WE’RE GLAD YOU’VE JOINED US TODAY.

WHO WE ARE.

• We are a community of city-centred, gospel-focused people striving to serve and renew Toronto through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

WHO WE WELCOME.

• We welcome people of all races, ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds and faiths – both religious and irreligious.

WHO WE BELIEVE IN.

• We believe Christ is relevant to every person in every situation, and we want to help you discover him.

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GOD CALLS

CALL TO WORSHIP

—Psalm 100, NIV

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LEADER:

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

ALL:

Worship the LORD with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

LEADER:

Know that the LORD is God.

It is he who made us and we are his;

ALL:

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

LEADER:

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

ALL:

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

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SONG - SHOUT TO THE LORD

(© 1993 Hillsong Publishing. CCLI # 1406918)

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My Jesus my Saviour

Lord there is none like You

All of my days I want to praise

The wonders of Your mighty love

My comfort my shelter

Tower of refuge and strength

Let every breath all that I am

Never cease to worship You

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Shout to the Lord

All the earth let us sing

Power and majesty

Praise to the King

Mountains bow down

And the seas will roar

At the sound of Your name

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I sing for joy

At the work of Your hands

Forever I'll love You

Forever I'll stand

Nothing compares to the promise

I have in You

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SONG - KING OF KINGS

(© 2018 Hillsong Music Publishing CCLI Song # 7127647 -- CCLI License # 2821054)

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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

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Praise the Father

Praise the Son

Praise the Spirit three in one

God of Glory

Majesty

Praise forever to the King of Kings

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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

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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

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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

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SONG - GIVE THANKS

(© 1978 Integrity's Hosanna! Music. CCLI Song # 20285)

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Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because He's given

Jesus Christ His Son

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And now let the weak say I am strong

Let the poor say I am rich

Because of what the Lord has done for us

Ending

Give thanks

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GOD CLEANSES

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PRAYER OF CONFESSION

—Psalm 51:1-4, 6, 9-11, NRSV

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LEADER:

Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your steadfast love;

according to your abundant mercy

blot out my transgressions.

ALL:

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

and cleanse me from my sin.

LEADER:

For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is ever before me.

ALL:

Against you, you alone, have I sinned,

and done what is evil in your sight,

so that you are justified in your sentence

and blameless when you pass judgment.

LEADER:

You desire truth in the inward being;

therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.

ALL:

Hide your face from my sins,

and blot out all my iniquities.

LEADER:

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and put a new and right spirit within me.

ALL:

Do not cast me from your presence,

and do not take your holy spirit from me.

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SILENT CONFESSION

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WORDS OF ASSURANCE

—Psalm 130:3-4, 7-8, NRSV

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If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?

But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.

O Israel, hope in the LORD!

For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem.

It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

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SONG OF ASSURANCE - THIS IS OUR GOD

(© 2008 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia. CCLI Song #5060834)

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Your grace is enough

More than I need

At Your word I will believe

I wait for You

Draw near again

Let Your Spirit make me new

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And I will fall at Your feet

I will fall at Your feet

And I will worship You here

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Your presence in me

Jesus light the way

By the power of Your word

I am restored

I am redeemed

By Your Spirit I am free

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Freely You gave it all for us

Surrendered Your life upon that cross

Great is the love poured out for all

This is our God

Lifted on high from death to life

Forever our God is glorified

Servant and King rescued the world

This is our God

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PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH AND THE CITY

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COMMUNITY LIFE ANNOUNCEMENTS

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SUMMER EATS

• All are invited to walk to a nearby affordable restaurant for lunch today after the 2nd service! Meet by the Welcome Desk in the lobby, and we'll depart together at 12:45 pm. All you need is your wallet and a willingness to make new friends.

NEWCOMERS BRUNCH

• New to Grace? Join us for brunch after either service on September 14! Learn about our community and get to know some of our leaders. RSVP at gracetoronto.ca/events.

YOUNG ADULTS KICKOFF

• Fun, friendship, and free food! Join the Young Adults for our speed-friending kickoff on Weds, Sept 10 from 6:30-8:00pm. (For those between 18 and 25).

