December 31, 2017
Before We Worship
The end of one year and the beginning of another can be a very beneficial time for our souls. As we are reminded of life’s fleeting moments, we would do well to worship God, who is from everlasting to everlasting. And pray, as Moses does in Psalm 90, that the Lord might make us wise.
What is wisdom? It is knowing that when our life is done and over with, the only things of our lives that will endure are what we have built upon God. How terrible it will be to see on that day that nothing we have loved and adored matter, because we have loved and adored the things that are ultimately less than nothing? And how sweet our joy and how glorious our reward will be when we see our service to God is remembered forever by him!
As we often do at the beginning of a new year, we turn to Psalm 90, “A Prayer of Moses, the Man of God.” May this psalm make us worshippers, who offer up to God the few and brief years of our life here and now, for the enduring joy and glory that will follow.
Ephesians 5:15–21 calls us to “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Paul then explains “the best use of time,” which is being in communion with the Holy Spirit, with our lips and hearts saturated with God’s word as we sing and give thanks. Isn’t it ironic that this is exactly what the world thinks is a unwise use of time? How often have we invited people to church, to Bible study, to worship, only to be told they are too busy?
Sadly, we hear similar sentiments from professing Christians, too. We need to repent if Jesus is not the Lord of our time. For if he is not the Lord of our time here and now, will he be the Lord of our eternity?
Praise be to God that our only comfort in life and death is that we stand in Jesus, cleansed and declared righteous. So we bow humbly before Jesus, and honor him with a heartfelt faith and love. May 2017 make us all truly wise before God!
Call to Worship
Psalm 90 (p. 496)
Trinity Hymnal #30 “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past”
Trinity Hymnal #731 “Doxology”
Prayer of Invocation
The Reading and Exposition of the Law
Ephesians 5:15–21 (p. 978)
Prayer of Confession
The Proclamation of the Gospel
“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 24–25 ESV)
Trinity Hymnal #648 “My Jesus, I Love Thee”
The Heidelberg Catechism (1563) — Lord’s Day 1
1 Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death?
A. That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.
He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven: in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.
Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.
Presentation of Gifts and Offering
Pastoral Prayer
The Proclamation of God’s Word
Luke 2:40–52 (p. 858)
Are You Thriving?
Rev. Ken Han
The Sacrament of The Lord’s Supper
We participate in the Lord’s Supper weekly. We welcome to the Lord’s Table all baptized believers who have sincere faith in Jesus Christ, and regularly worship in a Reformed or evangelical church.
The Lord’s Supper is a sign and a seal of the new covenant blessings. When we participate in the Lord’s Supper with faith, it strengthens our bond with our covenant Lord, Jesus Christ. Thus we participate properly when we come to our Savior with faith and repentance as we renew our resolve to forsake sin and live for his glory.
The Lord’s Supper also renews our bonds with God’s covenant community, the body of believers in the local church. As we receive the Lord’s Supper, we renew our pledge to give ourselves away in loving service.
During the distribution of the bread we will sing Trinity Hymnal ##402 “Abide with Me: Fast Falls the Eventide” stanzas 1–2, and stanzas 3–4 during the distribution of the cup.
Trinity Hymnal #387 “Now May He Who from the Dead”
Benediction
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Growth Resources
Family Devotion for the Week
The December 24, 2017 sermon is posted to our church website here. You can subscribe to sermon podcast here.
The Shorter Catechism lesson of the week is posted here: Q. 28.
We have some new resources for you at the information table, including several new CCEF mini books, as well as other edifying books. Be sure to check them out!
Upcoming Events and Notices
Every Lord’s Day 10:15 AM: Please join us for Hymnsing, a time of preparing our hearts for worship in praise, and for learning new hymns for worship.
The Catechism lessons for children and adult will resume on January 21, 2018.
Join us for “12 for 18” as we read 12 great books in the year 2018. For January, 2018, we will be reading Sinclair Ferguson’s “From the Mouth of God: Trusting, Reading, and Applying the Bible.”
January 14 (Lord’s Day): The January fellowship meal will be at the Han home. Everyone is invited!
Nursery Volunteers
(Nursery meets in the Conference Room)
December 31: Michelle Kay
January 7: Yoori Han