The Order for the Worship of God The Lord s Day April 8, :15 a.m.

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "The Order for the Worship of God The Lord s Day April 8, :15 a.m."

Godfrey Booker
5 years ago
Views:

1 The Order for the Worship of God The Lord s Day April 8, :15 a.m. Welcome to St. Petersburg Presbyterian Church There is no greater joy than to know and worship Jesus Christ as Savior and King. 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. If you have questions about Christianity or the ministries of this church, please speak with one of our members or the pastor after the service. It would be a privilege to talk with you. Reflection The gospel encourages me to rest in my righteous standing with God, a standing which Christ Himself has accomplished and always maintains for me. I never have to do a moment s labor to gain or maintain my justified status before God. Freed from the burden of such a task, I now can put my energies into enjoying God, pursuing holiness, and ministering God s amazing grace to others. On my worst days of sin and failure, the gospel encourages me with God s unrelenting grace toward me. On my best days of victory and usefulness, the gospel keeps me relating to God solely on the basis of Jesus righteousness and not mine. 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 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. (Acts 10:36). Let us greet each other with this good news of peace. The Call to Worship God from Hebrews 12 Leader: You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. All: Therefore, let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. 1

2 Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder John Newton, 1774 Let us love and sing and wonder, let us praise the Savior s Name! He has hushed the law s loud thunder, He has quenched Mount Sinai s flame. He has washed us with His blood, He has brought us nigh to God. Let us love the Lord Who bought us, pitied us when enemies, Called us by His grace, and taught us, gave us ears and gave us eyes: He has washed us with His blood, He presents our souls to God. Let us sing, though fierce temptation, threaten hard to bear us down! For the Lord, our strong Salvation, holds in view the conqueror s crown: He Who washed us with His blood, soon will bring us home to God. Let us wonder; grace and justice, join and point to mercy s store; When through grace in Christ our trust is, justice smiles and asks no more: He Who washed us with His blood, has secured our way to God. Let us praise, and join the chorus, of the saints enthroned on high; Here they trusted Him before us, now their praises fill the sky: You have washed us with Your blood; You are worthy, Lamb of God! 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 Heidelberg Catechism Question 1 Leader: Christian, what is your only comfort in life and in death? All: That I am not my own, but belong body and soul, in life and in death to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven: in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him. My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less Words: Edward Mote, 1834 Music: William Bradbury. My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus name. Refrain On Christ, the solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand. When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil. (Refrain) His oath, His covenant, His blood, Support me in the whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. (Refrain) When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh may I then in Him be found. Dressed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne. (Refrain) 3

4 WE REPENT OF OUR SINS AND RECEIVE GOD S MERCY The Call to Confession Jeremiah 2:12-13 Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. The Public Confession of Sin Gracious Father, you call us to find our greatest joy and satisfaction in you, the Fountain of living water. But, we freely confess that while often pretending that you are our Treasure, we have preferred the comforts, pleasures and approval of the world. For the sake of Jesus, our Redeemer and Friend, please forgive our many sins. And, by your great mercy and love, enable us to feast our souls on you alone. For, you are worthy of our greatest allegiance and deepest affections. Amen. Silent Prayers of Confession The Hope and Encouragement of the Gospel We hear God s Word again, and are reminded that His mercy and grace are freely given to all who turn from sin and trust in Jesus Christ, the Friend of sinners. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. (John 3:16; 15:13-15) 4

5 All I Have Is Christ 2008 Sovereign Grace Music I once was lost in darkest night, yet thought I knew the way The sin that promised joy and life had led me to the grave I had no hope that you would own a rebel to your will And if you had not loved me first, I would refuse you still But as I ran my hell-bound race, indifferent to the cost You looked upon my helpless state and led me to the cross And I beheld God s love displayed, you suffered in my place You bore the wrath reserved for me; now all I know is grace Chorus Hallelujah! All I have is Christ Hallelujah! Jesus is my life Now, Lord, I would be yours alone, and live so all might see The strength to follow your commands could never come from me Oh Father, use my ransomed life in any way you choose And let my song forever be my only boast is you. (Chorus) We encourage children to remain with their parents for the remainder of the service. However, parents are welcome at this time to take their children, infants up to age 4, to the nursery. 5

