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G R A C E C O M M U N I T Y Presbyterian Church, PCA
ORDER FOR THE WORSHIP OF GOD July 28, 2019
10:30 AM Reflection:
“The chief agents in the expansion of Christianity appear not to have been those who made it a profession…but men and women who carried on their livelihood in some purely secular manner and spoke of their faith to those they met in this natural fashion.” Kenneth S. Latourette
Prelude Welcome
——————WORSHIP IN PRAISE—————— Silent Preparation Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here below, Praise Him above ye heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Amen.
Call to Worship..............................................................................Isaiah 55
Minister: Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!
People: Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Minister: Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live.
Prayer of Invocation
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Hymn of Invocation...........................................................Come Ye Sinners
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Hymn of Preparation....................What a Friend We Have in Jesus (#629)
——————WORSHIP IN CONFESSION AND PARDON——————
Call to Confession Prayer of Confession Words of Comfort and Promise..........................................from Romans 5 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in
that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him
from the wrath of God.
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Hymn of Response.................................................His Love Can Never Fail
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Confession of Faith..........................................The Heidelberg Catechism* Elder: Why is the Son of God called Jesus, that is, Savior? People: Because he saves us from all our sins, and because
salvation is not to be sought or found in anyone else. Elder: Do those who seek their salvation or well-being in saints, in
themselves, or anywhere else, also believe in the only Savior Jesus?
People: No. Though they boast of him in words, they in fact deny
the only Savior Jesus. For one of two things must be true: either Jesus is not a complete Savior, or those who by true faith accept this Savior must find in him all that is necessary for their salvation.
Elder: Why is he called Christ, that is, Anointed? People: Because he has been ordained by God the Father, and
anointed with the Holy Spirit, to be our chief Prophet and Teacher, who has fully revealed to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our redemption; our only High Priest, who by the one sacrifice of his body has redeemed us, and who continually intercedes for us before the Father; and our eternal King, who governs us by his Word and Spirit, and who defends and preserves us in the redemption obtained for us.
The Heidelberg Catechism was written in Heidelberg, Germany at the request of Elector Frederick III, ruler of the most influential German province, the Palatinate, from 1559 to 1576. This pious Christian prince commissioned Zacharius Ursinus, twenty-eight years of age and professor of theology at the Heidelberg University, and Caspar Olevianus, twenty-six years old and Frederick's court preacher, to prepare a catechism for instructing the youth and for guiding pastors and teachers. The Catechism was soon divided into fifty-two sections, so that a section of the Catechism could be explained to the churches each Sunday of the year. The National Synods of the sixteenth century adopted it as one of the Three Forms of Unity, requiring office-bearers to subscribe to it and ministers to explain it to the churches. These requirements were strongly emphasized by the great Synod of Dort in 1618-19. The Heidelberg Catechism has been translated into many languages and is one of the most influential and generally accepted of the several catechisms of Reformation times.
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——————WORSHIP AND THE MEANS OF GRACE——————
The First Reading of God’s Word........................................Isaiah 52:1-12 p 613
The Second Reading of God’s Word........................................Acts 8:1-25
p 916 Reader: This is the Word of God. People: Amen!
Prayer of Consecration We offer an optional Children’s Church for children 4 years old through 1st grade. If you choose to have your children participate, you may dismiss them for CC as we sing the hymn printed below. Please know we welcome and encourage your children to remain with you during the sermon. However, in CC they will be hearing from the same text that the sermon is based upon, so you may discuss the message as a family after church if you wish to do so.
