April 23, 2023
April 23 — 11 AM Worship
You can find the order of worship and songs here.
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We turn to Psalm 51 to prepare for this week's worship. Psalm 51, of course, was written in the aftermath of David's murder of Uriah, and his adultery with Uriah's wife, Bathsheba. But how could David, a man after God's heart, act so wickedly? That question, as important as it is, is perhaps not the most important question to ask. The real question is, rather, How can God save such wicked sinners?
In Psalm 51 David tells what he learned through his painful failure. 51:5 "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me." David was favored with God's grace and power from his earliest years. But the spiritual privileges he enjoyed had left him careless about his indwelling sin, and that he is, by nature, a sinner from his birth in desperate need of God's mercy. Indeed, people who have led immoral and scandalous lives seldom need much convincing they are sinners. But people who have lived "a good life" and were held up as examples for others to follow have difficulty grasping their spiritual bankruptcy before the holy God. David's shocking sins, then, served the important purpose of truly humbling David before God. David came to realize how desperately he needed cleansing.
David says 51:7 "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." Hyssop was how the death-averting blood of the Passover Lamb was applied to the doorposts of the Israelites in Egypt, and later was used to apply the blood of the sacrifice that takes away sins to worshipers. How can God save such wicked sinners? Because David's sins were paid for by blood of the sacrificial victim, the Lamb of God sacrificed for our sins. And, please, don't miss the point. Do not think to yourself that you have not sinned as David, and that you are in a much better position than he was. We are all sinners from birth, and we all desperately need cleansing. And Jesus gives himself to us without reservation or bitterness.
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Growth Resources
This Year: Please see the full list of 2023 books as well as Bible reading plans on our church webpage: gracefallbrook.church/12-for-23
This Month: We are reading "The Shadow of Calvary" by Hugh Martin.
This Week: We encourage you to make use of:
- Kevin DeYoung's "The Good News We Almost Forgot" pages 74–78, Lord's Day 14, for personal or family devotions.
- "Select Letters of John Newton," Letter 12 (pages 74–82), "The Doctrines of Election and Final Perseverance."
Hymn of the Week: Trinity Hymnal #168 "I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art." This hymn is often attributed to John Calvin. While there is no way to know for sure who wrote it, the hymn conveys the grace and hope of Jesus Christ that were the mainstays of John Calvin's ministry and writings. The fourth stanza is particularly beautiful: "Thou has the true and perfect gentleness, no harshness hast thou and no bitterness: make us to taste the sweet grace found in thee and ever stay in thy sweet unity." | YouTube.
Last week's sermon is available on our church webpage: gracefallbrook.church/sermons.
Upcoming Events and Notices
April 23 (Lord's Day): Please join us for the "Essential Truths of the Christian Faith" for Sunday School lesson: Ch.6 "The Prophets of God." Also May 7 & 21.
April 26 (Wednesday 6:30–7:30 PM): Please join us for a Zoom Study on Hugh Martin's "The Shadow of Calvary." Reading the book is not required. Also meeting: May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, and June 7. Zoom Meeting ID: 826 5163 2741.
April 30 (Lord's Day): Please note the worship service will begin at 12 PM.
Thank you for your continued support of Grace Fallbrook (PCA). Your loving support makes the proclamation of the gospel and the building up of the saints possible. Please visit gracefallbrook.church/give and click on "Give Online Now." You will be directed to the PCA Foundation where you can give towards Grace Fallbrook (PCA).