Bayshore Gardens Community Church Believing, Again Gaining Hope Caring Relationships Christ Jesus
WE EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO MEMBERS, REGULAR ATTENDERS, and THOSE VISITING TODAY. If you are visiting with us, we welcome you to our church! You are no longer a stranger for you are with the people of God.
WE INVITE YOU TO SIGN THE WHITE ATTENDANCE PAD so that we may celebrate your presence with us today! Please pass it on to the next person and then back down the row
Please Take Your Bulletins Home With You and Read the Announcements We invite you to take advantage of the Opportunities for fellowship and service
OCTOBER CONSISTORY MEETING THIS COMING TUESDAY OCTOBER 11 Room 3 - Education Bldg
PASTOR DUSTIN SEDLAK (our new Minister Under Contract) will be conducting our worship service on SUNDAY, OCTBER 23 so you can meet him. We expect he will begin his ministry here on November 27 th
Bayshore Gardens Community Church Believing, Again Gaining Hope Caring Relationships Christ Jesus
THE CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 19:7-9,14) [ Pastor / CONGREGATION ] The decrees of the Lord are perfect, REVIVING THE SOUL. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, MAKING WISE THE SIMPLE. The precepts of the Lord are right, GIVING JOY TO THE HEART.
The commands of the Lord are radiant, BRINGING LIGHT TO THE EYES. The fear of the Lord is pure, ENDURING FOREVER. The ordinances of the Lord are sure, BEING ALTOGETHER RIGHTEOUS.
May the words of my mouth, AND THE MEDITATION OF MY HEART, Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, MY STRENGTH AND MY REDEEMER.
THE OPENING HYMN: #215 WHEN MORNING GILDS THE SKIES
(1) When morning gilds the skies my heart awaking cries: May Jesus Christ be praised! Alike at work and prayer, to Jesus I repair: May Jesus Christ be praised!
(2) The night becomes as day when from the heart we say: May Jesus Christ be praised! The powers of darkness fear when this sweet chant they hear: May Jesus Christ be praised!
(3) Sing, suns and stars of space, sing, all that see His face, May Jesus Christ be praised! God s whole creation sings, for now and evermore May Jesus Christ be praised!
(4) Be this, while life is mine, my canticle divine: May Jesus Christ be praised! Sing this eternal song through all the ages long: May Jesus Christ be praised!
SILENT PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND CONFESSION THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON Galatians 1:3-5 Grace and peace to you from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins according to the will of our God and Father, to Whom be glory for ever.
THE SONG OF RESPONSE #719 CHILDREN OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER (American English Version)
(1) Children of the heav nly Father Safely in His bosom gather; Nestling bird nor star in Heaven Such a refuge e er was given. (2) God His own shall tend and nourish; In His holy courts they flourish; From all evil things He spares them; In His mighty arms He bears them.
(3) Neither life nor death shall ever From the Lord His children sever; For to them His grace revealing, He turns sorrow into healing. (4) God has given, He has taken, But His children ne er forsaken; His the loving purpose solely To preserve them pure and holy.
A TIME OF SHARING WITH GOD S CHILDREN OF ALL AGES
LUKE 18:9-14 (AEV) Read by Elder Roy Palk, J.D. Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in only themselves thinking that they alone were righteous and regarded others with contempt: Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.
But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his chest in repentance and saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner! I tell you, this tax collector was made right with God, and went down to his home in peace. But the Pharisee, went down to his home unchanged and unforgiven. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.
THE SONG OF PREPARATION #548 AS THE DEER (1) As the deer panteth for the water, So my soul longeth after You. You alone are my heart s desire, And I long to worship You. You alone are my strength, my shield; To You alone may my spirit yield. You alone are my heart s desire, And I long to worship You.
(2) You re my Friend and You are my Brother, Even though You are a King. I love You more than any other, So much more than anything. You alone are my strength, my shield; To You alone may my spirit yield. You alone are my heart s desire, And I long to worship You.
(3) I want You more than gold or silver, Only You can satisfy. You alone are the real joy-giver, And the apple of my eye. You alone are my strength, my shield; To You alone may my spirit yield. You alone are my heart s desire, And I long to worship You.
THE SERMON GOD IS THE GREAT EQUALIZER Text: Luke 18:9-14 Rev. Dr. Daniel Herlein Bayshore Gardens Community Church
Proverbs 23:7 For as a person IS in his HEART, so IS that person. 1 Samuel 16:7 The Lord sees not as man sees, for man looks on the OUTWARD appearance, BUT GOD looks in on the HEART.
The T W O PERSONALITIES in this parable: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
LUKE 18:11 God, I thank you that I am NOT like other men -- robbers, evildoers, adulterers -- or even like this TAX COLLECTOR. LUKE 18:13 But the tax collector stood at a distance away. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his chest and said, God, have mercy on me, a sinner. [ θεός ἱλάσθητί μoι τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ ] God, have mercy on me, THE sinner.
THE FIRST IMPLIED QUESTION TO CONSIDER IN THIS PARABLE: WHY DID JESUS CRITICIZE THE PHARISEE?
EPHESIANS 2:8-9 It is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves. It is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. ROMANS 3:20,22 No one will be declared righteous in God s sight by observing the law; Rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. This right standing in God s sight comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
THE SECOND IMPLIED QUESTION TO CONSIDER IN THIS PARABLE: WHY DID JESUS COMMEND THE TAX COLLECTOR?
PROVERBS 28:13 He who conceals his sins will not find happiness but whoever confesses his sins and then renounces them will find mercy. 1 JOHN1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Always remember that GOD IS THE GREAT EQUALIZER Luke 18:14b For everyone who EXALTS himself will be HUMBLED, and he who HUMBLES himself will be EXALTED.
The Pastoral Prayer and The Lord s Prayer OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME. THY KINGDOM COME, THY 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 THINE IS THE KINGDOM, AND THE POWER, AND THE GLORY FOREVER AMEN.
OUR OFFERING As A Tangible Expression Of Our Gratitude To God, We Joyfully Offer Our Monetary Gifts To Financially Support God's Work At Bayshore Gardens Community Church
OFFERTORY MUSIC PEOPLE NEED THE LORD Harriet Hoeksema
THE DOXOLOGY PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW; PRAISE HIM ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW; PRAISE HIM ABOVE YE HEAVENLY HOST; PRAISE FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST. AMEN
THE CLOSING HYMN CLEANSE ME (Search Me, O God)
(1) Search me, O God and know my heart today; Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts I pray. See if there be some wicked way in me; Cleanse me from every sin and set me free.
(2) I praise You, Lord, for cleansing me from sin; Fulfill Your Word and make me pure within. Fill me with fire where once I burned with shame; Grant my desire to magnify Your name.
(3) Lord, take my life, and make it wholly Yours; Fill my poor heart with Your great love divine. Take all my will, my passion, self and pride; I now surrender, Lord, in me abide.
(4) O Holy Ghost, revival comes from You; Send a revival, start the work with me. Your Word declares You will supply our need; For blessings now, O Lord, I humbly plead.
THE PASTORAL BENEDICTION Go forth from this place as God s elect and covenant people... AMEN