June 4, 2023
June 4 — 11 AM Worship
You can find the order of worship and songs here.
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Do you want to know the secret to true success? Would you like to know the foolproof plan for living life well? Then listen to what Psalm 115:1 says. "Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!" There it is. This is the secret to success!
It is striking how much trouble we can get into when we ignore this instruction. Our natural instinct is to do the exact opposite. Rather than giving entire glory to God for our salvation, we believe we have either made it possible or contributed something towards it. But we have not contributed anything of worth to our salvation. We have only our sin and guilt to offer God, to receive freely his gift of righteousness. Similarly, rather than living to exalt God's name, we live to boast of what we have and what we do. We need to urgently hear these words: "Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!"
That is why we worship, and we must worship. When we worship God truly according to Scripture, the scales fall from our eyes and we regain sanity. Is it not madness when we, creatures of dust, think God and universe exist to glorify us? But there is a better way. We can be set free from the endless labor of building up our empire of dust. God calls us to worship. We hear of his unmatched greatness. The Law then humbles us. The Gospel cleanses and restores us. God nourishes us with his bread and wine. We hear his blessings before we depart. And now the world, and our life in it, makes sense again.
Are you lacking clarity? Have you lost focus? Give God glory. Lift up his name. And you will find that God actually lifts you up.
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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: For June we are reading “The Legacy of John Calvin: His Influence on the Modern World” by David W. Hall.
This Week: We encourage you to make use of:
- Kevin DeYoung's "The Good News We Almost Forgot" pages 114–117, Lord's Day 23, for personal or family devotions.
- "Select Letters of John Newton," Letter 18 (pages 117–123), "Man in his Fallen Estate (1)."
Hymn of the Week: "Love Constraining to Obedience" by William Cowper. This is a lovely hymn put to a new tune. Cowper writes, "To see the Law by Christ fulfilled, To hear His pardoning voice, Changes a slave into a child and duty into choice." Cowper continues, "Then all my servile works were done, a righteousness to raise. Now, freely chosen in the Son, I freely choose His ways." This hymn expresses exactly right the believer's attitude towards obedience wrought by the gospel. YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify.
Last week's sermon is available on our church webpage: gracefallbrook.church/sermons.
Upcoming Events and Notices
June 7 (Wednesday 6:30–7:30 PM): Please join us for a Zoom Study on Hugh Martin’s “The Shadow of Calvary” chapter 12, “Nevertheless…Hereafter!” Reading the book is not required. Also meeting: June 14. Zoom Meeting ID: 826 5163 2741. Passcode: 156751.
June 11 (Lord’s Day): Please join us for fellowship potluck lunch.
July 31–August 3: The Southwest Reformed Youth Camp will take place at Palomar Christian Conference Center in Palomar Mountain. This Reformed Christian Youth Camp is for junior high and high school students.This year's focus will be on Christ - the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
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).