August 12, 2018

Before We Worship

This week’s meditation on Psalm 144–145 is taken in its entirety from Psalms by the Day by Alec Motyer.

Motyer writes,

There is a glorious individualism about Biblical religion. Think of ‘my’, nine times in the opening of Psalm 18, and its use of the first person pronoun, ‘I love I take refuge I call’. Becoming and being a Christian is not just ‘running with the pack’, is it? Conversion is an individual experience. The great question used to be, ‘Have you received the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart as your own personal Saviour.” You and him; your heart, his home. But there are other dimensions as well as the individual, and the Psalms rarely let us forget. Psalm 144 is a good example. The first eleven verses are wholly individual: there is personal trouble to be met, prayer to be made, deliverance sought, but verse 12 abruptly brings us into the bosom of the family, and verse 15 widens the scope to Yahweh’s people and their corporate blessedness. We are saved into the whole company and family of the redeemed. We do not get converted and then set about thinking of church membership; as soon as we are saved we are family members. Indeed Ephesians 2:4–6 opens a thrilling vista: in the mind and estimation of God, salvation already sits us with Christ and his redeemed in heavenly places — a situation anticipated when Psalm 23:6 talks about living in Yahweh’s house for ever. Psalm 145 takes us to the final step. It starts, ‘1 will extol’ (145:1) and ends All flesh will bless (21). What a vision!

From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost—

It is a visionary hope which will one day certainly be fulfilled; it is also a present task to which we are called to set our hands. We are born again into the church; we are called and commissioned to win the world. The balance between Old and New Testaments at this point is interesting — a balance, not an exclusive approach. In the New Testament, the summons is to go out (Matthew 28:19); in the Old Testament the task is to attract in, to be the magnetic people of Deuteronomy 4:5—8. If your church and mine is not worth belonging to why should anyone want to join?

Alec Motyer

Call to Worship

‡ Psalm 144 (Trinity Hymnal p. 837)

‡ Trinity Hymnal #355 “We Are God’s People”

Trinity Hymnal #731 “Doxology”

Prayer of Invocation

The Reading and Exposition of the Law

Titus 2:1–5 (p. 998)

Prayer of Confession

The Proclamation of the Gospel

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:14–19 ESV)

14 “Hallelujah Praise Jehovah”

The Heidelberg Catechism (1563) — Lord’s Day 31

Presentation of Gifts and Offering

Pastoral Prayer

The Proclamation of God’s Word

Amos 5:1–17 (p. 767)

The LORD Is His Name

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 #648 “My Jesus, I Love Thee”

Benediction

+++

Growth Resources

Family Devotion for the Week

The August 5, 2018 sermon, Amos 3:9–4:3. “Prepare to Meet Your God” is available on our church website. But you can catch up on older sermons from our Sermon page. You can also 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 18” as we read 12 great books in the year 2018. For August we are reading Tim Keller’s “Every Good Endeavor.” And for September, John Bunyan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress.” Please let Janny Ligtenberg know if you would like to order a copy of the book.

August 19 (Lord’s Day): Please join us for the monthly fellowship potluck lunch.

Nursery Volunteers

(Nursery meets in the Conference Room)

August 12: Michelle Kay

August 19: Yoori Han