April 17 2016 Worship Recap :: Stand Firm

::  Download the 4.17.2016 Worship Study Guide and Sermon Notes
::  Download the 4.17.2016 Bulletin 
::  Download the 4.17.2016 Sermon Audio

Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog, Caspar David Friedrich (1818, German)
image :: Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog, Caspar David Friedrich (1818, German)

Preparation for Worship :: Stand Firm

“God loves the church with a love too deep for human imagination: He loves her with all His infinite heart…You may fear that the Lord has passed you by, but it is not so: He who counts the stars, and calls them by their names, is in no danger of forgetting His own children. He knows your case as thoroughly as if you were the only creature He ever made, or the only saint He ever loved. Approach Him and be at peace.” (Charles Spurgeon)

Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand.” (Romans 5:2)

Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for Sunday April 17 include ::

:: Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Thomas O. Chisholm, 1923) CHART [bandcamp track=3717975761 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: O The Deep Deep Love of Jesus (Samuel Trevor Francis, c.1890) CHART [bandcamp track=828526162 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]::  Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise (Walter C. Smith, 1867) CHART [bandcamp track=3601257253 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: Love’s Redeeming Work Is Done (Charles Wesley, 1739) CHART [bandcamp track=135949962 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: Doxology (Thomas Ken, 1709) CHART [bandcamp track=2257784892 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: O Church, Arise (Getty & Townend, 2005) CHART >>> AUDIO 

Call to Worship :: Romans 11:33-36

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!  “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor? Or who has given a gift to Him that He might be repaid?” For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.

Old Testament Reading :: Psalm 89:1-5

I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.” You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: ‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.’” Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!

Confession of Sin :: based on Isaiah 30:15,18

Sovereign Lord, You said that in repentance and rest is our salvation, in quietness and trust is our strength, but we would have none of it. Yet You long to be gracious to us; You rise to show us compassion.

Words of Encouragement :: Romans 5:9-11

Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!

Sermon :: I Peter 5:12-14

12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. 13 She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. 14 Greet one another with the kiss of love.

Peace to all of you who are in Christ.