The Lord’s Day

February 24, 2008

I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry.

He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay,

and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.

(Psalm 40:1, 2)

  Prelude

  Apostolic Greeting

*Call to Worship                                                     Psalm 11:4–7

The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven;

His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.

The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked,

And the one who loves violence His soul hates.

Upon the wicked He will rain snares;

Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.

For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness;

The upright will behold His face.

*Gloria Patri                                                                      No. 734

*Prayer of Invocation

*Hymn                             Holy, Holy, Holy                      No. 100

  Public Confession

Forgive the transgressions of Your people, heavenly Father. Remember the sacrifice of our Substitute, Jesus. Pardon our harmful language and our quickness to judge others wrongly. Forgive our expressions of pride and impatience. Forgive our lack of compassion. Forgive all our sins, we ask, and enable us to think, speak, and live like Jesus, our blessed Savior.

 Words of Assurance     1 John 5:20

We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

  Response                         Lead Me, Lord    (inside front cover)

  Prayer for the Tithe and Offerings

  Collection of the Tithe and Offerings

*Doxology                                                                          No. 731

*Declaring Our Faith           The Larger Catechism (155–157)

How is the Word made effectual to salvation?

The Spirit of God makes the reading, but especially the preaching. of the Word an effectual means of enlightening, convincing, and humbling sinners; of driving them out of themselves, and drawing them unto Christ.

Is the Word of God to be read by all?

All sorts of people are bound to read it apart by themselves, and with their families; to which end, the holy Scriptures are to be translated out of the original into vulgar languages.

How is the Word of God to be read?

The holy Scriptures are to be read with a high and reverent esteem of them; with a firm persuasion that they are the very Word of God, and that He only can enable us to understand them; with desire to know, believe, and obey the will of God revealed in them.

  Pastoral Prayer

*Responsive Reading                                    Proverbs 21:16–31

A man who wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.

He who loves pleasure will become a poor man and he who loves wine and oil will not become rich.

The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,

And the treacherous is in the place of the upright.

It is better to live in a desert land than with a contentious and vexing woman.

There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up.

He who pursues righteousness and loyalty finds life, righteousness and honor.

A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles.

“Proud,” “Haughty,” “Scoffer,” are his names, who acts with insolent pride. 

The desire of the sluggard puts him to death,

For his hands refuse to work; all day long he is craving, while the righteous gives and does not hold back.

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination,

How much more when he brings it with evil intent!

A false witness will perish,

But the man who listens to the truth will speak forever.

A wicked man displays a bold face,

But as for the upright, he makes his way sure.

There is no wisdom and no understanding and no counsel against the Lord.

The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the Lord.

*Hymn             How Good It Is to Thank the Lord No. 635

*Public Reading of the Word                                   Ephesians 4

*Prayer for the Ministry of the Word

  Sermon                                                                                          

  Hymn                      Come unto Me, Ye Weary               No. 482

  Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper⁺

*Hymn                           All Praise to Christ      (following page)

*Benediction

*Threefold Amen                                                               No. 740

* Congregation will please stand

⁺ Visitors: please see the note on the back of this bulletin