The Lord’s Day
November 11, 2007
The scape-goat on His head the people’s trespass bore,
And to the desert led, was to be seen no more.
In Him our surety seemed to say, “Behold, I bear your sins away.”
(Israel in Ancient Days by William Cowper)
Prelude
Apostolic Greeting
*Call to Worship Psalm 111:1-3
Minister: Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart,
Congregation: In the company of the upright and in the assembly.
Minister: Great are the works of the Lord;
Congregation: They are studied by all who delight in them.
Minister: Splendid and majestic is His work,
Congregation: And His righteousness endures forever.
*Gloria Patri No. 734
*Prayer of Invocation
*Hymns Psalm 138A (facing page)
Holy God, We Praise Your Name No. 103
Public Confession
All: We rejoice in Your presence, O Lord! We marvel at Your magnificence. You have been good to Your people. You have shown us compassion and patience. We acknowledge that we do not know the extent of our offenses. But we ask You to hear us as we make this confession.
Forgive every unrighteous thought and every unwholesome word. Forgive every act of selfishness. Forgive our impatience with those we love. Forgive us for grieving Your Spirit as He has borne with us.
Forgive us, we ask, for all our sins. And comfort us as we wait upon You to strengthen our souls.
Children: Thank You for Your mercy, heavenly Father. Please pardon our sins and prepare us to walk rightly before You all our days.
Words of Assurance 2 Thessalonians 2:14-17
It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.
Response In Thee, O Lord, I Put My Trust (page 4)
Prayer for the Tithe and Offerings
Collection of the Tithe and Offerings
*Doxology No. 731
*Declaring Our Faith The Larger Catechism (72, 73)
What is justifying faith?
Justifying faith is a saving grace, wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit and Word of God, whereby he, being convinced of his sin and misery, and of the disability in himself and all other creatures to recover him out of his lost condition, not only assents to the truth of the promise of the gospel, but receives and rests upon Christ and His righteousness, therein held forth, for pardon of sin, and for the accepting and accounting of his person righteous in the sight of God for salvation.
How does faith justify a sinner in the sight of God?
Faith justifies a sinner in the sight of God, not because of those other graces which do always accompany it, or of good works that are the fruits of it, nor as if the grace of faith, or any act thereof, were imputed to him for his justification; but only as it is an instrument by which he receives and applies Christ and His righteousness.
Pastoral Prayer
*Responsive Reading Proverbs 16:1-11
The plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight,
But the Lord weighs the motives.
Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established.
The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.
By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,
And by the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.
When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Better is a little with righteousness than great income with injustice.
The mind of man plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.
A divine decision is in the lips of the king;
His mouth should not err in judgment.
A just balance and scales belong to the Lord;
All the weights of the bag are His concern.
*Hymn O God, Your Judgments Give the King No. 312
*Public Reading of the Word 2 Corinthians 9
*Prayer for the Ministry of the Word
Sermon Matthew 12:33-37
Hymn Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me No. 500
Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper+
*Hymn Take My Life and Let It Be No. 585
*Benediction
*Threefold Amen No. 740
* Congregation will please stand
+ Visitors: please see the note on the back of this bulletin