:: Download the 9.7.2014 Worship Study Guide and Sermon Notes
:: Download the 9.7.2014 Worship Bulletin
:: Download the 9.7.2014 Parent Bulletin
:: Download the 9.7.2014 Sermon Audio
image :: The Raising of Lazarus (after Rembrandt), Vincent van Gogh (1890, Dutch)
Preparation for Worship :: Delight in Your Sustaining God
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)
“Someone has said that when there is a shadow there must be light somewhere, and so there is. Death stands by the side of the highway in which we have to travel, and the light of heaven shining upon him throws a shadow across our path; let us then rejoice that there is a light beyond.” (Charles Spurgeon)
Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for September 7 include:
:: Praise to the Lord the Almighty [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=3563716376 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 artwork=none track=1956047333]
:: All Things New [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=2826557878 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 artwork=none track=2373436171]
:: Give Me Jesus [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=549942375 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 artwork=none track=893825801]
:: All Must Be Well [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=3307329660 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 artwork=none track=3952867341]
:: Blessed Be Your Name [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=802463890 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 artwork=none track=1903757000]
Call to Worship :: Matthew 11:28-29
Jesus declared, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
New Testament Reading :: Romans 8:18-25
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Sermon :: Psalm 41
1 Blessed is the one who considers the poor!
In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him;
2 the Lord protects him and keeps him alive;
he is called blessed in the land;
you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
3 The Lord sustains him on his sickbed;
in his illness you restore him to full health.
4 As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me;
heal me, for I have sinned against you!”
5 My enemies say of me in malice,
“When will he die, and his name perish?”
6 And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words,
while his heart gathers iniquity;
when he goes out, he tells it abroad.
7 All who hate me whisper together about me;
they imagine the worst for me.
8 They say, “A deadly thing is poured out on him;
he will not rise again from where he lies.”
9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
10 But you, O Lord, be gracious to me,
and raise me up, that I may repay them!
11 By this I know that you delight in me:
my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.
12 But you have upheld me because of my integrity,
and set me in your presence forever.
13 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!
Amen and Amen.
We Confess Our Sin Together :: based on Daniel 9:4-19
O Lord, great God, all holy, Father most gracious, filled with mercy and steadfast love, we are embarrassed to come before you, for we have preferred the ways of this world to your ways, for we have rebelled against your wisdom and we have gotten into trouble, for we have rejected your fatherly guidance and have gotten lost altogether. To you belongs righteousness, O Lord, and to us confusion of face. O Lord, great God, all holy, filled with awe, Father, most gracious, filled with mercy and steadfast love, incline your ear to our troubles. Hear us when we pour out our sorrows before you. Forgive us, not on the ground of our own righteousness, but on the ground of your great mercy. On the ground of your great mercy in the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ. It is in his name that we pray, for he is our Savior and the mediator of the covenant of grace. Amen.
Words of Encouragement :: Ephesians 1:7
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.