The Order for the Worship of God The Lord s Day January 27, :15 a.m.

Transcription

1 The Order for the Worship of God The Lord s Day January 27, :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 As long as I am stricken with the guilt of my sins, I will be captive to them, and will often find myself re-committing the very sins about which I feel most guilty. The Devil is well aware of this fact; he knows that if he can keep me tormented by sin s guilt, he can dominate me with sin s power. The gospel, however, slays sin at this root point and thereby nullifies sin s power over me. The forgiveness of God, made known to me through the gospel, liberates me from sin s power because it liberates me first from its guilt; and preaching such forgiveness to myself is a practical way of putting the gospel into operation as a nullifier of sin s power in my life. Milton Vincent, A Gospel Primer for Christians 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 Isaiah 25 and Psalm 145 Phil Boddie, elder Leader: O Lord, you are our God; we will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago. All: Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. Leader: We will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and we will meditate on your wonderful works. All: We will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. We will praise your holy name forever and ever. 1

2 This Is My Father s World Maltbie Babcock, 1901 This is my Father s world, and to my listening ears All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres. This is my Father s world: I rest me in the thought Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas; His hand the wonders wrought. This is my Father s world, the birds their carols raise, The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker s praise. This is my Father s world. O let me ne er forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet. This is my Father s world: the battle is not done: Jesus Who died shall be satisfied, and earth and Heav n be one. 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 WE CONFESS TOGETHER WHAT WE BELIEVE The Apostles Creed Leader: Christians, what do you believe about God? We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. We believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell.* The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there He will come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic** church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. * he descended into hell refers to the righteous wrath of God which Jesus endured in our place when he suffered and died on the cross. ** catholic refers to the world-wide Church of Jesus Christ. The Gospel Doxology Words/Music by Zac Hicks & Julie Anne Vargas Your perfect Law exposes me I feel my sin and desperate need My best good works are powerless To satisfy Your righteousness But there is One who lived for me His life, my only victory His death forever sealed in time That I am His and He is mine Praise God from Whom all blessings flow Praise Him, all creatures here below Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. 3

4 WE REPENT OF OUR SINS AND RECEIVE GOD S MERCY The Call to Confession from Isaiah 30 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. The Public Confession of Sin Gracious Father, you are rich in mercy to all those who come to you through faith in Jesus Christ. Your Word tells us that all our outward sins flow from our hearts, which are full of wickedness, sexual immorality, greed, anger, and idolatry. Apart from your grace in Jesus Christ, we are without hope and powerless to change. So, Father, have mercy upon us as we take refuge in Jesus life, death and resurrection. By the work of your Spirit within us, please give us hearts to love you more than we love anything or anyone. And whatever we do, in word or deed, may we do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to you through him. Amen. Silent Prayers of Confession The Hope and Encouragement of the Gospel from Hebrews 10 We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. By one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. 4

5 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. 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 What Jesus Says about Marriage and Divorce Mark 10:1-12 (pg in the pew Bible) Dr. David Harding And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them. 2 And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? 3 He answered them, What did Moses command you? 4 They said, Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away. 5 And Jesus said to them, Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. 6 But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. 7 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate. 10And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11 And he said to them, Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery. Sermon Notes The Big Idea: Jesus deals with a deceptive trap concerning a question about divorce by teaching God s definitive truth about marriage. He takes us back to the Scriptures to show us God s design for marriage, his permission for divorce, and his provision for remarriage. He calls us to examine the hardness of our hearts in relation to God s Word and to uphold, preserve and rejoice in his vision of the sacredness of marriage. I. The Deceptive Trap The context of the question (v. 2) The motive behind the question (v. 2) 6

7 II. The Definitive Truth God s permission for divorce (vv. 3-5) God s plan for marriage (vv. 6-9) God s provision for remarriage (vv ) Questions for personal reflection and family/community group discussion: 1. How did God minister to you through the worship service? Can you share a point from the sermon you are seeking to apply to your life this week? 2. What is our culture s view of marriage and divorce? How is this similar to the Pharisees view? 3. What was the Pharisees motive in asking Jesus about divorce? How did Jesus avoid the trap and turn it around so that the Pharisees got caught in their own snare? 4. In his answer to the Pharisees, why does Jesus go back to Genesis 2:24? According to Genesis 2:18-25, what is God s definition of marriage? Read Ephesians 5:17-33, what is the purpose in marriage? 5. How does Jesus view of marriage affect your view of marriage and also your experience of it or pursuit of it? 6. According to Matthew 19:9 and 1 Corinthians 7:10-17, what are the two Biblical grounds for divorce and remarriage? What hope is there for those who have been unbiblically divorced and remarried? 7. If you are married, how can you better live out the picture of the heavenly marriage of Christ and the church? Talk about practical things you could change. 8. How does Christ s marriage to his church affect single believers? Prayer: Pray for grace to receive and joyfully obey Jesus design for marriage. 7

