The Lord’s Day
November 18, 2007
I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present,
nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing,
will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Rom. 8:38, 39)
Prelude
Apostolic Greeting
*Call to Worship Psalm 113:1-4
Minister: Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord,
Congregation: Praise the name of the Lord.
Minister: Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forever.
Congregation: From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised.
Minister: The Lord is high above all nations;
Congregation: His glory is above the heavens.
*Gloria Patri No. 734
*Prayer of Invocation
*Hymns O Come, My Soul, Bless Thou the Lord No. 6
Public Confession
All: We ask forgiveness for those occasions on which we did not keep Your Word and for those many times when we treated Your Word with little regard. Forgive us for speaking in order to deceive and harm. Make us people who are careful in speech.
Forgive us for subjecting our minds to things that corrupt. Make us people who dwell on what is lovely and delightful and pure. Forgive us for being selfish and acting out of fear. Make us people who show mercy and who are long-suffering with others.
Children: Help us also, dear Father, to show mercy to others. And help us learn how to guard ourselves from all sin. Please forgive our disobedience to our parents and our sinful thoughts about others.
Words of Assurance 1 Peter 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Response In Thee, O Lord, I Put My Trust (inside front)
Prayer for the Tithe and Offerings
Collection of the Tithe and Offerings
*Doxology No. 731
*Declaring Our Faith The Larger Catechism (74, 75)
What is adoption?
Adoption is an act of the free grace of God, in and for His only Son Jesus Christ, whereby all those that are justified are received into the number of His children, have His name put upon them, the Spirit of His Son given to them, are under His fatherly care and dispensations, admitted to all the liberties and privileges of the sons of God, made heirs of all the promises, and fellow heirs with Christ in glory.
What is sanctification?
Sanctification is a work of God’s grace, whereby they whom God has, before the foundation of the world, chosen to be holy are in time, through the powerful operation of His Spirit applying the death and resurrection of Christ unto them, renewed in their whole man after the image of God; having the seeds of repentance unto life, and all other saving graces, put into their hearts, and those graces so stirred up, increased, and strengthened, as that they more and more die unto sin, and rise unto newness of life.
Pastoral Prayer
*Responsive Reading Proverbs 16:12-22
It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts,
For a throne is established on righteousness.
Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And he who speaks right is loved.
The fury of a king is like messengers of death,
But a wise man will appease it.
In the light of a king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud with the spring rain.
How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;
He who watches his way preserves his life.
Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
He who gives attention to the word will find good,
And blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
The wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.
Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,
But the discipline of fools is folly.
*Hymn Rejoice, the Lord Is King No. 310
*Public Reading of the Word 2 Corinthians 10
*Prayer for the Ministry of the Word
Sermon Matthew 12:38-50
Hymn Jesus, My Great High Priest No. 306
Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper+
*Hymn And Can It Be That I Should Gain No. 455
*Benediction
*Threefold Amen No. 740
* Congregation will please stand
+ Visitors: please see the note on the back of this bulletin