Liturgy for August 20, 2023
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Reflections
Modern man cannot talk about the object of his faith, only about faith itself… Modern man’s faith turns inward. In Christianity the value of faith depends upon the object towards which the faith is directed. So it looks outward to the God who is there, and to Christ who in history died upon the cross once for all, finished the work of atonement, and on the third day rose again in space and in time. This makes Christian faith open to discussion and verification.
Francis Schaeffer
from The God Who is There
What will matter is our relationship to the Lord Jesus, individually and then corporately, at this existential moment. What counts, as men look upon us individually and corporately, is whether we are exhibiting God and his character now. The Christian position is not static but it is living.
Francis Schaeffer
from The God Who is There
Union with Christ means we are part of a larger family, a broader mission, a longer story, a bigger world, and a deeper love.
Rankin Wilbourne
Redemption is meaningless unless there is a cause for it in the actual life we live, I see from the standpoint of Christian orthodoxy. This means that for me the meaning of life is centered in our redemption by Christ and what I see in the world I see in its relation to that.
Flannery O’Connor, American Novelist
Peter's declaration of our 'peoplehood' in Christ has vast consequences for the life of the church of Christ. The church is not just a religious association formed by saved individuals to give united expression to their faith. Church fellowship is not an optional advantage, to be chosen or ignored, like membership in a social club. It is the calling of every Christian. There is a spiritual 'ethnicity' to the church of Christ; Christians are blood relatives, joined by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Ed Clowney
Call to Worship
from Hebrews 12:28-29
Leader: Let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
People: And let us thus offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.
Leader: Come. Let us worship Him!
Hymn of Praise: O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
Prayer of Praise and the Lord’s Prayer
Confession of Sin
Psalm 103:1-6
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
Corporate Confession of Sin
All: O Almighty God and merciful Father, you who pour your benefits upon us – forgive our ingratitude which is due your goodness. We have cherished before you dead and senseless hearts. Turn us, O merciful Father, and so shall we be turned. Make us with ou whole heart to hunger and thirst after you, so that with all our longing we would desire you above all. Amen.
Silent Confession and Reflection
Assurance of Pardon and the Peace of God
Psalm 103:11-13
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him.”
Leader: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And also with you.
Hymn of Response: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
Affirmation of Faith
The Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 25, The Church Parts 1,2,3,4
Leader: Christian, what do you believe?
People: The catholic or universal church is invisible and consists of all the elect who have been, are, or ever will be gathered into one under Christ, the head. The church is his body and spouse, the fullness of God, who fills all in all.
The visible church is also catholic or universal under the gospel, that is, it is not confined to one nation as previously under the Mosaic Law. It consists of everyone in the world who professes the true religion together with their children. The visible church is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ and the house and family of God, outside of which people cannot ordinarily be saved.
In order to gather and perfect the saints in this life until the end of the world Christ has given the ministry, Scriptures, and ordinances of God to this universal visible church, and by his own presence and Spirit he enables the church to function in this way according to his promise.
This universal church has been sometimes more and sometimes less visible. Particular churches, which are members of it, are also more or less pure, depending on how the gospel is accepted and taught, how the ordinances of God are administered, and how public worship is performed.
Hymn: Gloria Patri
Prayer of Intercession
Hymn: We Are God's People
Preaching of the Word
The Church Unified -- Rev. Joel Gibson
Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says,
When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.
(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all again to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Leader: The grass withers, the flower fades,
People: But the Word of our God will stand forever!
Sermon
The Sacrament of Communion
Distribution of the Bread
Prayer
Distribution of Wine
Prayer
The Giving of Peace
Pastor: May the peace of Christ be with you!
People: And also with you!
Hymn: Crown Him with Many Crowns
Benediction
from Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.
And God’s People said:
All: Amen!