THE LORD'S DAY

March 17, 2002 - 10:30 A.M.

Worship Theme: The God of Truth

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

ALL: O Lord Most High, we confess that we have often tried to please You with our righteousness instead of pleading the righteousness of Christ. We have tried to cleanse our sins by becoming “better” Christians rather than receiving forgiveness through Your blood. We have constructed idols for pleasure and for ambition, and have not been joyful in Your presence, nor rested in Your accomplishment. We have sought our nourishment in vain activities and in setting our own course instead of trusting in Your daily provision. Merciful Father, continue to purge our darkened hearts with the light of Your gospel. Help us not to fear the cleansing work of Your Spirit, but make us eager for it, delight in it, and rejoice with unspeakable joy that we are being conformed to the image of Your dear Son, our Savior Jesus Christ.

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: When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins. Now, lift up your hearts!

PEOPLE: We lift them up to the Lord!

DRAWING NEAR TO WORSHIP

I’m Forever Grateful

You did not wait for me to draw near to You,
But You clothed Yourself with frail humanity.
You did not wait for me to cry out to You,
But You let me hear Your voice calling me.

And I’m forever grateful to You; I’m forever grateful for the cross,
I’m forever grateful to You that You came to seek and save the lost.

Mark Altrogge * 1986 People of Destiny International/Pleasant Hills Music. Used by Permission. CCLI #89178

I Stand in Awe

You are beautiful beyond description; too marvelous for words,
Too wonderful for comprehension, like nothing ever seen or heard.
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom? Who can fathom the depth of Your love?
You are beautiful beyond description, Majesty enthroned above.

And I stand, I stand in awe of You; I stand, I stand in awe of You;
Holy God, to whom all praise is due, I stand in awe of You.

Mark Altrogge * 1987 People of Destiny International/Pleasant Hills Music. Used by Permission. CCLI #89178

CALL TO WORSHIP

PASTOR: I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing your praise.

PEOPLE: I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted your name and your word above all things.

PASTOR: When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.

ALL: Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me.

PRAISING OUR LORD

Lord, with Glowing Heart I’d Praise Thee

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 ascended into heaven”?

PEOPLE: That Christ, before the eyes of His disciples, was taken up from the earth into heaven, and that He is there for our benefit until He comes again to judge the living and the dead.

PASTOR: Is Christ, then, not with us until the end of the world, as He has promised us?

PEOPLE: Christ is true man and true God. With respect to His human nature He is no longer on earth, but with respect to His divinity, majesty, grace, and Spirit He is never absent from us.

PASTOR: How does Christ’s ascension into heaven benefit us?

PEOPLE: First, He is our Advocate in heaven before His Father. Second, we have our flesh in heaven as a sure pledge that He, our Head, will also take us, His members, up to Himself. Third, He sends us His Spirit as a counter-pledge, by whose power we seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God, and not the things that are on earth.

PRAYING TOGETHER FOR GOD'S PEOPLE

CHORAL ANTHEM

Come Thou Fount (arr. James D. Cram)

WORSHIPPING BY GIVING

• Westminster Shorter Catechism, 100-101

• 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

PRAISING OUR GOD

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him, all creatures here below, Alleluia, Alleluia
Praise him above, ye heav’nly host: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

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 - Psalm 40

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

Glory Be to God, the Father

Glory be to God the Father, glory be to God the Son,
Glory be to God the Spirit: Great Jehovah, Three in One,
Great Jehovah, Three in One.

Glory, glory, glory, glory, while eternal ages run.
Glory, glory, glory, glory, Great Jehovah, Three in One,
Great Jehovah, Three in One.

Glory be to Him who loved us, washed us from each spot and stain;
Glory be to Him who bought us, made us kings with Him to reign,
Made us kings with Him to reign!

Glory, glory, glory, glory, to the Lamb that once was slain.
Glory, glory, glory, glory, made us kings with Him to reign,
Made us kings with him to reign.

Glory, blessing, praise eternal! Thus the choir of angels sings,
“Honor, riches, pow’r, dominion!” Thus its praise creation brings,
Thus its praise creation brings.

Glory, glory, glory, glory, glory to the King of kings.
Glory, glory, glory, glory, thus its praise creation brings,
Thus its praise creation brings. (Repeat last chorus)

Words: Horatius Bonar; Music: Matt Huesmann © 1999 Matt Huesmann Music. Used by permission. CCLI #89178

APPLYING GOD'S WORD

Fiction or Fact - John 8:31-47
(Text and Outline will be included on Sunday)

RESPONDING IN SONG

RECEIVING GOD'S BLESSING

PASTOR: I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.

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

POSTLUDE