Service Guide

Sunday, March 15, 2026

Welcome & Call to Worship

Psalm 25:1-5 (NIV)

Leader: Welcome to Evanston Bible Fellowship! If you’re new, we invite you to scan the QR code in front of you and fill out the connection card to let us know you’re here. Please stand for our call to worship from Psalm 25, reading the words in bold.

1 In you, Lord my God,
I put my trust.
2 I trust in you;
do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 No one who hopes in you
will ever be put to shame,
but shame will come on those
who are treacherous without cause.
4 Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.

Leader: Let’s lift up our hearts and voices in worship!

How Vast The Love

Verse 1
Come gaze upon your Savior
Behold your great High Priest
Draw near in awe and wonder
His cross has spoken peace

Verse 2
Come rest from sin and striving
Find endless stores of grace
The heart that turns to Jesus
Is cleansed from every stain

Chorus
Oh how deep how wide how long
Oh how vast the love of Jesus
Oh how sure how sweet how strong
Oh how vast His love for us

Verse 3
So lift your eyes to Jesus
Arise from doubt and shame
His blood cries it is finished
Our life is in His name

Chorus
Oh how deep how wide how long
Oh how vast the love of Jesus
Oh how sure how sweet how strong
Oh how vast His love for us

Verse 4
What now can separate us
Can death or pain or fear
We have this strong assurance
In Christ we've been brought near

Verse 5
And in His strength we'll labor
His promises our hope
Thus far His love has led us
His love will lead us home

Chorus
Oh how deep how wide how long
Oh how vast the love of Jesus
Oh how sure how sweet how strong
Oh how vast His love for us

Joel Sczebel, Lacy Hudson, Marc Willerton
CCLI Song #7138111
© Sovereign Grace Praise; Sovereign Grace Worship
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License #195574

God Is For Us

Verse 1
We won't fear the battle
We won't fear the night
We will walk the Valley with You by our side
You will go before us
You will lead the way
We have found a refuge only You can save

Chorus
Sing with joy now our God is for us
The Father's love is a strong and mighty fortress
Raise your voice now no love is greater
Who can stand against us if our God is for us

Verse 2
Even when I stumble
Even when I fall
Even when I turn back still Your love is sure
You will not abandon
You will not forsake
You will cheer me onward with never ending grace

Bridge
Neither height nor depth can separate us
Hell and death will not defeat us
He who gave His Son to free us
Holds me in His love

James Ferguson, James Tealy, Jesse Reeves, Jonny Robinson, Michael Farren, Rich Thompson, Tiarne Tranter
CCLI Song #7121853
© 2018 BEC Worship; WriterWrong Music; CityAlight Music; Farren Love And War Publishing; Integrity's Alleluia! Music; My Eleiht Songs
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License #195574

Holy Forever

Verse 1
A thousand generations falling down in worship
To sing the song of ages to the Lamb
And all who've gone before us
And all who will believe
Will sing the song of ages to the Lamb

Pre-Chorus
(Jesus) Your name is the highest
Your name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all
All thrones and dominions
All powers and positions
Your name stands above them all

Chorus 1
And the angels cry Holy
All creation cries Holy
You are lifted high Holy
Holy forever

Verse 2
If you've been forgiven and if you've been redeemed
Sing the song forever to the Lamb
If you walk in freedom and if you bear His name
Sing the song forever to the Lamb
We'll sing the song forever and amen

Chorus 2
Hear Your people sing Holy
To the King of Kings Holy
You will always be Holy
Holy forever

Tag
You will always be Holy
Holy forever

Brian Johnson, Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram, Jenn Johnson, Phil Wickham
CCLI Song #7201044
© 2022 Brian and Jenn Publishing; Capitol CMG Paragon; S. D. G. Publishing; Be Essential Songs; My Magnolia Music; Phil Wickham Music; Simply Global Songs; Bethel Music Publishing
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License #195574

Confession & Assurance

Leader: Please join us in this prayer of confession, reading the words in bold:

God of love, in the wrong we have done
and in the good we have not done,
we have sinned in ignorance;
we have sinned in weakness;
we have sinned through our own deliberate fault.
We are truly sorry.
We repent and turn to you.
Forgive us and renew our lives
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Leader: Hear the good news from Psalm 103:11-12: 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Leader: (Prayer)

Scripture Reading: 1 John 4:1-6 (NIV)

Leader: Please return and remain standing (as you are able) for today’s Scripture reading from 1 John 4:1-6 After the reading, the response will be, “Thanks be to God.”

