:: Download the 2.2.2014 Worship Study Guide & Sermon Notes
:: Download the 2.2.2014 Bulletin
:: Download the 2.2.2014 Parent Bulletin
:: Download the 2.2.2014 Sermon Audio
image :: Ascension, Salvador Dalí (1958, Spanish)
Preparation for Worship :: He Ascended
“O strong Ram, which hast batter’d heaven for me! Mild lamb, which with Thy Blood hast mark’d the path! Bright Torch, which shinest, that I the way may see! O, with Thy own Blood quench Thy own just wrath!” (John Donne, Ascension)
“Christ… in our nature, and as our Head, triumphing over enemies, visibly went up into the highest heavens, there to receive gifts for men, to raise up our affections there, and to prepare a place for us, where He Himself is, and shall continue till His second coming at the end of the world.” (Westminster Larger Catechism)
Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs for Feb 2
:: Come Said Jesus Sacred Voice (Barbauld, d.1825) chart // audio
:: Rejoice the Lord is King (Wesley, 1744) chart // audio
:: The House of God Forever (Foreman, 2008) chart // audio
:: By His Wounds (Wardell, 2011) chart // audio
:: Doxology (Ken, 1674) chart // audio
:: Jesus Shall Reign (Watts, 1719) chart // audio
:: Your Great Name (Grant, 2008) chart // audio
:: Crown Him With Many Crowns (Bridges, 1851) chart // audio
Call to Worship :: Psalm 68:18-20
You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in Your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there. Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
Declaration of Faith :: The Heidelberg Catechism, 49-50 (1563)
How does Christ’s ascension to heaven benefit us? First, He pleads our cause in heaven in the presence of His Father. Second, we have our own flesh in heaven– a guarantee that Christ our Head will take us, His members, to Himself in heaven. Third, He sends His Spirit to us on earth as a further guarantee. By the Spirit’s power we make the goal of our lives, not earthly things, but the things above where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. What does it mean that Jesus Christ is, “seated at the right hand of God”? Christ ascended to heaven, and is there to show that He is Head of the Church, and that the Father rules all things through Him.
Old Testament Reading :: Daniel 7:9-14
As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened… In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Sermon :: Ephesians 3:7-16
7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
We Confess Our Sin Together
Almighty God, Ancient of Days, You have raised Jesus from death to life and crowned Him Lord of all. We confess that we have not bowed before You or acknowledged Your authority in our lives. We have been conformed to this world and given Your glory to created things. We have sung of Your Lordship over all creation, but have often acted as though You are powerless and careless. Forgive us and grant us grace to repent from our sin, that we may live as Your people, eagerly worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ, who is over all, through all, and in all, and is Head of the Church, His body. Amen.
Words of Encouragement :: Revelation 5:5,9-10
Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. With His blood He has purchased people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. He has made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.