The Lord’s Day
April 8, 2007
Easter Sunday
Prelude
Musical Offering Christ Is Risen, Alleluia!
Apostolic Greeting
*Call to Worship Revelation 5:11-14
Minister: Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,
Congregation: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”
Minister: And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”
Congregation: And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.
*Gloria Patri No. 734
*Prayer of Invocation
*Hymns Christ the Lord Is Risen Today No. 277
Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain No. 266
Public Confession
Hear our words of confession, O God. Be merciful to us. Our sins are ever before us, but we encourage ourselves with the knowledge of Your forgiveness.
Make us more careful in our speech; let our words edify and comfort. Make us more cautious in our conduct; let our lives reflect honorably upon our Savior.
Make us more zealous for truth; let our minds be filled with wholesome thoughts and desires. Forgive our transgressions in these matters, heavenly Father, and let us find contentment in serving You all our days.
Words of Assurance Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
Response Amazing Grace (inside front cover)
Prayer for the Tithe and Offerings
Collection of the Tithe and Offerings
Musical Offering The First Easter
*Doxology No. 731
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
*Declaring Our Faith Westminster Confession (Death & Resurrection)
What happens when we die?
The bodies of men, after death, return to dust, and see corruption; but their souls, which neither die nor sleep, having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them.
What distinction is made between the righteous and the wicked?
The souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God, in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies. And the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day.
What happens on that last day?
At the last day, such as are found alive shall not die, but be changed; and all the dead shall be raised up, with the self-same bodies, and none other (although with different qualities), which shall be united again to their souls forever. The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of Christ, be raised to dishonor; the bodies of the just, by His Spirit, unto honor; and be made conformable to His own glorious body.
Pastoral Prayer
*Responsive Reading 1 Corinthians 15:12-26
Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.
Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.
For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.
Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.
For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming.
Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.
For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.
The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
*Hymn Worship Christ, the Risen King! No. 286
*Public Reading of the Word Matthew 28
*Prayer for the Ministry of the Word
Sermon
Hymn What Wondrous Love Is This No. 261
Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper+
Musical Offering Decker Family
*Hymn I Know That My Redeemer Lives No. 281
*Benediction
*Hymn Lift High the Cross No. 263
* Congregation will please stand
+ Visitors: please see the note on the back of this bulletin