July 21, 2019

Before We Worship

Christians of past generations often thought about what is “sacred” and “secular,” as well as what is “holy” and “profane.” These days, however, for a number of different reasons, many Christians do not dwell on these things so much anymore. And that is a shame. Indeed, Christians today are not really marked out as unique and different from the unbelieving world. Instead of carving out our own identity according to God’s word as his covenant people, we labor to break down the wall between the sacred and the secular, so that profane things have found their homes in the lives of professing believers as well as in the life of the church. And as we continue to let go of the distinctions between the sacred and the secular, between the holy and the profane, we increasingly take God’s name in vain, treating with thoughtless contempt the things of God.

The third commandment teaches us two things. First, what not to do. Second, what to do, in order to find our true identity as God’s holy people.

First, what not to do. God is holy. That means we must not think of him or speak of him with a cavalier attitude. We all know words are sometimes more than words. So our words about God - whether unspoken and silent, or spoken and heard - express our heart. That is why the third commandment goes deeper than forbidding the Lord‘s name being used as an expletive. It deals with the attitude of the heart which manifests itself in taking the Lord’s name in vain.

Second, what to do. We should always be cultivating in our heart love and reverence for our Creator. He made us. He gave us the ability to think and to speak. If so, we really need to use the gifts he has given us to honor him.

The Lord is also our Father who sent his Son. How can we repay this great debt? We can never repay this debt. What we can do, should do, is to live, speak, and think with gratitude and love for the one who has loved us. So we should make it our aim to “worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.” Indeed, this is one of the reasons we faithfully participate in the Lord’s Day worship, family worship, and private worship.

Taken together, the third commandment puts before us a vision of believers who live with a heartfelt longing for the glory of their Creator and Redeemer. We all live for something. Some people dedicate their lives to political causes, environmental causes, or social causes. Others live for pleasure and comfort. But we the redeemed live for God’s glory. Our desire is to think of him and to speak of him in such a way that our gracious God and Father is honored. Has the Holy Spirit given you this desire? I pray he has.

Call to Worship

‡ Philippians 3:8–9 (p. 982)

‡ Trinity Hymnal #100 “Holy, Holy, Holy!”

‡ Trinity Hymnal #731 “Doxology”

Prayer of Invocation

The Reading and Exposition of the Law

Exodus 20:7 (p. 61)

The Shorter Catechism Qs. 54–56

Prayer of Confession

The Proclamation of the Gospel

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 ESV)

Trinity Hymnal #88 “With Grateful Heart My Thanks I Bring”

Presentation of Gifts and Offering

Pastoral Prayer

The Proclamation of God’s Word

Psalm 139 (p. 521)

God Infinite and Unbound

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 #607 “Thy Loving-kindness, Lord, Is Good and Free” stanzas 1–2, and stanzas 3–4 during the distribution of the cup.

Trinity Hymnal #605 “All the Way My Savior Leads Me”

Benediction

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Growth Resources

Family Devotion for the Week

The July 14, 2019 sermon, John 4:23–26. “God Is Spirit” 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 July we will read Philip Ryken’s “When Trouble Comes.”

Please note that the catechism lessons will resume in the fall.

July 28 (Lord’s Day): We look forward to welcoming the MTW missionary to Germanry, the Rev. David Stoddard. He will preach for us, and following a potluck fellowship lunch after the service, will give us a report of his work in Germany. Please join us and help us welcome him.

Nursery Volunteers

July 21: Michelle Kay

July 28: Yoori Han