4 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

Leader: The Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God!

Leader: You may be seated.

Message: Pastor Tim Allen

“The Spirit of Truth” (1 John 4:1-6)

Spirit-Inspired Prophets (v. 1)
Spirit-Inspired Confession (v. 2)
Spirit-Inspired Allegiance (v. 3)
Spirit-Inspired Victory (v. 4)
Spirit-Inspired Response (vv. 5-6)

Bottom Line: In every generation, God calls his people to discern and cherish that which is genuinely inspired by the Spirit of truth!

Bottom Line: Love one another like Jesus!

Ethos Questions:

Read the text. Then read it again in another version. Then summarize the text as best you can.
What stands out to you from the text? What questions does it raise?
What does this text reveal to us about God?
What does this text reveal to us about ourselves and how we should respond to God?
How does this text in particular drive these truths home?
If this text did not exist, what would we be missing?
What problem or question is the text solving or answering? What issue is it addressing?
What solution or answer does the text offer to the primary issue it is addressing?
How does the text connect with the gospel?
How will you commit to obey the text this week?
With whom can you share what you have learned from the text?

Holy Spirit

Verse 1
Holy Spirit living Breath of God
Breathe new life into my willing soul
Let the presence of the risen Lord
Come renew my heart and make me whole
Cause Your word to come alive in me
Give me faith for what I cannot see
Give me passion for Your purity
Holy Spirit breathe new life in me

Verse 2
Holy Spirit come abide within
May Your joy be seen in all I do
Love enough to cover ev'ry sin
In each thought and deed and attitude
Kindness to the greatest and the least
Gentleness that sows the path of peace
Turn my strivings into works of grace
Breath of God show Christ in all I do

Verse 3
Holy Spirit from creation's birth
Giving life to all that God has made
Show Your power once again on earth
Cause Your church to hunger for Your ways
Let the fragrance of our pray'rs arise
Lead us on the road of sacrifice
That in unity the face of Christ
May be clear for all the world to see

Communion & Prayers of the People

King Of Kings

Verse 1
In the darkness we were waiting
Without hope without light
Till from Heaven You came running
There was mercy in Your eyes

To fulfil the law and prophets
To a virgin came the Word
From a throne of endless glory
To a cradle in the dirt

Chorus
Praise the Father
Praise the Son
Praise the Spirit three in one
God of Glory
Majesty
Praise forever to the King of kings

Verse 2
To reveal the kingdom coming
And to reconcile the lost
To redeem the whole creation
You did not despise the cross

For even in Your suffering
You saw to the other side
Knowing this was our salvation
Jesus for our sake You died

Verse 3
And the morning that You rose
All of heaven held its breath
Till that stone was moved for good
For the Lamb had conquered death

And the dead rose from their tombs
And the angels stood in awe
For the souls of all who'd come
To the Father are restored

Verse 4
And the Church of Christ was born
Then the Spirit lit the flame
Now this Gospel truth of old
Shall not kneel shall not faint

By His blood and in His Name
In His freedom I am free
For the love of Jesus Christ
Who has resurrected me

Brooke Ligertwood, Jason Ingram, Scott Ligertwood
CCLI Song #7127647
© 2019 Fellow Ships Music; So Essential Tunes; Hillsong Music Publishing Australia
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License #195574

Announcements

Benediction: John 16:13-15 (NIV)

Leader: As we go, receive this benediction from John 16:13-15:

13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

Leader: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!