November 17, 2019
Worship
Before We Worship
Genesis 1:26 tell us that God created Man (male and female) in his image. This is an incredible statement with far-reaching implications. It quite literally controls the narrative of the entire Old and the New Testaments. Man’s fall into sin is an unspeakable tragedy precisely because he fell from such a height of glory and honor. Jesus’ redemptive work also has in view the restoration of God’s image in us, thus undoing what sin has done, and even fully realizing the potential promised in Genesis 1:26. Imago Dei (image of God) in man is surely a subject worthy of a life-long study. But here we must limit ourselves to one salient point as we prepare to worship God.
God created Man in his image that we might become like him. And Isaiah 42:1–9 tell us in one very specific way what that means. “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights”. The entire passage is a prophecy concerning Jesus Christ. And what begins this prophecy is a tender statement of how the Father loves his Son, who is called the Lord’s “servant” in this passage. That is to say, we cannot meaningfully think or speak about God’s image in us unless we love Jesus in the way the Father loves Jesus. All of creation, and mankind as the pinnacle of the creation, is the Father’s gift to his Son. So deeply the Father loved his Son from all eternity, that he created the whole world that men and women, created in God’s image, would also love the Son.
Our love for Jesus, at present, is too cold and weak. As John Newton tells us in his hymn, “Weak is the effort of my heart, and cold my warmest thought”. But we hold as our glorious hope that, someday, “when I see thee as thou art, I’ll praise thee as I ought.” Yes, may it be so!
God commands us to love his Son (Ps 2). But that command is also the highest blessing God can bestow on us, lifting up the creatures of dust to become more and more like the glorious Creator. And this command, which is a blessing, is also the answer to the restlessness in our hearts. We were created to love Jesus more than all things. And as long as this is not being realized in our hearts and lives, we will be like a ship with a broken rudder adrift in a turbulent sea. So much ink has been spilled arguing about mankind’s purpose and destiny throughout history. How foolish we are to stay lost when God shows us the way? Why do we labor for that which will not satisfy us, when God himself gives us true food and drink for our restless souls?
This, then, will be our heart’s aspiration and the crown of our glory. We will be the men and women who love the Lord with a sincere heart. We will sing, “My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine”.
Call to Worship
‡ Isaiah 42:1–9 (p. 602)
‡ Trinity Hymnal #648 “My Jesus, I Love Thee”
‡ Trinity Hymnal #731 “Doxology”
Prayer of Invocation
The Reading and Exposition of the Law
Matthew 6:5–15 (p. 811)
The Shorter Catechism Qs. 101–1102
Prayer of Confession
The Proclamation of the Gospel
“Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” (Isaiah 66:1–2)
Trinity Hymnal #551 “How Blest Is He Whose Trespass”
Presentation of Gifts and Offering
Pastoral Prayer
The Proclamation of God’s Word
1 Peter 2:1–3 (p. 1014)
The Lord Is Good
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 #647 “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds” stanzas 1–3, and stanzas 4–6 during the distribution of the cup.
Trinity Hymnal #252 “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
Benediction
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Growth Resources
Family Devotion for the Week
Due to technical issues, the November 10 sermon was not recorded. The November 3, 2019 sermon, 1 Peter 1:17–21. "Fear, Faith, and Hope" 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”.
We are collecting new or gently used toys (infant–12 years) in partnership with Hope Clinic for Women (formerly Fallbrook Pregnancy Resource Center). Please help us support their work. You can bring toys to donate on November 24 and December 1. Please direct any questions you may have to Janny Ligtenberg.
November 17 (Lord’s Day): Please join us as we continue our studies of the 5 Solas of the Protestant Reformation after the service. Lunch will be provided. Also November 24.
Nursery Volunteers
November 17: Michelle Kay
December 1: Kelly Rogers