The Order for the Worship of God The Lord s Day January 13, :15 a.m.

Transcription

1 The Order for the Worship of God The Lord s Day January 13, :15 a.m. Welcome to St. Petersburg Presbyterian Church If you are with us for the first time, we are glad you are here! Please complete the guest card found in the pew rack, and place it in the offering basket at the conclusion of the service. Join us for refreshments and conversation afterwards in the fellowship hall. We look forward to meeting you. More information about our church can be found on our website at Reflection Jesus spoke with great seriousness and concreteness about sin. He does not treat it lightly, nor does he offer cheap and easy remedies. On the contrary, only when we aim at the complete eradication of sin are we likely to have any success against its influence. We are faced with two alternatives: kill sin, or sin will eventually kill us. There can be no reconciliation between the Christian and sin, and no platform for negotiation. The battle for purity is serious, and it is lifelong. According to Jesus, the alternative to winning that battle is the loss of our whole life, in the flames of condemnation. Sinclair Ferguson WE ENTER GOD S PRESENCE WITH THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE The Welcome and Announcements Pastor David Harding The Passing of the Peace Since God has made peace with us through the finished work of his Son, Jesus Christ, we welcome one another with his peace. The Call to Worship God from Psalm 62 and 63 Leader: My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. All: He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock and my refuge. Leader: You, O God, are strong, and you, O Lord, are loving. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. All: I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. 1

2 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty Joachim Neander, 1689 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation! O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation! All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near; Praise Him in glad adoration. Praise to the Lord, Who o er all things so wondrously reigneth, Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth! Hast thou not seen how thy desires e er have been Granted in what He ordaineth? Praise to the Lord, Who doth prosper thy work and defend thee; Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee. Ponder anew what the Almighty can do, If with His love He befriend thee. Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him! All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him. Let the Amen sound from His people again; Gladly forever adore Him. The Prayer of Adoration and the Lord s Prayer Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. 2

3 This morning, Sophia Jean Vellenga, infant daughter of Mary Vellenga, is receiving the sign and seal of God s covenant of grace. Questions to the Parent 1. Do you acknowledge Sophia s need of the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, and the renewing grace of the Holy Spirit? 2. Do you claim God s covenant promises on her behalf, and do you look in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ for her salvation, as you do for your own? 3. Do you now unreservedly dedicate Sophia to God, and promise, in humble reliance upon divine grace, that you will endeavor to set before her a godly example, that you will pray with and for her, that you will teach her the doctrines of the Christian faith, and that you will strive, by all the means God has appointed, to bring her up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? Question to the Congregation Do you, the members of St. Petersburg Presbyterian Church, undertake the privilege and responsibility of assisting Mary in the Christian nurture of Sophia? 3

4 WE REPENT OF OUR SINS AND RECEIVE GOD S MERCY The Call to Confession from Romans 3 and Isaiah 55 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. So, seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him. Let him turn to our God, for he will freely pardon. The Public Confession of Sin Gracious Father, it is your chief plan for my life that you would be more desirable and satisfying to me than anything or anyone else. Yet, I know that I long for you so little and live for you so poorly. Renew my heart with your promises of mercy in Jesus Christ, so that I will turn from my sinful cravings and find myself more firmly rooted in your love for me. Make Jesus the foremost desire and delight of my life! Hear my prayer, gracious Lord, Amen. The Assurance of God s Forgiveness in Jesus Christ from 1 Timothy 1; 1 Peter 2; Psalm 6 Leader: Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. All: The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer. Thanks be to God. 4

5 How Deep The Father s Love for Us Stuart Townend, 1995 How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure That He should give His only Son, to make a wretch His treasure. How great the pain of searing loss, the Father turns His face away As wounds which mar the Chosen One, bring many sons to glory. Behold the Man upon a cross, my sin upon His shoulders. Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers. It was my sin that held Him there until it was accomplished; His dying breath has brought me life, I know that it is finished. I will not boast in anything: no gifts, no power, no wisdom. But I will boast in Jesus Christ; His death and resurrection. Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer. But this I know with all my heart; His wounds have paid my ransom. Parents with children up to age 4 are welcome to take them to the nursery for the remainder of the service. 5

6 WE HEAR GOD SPEAK IN HIS WORD The Sermon The Gospel of Mark: Conquering King, Suffering Servant Fighting the Right Battle Mark 9:38-50 (pg. 845 in the pew Bible) Dr. David Harding 38John said to him, Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us. 39 But Jesus said, Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 For the one who is not against us is for us. 41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward. 42 Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another. The Big Idea: The Big Idea: Jesus calls us to make sure we fight the right battles for the right reasons because the stakes are so high. 1. The wrong battle: fighting each other (38-41) 6