WOMEN'S MINISTRY BIBLE STUDY

• This Fall, join our Women's Ministry Bible Study as we explore Philippians and learn how Paul found joy in suffering and handled conflict with grace and truth. We'll meet Tuesdays at 7 PM, September 23 to November 25. Register at gracetoronto.ca/events

GTMEN BIBLE STUDY

• Join us as we dive into a 5 week study on Jonah. No registration is needed! Our Bible study on Jonah takes place every other week. For the full schedule and meeting details, visit gracetoronto.ca/ministries/men.

GRACE GATHERINGS REGISTRATION

• Want to join a Grace Gathering Small Group? The Fall 2025 semester will begin on September 1, 2025 Registration will be OPEN between September 1-15, 2025. To register and learn more about our Grace Gatherings,  please go to, https://gracetoronto.ca/grace-gatherings.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK

• STRENGTH (Isaiah 40:29-31) God renews the strength of those who wait on Him. Reflect on areas where you feel weak or weary. Pray for the Lord’s strength to sustain and uplift you in every circumstance.

SUPPORT

• If you are in any form of need or if you are able to help others, please visit http://www.gracetoronto.ca/help  or visit http://www.gracetoronto.ca/prayer  to submit your prayers.

DIACONATE

• The Diaconate exists to contribute to the flourishing of gospel-centered community by meeting the practical needs of our church community, and extending help and compassion to those experiencing hardship or difficult circumstances.
• Click here for more information.

OFFERING

• To set up your online giving or to learn more about giving options, visit gracetoronto.ca/give.

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GOD COMMUNES

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SCRIPTURE READING

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Genesis 37:2-13, 23-24, 28, 31-36, 50:15-21

2 This is the account of Jacob’s family line.

Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. 6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7 We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”

8 His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.

9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

10 When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

12 Now his brothers had gone to graze their father’s flocks near Shechem, 13 and Israel said to Joseph, “As you know, your brothers are grazing the flocks near Shechem. Come, I am going to send you to them.”

“Very well,” he replied.

23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing— 24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it.

28 So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

31 Then they got Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. 32 They took the ornate robe back to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.”

33 He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.”

34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave.” So his father wept for him.

36 Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.

19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

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SERMON

Stephen Ahn

Q&A

Text your questions to 416-830-0335

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SONG OF RESPONSE -GOODNESS OF GOD

(© 2018 Bethel Music Publishing / Fellow Ships Music / So Essential Tunes / SHOUT! Music Publishing / Alletrop Music. CCLI# 7117726.)

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I love You Lord

Oh Your mercy never fails me

All my days

I’ve been held in Your hands

From the moment that I wake up

Until I lay my head

I will sing of the goodness of God

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All my life You have been faithful

All my life You have been so, so good

With every breath that I am able

I will sing of the goodness of God

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I love Your voice

You have led me through the fire

In darkest nights

You are close like no other

I’ve known You as a father

I’ve known You as a friend

I have lived in the goodness of God

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Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me

Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me

With my life laid down, I’m surrendered now, I give You everything

Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me

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COMMUNION
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PRAYER FOR THOSE SEARCHING FOR TRUTH

Lord Jesus, you claim to be the way, the truth, and the life.  Grant that I might be undaunted by the cost of following you as I consider the reasons for doing so. If what you claim is true, please guide me, teach me, and open me to the reality of who you are.  Give me an understanding of you that is coherent, convincing and that leads to the life you promise.  Amen.

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PRAYER OF BELIEF

Lord Jesus Christ, I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever dared admit, but through you I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope.  I thank you for paying my debt on the cross, taking what I deserved in order to offer me complete forgiveness. Knowing that you have been raised from the dead, I turn from my sins and receive you as my Saviour and Lord.  Amen.

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GOD COMMISSIONS

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BENEDICTION

—Romans 15:5, ESV

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May the God of endurance and encouragement

grant you to live in harmony with one another,

(in accord with Christ Jesus)

that together you may with one voice

glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

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PRAYER

Would you like prayer?  Send us an email at prayer@gracetoronto.ca.  We would love to intercede for you!

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