Hymn of Preparation....................................................Word of God, Speak
Hearing from God’s Word........................................................Acts 8:1-25 Rev. Davis W. Morgan The Word Spreads
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THE CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER Please see instructions on the inside back cover of your bulletin
Use the quotes below to help focus your heart and mind on this celebration: “It is ever the Holy Spirit’s work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus; but Satan’s work is just the opposite of this, for he is constantly trying to make us regard ourselves instead of Christ…We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. If we would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by ‘looking unto Jesus.’” Charles Spurgeon “The purpose and goal of special revelation is God’s own Trinitarian glory, His delight in himself. The aim of revelation is to re-create humanity after the image of God, to establish the kingdom of God on earth, to redeem the world from the power of sin, and thus to glorify the name of the Lord in all his creatures. In addition to the objective work of Christ in revelation and redemption, the work of the Spirit is needed to enable human beings to acknowledge and accept the divine revelation and thereby become the image of the Son. God redeems and reveals; we know, understand, and believe. Revelation and religion are distinct but not separable. Revelation is possible only if God has a personal existence distinct from the world and possesses the will and power to reveal himself in deeds and words.” Herman Bavinck “Underline this thought: assurance, peace, access to God, knowledge that He is our Father, and strength to overcome temptation all depend on this-the Son of God took our flesh and bore our sins in such a way that further sacrifice for sin is both unnecessary and unintelligible. Christ died our death, and now in His resurrection He continues to wear our nature forever, and in it He lives for us before the face of God. He could not do more for us than He has done; we need no other resources to enable us to walk through this world into the next. You and I need a Savior who is near us, is one with us, understands us. All of this the Lord Jesus is; fix your gaze on this Christ and your whole Christian life will be transformed.” Sinclair Ferguson “The best proof that He will never cease to love us lies in that he never began. What we are for Him and what He is for us belongs to the realm of eternal values. Without this we are nothing, in it we have all.”
Geerhardus Vos
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Communion Hymns
Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed (#254) – Isaac Watts/Hugh Wilson
1. Alas! and did my Savior bleed, And did my Sovereign die! Would he devote that sacred head For such a worm as I! 2. Was it for crimes that I have done, He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! Grace unknown! And love beyond degree! 3. Well might the sun in darkness hide, And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty maker, died For man the creature's sin. 4. Thus might I hide my blushing face While his dear cross appears; Dissolve my heart in thankfulness, And melt mine eyes in tears. 5. But drops of grief can ne'er repay The debt of love I owe; Here, Lord, I give myself away; 'Tis all that I can do.
My Worth Is Not in What I Own – Keith and Kristyn Getty/Graham Kendrick
1. My worth is not in what I own, Not in the strength of flesh and bone, But in the costly wounds of love, At the cross. 2. My worth is not in skill or name, In win or lose, in pride or shame, But in the blood of Christ that flowed, At the cross. Chorus: I rejoice in my Redeemer Greatest Treasure, Wellspring of my soul I will trust in Him, no other. My soul is satisfied in Him alone.
3. As summer flowers we fade and die, Fame, youth and beauty hurry by, But life eternal calls to us, At the cross. 4. I will not boast in wealth or might, Or human wisdom’s fleeting light, But I will boast in knowing Christ, At the cross. Chorus 5. Two wonders here that I confess, My worth and my unworthiness, My value fixed - my ransom paid, At the cross. Chorus
Wonderful Merciful Savior – Dawn Rodgers/Eric Wyse
1.Wonderful, merciful Savior, Precious Redeemer and friend; Who would have thought that a lamb Could rescue the souls of men? Oh, You rescue the souls of men.
Chorus: You are the one that we praise, You are the one we adore. You give the healing and grace Our hearts always hunger for, Oh, our hearts always hunger for.
2. Counselor, Comforter, Keeper, Spirit we long to embrace; You offer hope when our hearts have Hopelessly lost the way, Oh, we hopelessly lost the way. Chorus
3. Almighty, infinite Father, Faithfully loving Your own; Here in our weakness You find us Falling before Your throne, Oh, we're falling before Your throne. Chorus
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———————WORSHIP IN GRATITUDE—————— Offertory.................................You Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim
You servants of God, your Master proclaim, and publish abroad his wonderful name;
the name all-victorious of Jesus extol; his kingdom is glorious and rules over all.
Closing Hymn...........................................................We Go to All the World
Benediction
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For 2019, we are providing a basic Family Worship plan to help our families to more regularly worship together during the week.
Weekly Hymn: What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Shorter Catechism for Young Children –
• Q131: What does this washing with water represent? Answer: That we are united to Christ and cleansed from sin by his blood.
Shorter Catechism –
• Q24: How does Christ execute the office of a prophet? Answer: Christ executes the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.
Bible Reading:
• Sun – 7/28 – Esther 3-4 & HC Lord’s Day 15 • Mon – 7/29– Esther 5-6 & HC Lord’s Day 16 • Tue – 7/30 – Esther 7-8 & HC Lord’s Day 17 • Wed – 7/31 – Esther 9-10 & HC Lord’s Day 18 • Thurs – 8/1 – Job 1-2 & HC Lord’s Day 19 • Fri – 8/2 – Job 3-4 & HC Lord’s Day 20 • Sat – 8/3 – Job 4-5 & HC Lord’s Day 21
Next Week’s Preaching Passage:
• Acts 8:26-40
Nursery Volunteers (please arrive by 10:15)
• Today: Sam and Megan Armitage • Next week: Duane and Bethany Brooks
§ 8/11: Caleb and Jessica Bell
§ 8/18: Justin and Audrey Campbell
§ 8/25: Micah and Katelyn Campbell
Daily Bible Reflections:
Part of our covenantal focus at Grace is providing multigenerational interaction and growth. We want to provide questions for you to study God’s Word with not only your family, but to invite other church family members to study it with you.
