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The Lord’s Day ~ August 9, 2020
The Preparation for Worship
For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36)
Prelude and Silent Prayer
Welcome and Announcements
The Adoration of God
Call to Worship – Psalm 139:14
*Psalm of Praise – Psalm 139C, ARP Psalter
Speaker: Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary;
All: Praise Him in His mighty firmament! (Psalm 150:1)
The Invocation and Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
*The Hymn of Exaltation – Hymn 164, vv. 1-4
(O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing)
The Old Testament Reading – Isaiah 35:1-10
*The Response of Praise (He Is Lord)
He is Lord, He is Lord.
He is risen from the dead and He is Lord.
Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess,
That Jesus Christ is Lord.
(Second time "You are Lord")
The Confession of Sin
The Call to Repentance - Romans 3:23-28
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
The Prayer of Confession (a moment of silent confession)
Hear our prayer, O LORD, give ear to our supplications. In Your faithfulness and your righteousness hear our prayer. Do not enter into judgment with your servants, for in your sight no one living is righteous. Our spirits are overwhelmed, and our hearts distressed; our souls long for You like a thirsty land. Do not hide your face from us, lest we become like those who die. Cause us to know the way in which we should walk, for we lift our souls to You. Teach us to do your will, for You are our God. Lead us in the land of uprightness. Revive us, O LORD, for your name’s sake. For your righteousness’ sake bring our souls out of trouble, for we are your servants. In Jesus’ name. Amen. (Psalm 143)
The Assurance of Pardon – Hebrews 9:14 "How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!"
*The Hymn of Gratitude – Hymn 254
(Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed)
The Means of Grace
The Pastoral Prayer
The Worship of Giving
*The Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise Him all creatures here below; praise Him above, ye heavenly host: praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*The Prayer of Dedication
The Scripture – John 14:4-6
The Sermon – Christ the Only Way
The Response and Blessing
*The Hymn of Consecration – Hymn 154
(Thou Art the Way)
The Benediction
*Congregation Standing
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Announcements
We welcome all who are visiting with us today. The Pastor and elders are available to pray with you or speak with you about your relationship with God.
On Sunday mornings, August 16 & 23, we will take up a special offering for the Dunlap Orphanage Fund of the ARP Church, whose purpose is “to provide care, support, maintenance, and education of orphaned, or fatherless, or helpless, or needy children, and to support projects related to such children.” Make your check out to Unity Presbyterian and designate for "Dunlap Orphanage." Or put cash in an envelope and label it "Dunlap Fund." This offering will go to the Dunlap Adoption Assistance Fund. (February’s went to the Dunlap Foundation. See dunlaporphanage.com)
Our Wednesday night prayer meeting @ 7:00 will continue on Zoom. The link to join will be emailed on Wednesday.
We should mark in these verses how expressly the Lord Jesus shuts out all ways of salvation but Himself. "No man," He declares, "No man comes unto the Father but by Me." It avails nothing that a man is clever, learned, highly gifted, amiable, charitable, kind-hearted, and zealous about some sort of religion. All this will not save his soul if he does not draw near to God by Christ’s atonement, and make use of God’s own Son as his Mediator and Savior. God is so holy that all men are guilty and debtors in His sight. Sin is so sinful that no mortal man can make satisfaction for it. There must be a mediator, a ransom-payer, a redeemer, between ourselves and God, or else we can never be saved. There is only one door, one bridge, one ladder, between earth and heaven — the crucified Son of God. Whoever will enter in by that door may be saved; but to him who refuses to use that door the Bible holds out, no hope at all. Without shedding of blood there is no remission.
Let us beware, if we love life, of supposing that mere earnestness will take a man to heaven, though he knows nothing of Christ. The idea is a deadly and ruinous error. Sincerity will never wipe away our sins. It is not true that every man will be saved by his own religion, no matter what he believes, so long as he is diligent and sincere. We must not pretend to be wiser than God. Christ has said, and Christ will stand to it, "No man comes unto the Father but by Me." (J.C. Ryle, The Gospels)
The ARP Church has published a Psalter in conjunction with Crown and Covenant Publications. Read here about the Preface and History of Psalm singing in the ARPC.