7 2. The right battle: fighting sin within (42-50) Sermon Notes 3. What s at stake in our fight? Questions for personal reflection and family/community group discussion: 1. How did God speak to you through His Word today? What steps of obedience is the Lord calling you to take? 2. What is the connection between Mark 9:38-42 and Jesus previous lesson on humility in vv30-37? How does all that fit together with vv42-50? What is Jesus warning the disciples (and us) to be on guard against? 3. How doe Jesus describe hell in this passage? 4. What are the common objections to the existence of hell? Why is it important that we be able to address these objections? 5. How does Jesus teaching about the nature of sin and the consequences of sin sober us up and help us in our fight against the sin in our hearts? 6. How seriously are you taking the dangers of a proud, divisive spirit that excludes other believers? Are you taking this as seriously as Jesus takes does? 7. What can you take from this message and share with others in your life? 7

8 The Prayers of God s People WE FEAST ON JESUS CHRIST BY FAITH IN THE LORD S SUPPER The Session (elders) of SPPC welcomes to the Lord s Table all who are repenting of their sins, professing faith in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation, and are expressing that faith as a baptized member in good standing of a congregation where the Biblical gospel is loved and proclaimed. The Words of Institution The Giving and Receiving of the Bread Please wait until all have been served, so we may eat together Behold the Lamb Keith and Kristyn Getty, Stuart Townend, 2006 Behold the Lamb who bears our sins away, slain for us: and we remember The promise made that all who come in faith find forgiveness at the cross. So we share in this Bread of life, and we drink of His sacrifice, As a sign of our bonds of peace around the table of the King. The body of our Savior, Jesus Christ, torn for you: eat and remember The wounds that heal, the death that brings us life, paid the price to make us one. Chorus The Giving and Receiving of the Cup Please wait until all have been served, so we may drink together Please note the cup trays contain wine on the inner rings and grape juice on the outer ring. The blood that cleanses every stain of sin, shed for you: drink and remember He drained death's cup that all may enter in to receive the life of God. So we share in this Bread of life, and we drink of His sacrifice, As a sign of our bonds of peace around the table of the King. And so with thankfulness and faith we rise to respond: and to remember Our call to follow in the steps of Christ as His body here on earth. As we share in His suffering, we proclaim: Christ will come again! And we'll join in the feast of heaven around the table of the King. 8

9 WE RESPOND TO GOD S GRACE WITH SACRIFICIAL GENEROSITY Worshiping God through Our Financial Giving Because God has lavished us with the riches of his grace in Jesus, we give our money joyfully and sacrificially for the spread of the gospel in our city and around the world. Before the Throne of God Above Charitie Bancroft, 1863 Before the throne of God above, I have a strong and perfect plea, A Great High Priest Whose name is Love, Who ever lives and pleads for me. My name is graven on His hands, my name is written on His heart; I know that while in heaven He stands, no tongue can bid me thence depart, No tongue can bid me thence depart. When Satan tempts me to despair, and tells me of the guilt within, Upward I look and see Him there, Who made an end to all my sin. Because the sinless Savior died, my sinful soul is counted free; For God, the Just, is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me, To look on Him and pardon me. Behold Him there! The risen Lamb, my perfect, spotless Righteousness, The great unchangeable I AM, the King of glory and of grace! One with Himself I cannot die, my soul is purchased by His blood; My life is hid with Christ on high, with Christ, my Savior and my God, With Christ my Savior and my God. WE ARE SENT INTO THE WORLD TO MAKE DISCIPLES The Benediction Numbers 6:24-26 The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. The Dismissal Having been empowered and equipped by the gospel of Jesus Christ, let us go into this new week to live in joyful obedience to our King. All: Thanks be to God! Please remain for refreshments and conversation in the fellowship hall. All music used by permission through Christian Copyright Licensing International, #