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1. Sunday: a. Read Jeremiah 1:1-19— Who were the kings when Jeremiah prophesied? (1-3)
When was Jeremiah ordained to be a prophet? (5) What did the LORD put in Jeremiah’s mouth? (9) What two things did Jeremiah see? (11,13) What did the LORD make Jeremiah to be? (18) What do we learn about the character of the LORD from this passage?
2. Monday: a. Read Jeremiah 2:1-37— What did Israel do when the LORD brought them into the land? (7) For what did God's people change their glory ? (11) What two evils did God's people commit? (13) Who did God's people forget? (32) What consequences follow when we forsake communion with God, the source of spiritual life? How does this speak to the role of the church and the necessity of being a connected member (see Hebrews 10:19-25)?
3. Tuesday: a. Read Jeremiah 3:1-25— In spite of their backslidings what was God going to
give to Israel? (15) How had Israel dealt with God? (20) And yet, despite of all their unfaithfulness, what did the LORD offer them if they would return to Him? What role does repentance (“return”) play in the life of the Christian? What is it exactly? (see Eph. 4:17-32 and notice the contrast between the old life in sin with the new life in Christ) What parts of our being are involved with repentance? What role does our identity in Jesus play? How can you exercise this identity this week?
4. Wednesday: a. Read Jeremiah 4:1-31— What did the LORD say to the men of Judah? (3-4)
What would happen to the cities of Judah? (7,26,29) What did God say about His people? (22) When did this judgment come to pass? How does God’s justice on evil and wickedness ultimately point to the cross of Christ (see Rom. 3:21-26)? How does God’s judgment of Judah in Jeremiah point to the Day of Judgment on all of mankind? How can we be certain such a Day is coming (see 2 Peter 3:1-13)? In light of that day, what sort of people ought Christians be?
5. Thursday: a. Read Jeremiah 5:1-31— What kind of man does God tell Jeremiah to seek and
see if he can find? (1) What did his search find (5)? What was the Lord going to bring on Israel? (15-17) Where did the problem lie for the nation’s unrighteousness and unfaithfulness to God (23-25) How did the prophets prophesy? (31) Reflect upon the role the ministry of the Word plays in addressing your heart – what is the role of the preached Word? The read Word? The meditative Word? How are you doing in this area?
6. Friday: a. Read Jeremiah 6:1-30— What was the attitude of Jerusalem to the word of the
LORD? (10) To what were all the people given? (13) What was their attitude when they committed abominations? (15) For what does the LORD instruct us to ask? (16) What role does tradition and instruction play in producing godliness in the lives of Christians? (see 2 Tim. 1:13; 2:1-2; 1 John 2:12-14)
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
Relationship Building Opportunity
• Interested in joining with a group of individuals + couples + families
to have dinner and fellowship in one another’s homes? Our next
GCPC DINNER GROUPS are forming soon, and the goal is 4 dinners
between September and February. Contact Anne Nelson, (405)250-
6680, or [email protected] to indicate interest or questions; and be
watching for more sign-up info via LOG or MOG Facebook.
Ladies of Grace:
• Save the date: 9/20-21 LoG Fall Retreat! Details coming soon!
Missions of Grace:
• Save the Date - GCPC Missions Fair; Oct.6th; 6:00-7:30 PM. Details
coming soon. Please pray for all those going on the Mission Trip to
Reynosa, Mexico.
Student Ministries of Grace:
• Middle School:
§ Twin Points Beach, 8/5, 10-2 pm, $5
• High School:
§ Wednesday, 7/31, Top Golf, 10am-1pm.
§ River float: 8/5-8/6 in San Antonio. More details to come.
• Senior Sunday: we will be honoring our graduates on August 11th.
• Leadership Training: we are looking for more adult leaders with our
students and will be having information & training on Wednesdays in
August starting on the 7th. Please consider joining our covenant
ministry to our teens.
