Worship

I Have Decided To Follow Jesus

I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
No turning back, no turning back

The world behind me, the cross before me
The world behind me, the cross before me
The world behind me, the cross before me
No turning back, no turning back

Though none go with me, still I will follow
Though none go with me, still I will follow
Though none go with me, still I will follow
No turning back, no turning back

Nothing I Hold Onto

VERSES:
I lean not on my own understanding
My life is in the hands of the Maker of Heaven

CHORUS:
I give it all to You, God
Trusting that You’ll make
Something beautiful out of me

BRIDGE:
Now I will climb this mountain
with my hands wide open.
I will climb this mountain
with my hands wide open

OUTRO:
There’s nothing I hold onto
There’s nothing I hold onto

Surrender

VERSE 1
I’m giving You my heart
And all that is within
I lay it all down
For the sake of You my King
I’m giving You my dreams
I’m laying down my rights
I’m giving up my pride
For the promise of new life

CHORUS
And I surrender
All to You all to You
And I surrender
All to You all to You

VERSE
I’m singing You this song
I’m waiting at the cross
And all the world holds dear
I count it all as loss
For the sake of knowing You
The glory of Your name
To know the lasting joy
Even sharing in Your pain

Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

Great God of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

The Harrowing of Hell

From The Gospel of Nicodemus, a 4th century Christian text.

Parts: Narrator, Satan, Prince of hell, The Voice, Company of the Saints

Narrator: In the shadowed hour between death and dawn, when the world above lies silent in grief, another realm stirs beneath the earth—the dominion of darkness, where the dead are held in chains and the gates of brass stand fast against all hope.

Here reigns the prince of hell, keeper of the prison of souls, whose power none born of flesh has ever escaped. With him is Satan, the adversary—subtle, restless, and proud—who has labored among the living to ensnare mankind and claim them for this dark kingdom.

But now a strange and troubling rumor spreads through the depths: a man has died… yet not like other men. Jesus of Nazareth—crucified, buried, and laid among the dead—has long defied the power of hell, calling the dead to life and breaking the bonds that none could break.

Satan, confident in his designs, believes this death to be his greatest victory. At last, he thinks, the one who troubled him is delivered into his grasp.

But the prince of hell is not so certain.

For he remembers Lazarus—four days dead, already claimed—and yet torn from his possession by a word.

And so the rulers of darkness begin to question, to argue, and to fear.

For if this man enters their gates…

it may not be to remain.

– – – – –

Narrator: Satan, the prince and captain of death, said to the prince of hell: 

Satan: ‘Prepare to receive Jesus of Nazareth Himself, who boasted that He was the Son of God, and yet was a man afraid of death and said, “My soul is sorrowful even to death.” Besides, He did many injuries to me and to many others; for those whom I made blind and lame and those also whom I tormented with several devils, He cured by His word; yea, and those whom I brought dead to thee, He by force takes away from thee.’

Narrator: To this, the prince of hell replied to Satan, 

Prince of hell: ‘Who is that so powerful prince, and yet a man who is afraid of death? For all the rulers of the earth are subject to my power, whom thou broughtest to subjection by thy power. But if He be so powerful in His human nature, I affirm to thee for truth that He is almighty in His divine nature, and no man can resist His power. When therefore He said He was afraid of death, He designed to ensnare thee, and unhappy it will be to thee for everlasting ages.’

Narrator: Then Satan, replying, said to the prince of hell, 

Satan: ‘Why didst thou express a doubt, and wast afraid to receive that Jesus of Nazareth, both thy adversary and mine? As for me, I tempted Him and stirred up the people of the Jews with zeal and anger against Him. I sharpened the spear for His suffering; I mixed the gall and vinegar, and commanded that He should drink it; I prepared the cross to crucify Him, and the nails to pierce through His hands and feet; and now His death is near to hand, I will bring Him hither, subject both to thee and me.’

Narrator: Then the prince of hell answering, said, 

Prince of hell: ‘Thou saidst to me just now, that He took away the dead from me by force. They who have been kept here till they should live again upon the earth, were taken away hence, not by their own power, but by prayers made to God, and their almighty God took them from me. Who then is this Jesus of Nazareth that by His word hath taken away the dead from me without prayer to God? Perhaps it is the same who took away from me Lazarus, after he had been four days dead, and did both stink and was rotten, and of whom I had possession as a dead person, yet He brought him to life again by His power.’

Narrator: Satan answering, replied to the prince of hell, 

Satan: ‘It is the very same person, Jesus of Nazareth.’

Narrator: Which, when the prince of hell heard, he said to him, 

Prince of hell: ‘I adjure thee by the powers which belong to thee and me, that thou bring Him not to me. For when I heard of the power of His word, I trembled for fear, and all my impious company were at the same time disturbed. And we were not able to detain Lazarus, but he gave himself a shake, and with all the signs of malice, he immediately went away from us; and the very earth, in which the dead body of Lazarus was lodged presently turned him out alive. And I know now that He is almighty God who could perform such things, who is mighty in His dominion, and mighty in His human nature, who is the Saviour of mankind. Bring not therefore this person hither, for He will set at liberty all those whom I hold in prison under unbelief, and bound with the fetters of their sins, and will conduct them to everlasting life.’

Narrator: And while Satan and the prince of hell were discoursing thus to each other, of a sudden there was a voice as of thunder and rushing of winds, saying, 

The Voice: ‘Lift up your gates, O ye princes; and be ye lifted up, O everlasting gates — and the King of Glory shall come in.’

Narrator: When the prince of hell heard this, he said to Satan, 

Prince of hell: ‘Depart from me, and begone out of my habitations; if thou art a powerful warrior, fight with the King of Glory. But what hast thou to do with Him?’ 

Narrator: And he cast him forth from his habitations. And the prince said to his impious officers, 

Prince of hell: ‘Shut the brass gates of cruelty, and make them fast with iron bars, and fight courageously, lest we all be taken captives.’

Narrator: But when all the company of the saints heard this they spake with a loud voice of anger to the prince of hell: 

Company of the Saints: ‘Open thy gates that the King of Glory may come in!’