November 10, 2019
Worship
Before We Worship
If you know what other people do not know, if you can get things done when others are stymied, if you have the means to live comfortably when others are barely scraping by, then you are successful. And, come to think of it, these are precisely the things that get us up early in the morning and make us stay up late at night. We value these things above all thing. In fact, they are so important to us that we live our lives in between craving for them and boasting about them.
We really need to hear what the Lord said through the prophet Jeremiah. “Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.””
At the very least, Jeremiah’s words confront our understanding of success. His words also teach us that we need to have different things driving us so that we get up early and stay up late for different reasons. And that is to boast in God.
We boast of what we treasure and what gives us a sense of success. What do we, the children of God and the bride of Jesus Christ, cherish? What do we consider our joy in life? It is useful in all sorts of ways to have wisdom, be mighty, and be rich. But they are not what drive us. We treasure who God is, and how he is towards us. God is steadfast in his love, in his exercise of justice, and righteousness. His steadfast love anchors us when life burdens us. His steadfast exercise of justice and commitment to righteousness enable us to await patiently while suffering ill, and even to love those who hate and hurt us. We find in God wisdom higher that what man can conceive, power that we had never dared dream was possible, and wealth that is shared generously and meets all our needs.
Indeed, Sunday is for boasting. Not of what we wear, what we drive to church, or what home we come from and return to after worship. We do not boast of our success, but that of the Jesus Christ. For his success in the contest against sin and death have secured our true blessing. And as we boast of Jesus Christ, we will know more fully how much our God loves us.
Call to Worship
‡ Jeremiah 9:23–24 (p. 638)
‡ Trinity Hymnal #377 “Jesus, Where’er Your People Meet”
‡ Trinity Hymnal #731 “Doxology”
Prayer of Invocation
The Reading and Exposition of the Law
Matthew 6:5–15 (p. 811)
The Shorter Catechism Qs. 98–100
Prayer of Confession
The Proclamation of the Gospel
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 ESV)
Trinity Hymnal #627 “Behold the Throne of Grace”
Presentation of Gifts and Offering
Pastoral Prayer
The Proclamation of God’s Word
1 Peter 1:22–25 (p. 1014)
The Living and Abiding Word
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 #648 “My Jesus, I Love Thee” stanzas 1–2, and stanzas 3–4 during the distribution of the cup.
Trinity Hymnal #387 “Now May He Who from the Dead”
Benediction
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Growth Resources
Family Devotion for the Week
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”.
November 3 (Lord’s Day): Please note that Daylight Saving Time Ends. We fall back one hour.
November 10 (Lord’s Day): Please join us for our monthly fellowship meal after the service.
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 17.
Nursery Volunteers
November 10: Kelly Rogers
November 17: Michelle Kay