Author Archives: Kevin Greene

Nov 17 2013 Worship Guide :: Brought Near

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::  Listen to the 11.17.2013 Sermon Audio

Kabe (Wall), Kiyoshi Saito (20th century, Japanese)

image :: Kabe (Wall), Kiyoshi Saito (20th century, Japan)

Preparation for Worship  ::  Brought Near

“When Christ saves a man he not only saves him from his sin, he saves him from his solitude.” (Frank Colquhoun)

“Forgiveness flounders because I exclude the enemy from the community of humans and myself from the community of sinners.” (Miroslav Volf)

“In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you’.”  (Zechariah 9:23)

:: Come and Welcome (Thomas Haweis, 1792) [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=3165625088 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=1]

::  Every Ditch, Every Valley (Peter La Grand, 2008) [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=2929548631 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=3]

:: The Church’s One Foundation (Samuel J. Stone, 1866) [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=2284543217 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=14]

:: In Christ Alone (Getty & Townend, 2001) [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=1060200358 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=12]

:: Father Long Before Creation  (Chinese Hymn, c.1951) [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=2817376614 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=1]

:: Doxology (Thomas Ken, 1709) [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=1406506152 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=7]

Call to Worship  ::  Psalm 47:1-5

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us. That Your way may be known on earth, Your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You!

Old Testament Reading  ::  Isaiah 40:3-6,8

A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

A voice says, “Cry out.”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”

“All people are like grass,
and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.”

Sermon  ::  Ephesians 2:8-13

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. 11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

We Confess Our Sin Together

Gracious Lord, we confess that we have dishonored You in our words, thoughts and deeds. We have lived as a people without a God. Depending on our strength, we stumble in our pride. Glorying in our own righteousness, we reject You in our unbelief. Turning our faces from You, we worship created things in our rebellion. We pray for You to forgive us our sin against You; Lead us to rejoice that we been brought near by the blood of Christ. Amen.

Words of Encouragement  ::  I Peter 2:9-10

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may de­clare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Benediction

Nov 10 2013 Worship Guide :: Grace

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Sculptor Jingoro Surrounded by Statues, Utagawa Kuniyoshi

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) Beautiful One

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.

Benediction

Nov 3 2013 Worship Guide :: Enemies

:::  Download the 11.3.2013 Worship Study Guide & Sermon Notes

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:::  Download the 11.3.2013 WepcKids Parent Bulletin

:::  Listen to the 11.3.2013 Sermon

Enemy, Kazimir Malevich (1913, Polish)

image  :: Enemy, Kazimir Malevich (1913, Polish)

Preparation for Worship & Communion  :::  Enemies

“Your Kingdom come” means, Rule us by your Word and Spirit in such a way that more and more we submit to You. Keep Your Church strong, and add to it. Destroy the devil’s work; destroy every force which revolts against You and every conspiracy against Your Word. Do this until Your Kingdom is so complete and perfect that in it You are All in all. (The Heidelberg Catechism, 1563)

:: Be Thou My Vision (8th century Irish Hymn) [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=3401631397 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=5]

:: Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners! (John Wilbur Chapman, 1910) [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=3401631397 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=1]

:: Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken (Henry Lyte,1824) [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=3572066182 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=9]

::  I Will Sing of My Redeemer (James McGranahan, 1840)

:: Dayspring (Charles Wesley, 1740) [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=3593495658 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=1]

Call to Worship ::: Revelation 15:3-4; 1:5-7

Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear You, O Lord, and bring glory to Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed. To Him Who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood and made us a kingdom of priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him.

Declaration of Faith  ::: The Apostles’ Creed, 2nd century

We believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, We believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there He will come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church; the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.  Amen.

Old Testament Reading  ::: Psalm 118:1,5-7,13-14

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.  In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and He answered by setting me free.  The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?  The Lord is with me; He is my helper.  I will look in triumph on my enemies.  I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me.  The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation.

Sermon  :::  Ephesians 2:1-7

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.  4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

We Confess Our Sin Together ::: The Valley of Vision, “The Servant in Battle”

O LORD, I bless You that the issue of the battle between Yourself and Satan has never been uncertain, and will end in victory. Calvary broke the dragon’s head, and I contend with a vanquished foe,who with all his subtlety and strength has already been overcome. When I feel the serpent at my heel may I remember Him whose heel was bruised, but Who, when bruised, broke the devil’s head. My soul with inward joy extols the Mighty Conqueror. Heal me of any wounds received in the great conflict; If I have gathered filth, if my faith has suffered damage, if my hope is less than bright, if my love is not fervent, if some creature-comfort occupies my heart, if my soul sinks under pressure of the fight. O LORD, whose every promise is balm, every touch life, draw near to Your weary warrior, refresh me, that I may rise again to wage the strife, and never tire until my enemy is trodden down. Give me such fellowship with You that I may defy Satan, unbelief, the flesh, the world, with delight that comes not from a creature, and which a creature cannot mar. Give me a draught of the eternal fountain that lies in Your immutable, everlasting love and decree. Then shall my hand never weaken, my feet never stumble, my sword never rest, my shield never rust, my helmet never shatter, my breastplate never fall, as my strength rests in the power of Your might.

God Declares Our Forgiveness  :::  Hebrews 2:14-15

Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

Benediction