March 8, 2020

Before We Worship

"How are you?" "I'm well. Thanks. And you?" "I'm well, too."

It is so polite. It is also utterly shallow if what we want is fellowship. Questions and answers such as these are ways to keep relationships shallow, and the health of our heart concealed. But if what we want is genuine fellowship, if we actually care about the welfare of one another, a better question to ask is, "What are you praying about these days?" Now, we can be even more specific. How about, "What do you give thanks for these days?"

Indeed, one of the clearest signs of our spiritual health is the reality of giving thanks. When we abide in the Spirit, we are mindful of God's goodness even in our most dire situations. But if we are not abiding in God's grace, not even the possession of Eden, manna in the wilderness, or Savior from heaven will make us grateful.

Gratitude, so central in the Bible, is an indispensable Christian virtue. We ought to regularly ask one another, "What do you give thanks for today?" Indeed, Ps 75 is a song of thanks. Can you say you are grateful for the same things as the psalm?

At first glance Psalm 75 strikes us utterly strange. For it in Asaph’s thanksgiving chiefly focuses on God’s judgment. “For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs.” We have heard ad nauseam that God hates the sin but not the sinner. But, clearly, it is not just the sin that God judges, but sinners. Perhaps we need to rethink the many slogans that have become common place today. And we need to enter into the world in which it not only makes good sense, but where it is also the righteous thing to give thanks to God for the judgment he will bring to its uttermost end against sinners. Do you often give thanks to God for this?

Indeed, we must. For God’s judgment always accompanies salvation: “it is God who executes judgment, putting own one and lifting up another.” “All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.” Giving thanks to God for salvation necessarily entails giving thanks for his judgment. First, we give thanks for the judgment poured out Jesus instead of us. Second, we give thanks knowing that our pursuit of righteousness in this world is not in vain. God will vindicate his Word and our obedience one day. The day of judgment will thus be the day of our vindication. It makes sense, and it is righteous, to give thanks with Asaph in Psalm 75.

What do you give thanks for these days?

Order of Worship

Call to Worship

‡ Psalm 75 (p. 463)

‡ Trinity Hymnal #319 “Day of Judgment! Day of Wonders!”

‡ Trinity Hymnal #731 “Doxology”

Prayer of Invocation

The Reading and Exposition of the Law

Matthew 5:43–48 (p. 811)

Prayer of Confession

The Proclamation of the Gospel

"Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin." (Romans 4:7-8 ESV)

Trinity Hymnal #512 "I Lay My Sins on Jesus"

Confession of Faith — The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Presentation of Gifts and Offering

Pastoral Prayer

The Proclamation of God’s Word

1 Peter 3:8–12 (p. 1015)

Godliness Makes Sense

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 Trinity Hymnal #647 “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds” stanzas 1–3, and stanzas 4–6 during the distribution of the cup.

Trinity Hymnal #672 "Trust and Obey”

Benediction

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Growth Resources

Family Devotion for the Week

The March 1, 2020 sermon, 1 Peter 3:8–9. "Blessing and Blessed" 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 March we are reading “The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction” by Sinclair Ferguson.

March 8 (Lord’s Day): Please adjust your clock for Daylight Saving Time. We spring forward one hour.

March 8 (Lord’s Day): Please join us for our monthly fellowship potluck lunch after the worship service.

March 22 (Lord’s Day): The Session will meet.

March 22 (Lord’s Day): Please join us as we discuss Sinclair Ferguson’s “The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction”.

March 29 (Lord’s Day): All members are requested to attend the annual Congregational Meeting for the purpose of presenting and adopting the new budget for the fiscal year 2020–21.

Nursery Volunteers

March 8: Yoori Han

March 15: Kelly Rogers