6 WE HEAR GOD SPEAK IN HIS WORD The Sermon Jesus, the Friend of Sinners Mark 2:13-17 (pg. 837 in the Bible provided) Dr. David Harding 13He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, Follow me. And he rose and followed him. 15And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners? 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. The Big Idea: People like Levi (Matthew), the tax collector, were seen as moral and spiritual outcasts by the society and religious authorities of his day. However, then, as now, Jesus is the best of friends to sinners like Levi...and us. He chooses to be friends with those whom we least expect; he engages with those who seem the farthest away from God; and like a skilled physician, he exposes the hearts of those who think they are closest to God. As the Friend of Sinners Sermon Notes I. Jesus sovereignly chooses to be his followers whom we least expect (13-14) 6

7 II. Jesus relationally engages with those who seem the farthest away from God (15-16) III. Jesus mercifully exposes the hearts of those who think they are closest to God (16-17) Questions for personal reflection and family/community group discussion: 1. What was at least one truth God taught you or reminded you of from the worship service? 2. Read Luke 18:9-14, considering it along with Mark 2: Is anyone too bad or too lost to be saved? Why or why not? 3. In this passage from Mark s Gospel, the Pharisees don t see their need for Jesus salvation (16-17). What prevents us from seeing our need for a Savior? Can you think of examples from Scripture (or from history or personal experience) of people who became faithful followers of Jesus, even though they once appeared to be unlikely converts? 4. In the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), the good older son needs the love and grace of his father as much as the bad younger son. How do we still display older brother self-righteousness? What can we do to prevent falling into this trap? (See 1 Pet. 5:5-11) 5. Martin Luther called the church the infirmary for those who are sick. How could thinking of the church that way help you reach out to people who appear to be the farthest away from Christ? 6. What area(s) in your life is Jesus exposing, which needs the surgery of his grace? 7. What steps of obedient faith do you need to take as a result of this study? Pray for each other in this way. 7

8 The Prayers of God s People WE FEAST ON JESUS CHRIST BY FAITH IN THE LORD S SUPPER The Invitation to the Lord s Table The Session (elders) of St. Petersburg Presbyterian Church welcomes to the Lord s Table all those who are repenting of their sins and trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, and are baptized members in good standing of a congregation where the gospel is loved and proclaimed. The prayers printed below are offered to help you express your heart s desires to God as you commune with him in this meal. The Words of Institution The Giving and Receiving of the Bread and Cup Please wait until all have been served, so we may eat and drink together. Please note the cup trays contain wine on the inner rings and grape juice on the outer ring. Silent Prayers for Communing with Jesus Christ Prayer of Thanks Heavenly Father, thank you for all that you are, and all that you have done for me, and all you promise to do and be for me in Jesus. Thank you for giving me such a great salvation in him. Thank you for forgiving all my sins, crediting me with his righteousness, and adopting me as your dearly loved child. May I never lose sight of the grace you have so freely given me, and may every area of my life reflect that grace to others. In Jesus powerful name, Amen. Prayer of Belief Lord Jesus Christ, I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever dared to admit, but through your life, death and resurrection, I am more loved and accepted by God than I ever dared to 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 rest in you as my Savior and Lord. Amen. Prayer for Those Struggling with Sin Lord Jesus, grant that I may see in you the fulfillment of all my need, and may turn from every false satisfaction to you, the True and Living Bread. Enable me to lay aside the sin that clings so closely, and run with perseverance the race set before me, looking to you, the pioneer and finisher of my faith. Amen. 8