10 ANNOUNCEMENTS Missionary Prayer Focus of the Month Please pray for our missionary for the month of January, Susan Newkirk. Susan is serving with Mission to the World (MTW) as the Children s Ministry Director at Tokai Community Church in Cape Town, South Africa. Pray for much spiritual fruit as Susan coordinates a girls Bible club and boys soccer ministry in the Westlake community where she lives and works. Membership Matters Seminar, January If you are interested in becoming a member of SPPC, or want to learn more about the Christian faith and the ministries of our church, then join us for Membership Matters. This is a weekend seminar, Friday evening (dinner included) and Saturday morning (breakfast). Please register online at the church website, matters, or by contacting Michele Hurm at m.hurm@stpetepca.org or Homeless Outreach Ministry Team Meeting Today Join with others from SPPC in serving the poor and homeless in our community by being part of the Homeless Outreach Ministry Team. We are meeting today following the worship service in the high school room. Bring your ideas and suggestions on how our church family can be more involved in serving our community with gospel in word and deed. For more information, please speak to Kyle and Ann Krueger, Dave and Beth Shadle, or Bob and Barbara Burkham. Women s Bible Study, January 22 Join us for our Spring Women s Bible Study, each Tuesday, at 9:30 a.m. at the church starting in January 22. All women are welcome. We will be studying from the book Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges. To obtain your book/study guide (all in one), please speak to Carolyn Boddie or her at pbfam41@tampabay.rr.com. The cost is $12. Men s Friday Morning Bible Study Resumes January 18 The men s Bible study will start again on Friday, January 18, at 7:00 a.m. in the fellowship hall. We will be studying Paul s letter to the Galatians. For more information, contact Pastor Dave at d.harding@stpetepca.org. Game Day and Prayer Time This Friday Come and enjoy some fun together at Game Day this Friday, January 18 from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. in the church fellowship hall. We ll pray together from 12:30-1:00. Lunch will be provided. If you have any questions, please call Jess Anderson at (813) James Club Meeting The James Club is a Christ-centered outreach ministry for those struggling with alcohol and drug addictions. It meets on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 in the fellowship hall, with a prayer meeting from 7:00-7:15 in the high school room. For more information, contact Kyle Krueger at kkrueger@bloomberg.net. 10

11 THIS WEEK AT SPPC Sunday (January 13) 8:30 a.m. Congregational Prayer meets in adult classroom off fellowship hall 9:00 a.m. Sunday school classes for children, youth and adults 10:15 a.m. Corporate Worship 11:30 a.m. Refreshments in the fellowship hall 12:00 p.m. Homeless Outreach Meeting Monday (Office closed) Tuesday 7:00 p.m. James Club Prayer meets in the senior high classroom. 7:30 p.m. James Club a gospel-centered ministry for those struggling with alcohol and drug addictions. Meets in the fellowship hall. Wednesday 7:00 p.m. Harding Community Group (727) :00 p.m. Burkham Community Group (727) Friday 7:00 a.m. Men s Bible Study meets in fellowship hall 10:00 a.m. Game Day Saturday 5:30 p.m. New Hope Christian Fellowship 2nd Ave. N. and 14th St. (red warehouse) One Year Community Bible Reading Calendar Monday, Jan 14 Genesis Matthew 10 Tuesday, Jan 15 Genesis Matthew 11 Wednesday, Jan 16 Genesis Matthew 12 Thursday, Jan 17 Genesis Matthew 13 Friday, Jan 18 Genesis Matthew 14 Saturday, Jan 19 Psalm

12 Contact Information MINISTRY LEADERSHIP Elders (The Session) Rev. David Harding, Pastor Phil Boddie Steve Curtiss Deacons (The Diaconate) Bob Burkham Mike Eldridge Chad Martin Dave Shadle Administrative Assistant Michele Hurm Children and Youth Derik Jenkins Christian Education Steve Curtiss Community Groups David Massey Facilities Bob Burkham Mike Eldridge Homeless Outreach Kyle Krueger Hospitality Barbara Burkham Men s Ministry David Harding Mercy Ministry Bob Burkham Dave Shadle Missions Phil and Carolyn Boddie Sunday Operations Chad Martin Ushers/Greeters Mike Eldridge Women s Ministry Cheryl Massey SUPPORTED MISSIONARIES & AGENCIES Esaie and Natacha Etienne Mission to the World Port-au-Prince, Haiti Susan Newkirk Mission to the World Cape Town, S. Africa David and Erin Pervis Mission to the World Athens, Greece Bill and Pam Schweitzer Mission to the World Gateshead, England Marcelo and Claudia Carvalho WEC Brazil Amazon, Brazil Andrew and Meghan Newman Reformed University Fellowship USF, Tampa Lindsey Harding Reformed University Fellowship Auburn University K-Life St. Petersburg New Hearts Outreach Tampa New Life Solutions (Pregnancy Center) St. Petersburg 12