December 30, 2018

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 2019 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 — Lord’s Day 52

Presentation of Gifts and Offering

Pastoral Prayer

The Proclamation of God’s Word

Luke 18:9–14 (p. 877)

He Prayed for Mercy

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 #551 “How Blest Is He Whose Trespass” stanzas 1–3, and stanzas 4–5 during the distribution of the cup.

Trinity Hymnal #402 “Abide with Me: Fast Falls the Eventide”

Benediction

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Growth Resources

Family Devotion for the Week

The December 23, 2018 sermon, 1 John 3:1–3. “What Kind of Love Is This?” is available on our church website. You can also catch up on older sermons from our Sermon page and subscribe to sermon podcast here.

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.

Join us for “12 for 19” as we read 12 great books in the year 2019. For January December we will read Dennis Johnson’s “Journeys with Jesus: Every Path in the Bible Leads Us to Christ.”

The Children’s Catechism Lessons and the Shorter Catechism Lessons will resume in January.

Nursery Volunteers

(Nursery meets in the Conference Room)

December 30: Liza Beede

January 6: Michelle Kay