May 12, 2019
Please note that the location and the time of our worship service has changed. We now worship at Zion Lutheran Church, 1405 E. Fallbrook Street, Fallbrook CA 92028 at 11 AM.
Before We Worship
Hardly nothing is more important. Yet not many things are as neglected as it. It has been attacked, denied, and twisted more times than can be counted. We all think we know it. But only a precious few self-professed Christians can even state it rightly.
I am talking about the doctrine of justification.
But, please, don’t let the word “doctrine” turn you off. Because we are actually talking about how a fallen and defiled sinner finds peace with the holy and righteous God. We are talking about the very thing that stands in between heaven and hell. If so, can we really afford to neglect or be confused about it? Absolutely not.
Zechariah 3 brings us to a perilous scene fraught with danger. There the high priest Joshua is standing before God, with Satan, the Accuser, standing beside him. But the problem is Joshua the high priest, the holiest man in Israel, is “clothed with filthy garments” before God. The obvious implication is if Israel’s holiest man is so filthy before God, how much worse is the rest of the nation! And Satan stands ready to pounce on him, to accuse Joshua of failing to appear before God in the prescribed holy and pure vestments of the high priest. Joshua, as the saying goes, “doesn’t have a prayer.” He is done. He is doomed. This is the end for him.
But just as Joshua (and we!) brace to hear the deadly words of the Accuser, something totally unexpected happens. The LORD speaks, and does not let Satan utter even a word. What’s more, the LORD rebukes Satan, and takes away Joshua’s defilement. “Remove the filthy garments from him.” But God is too good to leave Joshua naked and exposed. He says, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments” God exchanged Joshua’s filth with dazzling purity. “So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments.” This is a picture of justification. God removes our sin from us. But he does not leave us exposed, as if it is now up to us to present ourselves acceptably before God. Rather, God in grace dresses us with righteousness, beauty, and holiness, that we may stand before God without fear. And that is what you are, dear Christian brothers and sisters! You are dressed in righteousness not your own, but that of God himself, given to you in Jesus Christ.
How do we, now, live as those who are clothed in Christ’s righteousness? We produce the good fruit and work that come from our new life in Christ. No true Christian can be without good works or fruit. Are you bearing fruit in an increasing measure? Or are you barren and fruitless as a hypocrite? You can begin to live in Christ and begin to bear fruit today. It begins with repentance, for it is itself a good work and a good fruit of the gift of justification. Believe and repent. Repent and believe. The Father is waiting patiently for you. The moment you run to him, he will dress you in his best robe.
Call to Worship
‡ Zechariah 3:1–5 (p. 794)
‡ Trinity Hymnal #520 “Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness”
‡ Trinity Hymnal #731 “Doxology”
Prayer of Invocation
The Shorter Catechism Q. 33
The Reading and Exposition of the Law
James 2:14–26 (p. 1012)
Prayer of Confession
The Proclamation of the Gospel
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1 ESV)
Trinity Hymnal #371 “O Lord of Hosts, How Lovely”
Presentation of Gifts and Offering
Pastoral Prayer
The Proclamation of God’s Word
Luke 22:31–62 (p. 882)
Weakness Sanctified
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 #426 “Till He Come”! stanzas 1–2, and stanzas 3–4 during the distribution of the cup.
Trinity Hymnal #441 “Jesus Shall Reign”
Benediction
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Growth Resources
Family Devotion for the Week
The May 5, 2019 sermon, Luke 22:24–30. “Who Is the Least?” 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. For May we will read Edward Welch’s “Caring for One Another: 8 Ways to Cultivate Meaningful Relationships.”
May 12: Happy Mother’s Day! There will be no catechism lessons, refreshments, or fellowship meal after the service.
May 19 (Lord’s Day): Please join us for our monthly potluck lunch after the service.
Nursery Volunteers
(Nursery meets in the Conference Room)
May 12: Kelly Rogers
May 19: Liza Beede