:: Download the 9.27.2015 Worship Study Guide and Sermon Notes
:: Download the 9.27.2015 Bulletin
:: Download the 9.27.2015 Sermon Audio
image :: Three Heads, Faith, Jacek Malczewski (c.1900, Polish)
Preparation for Worship :: Trials
“Even as we slog through the trials, persecutions, irritations, temptations, distractions, apathy, and just plain weariness of this world, the gospel points us to heaven where our King Jesus — the Lamb of God who was crucified in our place and raised gloriously from the dead — now sits interceding for us. Not only so, but it calls us forward to that final day when heaven will be filled with the roaring noise of millions upon millions of forgiven voices hailing him as crucified Savior and risen King.” (Greg Gilbert)
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. Take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for Sunday September 27 include ::
:: Doxology (Thomas Ken, 1709) CHART [bandcamp track=2257784892 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: Jesus, I Am Resting (Jean S. Pigott, 1876) CHART [bandcamp track=104008922 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: Gather Them In (Peter La Grand 2009) CHART [bandcamp track=1336227612 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: On Jordan’s Stormy Banks (Samuel Stennett, 1787) CHART [bandcamp track=1174694383 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: All The Way My Savior Leads Me (Fanny Crosby, 1875) CHART
>>> AUDIO
:: Rejoice the Lord is King (Charles Wesley, 1744) CHART
Call to Worship :: Psalm 144:1-2,5-6,9
Blessed be the Lord, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle. He is my steadfast Love and my Fortress, my Stronghold and my Deliverer, my Shield and He in whom I take refuge. Bow Your heavens, O Lord, and come down! Touch the mountains so that they smoke! Flash forth the lightning and scatter them; send out Your arrows and rout them! I will sing a new song to You, O God
Old Testament Reading :: Jeremiah 20:11-13
The Lord is with me as a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble; they will not overcome me. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten. O Lord of hosts, who tests the righteous, who sees the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause. Sing to the Lord; praise the Lord! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers.
Prayer of Confession
Holy God, we are guilty of rejecting Your commands, of doubting Your promises, of proud self-reliance, of neglect to rest in You. Daily we fail to love You and our neighbor as we ought. Praise You for providing the Savior in Jesus, who takes our sin and gives us His righteousness! Lord, continue the work of salvation in us: Conquer our weakness with Your strength, blot out our self-centeredness with Your glory. Meet us in our suffering and disappointments, refine us as You see fit. Keep us from returning to sin’s bondage, brighten our hearts with Your grace. Redirect our desires so that we delight deeply in You. Amen.
Words of Encouragement :: Romans 5:6,8
At just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Sermon :: I Peter 1:2-9
2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.