:: Download the 6.21.2015 Worship Study Guide and Sermon Notes
:: Download the 6.21.2015 Bulletin
:: Download the 6.21.2015 Sermon Audio
image :: Adoration of the Name of Jesus, Giovanni Battista Gaulli (1679, Italian)
Preparation for Worship :: The Third Commandment: His Name
“We of the churches often gather our robes away from contamination, and thank God that we are not as other men. We don’t despise God’s name; in fact, we call upon it constantly to justify ourselves…There can hardly be a more evil way of taking God’s name in vain than this way of presuming to speak in it. For here is spiritual pride, the ultimate sin, in action—the sin of believing in one’s own righteousness. The true prophet says humbly, ‘To me, a sinful man, God spoke.’ But the scribes and Pharisees declare, ‘When we speak, God agrees’.” (Joy Davidman)
“The Cross of Jesus Christ was not some surprise, not some plan B for God, but rather the plan known within the Godhead since the beginning. God’s response to the belittlement of His name, from the beginning of time, has been the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on a Roman cross.” (Matt Chandler)
Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for Sunday June 21 include ::
:: Doxology (Thomas Ken, 1709) CHART [bandcamp track=2257784892 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short] :: In Christ Alone (Getty, 2002) CHART [bandcamp track=676321818 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short] :: Blessed Be Your Name CHART [bandcamp track=1903757000 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short] :: How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds CHART (John Newton, 1774) [bandcamp track=3647467981 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]
Call to Worship :: Philippians 2:5-11
Christ Jesus, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Gospel Reading :: Matthew 10:32-33
Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
Declaration of Faith :: The Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 99-102
Q 99. What is the aim of the third commandment? That we neither blaspheme nor misuse the name of God by cursing, perjury, or unnecessary oaths, nor share in such horrible sins by being silent bystanders. In summary, we should use the holy name of God only with reverence and awe, so that we may properly confess God, pray to God, and glorify God in all our words and works.
Q 100. Is blasphemy of God’s name by swearing and cursing really such serious sin that God is angry also with those who do not do all they can to help prevent and forbid it? Yes, indeed. No sin is greater or provokes God’s wrath more than blaspheming his name. That is why God commanded it to be punished with death.
Q 101. But may we swear an oath in God’s name if we do it reverently? Yes, when the government demands it, or when necessity requires it, in order to maintain and promote truth and trustworthiness for God’s glory and our neighbor’s good. Such oaths are grounded in God’s Word and were rightly used by the people of God in the Old and New Testaments.
Q 102. May we also swear by saints or other creatures? No. A legitimate oath means calling upon God as the only one who knows my heart to witness to my truthfulness and to punish me if I swear falsely. No creature is worthy of such honor.
Prayer of Confession :: The Book of Common Prayer
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us.
Words of Encouragement :: Romans 10:9,13
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved…. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Sermon :: Exodus 20:1-2,7
And God spoke all these words, saying,
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.”