The Lord’s Day
December 9, 2007
Second Sunday of Advent
We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us.
God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God,
and God abides in him.
(1 John 4:16)
Prelude
Lighting of the Advent Candle Psalm 45:1–7
My heart overflows with a good theme; I address my verses to the King; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. You are fairer than the sons of men; grace is poured upon Your lips; therefore God has blessed You forever. Gird Your sword on Your thigh, O Mighty One, in Your splendor and Your majesty! And in Your majesty ride on victoriously, for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let Your right hand teach You awesome things. Your arrows are sharp; the peoples fall under You; Your arrows are in the heart of the King’s enemies. Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of joy above Your fellows.
*Call to Worship Psalm 37:5–7
Minister: Commit your way to the Lord,
Congregation: Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
Minister: He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
Congregation: And your judgment as the noonday.
Minister: Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;
Congregation: Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
*Gloria Patri No. 734
*Prayer of Invocation
*Hymn Angels, from the Realms of Glory No. 218
Public Confession
All: We gladly acknowledge Jesus Christ as our great Savior. He alone has redeemed us from our ruined estate. Because of what He has done we now confess our sins and do so with the knowledge of Your abundant mercy, heavenly Father.
At times, our words have been unkind and lacking in wisdom. We have sometimes spoken in haste and without knowledge. Some of our actions have been selfish and lacking in charity. We have not always considered others as more important than ourselves.
We seek Your forgiveness, therefore, O God, and we take comfort in Your promises. We thank You for our salvation, which You have freely provided in Your Son.
Children: Thank You for our Savior, Jesus Christ. Please forgive all our sin because He died for us.
Words of Assurance Ephesians 1:5-8
He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.
Response In Sweet Communion (inside front)
Prayer for the Tithe and Offerings
Collection of the Tithe and Offerings
*Doxology No. 731
*Declaring Our Faith The Larger Catechism (80, 81)
Can true believers be infallibly assured that they are in the estate of grace, and that they shall persevere therein unto salvation?
Those who truly believe in Christ and endeavor to walk in all good conscience before Him may, by faith grounded upon the truth of God’s promises, and by the Spirit enabling them to discern in themselves those graces to which the promises of life are made, and bearing witness with their spirits that they are the children of God, be infallibly assured that they are in the state of grace, and shall persevere to salvation.
Are all true believers at all times assured of their present being in the state of grace, and that they shall be saved?
Assurance of grace and salvation not being of the essence of faith, true believers may wait long before they obtain it; and may have it weakened and intermitted through manifold sicknesses, sins, temptations, and desertions; yet they are never left without a presence and support of the Spirit of God, which keeps them from sinking into utter despair.
Pastoral Prayer
*Responsive Reading Proverbs 17:1-14
Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it than a house full of feasting with strife.
A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share in the inheritance among brothers.
The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But the Lord tests hearts.
An evildoer listens to wicked lips;
A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
He who mocks the poor taunts his Maker;
He who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.
Grandchildren are the crown of old men,
And the glory of sons is their fathers.
Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool,
Much less are lying lips to a prince.
A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.
He who conceals a transgression seeks love,
But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.
A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.
A rebellious man seeks only evil, so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly.
He who returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.
The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.
*Hymn Angels We Have Heard on High No. 214
*Public Reading of the Word 2 Corinthians 12
*Prayer for the Ministry of the Word
Sermon Luke 1
Hymn All Praise to Thee, Eternal Lord No. 219
Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper+
*Hymn O Christ, Our Hope, Our Heart’s Desire No. 161
*Benediction
*Threefold Amen No. 740
* Congregation will please stand
+ Visitors: please see the note on the back of this bulletin