:: Download the 7.31.2016 Worship Study Guide and Sermon Notes
:: Download the 7.31.2016 Bulletin
:: Download the 7.31.2016 Sermon Audio
image :: Found, “Mullokian (Dimlite Remix)” Album Cover, Getty Images (2007)
Preparation for Worship :: My Help & My Deliverer
“If Christ ‘tasted death for all men’ (Hebrews 2:9) and became the archetypal Sufferer, then the expressions of all who ever suffered in the world are, from the very nature of things, related to His. All the sufferings of the righteous, and …in Psalm 40:15, all the sufferings of the guilty, too—‘ my sins have taken such hold upon me that I am not able to look up.’ This, too, is for us the voice of Christ, for we have been taught that He who was without sin became sin for our sakes (II Corinthians 5:21), plumbed the depth of the worst suffering which comes to evil men who at last know their own evil.” (C.S. Lewis)
“He endured most grievous torments in His soul and most painful sufferings in His body; He was crucified, died, and was buried; He remained under the power of death, yet His body did not undergo decay; and He arose from the dead on the third day with the same body in which He had suffered.” (Westminster Confession of Faith, 8.4)
Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for Sunday July 31 include ::
:: Doxology (Thomas Ken, 1709) CHART [bandcamp track=2257784892 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]]:: Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing (Robert Robinson, 1758) CHART [bandcamp track=4015998502 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: We Will Feast In the House of Zion (Sandra McCracken, 2015) CHART [bandcamp track=3987551429 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: Rock of Ages (Augustus Toplady, 1776) CHART [bandcamp track=1565825434 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: My Hope is Built on Nothing Less (Edward Mote, 1834) CHART [bandcamp track=1565832897 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]
:: Wait For The Lord / Psalm 27:14 (Jacques Berthier, 1991) CHART >>> AUDIO
Call to Worship :: Psalm 103:1-5
Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits— Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion; who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Confession of Sin :: based on Psalm 40
Gracious Lord, we confess that we have dishonored You in our thoughts, words and deeds. We have grown impatient, and doubted Your salvation. Depending on our own strength, we stumble. Glorying in our own righteousness, we reject You. Turning our faces from You, we desire the things of this world to satisfy us. We are surrounded by troubles without number. Our sins have overtaken us, and our hearts fail within us. We pray now, Lord, for You to forgive us, for we are poor and needy. Be pleased to save us, Lord; come quickly, to help us in the name of Jesus Christ, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
Words of Encouragement :: II Corinthians 5:21
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
Sermon :: Psalm 40
1 I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.
4 Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
5 Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest.
10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.
13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me.
14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.
15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified.
17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.