:: Download the WEPC Summer 2014 Worship Study Guide & Sermon Notes
:: Download the 5.25.2014 Bulletin
:: Download the 5.25.2014 Parent Bulletin
:: Download the 5.25.2014 Sermon Audio
image :: You and Me, Zhang Zhaohui (2013, Beijing)
Preparation for Worship :: Pure
“There is nothing that is so calculated to promote holiness as the realization that we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, that our destiny is certain and secure, that nothing can prevent it. Realizing that, we purify ourselves even as He is pure, and we feel that there is no time to waste. That is the way to live the Christian life.” (D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs for May 25
:: Come Thou Fount (Robinson, 1758) history // chart // audio
:: Jesus Lover of My Soul (Wesley, 1740) history // chart // audio
:: Give Me Jesus (African-American Spiritual) history // chart // audio
:: Doxology (Ken, 1674) history // chart // audio
:: Kindness (Giglio, Reeves, Tomlin, 2000) chart // audio
:: My Jesus, I Love Thee (Featherstone, 1864) history // chart // audio
:: How Great Thou Art (Boberg, 1885) history // chart // audio
Call to Worship :: Psalm 29:1-4, 7-11
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 flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness, and in His temple all cry, “Glory!” The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as King forever. May the Lord give strength to His people! May the Lord bless His people with peace!
Old Testament Reading :: Exodus 6:2, 6-9
God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord… Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.’” Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.
Sermon :: Ephesians 5:1-21
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
We Confess Our Sin Together
Most merciful God, whose Son, Jesus Christ, was tempted in every way, yet was without sin, we confess before You our own sinfulness. We have hungered after that which does not satisfy; We have compromised with evil; We have doubted Your power to protect us; We have been obsessed with creating a life of constant pleasure; We have been indifferent to the treasure of heaven; We have neglected Your wise and gracious Law. Forgive our lack of faith; have mercy on our weakness. Restore in us such trust and love that we may walk in Your ways and delight in doing Your will. Amen.
Words of Encouragement :: I Peter 2:9-10
You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.