8 The Prayers of God s People WE COMMUNE WITH JESUS CHRIST AT HIS TABLE The Invitation to the Lord s Table The Session of St. Petersburg Presbyterian Church welcomes to the Lord s Table all baptized persons who trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation and are members in good standing of a congregation that proclaims the gospel. If you are not prepared to receive the sacrament this morning and/or have questions about your relationship to Christ and His Church, please speak with the pastor after the service. You are encouraged to read and meditate on the Scripture passages printed below as the bread and cup are distributed. May God draw near to you as you draw near to Him through faith in Jesus Christ. The Words of Institution The Giving and Receiving of the Bread and Wine The communion trays contain wine on the inner rings and grape juice on the outer ring. Please wait until all have been served, so we may eat together. Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever. (John 6:35, 51, 57-58) Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. (John 6:53-56) The Prayer of Thanksgiving 8

9 WE RESPOND TO GOD S GRACE WITH SACRIFICIAL GENEROSITY Worshiping God through Our Financial Giving The cash offering this morning is designated for the Deacon s Fund, which helps our Deacons provide financial assistance to our members and others in need. O Love that Will Not Let Me Go Words: George Matheson, Music: Christopher Miner. O Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee; I give Thee back the life I owe, That in Thine ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be. O Light that followest all my way, I yield my flickering torch to Thee; My heart restores its borrowed ray, That in Thy sunshine s blaze its day May brighter, fairer be. O Joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to Thee; I trace the rainbow through the rain, And feel the promise is not vain, That morn shall tearless be. O Cross that liftest up my head, I dare not ask to fly from thee; I lay in dust life s glory dead, And from the ground there blossoms red Life that shall endless be. WE ARE SENT INTO THE WORLD TO MAKE DISCIPLES The Benediction 2 Corinthians 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. The Dismissal Having been renewed and equipped by the gospel of God s grace in Jesus Christ, let us go from here to live in the world as the faithful Bride of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 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. Missions Weekend, March 1-3 Our annual missions conference weekend is March 1-3. The theme for this year s conference is Christ for the Nations. We are pleased to have Rev. Mike Malone as our guest preacher. Mike and his wife, Barb, have served churches in Virginia, Indiana and Florida. Mike is currently an assistant pastor at Independent Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tennessee. In addition to a fruitful pastoral ministry in the local church, Mike and Barb have had the joy of serving the Africa Inland Church of Tanzania for many years through a ministry partnership and friendship with Bishop Peter Kitula. The Malone s have three daughters, all of whom are married, and enjoy every moment they get with their five grandchildren. New Monthly Small Group Opportunity Beginning February 7 A new monthly small group fellowship will meet the First Thursday of each month from 6:30-8:30 p.m., beginning February 7, reading and discussing Instruments in the Redeemers' Hands by Paul Tripp. There will be a simple meal coordinated by the host, book discussion, prayer and weekly follow-up via social media posts for sharing, learning opportunities and prayer needs. Host homes will rotate each month. Contact Steve Curtiss if interested at The first meeting will be at the Curtiss home, th Avenue N., St. Petersburg Women s Bible Study Join us for our Spring Women s Bible Study, each Tuesday, at 9:30 a.m. at the church. 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 Join the men s Bible study each Friday 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. 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 27) 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. Safety/Security Team Meeting 12:00 p.m. Officer Training Monday (Office closed) Tuesday 9:30 a.m. Women s Bible Study 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 One Year Community Bible Reading Calendar Monday, Jan 28 Exodus 8-10 Matthew 20 Tuesday, Jan 29 Exodus Matthew 21 Wednesday, Jan 30 Exodus Matthew 22 Thursday, Jan 31 Exodus Matthew 23 Friday, Feb 1 Exodus Matthew 24 Saturday, Feb 2 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