May 10, 2020

Call to Worship — from Psalms 102-103

In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. We praise you Lord, who crowns us with love and compassion, who satisfies our desires with good things! From everlasting to everlasting your love is with those who fear you, O Lord, and your righteousness with their children’s children, with those who keep your covenant, and remember to obey your commandments.

Prayer of Worship

Heavenly Father we bow before you in worship and with thanksgiving for your infinite love lavished upon us in the gift of your Son to be our Redeemer; Prophet, Priest and King. We ask you to show us Christ in all his glory that we might glorify you in our worship and with our lives. Grant us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of yourself. Enlighten the eyes of our hearts that we may know the hope to which you have called us. Make us to know the riches of your glorious inheritance as your children and the great resurrection power that is at work in those who believe. And may our lives overflow with joy and worship now and forever. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

We Confess Our Sin and Need

Almighty God, you gave your one and only Son to die in our place as the sacrifice for our guilt and sin. In raising Jesus from the grave, you shattered the power of sin and death. Almighty God, we acknowledge and confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed; we have not loved you with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength; we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves. Deepen within us our sorrow for the wrong we have done, and the good we have left undone. Lord, you are full of compassion and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy; there is always forgiveness with you. Restore to us the joy of your salvation; bind up that which is broken, give light to our minds, strength to our wills, and rest to our souls. Speak to each of us in your Word, and let your Word abide with us until it has accomplished in us your holy will. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Words of Encouragement — Psalm 103:1-6

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

Thanksgiving

RECEIVE, O Lord, our thanks for all the good things that thou hast given to us: we offer to thee again these our gifts. Grant that thy blessing may go with them to nourish and cheer the sick, whom we want to help, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Together.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, angelic host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Song: He Will Hold Me Fast

When I fear my faith will fail,
Christ will hold me fast;
When the tempter would prevail,
He will hold me fast.
I could never keep my hold
Through life’s fearful path;
For my love is often cold;
He must hold me fast.

Refrain
He will hold me fast,
He will hold me fast;
For my Savior loves me so,
He will hold me fast.

Those He saves are His delight,
Christ will hold me fast;
Precious in His holy sight,
He will hold me fast.
He’ll not let my soul be lost;
His promises shall last;
Bought by Him at such a cost,
He will hold me fast.

Refrain

For my life He bled and died,
Christ will hold me fast;
Justice has been satisfied;
He will hold me fast.
Raised with Him to endless life,
He will hold me fast
‘Till our faith is turned to sight
When He comes at last!

Refrain

Reading
Psalm 19: 7-11

7
The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
8
the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
9
the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
10
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
11
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

Song: Show Us Christ (CCLI#251645)

Prepare our hearts, O God, Help us to receive. Break the hard and stony ground,
Help our unbelief. Plant Your Word down deep in us, Cause it to bear fruit,
Open up our ears to hear, Lead us in Your truth.

Show us Christ, show us Christ, O God, reveal Your glory
Through the preaching of Your Word Until every heart confesses Christ is Lord.

Your Word is living light Upon our darkened eyes, Guards us through temptations,
Makes the simple wise. Your Word is food for famished ones, Freedom for the slave,
Riches for the needy soul, Come speak to us today.

Show us Christ, show us Christ, O God, reveal Your glory
Through the preaching of Your Word Until every heart confesses Christ is Lord.

Where else can we go, Lord, Where else can we go? You have the words of eternal life.
Where else can we go, Lord, Where else can we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Show us Christ, show us Christ, O God, reveal Your glory
Through the preaching of Your Word Until every heart confesses Christ is Lord.

Faith That Endures
Sermon: Hebrews 10: 32-39

32 But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37 For,

“Yet a little while,
and the coming one will come and will not delay;
38 but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.”

39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

Song: Amazing Grace My Chains Fell Off

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
My chains are gone
I've been set free

My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace

My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace

The Earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine.

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
O For A Thousand

O for a thousand tongues to sing My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King, The triumphs of His grace.
My gracious Master and my God, Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad The honors of Your name.

O for a thousand! O for a thousand! O for a thousand! O for a thousand!
O for a thousand! O for a thousand! Tongues to sing.

The name of Jesus charms our fears, It bids our sorrows cease,
It’s music in the sinner’s ears; It’s life and health and peace.
He breaks the pow’r of reigning sin, He sets the pris’ner free.
His blood can make the foulest clean, His blood availed for me.

O for a thousand! O for a thousand! O for a thousand! O for a thousand!
O for a thousand! O for a thousand! Tongues to sing.

He speaks and listening to His voice, New life the dead receive;
The mournful broken hearts rejoice, The humble poor believe.
Hear Him you deaf, you voiceless ones, Your loosened tongues employ;
You blind, behold your Savior come, And leap, you lame, for joy!

O for a thousand! O for a thousand! O for a thousand! O for a thousand!
O for a thousand! O for a thousand! Tongues to sing.

Additional Resource