November 3, 2019
Worship
Please note that Daylight Saving Time Ends. We fall back one hour.
Before We Worship
“Christianity is not a religion; it is a personal relationship with Jesus.” So say many people, always with a religious fervor. But what do they mean by this? If by this they mean that no external formality can replace personal trust in Jesus, then they speak truly. But just as often, what they derisively dismiss as unnecessary in favor of personal relationship with Jesus is anything that beckons the believer outside of himself. Religion, in this case, roughly means what the New Testament calls the church, the community in covenant with God and with one another.
Every age has its weaknesses and their corresponding blindspots. One glaring shortcoming of modern evangelicalism is thinking of the gospel purely in individualistic terms, forgetting that when the gospel brings us into God’s kingdom, the reality of genuine faith is seen not just in terms of personal relationship with Jesus, but also in terms of our life in the covenant community.
Paul’s admonition in 1 Corinthians 11:17–34 makes this point. There the Corinthians participated in the Lord’s Supper in ways that deeply grieved Paul, and the Holy Spirit who spoke these words of rebuke through Paul. Indeed, we read that one of the goals of the Lord’s Supper is to bring unity to the church. Instead, the Corinthians practiced the Supper in such a way that contradicted this divine intent. “But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for worse…I hear that there are divisions among you…When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat…So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another—if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment.” These words are sobering reminders that we receive the Lord’s Supper not exclusively in the context of “my personal relationship with Jesus,” but in the context of a community in covenant with God and with one another.
We practice weekly communion, in celebration of our covenant relationship with God and with one another. To receive this sacrament in a worthy manner means we recognize both dimensions of our new covenant blessings. Just as we renew our covenant promises to the Lord in the Supper, we pledge ourselves once again to one another to love and to serve in the Supper. Just as the bread and the cup encourage us to pursue deep and right relationship with the Lord, they also require us to pursue one another in deep relationship of love.
This, then, is how we prepare to worship this week, longing to draw closer to God and to one another, to give ourselves gladly to God and to fellow believers in the church. And this is the privilege and the sacred duty of every Christian that a cliched slogan like “Christianity is not a religion; it is a personal relationship with Jesus” cannot ever be allowed to crowd out from our hearts.
Call to Worship
‡ Isaiah 40:28–31 (p. 600)
‡ Trinity Hymnal #57 “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”
‡ Trinity Hymnal #731 “Doxology”
Prayer of Invocation
The Reading and Exposition of the Law
1 Corinthians 11:17–34 (p. 958)
The Shorter Catechism Qs. 96–97
Prayer of Confession
The Proclamation of the Gospel
““O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.” (1 Corinthians 15:55–56 ESV)
Trinity Hymnal #463 “A Debtor to Mercy Alone”
Presentation of Gifts and Offering
Pastoral Prayer
The Proclamation of God’s Word
1 Peter 1:17–21 (p. 1014)
Fear, Faith, and Hope
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 TH #480 “Come, for the Feast Is Spread”, and Trinity Hymnal #481 “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” during the distribution of the cup.
Trinity Hymnal #520 “Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness”
Benediction
+++
Growth Resources
Family Devotion for the Week
The October 27, 2019 sermon, 1 Peter 1:13–16. "Holy Children" 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
Join us for “12 for 19” as we read 12 great books in the year 2019. In November we will read Jonty Rhodes, “Covenants Made Simple: Understanding God’s Unfolding Promises to His People”.
November 3 (Lord’s Day): Please note that Daylight Saving Time Ends. We fall back one hour.
November 3: Catechism lessons for children (Qs. 11–13) will meet after the worships service.
November 3 (Lord’s Day): Please join us as we discuss Barb Duguid’s “Extravagant Grace: God’s Glory Displayed in Our Weakness.”
November 3 (Lord’s Day 6PM): Please join us for a time of devotion and fellowship at the home of Gulfield and Ashlie Jones. Note that the final two sessions on November 17 and 24 will take place at church after the worship service. Lunch will be provided.
Nursery Volunteers
November 3: Yoori Han
November 10: Kelly Rogers