The Lord’s Day
October 14, 2007
Prelude
Apostolic Greeting
*Call to Worship Psalm 103:19-22
Minister: The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all.
Congregation: Bless the Lord, you His angels, mighty in strength, who perform His word, obeying the voice of His word!
Minister: Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, you who serve Him, doing His will.
Congregation: Bless the Lord, all you works of His, in all places of His dominion; bless the Lord, O my soul!
*Gloria Patri No. 734
*Prayer of Invocation
*Hymn Rejoice, the Lord Is King No. 309
Public Confession
All: We speak to You in confidence, O Lord, because we know we are Your people in Christ. In recent days, we have sinned deliberately, and we ask that You would forgive us. We have also sinned in ignorance, and we ask that You would forgive us.
Unguarded words have wounded, and our thoughts have not been pure at all times. Sometimes we have been too quick to reach judgments and too slow to extend mercy. Forgive our selfishness and lack of charity.
Children: Father, please forgive all our sins and help us to live according to Your Word. Guard us every day, so that we do not fall when tempted.
Words of Assurance 1 Peter 2:9, 10
You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
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 (62-64)
What is the visible church?
The visible church is a society made up of all such as in all ages and places of the world do profess the true religion, and of their children.
What are the special privileges of the visible church?
The visible church has the privilege of being under God’s special care and government; of being protected and preserved in all ages, not withstanding the opposition of all enemies; and of enjoying the communion of saints, the ordinary means of salvation, and offers of grace by Christ to all the members of it in the ministry of the gospel, testifying that whosoever believes in Him shall be saved, and excluding none that will come unto Him.
What is the invisible church?
The invisible church is the whole number of the elect that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ the Head.
Pastoral Prayer
*Responsive Reading Proverbs 15:1-10
A gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable,
But the mouth of fools spouts folly.
The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.
A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
But perversion in it crushes the spirit.
A fool rejects his father’s discipline,
But he who regards reproof is sensible.
Great wealth is in the house of the righteous,
But trouble is in the income of the wicked.
The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
But the hearts of fools are not so.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
But He loves one who pursues righteousness.
Grievous punishment is for him who forsakes the way;
He who hates reproof will die.
*Hymn Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing No. 457
*Public Reading of the Word 2 Corinthians 5
*Prayer for the Ministry of the Word
Sermon Matthew 12:1-8
Hymn Searcher of Hearts (page 4)
Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper+
*Hymn Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart No. 604
*Benediction
*Threefold Amen No. 740
* Congregation will please stand
+ Visitors: please see the note on the back of this bulletin
