AUGUST 9, 2015
WELCOME Westminster Presbyterian Church is a covenant family of believers called by God to fulfill His purposes here in Laurel, and as a staging ground for worldwide kingdom growth where we seek to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ to fill the earth with disciples, subdue it redemptively for God s glory, and worship Him joyfully. We are being redeemed and equipped by the Spirit to build up one another until the Lord returns.
ORDER FOR THE CELEBRATION OF PUBLIC WORSHIP AND HOLY COMMUNION AUGUST 9, 2015 WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS * Congregation Standing PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP Lara Youngblood O Worship the King CALL TO WORSHIP* Let us worship God. He is our refuge and our fortress, our God, in whom we trust. Let us confess with our mouths, Jesus is Lord, and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Let us call upon our true God, believing in Him in our hearts, confessing Him with our mouths, worshiping Him in spirit and in truth. -based on Psalm 91:2; Romans 10:9,13 INVOCATION AND HYMNS OF PRAISE* The Solid Rock p. 2 By Faith p. 3 -! 1 -
THE SOLID ROCK -! 2 -
BY FAITH -!3 -
CORPORATE PROFESSION OF OUR FAITH* Christ Jesus, though He was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess to the glory of God: Jesus Christ is Lord! -from Philippians 2:5-11 INTERCESSORY PRAYER Mr. Robert Hayes HYMN OF ASPIRATION Be Thou My Vision p. 5 -! 4 -
BE THOU MY VISION -!5 -
GIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS OFFERTORY Lara Youngblood His Eye is on the Sparrow OFFERING PRAYER ANTHEM Choir Holy, Holy, Holy SCRIPTURE LESSON Psalm 129 PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION AND CHANGE SERMON Rev. Mike Allen Our Family Trip - Down But Not Out -! 6 -
CORPORATE CONFESSION OF SIN Forgiving Father, You have not asked anything of us that Jesus hasn t already endured. Yet we have forgotten our history that has included Your faithfulness. We have been afflicted, yet we insist on enduring it alone. Our backs have been plowed, but we do not endure without sin. Our prayers have been for our comfort and not for Your ultimate glory. Too often our obedience has been like that of the grass on the housetops, and our fruit has withered. Forgive us for our weak endurance and our forgetfulness of Your faithfulness. We long to be made new. We cherish Your forgiveness. We long for Your grace. This we pray in the name our Suffering Servant, Jesus. Amen. (Hear now our silent and individual prayers of confession) ASSURANCE OF PARDON 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. -! 7 -
HOLY COMMUNION Minister: The peace of the Lord be with you! People: And also with you! Invitation to the Table and Words of Institution Breaking of the Bread and Sharing of the Cup The center of each bread tray contains gluten-free bread. The outer rings of each cup tray contains wine, the inner rings contain juice. Elements will be served by the elders. Please hold the elements as they will be taken together after all are served. BENEDICTION & HYMN OF REFLECTION* By Faith By faith the church was called to go, in the pow r of the Spirit to the lost, to deliver captives and to preach good news, in every corner of the earth. Chorus: We will stand as children of the promise; We will fix our eyes on Him, our souls s reward. Till the race is finished and the work is done, we ll walk by faith and not by sight. By faith this mountain shall be moved, and the pow r of the gospel shall prevail, For we know in Christ all things are possible, for all who call upon His name. Chorus -! 8 -
SERMON NOTES Westminster Presbyterian Church Our Family Trip - Down But Not Out August 9, 2015 Psalm 129 I. Perseverance Is Endured With God s P vv.1-2 II. Perseverance Is Experienced With P vv. 2-3 III. Perseverance Trusts That God Is P v. 4 IV. Perseverance Can Involve Angry P vv. 5-8 V. Perseverance Is Assured Because Jesus Took Our P Sources Consulted: Accordance Bible Software - ESV - Greek and Hebrew Analysis; ESV Study Bible; Calvin Commentaries; Keil, C. F.; Delitzsch, Franz Commentary on the Old Testament; Eugene H. Peterson - A Long Obedience In The Same Direction; Derek Thomas - Making The Most Of Your Devotional Life; John Piper - Desiring God; Miroslav Volf - Free Of Charge; Derek Kidner - Tyndale Old Testament Commentary (Psalms 73-150; Ligon Duncan - Psalm 129; Sinclair Ferguson -Psalm 129; Charles Spurgeon - Treasury Of David Rev. Michael T. Allen -! 9 -
