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Dec 1 2013 Worship Guide :: Peace

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Peace, William Turner  (English, c.1842)

image :: Peace, William Turner  (English, c.1842)

Preparation for Worship  :::  Peace

“God became man to turn creatures into sons: not simply to produce better men of the old kind but to produce a new kind of man. It is not like teaching a horse to jump better and better but like turning a horse into a winged creature.” (C.S. Lewis)

“If you are a Christian, the story that tells you who you are is not the story of your parents, ancestors, ethnic group, or social class. It is instead, the story of the Bible– the promise to Abraham, the deliverance from slavery to Egypt and sin, the gift of land to landless Israelites, and life to dead sinners. This story of promise, deliverance, and gift is your family history, the story that defines you.” (Graham Tomlin)

 “‘Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,’ says the Lord.” (Isaiah 57:19)

:: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=3505305395 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=4]

:: O Come, O Come Emmanuel [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=2254475816 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=2]

:: Narrow Little Road [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=3654011050 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=4]

:: Amen, Amen [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=4102113113 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=7]

:: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=2254475816 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=4]

Call to Worship  ::: Psalm 29:1-4,11

Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.

The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over many waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth
and strips the forests bare,
and in His temple all cry, “Glory!”

May the Lord give strength to His people!
May the Lord bless His people with peace!

Old Testament Reading  :::  Micah 5:4-5

And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth.
And he shall be their peace.

Sermon  :::  Ephesians 2:11-22

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. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

We Confess Our Sin Together

Heavenly Father, You have prepared Your salvation in the presence of all peoples. Your Son reconciled us to God through the Cross. Now give us to die to our sin in repentance, so we may live as one with You and with one another. We have not trusted Your Good News to be good; We have not availed ourselves of Your nearness; We have refused the peace of Christ; We have hoped for little from You; We have nursed our hostilities; And the very thoughts of our hearts are revealed in the light of the glory of Your great mercy toward us. Forgive our unbelief, and renew us by Your Holy Spirit that we might eagerly worship You, that we may once more find the Gospel of our Savior, Jesus Christ, to be our greatest joy. Amen.

Words of Encouragement  :::  Romans 5:1-2

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand.

Benediction

Nov 24 Worship Guide: No Longer Aliens

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Lonely Stranger, Nicholas Roerich (1931, Russian)

image :: Lonely Stranger, Nicholas Roerich (1931, Russian)

Preparation for Worship  ::: No Longer Aliens

To an open house in the evening
Home shall men come,
To an older place than Eden
And a taller town than Rome.
To the end of the way of the wandering star,
To the things that cannot be and that are,
To the place where God was homeless
And all men are at home.  (G. K. Chesterton)

They desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city.  (Hebrews 11:16)

::  Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=3957404521 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=11]

::  All Things New [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=2826557878 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=1]

::  Before the Throne of God Above [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=784345862 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=14]

::  Upon a Life I Did Not Live [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=2800896556 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=4]

::  Dearly We’re Bought [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=2189898526 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=1]

::  The Gospel Is Good News Indeed [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=2144117063 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=14]

Call to Worship  ::: Psalm 68:4-6, 32-33, 35

Sing to God, sing praises to His name; lift up a song to Him who rides through the deserts; His name is the Lord; exult before Him! Father of the fatherless and Protector of widows is God in His holy habitation. God settles the solitary in a home; He leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, To Him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, He sends out His voice, His mighty voice. Awesome is God from His sanctuary; the God of Israel— He is the one who gives power and strength to His people. Blessed be God!

Old Testament Reading  :::  Zephaniah 3:17-20

The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,
so that you will no longer suffer reproach.
Behold, at that time I will deal
with all your oppressors.
And I will save the lame
and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
and renown in all the earth.
At that time I will bring you in,
at the time when I gather you together;
for I will make you renowned and praised
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
before your eyes,” says the Lord.

Sermon  :::  Ephesians 2:11-22

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. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

We Confess Our Sin Together ::: based on “Love Shines at Calvary” from The Valley of Vision

Almighty God, You grace removes my burdens and heaps them on Your Son. made a transgressor, a curse, and sin for me; Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy, cast off that I might be brought in, trodden down as an enemy that I might be welcomed as a friend, surrendered to hell’s worst that I might attain heaven’s best, stripped that I might be clothed, wounded that I might be healed, thirsty that I might drink, tormented that I might be comforted, made a shame that I might inherit glory, experienced reproach that I might receive welcome, closed His eyes in death that I might forever live. O Father, who did not spare Your only Son that You might spare me, All this Your love designed and accomplished: Help me to adore You with my words and my life, Go forth, O conquering God, and show me the Cross, mighty to subdue, comfort and save.

Words of Encouragement  :::  Colossians 1:21-22        

You, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him.                               

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

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 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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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 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— 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, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 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