The Lord’s Day ~ April 28, 2024
The Preparation for Worship
“He is not here; for He is risen, as He said." (Matthew 28:6)
Prelude and Silent Prayer
Welcome and Announcements
The Adoration of God
Call to Worship – Psalm 122:1
*Psalm of Praise – Psalm 122, ARP Psalter, vv. 1, 4
Speaker: The LORD is my light and my salvation,
All: The LORD is the strength of my life. (Psalm 27:1)
*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 165
(Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim)
The Responsive Reading – Psalm 90, p. 817
*The Response of Praise (The Spirit Breathes upon the Word)
The Spirit breathes upon the Word,
And brings the truth to sight;
Precepts and promises afford,
A sanctifying light. A sanctifying light.
The Hand that gave it still supplies,
The gracious light and heat;
His truths upon the nations rise,
They rise but never set. They rise but never set.
The Confession of Sin
The Call to Repentance – Philippians 3:1-3
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
The Prayer of Confession (after silent confession)
O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure! For Your arrows pierce me deeply, and your hand presses me down. There is no soundness in my flesh because of your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; my wounds are foul and festering because of my foolishness. I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. In You, O Lord, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God. For I will declare my iniquity; I will be in anguish over my sin. Do not forsake me, O Lord; O My God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation! In Jesus name. Amen. (Psalm 38)
The Assurance of Pardon – Colossians 1:21,22 "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation."
*The Hymn of Gratitude – Hymn 537
(Take Time to Be Holy)
The Means of Grace
The Pastoral Prayer
The Worship of Giving (An offering plate is in the back of the church)
*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 – Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8
The Sermon – Rejoice and Remember
Response and Blessing
*The Hymn of Consecration – Hymn 580
(Lead On, O King Eternal)
*The Benediction
*Congregation Standing
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Announcements
We welcome all who are visiting with us today. The Pastor and elders are available after the service to pray with you and speak with you. Children are encouraged to remain in the worship service. A nursery is available if needed.
Today is Katie Glenn's last Sunday as our full time pianist. She has been a tremendous blessing to our church! Katie will continue her education in grad school at Clemson University. We pray for her future and will miss her!
We are very thankful that Mrs. Carole Eby has agreed to step in and serve as our regular pianist beginning next Sunday, May 5. She has filled in several times in the past for us.
Join us for prayer meeting on Wednesday night @ 7:00 at the church.
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In Ecclesiastes 11:8, the Preacher exhorts us to rejoice and enjoy the various pleasures and joys of life, for God has given us an allotted period of time, this present life, to show our gratitude for our gifts. Death is coming, when the enjoyment of what this world has to offer will no longer be possible. Although the full witness of Scripture shows us there are great joys to be had in heaven and that to depart this life and to be with Christ is far better, the joys of this life are not to be despised.
Ecclesiastes 11:9 expands upon this point by emphasizing that the joys commended by the Preacher are joys that are rooted in the heart. God does not commend a superficial joy and happiness; rather, the kind of joy that pleases Him is heartfelt rejoicing, joy that is rooted in the innermost core of who we are. We learn from this that biblical piety includes joy; it is not antithetical to it. Though Christians do not pretend that life is free of difficulty, neither do we approach living in a dour, joyless manner. Biblical faithfulness is characterized by a life of freedom for holiness, liberty to be who God made us to be as image-bearers who take delight in Him and in His creation.
In short, the Preacher commends true liberty. This is not the freedom to fulfill every conceivable desire, for sin is slavery. The liberty that brings joy is freedom to do good, a freedom that nonbelievers do not have. None but those whom God has regenerated can do what He considers good fully and completely, and even we who have new hearts fall short as long as we live in this fallen world. But in any case, that the Preacher commends the joy found in doing what the Lord considers good is confirmed in his caution that God will bring all of our rejoicing into judgment. To rejoice in what the Lord forbids is sin; to take joy in what He approves brings glory to Him. As one commentator has said, "Joy was created to dance with goodness, not alone." The media often depicts Christians as joyless, judgmental individuals who avoid pleasure at all cost. We know that this is a gross caricature, especially in light of the Bible's teaching that we are to rejoice in what God has given. (ligonier.org)
The Preparation for Worship
“He is not here; for He is risen, as He said." (Matthew 28:6)
Prelude and Silent Prayer
Welcome and Announcements
The Adoration of God
Call to Worship – Psalm 122:1
*Psalm of Praise – Psalm 122, ARP Psalter, vv. 1, 4
Speaker: The LORD is my light and my salvation,
All: The LORD is the strength of my life. (Psalm 27:1)
*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 165
(Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim)
The Responsive Reading – Psalm 90, p. 817
*The Response of Praise (The Spirit Breathes upon the Word)
The Spirit breathes upon the Word,
And brings the truth to sight;
Precepts and promises afford,
A sanctifying light. A sanctifying light.