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEK Monday/Tuesday Affliction has marked the people of God from their youth. What does the phrase, from my youth say about Israel s beginning? What were the conditions of Israel s beginnings (Exodus 1, 2)? Our first sermon point was Perseverance Is Endured [together] With God s People. How do we get this point from verses 1 and 2? Do you know a person who is afflicted at this time that needs the comfort of a fellow believer? How might you apply verses 1 and 2 to that relationship? Our second point was Perseverance Is Experienced With Perspective from verses 2 and 3. What perspective is found in these two verses? Think about the terminology used of having one s back plowed. Describe the full meaning of that phrase to the best of your ability. Reflect on your own history of suffering and thank God for the perspective you have gained from your walk with Him. Wednesday/Thursday The third point in Sunday s sermon was, Perseverance trusts that God is present from verse 4. Explain in as much detail as you can what it means by, The Lord is righteous. How does trusting that God is present encourage you to persevere? John Newton said, Everything is necessary that God sends our way; nothing can be necessary that he withholds. Rewrite this quote in your own words and reflect on it s meaning. Find a text in the New Testament that might support this quote. Think of ways in which you knew God was present with you in a difficult time. What details confirmed His footprints? Be present for someone who is afflicted this week. Use this Psalm to encourage them. Write out a prayer praising God for His faithfulness to you and your family. Friday/Saturday Perseverance can involve angry prayer. Define righteous anger and unrighteous anger. List examples from the bible of those who displayed righteous anger. What were they defending and what were they seeking to destroy? Have you ever prayed an imprecatory prayer? On what is such a prayer supported? How does God s promise to Abraham help shape a prayer for God s judgment? Write out a prayer of imprecation and think about it for a while. Ask yourself, Is this something God would have me say in prayer? How might such a prayer be redemptive in the life of someone who is afflicting God s people? Lastly, reflect on the last point, Perseverance is assured because Jesus took our place. How does verse 3, The plowers plowed upon my back, they made long their furrows. find its significance in the sufferings of Jesus (hint: Matthew 2:15, Isaiah 50:6, Hosea 11:1)? Spend some time in worship, expressing to God your awe of how Christ fulfills and unites with us in the sufferings expressed in this Psalm. Explain this to someone else today, who may be having a difficult time making sense of their current affliction. - 10! -
MISSIONARY SPOTLIGHT Rev. Chris & Kirsten Furr Maren Lynn, Reece Theodore and Carlson Josiah France - 11! -
ANNOUNCEMENTS Sunday Evening Worship begins at 6pm. Please join us for a time of praise, worship, and study of God s Word. Ladies Bible Study will meet this Tuesday, August 11th at 9:30 am in the Fellowship Room. Please read Psalm 31 and Deuteronomy 32 and remember to bring your Bible, a pen and a notebook. Christian Food Mission: In order to keep the food bank stocked for those who are referred for grocery assistance, Westminster is asked to provide the following items: Mayonnaise & Chili with Beans. Please place your items in the basket located in the atrium or in the church office by tomorrow afternoon. ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL OFFERINGS The Book of Hebrews is taught by a rotation of Elders and meets in the Family Life Center, Room 33. The Word Speaks is taught by David & Barbara Holt and meets in the Family Life Center, Room 35. - 12! -
THIS WEEK AT WESTMINSTER Sunday, August 9 9:00 AM - Sunday School 10:00 AM - Fellowship 10:30 AM - Morning Worship 3:00 PM - Children s Ministry Team Meeting 6:00 PM - Evening Worship Monday, August 10 9:30 AM - Stretch Class Tuesday, August 11 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM - MMO Wednesday, August 12 7:00 AM - Men s Bible Study 11:00 AM - Women s Prayer Group Thursday, August 13 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM - MMO 9:30 AM - Stretch Class Friday, August 14 No Activities Planned Saturday, August 15 No Activities Planned Elder/Deacon of the Week: Elder Deacon August 3 - August 9 Robert Hayes Danny Martin August 10 - August 16 Victor Jones Westminster Officers & Staff: Elders Phil Buehler Robert Hayes Victor Jones Jr. Steven Morgan Rick Youngblood Church Staff Deacons Gale Alexander, Nursery Director Rev. Mike Allen, Pastor Jeremy Britt, Youth Director Lisa Corley, Office Manager Rev. Kory Duncan, Associate Pastor Dave Graeser, Music Ministries Eric Parker, Pastoral Intern Lara Youngblood, Pianist Darron Dodd Scott Alexander Chuck Bell Robert Burdette Darron Dodd Kline Estess Luke Hammonds Josh Jones Grant Kennedy Danny Martin Larkin Simpson John Tucker Instrumentalists David Bonilla, Violin Andrew Villanueva, Viola - 13! -
WELCOME! If you are a visitor and would like more information about our church, please fill out the contact information below and place in the offering plate as it passes: Name Address Phone Number Children s Names & Ages Add me to the phone & email list. Prayer Requests Wednesday Evening Activities Will Begin on August 26th! - 14! -