The Lord’s Day

May 25, 2008

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You will judge the peoples with uprightness

and guide the nations on the earth.

(Psalm 67:4)

  Prelude

  Apostolic Greeting

*Call to Worship                                                     Psalm 62:5-8

My soul, wait in silence for God only,

For my hope is from Him.

He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold;

I shall not be shaken.

On God my salvation and my glory rest;

The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.

Trust in Him at all times, O people;

Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.

*Gloria Patri                                                                      No. 734

*Prayer of Invocation

*Hymn                          O Worship the King                        No. 2

  Public Confession

Heavenly Father, we thank You for providing our redemption. Please forgive our arrogance and lack of forethought. We confess that we have spoken boldly when we should have remained silent. Forgive our hasty judgments and lack of patience. We confess that we have been quick to speak, but slow to listen.

Forgive our lack of grace and compassion. We confess that we have not loved as we have been loved. Above all, forgive us for offending You. We confess that our thoughts and words have, at times, displeased You.

  Words of Assurance                                       Ephesians 2:8-10

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

  Response           Praise Jehovah, All Ye Nations (inside front)

  Prayer for the Tithe and Offerings

  Collection of the Tithe and Offerings

*Doxology                                                                          No. 731

*Declaring Our Faith           The Larger Catechism (176, 177)

In what manner do the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper agree?

The sacraments agree in that the author of both is God; the spiritual part of both is Christ and His benefits; both are seals of the same covenant, are to be dispensed by ministers of the gospel, and by none other; and to be continued in the church of Christ until His second coming.

In what manner do the sacraments differ?

The sacraments differ in that baptism is to be administered but once, with water, to be a sign and seal of our regeneration and engrafting into Christ, and that even to infants; whereas the Lord’s Supper is to be administered often, in the elements of bread and wine, to represent and exhibit Christ as spiritual nourishment to the soul, and to confirm our continuance and growth in Him, and that only to such as are of years and ability to examine themselves.

  Pastoral Prayer

*Responsive Reading Proverbs 25:15-28

By forbearance a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bone.

Have you found honey? Eat only what you need, that you not have it in excess and vomit it.

Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house, or he will become weary of you and hate you.

Like a club and a sword and a sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.

Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.

Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda, is he who sings songs to a troubled heart.

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; 

For you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.

It is better to live in a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a contentious woman. 

Like cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a distant land.

Like a trampled spring and a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glory to search out one’s own glory.

Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit.

*Hymn                  A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing           No. 289

*Public Reading of the Word                         1 Thessalonians 1

*Prayer for the Ministry of the Word

  Sermon                                             Matthew 18:1-14 (part 3)

  Sacrament of Baptism

  Hymn                     Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me              No. 500

  Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper⁺

*Hymn                                  Lift High the Cross                          No. 263

*Benediction

*Threefold Amen                                                               No. 740

* Congregation will please stand

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