December 29, 2019
Worship
Before We Worship
The end of one year and the beginning of another can be a very beneficial time for our souls. As we are reminded of life’s fleeting moments, we would do well to worship God, who is from everlasting to everlasting. And pray, as Moses does in Psalm 90, that the Lord might make us wise.
But what is wisdom? It is knowing that when our life is done and over with, the only things of our lives that will endure are what we have built upon God. How terrible it will be to see on that day that nothing we have loved and adored matter, because we have loved and adored the things that are ultimately less than nothing? And how sweet our joy and how glorious our reward will be when we see our service to God is remembered forever by him!
As we often do at the beginning of a new year, we turn to Psalm 90, “A Prayer of Moses, the Man of God.” May this psalm make us worshippers, who offer up to God the few and brief years of our life here and now, for the enduring joy and glory that will follow.
Ephesians 5:15–21 calls us to “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Paul then explains “the best use of time,” which is being in communion with the Holy Spirit, with our lips and hearts saturated with God’s word as we sing and give thanks. Isn’t it ironic that this is exactly what the world thinks is a unwise use of time? How often have we invited people to church, to Bible study, to worship, only to be told they are too busy?
Sadly, we hear similar sentiments from professing Christians, too. We need to repent if Jesus is not the Lord of our time. For if he is not the Lord of our time here and now, will he be the Lord of our eternity?
Praise be to God that our only comfort in life and death is that we stand in Jesus, cleansed and declared righteous. So we bow humbly before Jesus, and honor him with a heartfelt faith and love. May 2020 make us all truly wise before God!
Call to Worship
‡ Psalm 90 (p. 496)
‡ Trinity Hymnal #30 “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past”
‡ Trinity Hymnal #731 “Doxology”
Prayer of Invocation
The Reading and Exposition of the Law
Ephesians 5:15–21 (p. 978)
Prayer of Confession
The Proclamation of the Gospel
“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 24–25 ESV)
Trinity Hymnal #648 “My Jesus, I Love Thee”
Confession of Faith — The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty; Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who, for us and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried; and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets; and we believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Presentation of Gifts and Offering
Pastoral Prayer
The Proclamation of God’s Word
Matthew 2:13–23 (p. 808)
Homecoming for the Exiles
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 #551 “How Blest Is He Whose Trespass” stanzas 1–3, and stanzas 4–5 during the distribution of the cup.
Trinity Hymnal #402 “Abide with Me: Fast Falls the Eventide”
Benediction
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Growth Resources
Family Devotion for the Week
The December 22, 2019 sermon, Matthew 2:1–12. "We Have Come to Worship Him" 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 20” as we read 12 great books in the year 2020. In January we will read “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” by C. S. Lewis.
The catechism lessons for children and adults will resume in January.
December 29 (Lord’s Day): Please join us as we discuss the last book of 2019, “Strength for the Weary,” by Derek Thomas.
Nursery Volunteers
December 29: Michelle Kay
January 5: Yoori Han