Sunday, April 22, 2018 Preparing for Worship For Reflection Psalm 29 Now Unto Jehovah Ps 29 Since God has a Son of his own, and such a Son, how wonderful God s love in adopting us! We needed a Father, but he did not need sons. ~ Thomas Watson Gathering Lamb of God TE * Greeting We Come O Christ to You Jh 1:29 Jh 14:6 We come, O Christ, to you, true Son of God and man, By whom all things consist, in whom all life began: In You alone we live and move, And have our being in Your love. You are the Way to God, Your blood our ransom paid; In You we face our Judge and Maker unafraid. Before the throne absolved we stand, Your love has met Your law's demand. You are the living Truth! All wisdom dwells in You, The source of every skill, the one eternal true! O great I Am! In You we rest, Sure answer to our every quest. You only are true Life, to know You is to live The more abundant life that earth can never give: O risen Lord! We live in You: In us each day Your life renew. We worship You, Lord Christ, our Savior and our King, To You our youth and strength adoringly we bring: So fill our hearts, that all may view Your life in us, and turn to You.
God calls His children to worship Worship by the Word TE Call to worship ML What a Friend We Have in Jesus Isa 43:1-3a Php 4:6 What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry ev'rything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry ev'rything to God in prayer. Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged: take it to the Lord in prayer! Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our ev'ry weakness - take it to the Lord in prayer! Are we weak and heavy-laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge - take it to the Lord in prayer! Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In his arms he'll take and shield thee; thou wilt find a solace there. ML When I Fear My Faith Will Fail Ps 139:10 When I fear my faith will fail Christ will hold me fast. When the tempter would prevail He will hold me fast. I could never keep my hold Through life s fearful path. For my love is often cold; He must hold me fast. Chorus: He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast; For my Savior loves me so; He will hold me fast. Those He saves are His delight; Christ will hold me fast. Precious in His holy sight; He will hold me fast. He ll not let my soul be lost, His promises shall last. Bought by Him at such a cost, He will hold me fast. Chorus For my life He bled and died; Christ will hold me fast.
Justice has been satisfied; He will hold me fast. Raised with Him to endless life; He will hold me fast. Till our faith is turned to sight When he comes at last. Chorus, 2x LE Prayer for worship Isa 43:16-19 God cultivates His children through His word LE * Scripture Ps 33:8-12; Eph 3:7-13 Ps 33:8-10 8 Let the whole world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of him. 9 For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command. 10 The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. 11 But the LORD's plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. 12 What joy for the nation whose God is the LORD, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance. Eph 3:7-13 7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. LE Prayer for belief TE Sermon Jh 18:19 Eph 3:7-13 Context (introduction) Focus (attention): What about when I m discouraged and don t have any hope I ll ever change?
Text (explanation) Us (application) Jesus (the gospel) LE Prayer for congregation LE Prayer of thanks Psalm 24 Lift Up Your Heads Jas 5:16 Ps 24:7 Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates; Behold, the King of glory waits; The King of kings is drawing near; The Savior of the world is here! God cleanses His children Worship at the Table LE Profession of faith Apostles Creed (sung) I believe in God the Father, Maker of all heav n and earth; And in Jesus Christ, our Savior, God s own Son, of matchless worth; By the Spirit was conceived of the virgin Mary born, He in whom I have believed: God Almighty Three in One. Suffered under Pontius Pilate, crucified, for me He died; Laid within the grave so silent, gates of hell He opened wide; For the stone-sealed tomb was empty; on the third day He arose; Into heaven made His entry, mighty conqu ror of His foes. At God s right hand He is seated till His coming, as He said; Final judgment will be meted to the living and the dead I confess the Holy Spirit who was sent through Christ the Son
To apply salvation s merit God, the Spirit, Three in One. I believe the church of Jesus, universal, e er remains; We are one through all the ages, in communion of the saints. I believe sins are forgiven, that our bodies will be raised To eternal life in glory ever let His name be praised. LE Confession of sin Zec 4:6; Ps 127:1 Elder: Holy Spirit, we believe that it is not by might or power of our efforts that any real change happens in our lives. Congregation: And yet, we still live as if it is up to us to live the Christian life, relying on ourselves, and all but forgetting that it is to Your glory Holy Spirit to rely on You alone. Whether it is growing our own walk of faith, or growing the gospel s ministry through our church, we profess Spirit-reliance, and fall back into self-reliance. All: Because Jesus pays for these sins too, please, forgive and cleanse. Break us of this perpetual default habit, and give us a vibrant and growing experience of Christ s new life. In Him we ask, amen. TE Assurance of Cleansing Jer 24:6 God communes with His children TE Word of Promise I Co 11:24b; Isa 53:3-6 LE Prayer (communion) Isa 50:6 LE, TE Celebration at His Table When I Survey the Wondrous Cross? Gal 6:14 When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died My richest gain I count as loss, and pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it Lord, that I should boast save in the death of Christ my God. All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood. See, from His head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown. Were all the realms of nature mine, that were an offering far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine demands my soul, my life, my all. Who is This? Jh 1:10 Who is this so weak and helpless, Child of lowly Hebrew maid? Rudely in a stable shelter, Coldly in a manger laid 'Tis the Lord of all creation, Who this wondrous path has trod; He is Lord from everlasting, And to everlasting God. Who is this, a Man of sorrows, Walking sadly life's hard way? Homeless, weary, sighing, Weeping over sin and Satan's sway? 'Tis our God, our glorious Savior, Who above the starry sky, Is for us a place preparing, Where no tear can dim the eye. Who is this? Behold Him shedding Drops of blood upon the ground?! Who is this, despised, rejected, Mocked, insulted, beaten, bound? 'Tis our God, Whose gifts and graces On His church is pouring down; Who shall smite in holy vengeance all His foes beneath His throne. Who is this Who hangs there dying While the rude world scoffs and scorns? Numbered with the malefactors, Torn with nails, and crowned with thorns? 'Tis our God, Who lives forever, Mid the shining ones on high, In the glorious golden city, Reigning everlastingly. LE Prayer of Thanks Heb 12:1-3 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. TE * God s Blessing Eph 3:13 See the note referencing the offering, 2nd Sunday, on the inside front cover of this bulletin. See the note referencing Communion Participation on the inside back cover of this bulletin.