The Lord’s Day
July 8, 2007
Prelude
Apostolic Greeting
*Call to Worship Psalm 70:4, 5
Minister: Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
Congregation: And let those who love Your salvation say continually, “Let God be magnified.”
Minister: But I am afflicted and needy; hasten to me, O God!
Congregation: You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay.
*Gloria Patri No. 734
*Prayer of Invocation
*Hymn Our God, Our Help in Ages Past No. 30
Public Confession
Heavenly Father, we marvel at Your majesty and mercy; we give thanks for Your faithfulness and provision. Hear our confession of sin and restore our joy.
We admit that we have engaged in sin of various kinds this past week. We did not always follow the teaching of Your Word or the leading of Your Holy Spirit.
Forgive us for using words to wound rather than encourage. Forgive us for closing our hearts when there was need. Forgive us for thinking too highly of ourselves while caring too little for the good name of others.
Forgive us for taking advantage of Your goodness when we should have been serving You. Forgive us for our complacency in matters of eternal consequence. And forgive us for not being thankful people.
Forgive us for disobeying our parents and for being unkind to our brother or sister. Forgive us for complaining instead of praising You for all the good things we have received.
Words of Assurance Colossians 1:13-15
For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
Response Searcher of Hearts (facing page)
Prayer for the Tithe and Offerings
Collection of the Tithe and Offerings
*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 The Larger Catechism (28, 29)
What are the punishments of sin in this world?
The punishments of sin in this world are either inward, as blindness of mind, a reprobate sense, strong delusions, hardness of heart, horror of conscience, and vile affections; or outward, as the curse of God upon the creatures for our sakes, and all other evils that befall us in our bodies, names, estates, relations, and employments; together with death itself.
What are the punishments of sin in the world to come?
The punishments of sin in the world to come are everlasting separation from the comfortable presence of God, and most grievous torments in soul and body, without intermission, in hell fire forever.
Pastoral Prayer
*Responsive Reading Proverbs 10:24-32
What the wicked fears will come upon him,
But the desire of the righteous will be granted.
When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more,
But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy one to those who send him.
The fear of the Lord prolongs life,
But the years of the wicked will be shortened.
The hope of the righteous is gladness,
But the expectation of the wicked perishes.
The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the upright,
But ruin to the workers of iniquity.
The righteous will never be shaken,
But the wicked will not dwell in the land.
The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom,
But the perverted tongue will be cut out.
The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable,
But the mouth of the wicked what is perverted.
*Hymn I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art No. 168
*Public Reading of the Word 1 Corinthians 9
*Prayer for the Ministry of the Word
Sermon Matthew 9:1-8
Hymn What Wondrous Love Is This No. 261
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