9 WE RESPOND TO THE GOSPEL 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. Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners J. Wilbur Chapman, 1910 Jesus! what a Friend for sinners! Jesus! Lover of my soul; Friends may fail me, foes assail me, He, my Savior, makes me whole. Chorus Hallelujah! what a Savior! Hallelujah! what a Friend! Saving, helping, keeping, loving, He is with me to the end. Jesus! what a Strength in weakness! Let me hide myself in Him. Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing, He, my Strength, my victory wins. Jesus! what a Help in sorrow! While the billows over me roll, Even when my heart is breaking, He, my Comfort, helps my soul. Jesus! what a Guide and Keeper! While the tempest still is high, Storms about me, night o ertakes me, He, my Pilot, hears my cry. Jesus! I do now receive Him, more than all in Him I find, He hath granted me forgiveness, I am His, and He is mine. 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 fed and satisfied by the amazing grace of Jesus Christ, let us go from here to live as those who know and love the Friend of sinners. 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 of the Month We are praying this month for our missionaries, David and Erin Pervis, serving with Mission to the World (MTW, the PCA s world missions agency) in Athens, Greece, using English instruction as a means for evangelism among Greeks and refugees from the Middle East and Asia. Pray for their two children, Clara (20) and Josiah (18). Sunday Morning Classes for All Ages Take advantage of the Christian learning and growth opportunities for children, youth and adults. Classes meet from 9-10 on Sunday mornings. Women s Bible Study Join us for our Women s Bible Study each Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. at the church. All women are welcome. We are studying from the book Under His Smile: Breaking Free From the Need to Perform, by Sue Cortese. For more details, contact Carolyn Boddie at pbfam41@tampabay.rr.com. Friday Morning Men s Bible Study Join with other SPPC men this Friday morning at 7:00 a.m. in the fellowship hall. We are studying the New Testament letter to the Hebrews. Contact Pastor Dave for more information at d.harding@stpetepca.org. James Club Prayer Meeting The James Club is now offering a weekly prayer time in the high school classroom, from 7:00-7:15 p.m. in conjunction with the regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday evenings. The James Club is an outreach ministry of SPPC for those struggling with alcohol and drug addictions. Worship Team Volunteers Needed For all those interested in helping lead congregational singing, there will be a brief meeting after the worship service on Sunday, April 15, in the sanctuary. The commitment would include being willing to sing at least one Sunday per month, learning new songs, and practicing with the team on Sunday mornings from 9 to 10. Come, raise your voice and help us as a church make a joyful noise to the Lord. Membership Matters Class for Prospective Members Are you interested in becoming a member of SPPC? Would you like to know more about our mission or what we believe? Our next Membership Matters weekend class is Friday evening, May 11, and Saturday morning, May 12. To register, or for more information, contact Michele Hurm, m.hurm@stpetepca.org, or

11 THIS WEEK AT SPPC Sunday (April 8) 8:30 a.m. Congregational Prayer (meet in adult classroom off fellowship hall) 9:00 a.m. Bible classes for all ages 10:15 a.m. Corporate Worship Monday (Office closed) Tuesday 9:30 a.m. Women s Bible Study meets in senior high classroom. 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. Tanner Community Group Downtown/Northeast St. Pete (727) :00 p.m. Burkham Community Group North St. Pete/Gandy (727) Friday 7:00 a.m. Men s Bible Study meets in fellowship hall. Year-to-Date Financial Information through March, 2018 Income Expenses 2018 Budget FP Missions Matching Gift Fund (from April 1, 2017) $51,118 $61,792 $243,275 $28,528 $34,522 One-Year Community Bible Reading Calendar Monday, Apr 9 Joshua 24; Judges Peter 3 Tuesday, Apr 10 Judges 3-5 Luke 1 Wednesday, Apr 11 Judges 6-8 Luke 2 Thursday, Apr 12 Judges 9-11 Luke 3 Friday, Apr 13 Judges Luke 4 Saturday, Apr 14 Psalm

12 MINISTRY LEADERSHIP Elders (The Session) Phil Boddie Steve Curtiss David Harding 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 Dave Shadle Bob Burkham 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

The Order for the Worship of God The Lord s Day February 3, :15 a.m.

The Order for the Worship of God The Lord s Day February 3, 2019 10:15 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