Preparing To Rejoice In Him // October 8, 2017

PREPARE YOUR HEART FOR WORSHIP ON OCTOBER 8, 2017

Communion Sunday

We will come to the Table this Sunday to feast with our Lord. Christ, himself, invites us to come and sit with him. What makes this time so special from any other day in worship? It’s special because even though we are sinners, beggars, idolaters and rebels a King sets the table and makes a place for us – filth and all – and is pleased to dine with us, his family. Read these words from John Calvin’s Short Treatise on the Lords’ Supper to help you better prepare for this coming Sunday.

“Here, then, is the singular consolation which we derive from the Supper. It directs and leads us to the cross of Jesus Christ and to his resurrection, to certify us that whatever iniquity there may be in us, the Lord nevertheless recognises and accepts us as righteous—whatever materials of death may be in us, he nevertheless gives us life— whatever misery, may be in us, he nevertheless fills us with all felicity. Or to explain the matter more simply—as in ourselves we are devoid of all good, and have not one particle of what might help to procure salvation, the Supper is an attestation that, having been made partakers of the death and passion of Jesus Christ, we have every thing that is useful and salutary to us.”

WORSHIP IN SONG

I Shall Not Want by Audrey Assad

This Sunday, we will take communion as this song plays; there is much I could say but I think the lyrics pretty much speak for themselves so I’ll just post them. I would encourage you to read the lyrics and just bathe in the truth that is sung. I pray this song moves you the way I am still moved by it. May it be our prayer that when we “taste His goodness…” we shall not want.

I Shall Not Want

From the love of my own comfort
From the fear of having nothing
From a life of worldly passions
Deliver me O God

From the need to be understood
And from a need to be accepted
From the fear of being lonely
Deliver me O God, deliver me O God

And I shall not want, no I shall not want
When I taste Your goodness, I shall not want
When I taste Your goodness, I shall not want

From the fear of serving others
Oh and from the fear of death or trial
And from the fear of humility
Deliver me O God, Yes deliver me O God

GOD’S CALL TO COME WORSHIP AND DELIGHT IN HIM :: Hebrews 12:1-2

Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

[1] Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, [2] looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (ESV)

CONFESSING OUR SIN :: Confession of Sin & Assurance of Pardon

Leader: Almighty God, we acknowledge and confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed; we have not loved you with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

All: We have not loved our neighbor as ourselves. Deepen within us our sorrow for the wrong we have done, and the good we have left undone.

Leader: Lord, you are full of compassion and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy; there is always forgiveness with you!

All: Restore to us the joy of your salvation; bind up that which is broken, give light to our minds, strength to our wills, and rest to our souls.

Leader: Speak to each of us, O Lord.

All: And let your word abide with us until it has wrought in us your holy will. Amen.

Leader: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Beloved, if your faith is in Jesus Christ, then I can assure you, based on the sure promise of the Word of God, that all your sins – past, present and future – are forgiven!

All: Amen, Alleluia!

GOD’S WORD PREACHED ::

Matthew 18: 15-17 (OP Sermon Text)

If Your Brother Sins Against You

[15] “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. [16] But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. [17] If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. (ESV)

Matthew 18:12-18 (SE Sermon Text)

12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost. 15 “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (NIV)