The Hand that gave it still supplies,
The gracious light and heat;
His truths upon the nations rise,
They rise but never set. They rise but never set.
The Confession of Sin
The Call to Repentance – Philippians 3:1-3
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
The Prayer of Confession (after silent confession)
O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure! For Your arrows pierce me deeply, and your hand presses me down. There is no soundness in my flesh because of your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; my wounds are foul and festering because of my foolishness. I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. In You, O Lord, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God. For I will declare my iniquity; I will be in anguish over my sin. Do not forsake me, O Lord; O My God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation! In Jesus name. Amen. (Psalm 38)
The Assurance of Pardon – Colossians 1:21,22 "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation."
*The Hymn of Gratitude – Hymn 537
(Take Time to Be Holy)
The Means of Grace
The Pastoral Prayer
The Worship of Giving (An offering plate is in the back of the church)
*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 – Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8
The Sermon – Rejoice and Remember
Response and Blessing
*The Hymn of Consecration – Hymn 580
(Lead On, O King Eternal)
*The Benediction
*Congregation Standing
-----------------------
Announcements
We welcome all who are visiting with us today. The Pastor and elders are available after the service to pray with you and speak with you. Children are encouraged to remain in the worship service. A nursery is available if needed.
Today is Katie Glenn's last Sunday as our full time pianist. She has been a tremendous blessing to our church! Katie will continue her education in grad school at Clemson University. We pray for her future and will miss her!
We are very thankful that Mrs. Carole Eby has agreed to step in and serve as our regular pianist beginning next Sunday, May 5. She has filled in several times in the past for us.
Join us for prayer meeting on Wednesday night @ 7:00 at the church.
----------------------
In Ecclesiastes 11:8, the Preacher exhorts us to rejoice and enjoy the various pleasures and joys of life, for God has given us an allotted period of time, this present life, to show our gratitude for our gifts. Death is coming, when the enjoyment of what this world has to offer will no longer be possible. Although the full witness of Scripture shows us there are great joys to be had in heaven and that to depart this life and to be with Christ is far better, the joys of this life are not to be despised.
Ecclesiastes 11:9 expands upon this point by emphasizing that the joys commended by the Preacher are joys that are rooted in the heart. God does not commend a superficial joy and happiness; rather, the kind of joy that pleases Him is heartfelt rejoicing, joy that is rooted in the innermost core of who we are. We learn from this that biblical piety includes joy; it is not antithetical to it. Though Christians do not pretend that life is free of difficulty, neither do we approach living in a dour, joyless manner. Biblical faithfulness is characterized by a life of freedom for holiness, liberty to be who God made us to be as image-bearers who take delight in Him and in His creation.
In short, the Preacher commends true liberty. This is not the freedom to fulfill every conceivable desire, for sin is slavery. The liberty that brings joy is freedom to do good, a freedom that nonbelievers do not have. None but those whom God has regenerated can do what He considers good fully and completely, and even we who have new hearts fall short as long as we live in this fallen world. But in any case, that the Preacher commends the joy found in doing what the Lord considers good is confirmed in his caution that God will bring all of our rejoicing into judgment. To rejoice in what the Lord forbids is sin; to take joy in what He approves brings glory to Him. As one commentator has said, "Joy was created to dance with goodness, not alone." The media often depicts Christians as joyless, judgmental individuals who avoid pleasure at all cost. We know that this is a gross caricature, especially in light of the Bible's teaching that we are to rejoice in what God has given. (ligonier.org)
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.