::: Download the 11.10.2013 Worship Study Guide & Sermon Notes
::: Download the 11.10.2013 Bulletin
::: Download the 11.10.2013 Parent Bulletin
::: Listen to the 11.10.2013 Sermon Audio
image :: Sculptor Jingoro Surrounded by Statues, Utagawa Kuniyoshi (19th century, Japan)
Preparation for Worship ::: Grace
“None but God would ever have thought of justifying me. I am a wonder to myself.” (Charles H. Spurgeon)
“God reminds us again and again that things between He and us are forever fixed. They are the rendezvous points where God declares to us concretely that the debt has been paid, the ledger put away, and that everything we need, in Christ we already possess. This re-convincing produces humility, because we realize that our needs are fulfilled. We don’t have to worry about ourselves anymore. This in turn frees us to stop looking out for what we think we need and liberates us to love our neighbor by looking out for what they need.” (Tullian Tchividjian)
:: His Love Can Never Fail (E.S. Hall, 1897) [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=4120016334 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=2]
:: In Tenderness (W. Spencer Walton, 1894) [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=2679071235 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=2]
:: I Asked The Lord (John Newton, 1779) [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=3165625088 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=3]
:: How Great Thou Art (Stuart K. Hine, 1949) [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=3199896197 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=2]
:: Cannons (Phil Wickham) [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/75636778″ width=”100%” height=”62″ iframe=”true” /]
:: Beautiful One (Hughes & Camp, 2004)
Call to Worship ::: Psalm 90:1-2,16-17
Lord, You have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever You had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting You are God.
Let Your work be shown to Your servants,
and Your glorious power to their children.
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!
Old Testament Reading ::: Isaiah 43:1,6-7,11-13
But now thus says the Lord,
He who created you, O Jacob,
He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are Mine.
Bring My sons from afar
and My daughters from the end of the earth,
everyone who is called by My name,
whom I created for My glory,
whom I formed and made.”
I, I am the Lord,
and besides Me there is no savior.
I declared and saved and proclaimed,
when there was no strange god among you;
and you are My witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and I am God.
Also henceforth I am He;
there is none who can deliver from My hand;
I work, and who can turn it back?”
Sermon ::: Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
We Confess Our Sin Together
Heavenly Father, we come before You confessing our sins: thoughts that are not like Your thoughts, selfish desires and evil passions, and their godless fruit— cruel words and unjust acts. Keep us, Lord, from pride and arrogance, and from scornful judgment of others. Keep us, Lord, from worshipping the blessings that You have given us. Keep us, Lord, from trusting in anything except Your grace. Jesus, You know our temptations and struggles first hand. Show sinners your abounding grace, that we may seek Your righteousness by faith, and that we may wonder at redeeming love. We are Your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, Strengthen Your Church by Your Holy Spirit to walk with You in the joy of liberty.
Words of Encouragement ::: II Timothy 1:9
God saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.