March 26, 2017

Preparing for the Lord’s Day Worship

We continue to meditate on Psalm 69. Last week we considered David’s anguish. David had many foes, but not for some evil things he had done. Rather, David writes “the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.” That is, David’s foes’ scorn for the LORD fell instead on David. That is, of course, the way the world works. It cannot attack God directly, and thus attacks God indirectly by attacking God’s people.

Yet as we continue our meditations in Psalm 69, we can see clearly that the psalm speaks of more than David’s own experience. Psalm 69 is the most quoted psalm in the New Testament, because it speaks of the Messiah. As much as David’s experience pointed forward to Jesus, Jesus also took David’s experience and made them his. By doing so Jesus identified with his suffering servant, and let us see that he is intimately familiar with our darkness.

In verse 21 we read “and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.” These words were later acted out as Jesus agonized on the cross. All four New Testament gospels record that Jesus was offered sour wine on the cross. It had to be so, for the cross was not a place of celebration but rejection and death. Jesus drank the wine of the poor that he might be one with the poor to his dying moment. Psalm 69 thus paints the portrait of Jesus in dark hues.

Nevertheless, Psalm 69 does not end with darkness and sorrow, but with an exuberant joy. “I will praise the name of God with a son; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.” “Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them.” This, also, had to be so. For the cross is not the end of Jesus, and the sour wine is not what we will drink. Jesus’ sorrowful death will give way to his joyful life, and the sour wine will be replaced with the new wine at the feast of the Lamb.

So the words of Psalm 69 work as the window through which we see Jesus’ sorrow and joy, and our participation in his suffering, and eventually, his glory. Our present life may have the hues of death about it. After all, following after Jesus is nothing less than taking up our cross to follow him. Nevertheless, a day will come when all laments will cease and all bitterness pass. We await that day, and in anticipation of that glorious day we gather in worship. For in worship our God gives us a foretaste of that feast of the Lamb.

Call to Worship

Psalm 69:19–36 (reading responsively from TH p. 810)

“My Faith Has Found a Resting Place” (bulletin p. 4)

Trinity Hymnal 731 “Doxology”

Prayer of Invocation

The Reading and Exposition of the Law

Hebrews 13:17 (p. 1009)

Prayer of Confession

The Proclamation of the Gospel

“We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

"Thy Will Be Done" (Bulletin p. 10)

Confession of Faith - The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty; Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who, for us and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried; and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets; and we believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Presentation of Gifts and Offering

Pastoral Prayer

The Proclamation of God’s Word

Exodus 20:3 (p. 61)

The First Commandment: It’s All About Love

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 #647 “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds” stanzas 1-3, and stanzas 4-6 during the distribution of the cup.

Trinity Hymnal #642 “Be Thou My Vision”

Benediction

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Growth Resources

Book Notice

Have you ever struggled with sanctification? Actually, a better and more realistic question would be, "Who hasn’t struggled with sanctification?" We all know how hard it is to grow in holiness. We all need help! A new book by Sinclair Ferguson, Devoted to God: Blueprints of Sanctification is just that help that we all need. We encourage you to read Pastor Ken’s comments here.

Family Devotion for the Week

Sunday sermons are posted online here. We encourage you to make use of it.

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.

March 24 (Friday 7PM): The Session will meet.

March 26 (Lord’s Day): Our annual congregational meeting will be held after the worship service. All communicant members are requested to attend.

April 2 (Lord’s Day): The Children’s Bible lesson (First Catechism Qs. 20–21). Adult Shorter Catechism lessons will resume on May 7.

April 2 (Lord’s Day): Membership class will meet after the worship service. Please join us if you are interested in becoming a member, or interested in learning biblical ecclesiology (the doctrine of the Church). Everyone is welcome! Also April 23 and 30.

Nursery Volunteers

March 26: Michelle Kay

April 2: Yoori Han