January 6, 2019
Before We Worship
This week’s Call to Worship passage is one of the most well-known verses in the entire Bible: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Let us leave aside for a moment all the controversy this verse has generated. After all, as C. S. Lewis wrote somewhere, one can’t always defend the truth. One has to feed on it, too! That is to say, when we affirm God to be our Creator, we are not simply taking our offensive/defensive position against the atheists. For when we confess God as our Creator, we are confessing a truth that has mind boggling applications and implications.
For example, this is where we find the answer to why we are here. Unbelievers cannot ever answer this question. That is to say, they cannot ever understand the purpose of life. Do we live to eat or eat to live? How can they know when they don’t even know why they are here? But we know the answer. As Genesis 1:1 and 1 Corinthians 10:31 tell us, God created us that we might glorify him. We are created with a noble purpose, to be the instruments of glory. As a new year begins so many people are busy making new resolutions. They think finding new and better things to do will let them thrive. But we know how we can really thrive. We truly blossom as human beings when we live up to the purpose for which we were created. We will never be more fulfilled and happy as when we live to glorify God.
“Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.” These are famous words. But what do you really make of them? Considering these words should be our goal for this Lord’s Day, and for every day of our lives. After all, we all want to thrive. And God wants that for us as well.
Call to Worship
‡ Genesis 1:1 (p. 1)
‡ Trinity Hymnal #67 “Not unto Us, O Lord of Heaven”
‡ Trinity Hymnal #731 “Doxology”
Prayer of Invocation
The Shorter Catechism
- Q. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever.
The Reading and Exposition of the Law
1 Corinthians 10:31 (p. 958)
Prayer of Confession
The Proclamation of the Gospel
“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20–21 ESV)
Trinity Hymnal #251 “Beneath the Cross of Jesus”
Presentation of Gifts and Offering
Pastoral Prayer
The Proclamation of God’s Word
Luke 18:15–17 (p. 877)
Let the Children Come
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 #131 “Children of the Heavenly Father”
Benediction
+++
Growth Resources
Family Devotion for the Week
The December 30, 2018 sermon, Luke 18:9–14. “Look Up and Not Down” 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.”
January 6 (Lord’s Day): Everyone is invited (men included) to the Rogers’ baby shower after the service. Please come and join us as we celebrate God’s blessing to Christian and Bree.
January 13 (Lord’s Day): Please join us for our monthly potluck fellowship lunch.
January 20 (Lord’s Day): The Children’s Catechism Lessons and the Shorter Catechism Lessons will resume.
January 27 (Lord’s Day): Join us as we discuss Dennis Johnson’s book “Journeys with Jesus: Every Path in the Bible Leads Us to Christ.”
Nursery Volunteers
(Nursery meets in the Conference Room)
January 6: Michelle Kay
January 13: Yoori Han