November 4, 2018
Please note that the Daylight Saving Time ends this Sunday. Don't forget to fall back 1 hour!"
Before We Worship
Our reflection this week focuses on the Apostles’ Creed’s “I believe in Jesus Christ…He suffered under Pontius Pilate”. The playwright Dorothy Sayers wrote, “That God should play the tyrant over man is a dismal story of unrelieved oppression; that man should play the tyrant over man is the usual dreary record of human futility; but that man should play the tyrant over God and find him a better man than himself is an astonishing drama indeed.” Indeed, who could have guessed it? God suffered at the hands of a man!
The God who has suffered is man’s best hope. For who among us has not suffered? Suffering is a universal human experience. Wether rich or poor, educated or not, young and old, no one is immune from suffering. And thus everyone finds in Christ a kindred spirit and a friend.
And what a friend he is! We all know “fair weather friends.” They are around us when things go well with us. But when life turns bitter, they are no where to be found. It is not so with Jesus.
Jesus suffered “under Pontius Pilate.” Jesus knows how little people like you and I can suffer under unjust powers. Jesus’ suffering was also undeserved. He knows how unfair life can be. His suffering was unrelieved. He knows what it’s like to see no “light at the end of the tunnel.” Jesus’ multifaceted suffering makes him someone that we can turn to in our variegated suffering. And when we turn to Jesus in our suffering, we find him full of understanding and sympathy.
Not only so, Jesus’ suffering ensures us that the loving and merciful God can, and often does, use the instrument of suffering for his kind purposes. This is a comfort to our hurting souls. Suffering has the unique power to snuff out hope for the future. Suffering tells us we are lost and done for. Suffering lies, for it tells us that God does not care.
But God does care. And he cares deeply. But in his deep wisdom and unsearchable plans, love is neither separated from pain, nor is love overcome by pain. So we hope. God’s great love for Jesus did not prevent him from suffering. And yet in his great love for his Son, God made sure that suffering bore precious and sweet fruit.
It is indeed a deep mystery. We find comfort in Jesus’ suffering. In Jesus’ darkness, we see light. He was forsaken, and we were found. So we confess and behold a deep mystery: “I believe in Jesus Christ…He suffered under Pontius Pilate.”
Call to Worship
‡ Hebrews 5:1–10 (p. 1033)
‡ Trinity Hymnal #607 “Thy Loving-kindness, Lord, Is Good and Free”
‡ Trinity Hymnal #731 “Doxology”
Prayer of Invocation
The Reading and Exposition of the Law
Exodus 20:16 (p. 61)
The Heidelberg Catechism (1563) — Lord’s Day 43
Prayer of Confession
The Proclamation of the Gospel
Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” (Jeremiah 9:23–24 ESV)
7 “There Is a Redeemer”
Presentation of Gifts and Offering
Pastoral Prayer
The Proclamation of God’s Word
Luke 17:1–10 (p. 876)
The Christian Perspective on Life
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 #622 “I Waited for the Lord Most High” stanzas 1–3, and stanzas 4–6 during the distribution of the cup.
Trinity Hymnal #648 “My Jesus, I Love Thee”
Benediction
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Growth Resources
Family Devotion for the Week
The October 28, 2018 sermon, Luke 16:19–31. “Who Is Truly Blessed?” is available on our church website. You can also catch up on older sermons from our Sermon page and subscribe to sermon podcast here.
The Shorter Catechism lesson of the week is posted here: Qs. 43–44.
Upcoming Events and Notices
Please note that the Daylight Saving Time ends this Sunday. Don't forget to fall back 1 hour!"
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.
Join us for “12 for 18” as we read 12 great books in the year 2018. For November we will read Jared Wilson’s “The Imperfect Disciple: Grace for People Who Can’t Get Their Act Together.”
November 4 (Lord's Day): The children’s catechism lesson (Qs. 130–132), and the Shorter Catechism lessons (Qs. 43–44) will follow after the worship service.
November 11 (Lord’s Day): Please join us for fellowship potluck lunch.
Nursery Volunteers
(Nursery meets in the Conference Room)
November 4: Liza Beede
November 11: Michelle Kay