THE LORD'S DAY

February 3, 2002 - 10:30 A.M.

Worship Theme: Love for God

PRELUDE

ACTIVITIES & CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH

PREPARING IN STILLNESS

WELCOMING THE ASSEMBLY

PASTOR: The Lord be with you!
PEOPLE: And also with you!

CONFESSING OUR SINS PUBLICLY

ALL: My Father, when You are angry towards me for my wrongs, I try to pacify You by abstaining from future sin; but teach me that I cannot satisfy Your law, that this effort is a resting in my righteousness, that only Christ’s righteousness, ready-made, already finished, is fit for that purpose; that Your chastising me for my sins is not that I should try to reform, but only that I may be more humbled and separated from sin, by being reconciled, and made righteous in Christ by faith. Humble me for not being as holy as I should be, or as holy as I might be through Christ, for You are all, and to possess You is to possess all. Amen.

CONFESSING OUR SINS PRIVATELY

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

PASTOR: Hear the promises of God to those who truly repent of their sins and trust in Christ: Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. Now, lift up your hearts!

PEOPLE: We lift them up to the Lord!

DRAWING NEAR TO WORSHIP

We Sing Your Mercies

We sing your mercies, we sing your endless praises,
We sing your everlasting love.
We sing your mercies, we sing your endless praises,
Sovereign One who died, Sovereign One who died for us.

Should He who made the stars be hung upon a tree?
And should the hands that healed be driven through for me?
Should He who gave us bread be made to swallow gall,
Should He who gave us breath and life be slaughtered for us all?

Repeat Chorus

Should He who is the light be cast into the dark?
And should the Lord of love be pierced through His own heart?
Should He who called us friends be deserted by us all,
Should He who lived a sinless life be punished for our fall?

Repeat Chorus

Mark Altrogge * 1997 PDI Praise, a division of PDI Music. Used by Permission. CCLI #89178

CALL TO WORSHIP

PASTOR: The LORD swore an oath to David, a sure oath that he will not revoke: “One of your own descendants I will place on your throne— if your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever.”

PEOPLE: For the LORD has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling: “This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it— I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor will I satisfy with food. I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints will ever sing for joy.

ALL: Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool— arise, O LORD, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. M ay your priests be clothed with righteousness; may your saints sing for joy.

RESPONDING IN SONG

My God, I love You, not because I hope for heav’n thereby,
Nor yet for fear that loving not I might forever die;
But for that You did all mankind upon the cross embrace,
For us did bear the nails and spear, and manifold disgrace.

And griefs and torments numberless, and sweat of agony,
Even death itself, and all for man, who was Your enemy.
Then why, most loving Jesus Christ, should I not love You well?
Not for the sake of winning heav’n nor any fear of hell.

Not with the hope of gaining all, not seeking my reward,
But as You first have loved me, O ever-loving Lord!
Even so I love You, and will love, and in Your praise will sing,
Solely because You are my God and my eternal King,
Solely because You are my God and my eternal King!

Words: Francis Xavier, 1506-1552; Music: Kingsfold, Traditional English melody; arr. Mark W. Balthrop

THANKING GOD FOR HIS PRESENCE

PASTOR: We give thanks to you, Lord, for you are good.
ALL: Your love endures forever. Amen.

CONFESSING OUR FAITH

PASTOR: What do you confess when you say: He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary?

PEOPLE: The eternal Son of God, who is and remains true and eternal God, took upon Himself true human nature from the flesh and blood of the virgin Mary, through the working of the Holy Spirit. Thus He is also the true seed of David, and like His brothers in every respect, yet without sin.

PASTOR: What benefit do you receive from the holy conception and birth of Christ?

PEOPLE: He is our Mediator, and with His innocence and perfect holiness covers, in the sight of God, my sin, in which I was conceived and born.

PRAYING TOGETHER AS GOD'S PEOPLE

WORSHIPPING BY GIVING

• Westminster Shorter Catechism, 76-78

• Prayer - The pastor and another church elder will be available in the front to pray personally with anyone during the offertory.

• Offertory - Mrs. Judy Hewlett

• LIFEChange Offering - Please bring your LIFEChange Offering to the front after the offering plate has passed your row.

PRAISING OUR GOD

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.

DEDICATING OUR LIVES & GIFTS

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.

HEARING SCRIPTURE - 1 Timothy 6:6-19

READER: This is the Word of the Lord.
CONGREGATION: Thanks be to God!

GREETING ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE

• Children ages 4-5 dismissed to Children's Church in Rooms M1 & M3.

PREPARING TO HEAR GOD'S WORD

Your Love Is Better Than Life

O Lord, You are my Lord, Your ways are higher than mine.
I’ve seen the broken restored; Your love is better than life.

We thirst in a dry weary land, we hunger for Thee.
Lord, rain down as we lift up our hands, your love is better than life.

O God, I stand amazed, how high, how deep, how wide.
My lips offer You praise, “Your love is better than life.”

I stand in the shade of Your wing, my soul clings to Thee.
In the joy of the Lord, will I sing, “Your love is better than life.
Lord, Your love is better than life.”

O Lord, You are my Lord, Your ways are higher than mine.
I’ve seen the broken restored; Your love is better than life,
Your love is better than life. Lord, Your love is better than life.

Matt Huesmann, David Hampton, and Grant Cunningham * 1999 Matt Huesmann Music/Imagine This Music/River Oaks Music and Miss Bug Music (admin. By CMI). Used by Permission. CCLI #89178

APPLYING GOD'S WORD

Rich or Righteous - Luke 12:13-21
(Text and Outline will be included on Sunday)

PREPARING TO COMMUNE WITH CHRIST

Think About His Love

Think about His love, think about his goodness,
Think about His grace that’s brought us through.
For as high as the heavens above, so great is the measure of our Father’s love;
Great is the measure of our Father’s love.

How could I forget his love? How could I forget His mercy?
He satisfies, He satisfies, He satisfies my desires.
Great is the measure of our Father’s love.

Walt Harrah © 1987 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music. Used by Permission. CCLI #89178

WORDS OF INTRODUCTION & INSTITUTION

COMMUNING WITH OUR LORD

RESPONDING IN SONG

RECEIVING GOD'S BLESSING

PASTOR: And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

ALL: The Lord is King forever! Hallelujah! Amen.

POSTLUDE