One sad tip these bad speakers have been from the same two Seminaries and make one wonder of the kind of Bible training they are truly receiving.
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Hymn
In Christ Alone
Royal Albert Hall London, England
The LORD’S Feast
Not All The Blood Of Beast
Faith Presbyterian Church Tacoma, Washington
The LORD’S Benediction
Hebrews 13:20 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,
?21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Let Us Go Forth As Those Who Love And Proclaim Our Risen LORD And Savior Jesus Christ
Response By All: Thanks Be To GOD, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, AMEN
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Recessional
Crown HIM With Many Crowns ?(One of my favorites)
St. Bartholomew’s Church, New York City, New York ?