April 19, 2020

Prelude:
Mercies Anew - Words and music by Mark Altrogge and Bob Kauflin

Ev'ry morning that breaks there are mercies anew.
Ev'ry breath that I take is Your faithfulness proved,
And at the end of each day, when my labors are through,
I will sing of Your mercies anew.

When I've fallen and strayed there were mercies anew.
For You sought me in love and my heart You pursued.
In the face of my sin, Lord, You never withdrew.
I will sing of Your mercies anew.

And Your mercies they will never end;
For ten thousand years they remain.
And when this world's beauty has passed away,
Your mercies will be unchanged.

And when the storms swirl and rage, there are mercies anew.
In affliction and pain, You will carry me through.
And at the end of my days,when Your throne fills my view,
I will sing of Your mercies anew...
I will sing of Your mercies anew.

Call to Worship 2 Corinthians 1:20
For all the promises of God find their Yes in Christ. That is why it is through Christ that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

Song In Christ Alone (CCLI#251645)

In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song;
this cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease.
My comforter, my all in all, here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, who took on flesh, fullness of God in helpless Babe!
This gift of love and righteousness, scorned by the ones He came to save.
'Til on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied,
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid: here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain:
then, bursting forth in glorious day, up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory, sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
for I am His and He is mine, bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the pow'r of Christ in me;
from life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand;
'til He returns or calls me home, here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand!

Prayer of Worship

~God Renews Us In Christ~

It Was Necessary for Christ to Die and Then Enter His Glory Psalm 22
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother's breasts. On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb you have been my God. Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. But you, O LORD, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen! I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live forever! All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations. All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.

We Corporately Confess Our Sin and Need

You, O Lord, have promised that if we will confess our sins, You are faithful and just to forgive us our sins. We come in penitence asking Your forgiveness, that we may know the joy of Your presence, and the light of Your face. You alone know how often we have offended You and hurt the lives of others. Forgive us, O Lord, for every unkind thought, every untrue word, every wrong act. Forgive us for we have been selfish and have not thought of the needs of others. Forgive us for our ingratitude, our neglect of prayer, our carelessness in the use of money, our forgetfulness of our sacred vows. O God have mercy upon us. You O Lord are able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us. To You be the Glory. Create in us clean hearts and renew a right sprit within us for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Song How Deep the Father’s Love for Us (CCLI#251645)

How deep the Father's love for us, How vast beyond all measure.
That He should give His only Son To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss, The Father turns His face away.
As wounds which mar the Chosen One Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross. My sin upon His shoulders.
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice Call out among the scoffers.

It was my sin that held Him there, Until it was accomplished.
His dying breath has brought me life. I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything, No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection.

Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart, His wounds have paid my ransom.

Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart, His wounds have paid my ransom.

The Assurance of Pardoning Grace 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.

Song Jesus, My Great High Priest (CCLI#251645)

1.Jesus, my great High Priest offered his blood and died.
My guilty conscience seeks no sacrifice beside. His powerful blood did once atone,
And now it pleads before the throne; And now it pleads before the throne.

2.To this dear Surety’s hand will I commit my cause;
He answers and fulfils His Father’s broken laws. Behold my soul at freedom set;
My Surety paid the dreadful debt; My Surety paid the dreadful debt.

Chorus:
Now I approach the throne, and I have confidence.
Jesus, my great High Priest offered his blood and died.
Now I approach the throne, and I have confidence.
Jesus, my great High Priest offered his blood and died--For me.

3.My Advocate appears for my defense on high; The Father bows his ears and lays his thunder by.
Not all that hell or sin can say, Shall turn his heart, his love, away.
Shall turn his heart, his love, away.

4.Should all the hosts of death and powers of hell unknown,
Put their most dreadful forms Of rage and mischief on, I shall be safe, for Christ displays
His conquering power and guardian grace; His conquering power and guardian grace.

Chorus:
Now I approach the throne, and I have confidence.
Jesus, my great High Priest offered his blood and died.
Now I approach the throne, and I have confidence.
Jesus, my great High Priest offered his blood and died--For me.

We Listen to God Luke 24:13-35
Sermon A Stranger Meets Us on the Road of Life

Hymn Jesus, Lord Redeemer

1 Jesus, Lord, Redeemer, Once for sinners slain,
Crucified in weakness, Raised in pow'r to reign,
Dwelling with the Father, Endless in your days,
Unto you be glory, Honor, blessing, praise.
Dwelling with the Father, Endless in your days,
Unto you be glory, Honor, blessing, praise.

2 Faithful ones, communing, Toward the close of day,
Desolate and weary, Met you in the way.
So, when sun is setting, Come to us, and show
All the truth, and in us Make our hearts to glow.
So, when sun is setting, Come to us, and show
All the truth, and in us Make our hearts to glow.

3 In the upper chamber, Where the ten, in fear,
Gathered sad and troubled, There you did appear.
So, O Lord, this evening, Bid our sorrow cease;
Breathing on us, Saviour, Say, "I give you peace."
So, O Lord, this evening, Bid our sorrow cease;
Breathing on us, Saviour, Say, "I give you peace."

Benediction
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Postlude:
How Deep - Words and music by Stephen Altrogge
(Based on The Valley of Vision prayer "Love Lustres at Calvary")

You were broken that I might be healed.
You were cast off that I might draw near.
You were thirsty that I might come drink,
Cried out in anguish that I might sing:

How deep is Your love, how high and how wide is Your mercy.
How deep is Your grace, our hearts overflow with praise to You.

You knew darkness that I might know light,
Wept great tears that mine might be dried.
Stripped of glory that I might be clothed
Crushed by Your Father to call me Your own.

How deep is Your love, how high and how wide is Your mercy.
How deep is Your grace, our hearts overflow with praise to You.