Call to Worship
Sunday School
Studies in the Sermon on the Mount
by Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Sunday Service
Pastoral Scripture Reading
Hebrews 12
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.
A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken
18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them.20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.”21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly[a] of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
Opening Song
Who Trusts in God A Strong Abode (TH #668)
1 Who trusts in God, a strong abode
in heav’n and earth possesses;
who looks in love to Christ above,
no fear his heart oppresses.
In you alone, dear Lord, we own
sweet hope and consolation;
our shield from foes, our balm for woes,
our great and sure salvation.
2 Though Satan’s wrath beset our path,
and worldly scorn assail us,
while you are near we will not fear,
your strength shall never fail us:
your rod and staff shall keep us safe,
and guide our steps forever;
nor shades of death, nor hell beneath,
our souls from you shall sever.
3 In all the strife of mortal life
our feet shall stand securely;
temptation’s hour shall lose its pow’r,
for you shall guard us surely.
O God, renew, with heav’nly dew,
our body, soul, and spirit,
until we stand at your right hand,
through Jesus’ saving merit.
Prayer
Focus this week: Julie Cleaveland
Song
Psalm 150 (Praise the Lord) CRC #33
Verse 1
You made the starry hosts, You traced the mountain peaks
You paint the evening skies with wonders
The earth it is Your throne, From desert to the sea
All nature testifies Your splendor.
Chorus 1
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, Sing His greatness all creation
Praise the Lord, Raise your voice,
You heights and all you depths, from furthest east to west
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Verse 2
You reached into the dust in love Your Spirit breathed
You formed us in Your very likeness
To know Your wondrous works to tell Your mighty deeds
To join the everlasting chorus.
Verse 3
Let symphonies resound, let drums and choirs ring out
All heaven hear the sound of worship
Let every nation bring its honors to the King
A roar of harmonies eternal.
Chorus 2
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, Sing His greatness all creation
Praise the Lord, raise your voice
You heights and all you depths from furthest east to west
You distant burning stars all creatures near and far
From sky to sea to shore sing out forevermore
Let everything that has breath
Praise the Lord!
CCLI Song # 7161130, Matt Boswell | Matt Papa
© 2020 Getty Music Hymns and Songs (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
Getty Music Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
Love Your Enemies Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
Messenger Hymns (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License # 108183
Song
He Will Keep You (CRC #38)
Verse 1
I lift my eyes and see
I need not be afraidAll my help comes from the Lord
Who the earth and sky has made
Chorus
He will keep you from all evilsBehind you and before
He will sustain you through this journey
From now and evermore
Repeat Verse 1 and Chorus
Verse 2
The Lord will never sleep
My steps He has ordained
For the One Who holds the night
Is the Sovereign of my days
CCLI Song # 7190364, CCLI License # 108183
Bob Kauflin | David Zimmer
© 2021 Sovereign Grace Praise
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
Song
Christ Our Hope in Life and Death (CRC #7)
Verse 1
What is our hope in life and death, Christ alone Christ alone
What is our only confidence that our souls to Him belong
Who holds our days within His hand, what comes apart from His command
And what will keep us to the end, the love of Christ in which we stand.
Chorus
O sing hallelujah, Our hope springs eternal
O sing hallelujah, Now and ever we confess
Christ our hope in life and death.
Verse 2
What truth can calm the troubled soul, God is good God is good
Where is His grace and goodness known, in our great Redeemer’s blood
Who holds our faith when fears arise, who stands above the stormy trial
Who sends the waves that bring us nigh unto the shore the rock of Christ.
Verse 3
Unto the grave what will we sing, Christ He lives Christ He lives
And what reward will heaven bring, everlasting life with Him
There we will rise to meet the Lord, then sin and death will be destroyed
And we will feast in endless joy, when Christ is ours forevermore
CCLI Song # 7147502
Jordan Kauflin | Keith Getty | Matt Boswell | Matt Papa | Matthew Merker
© 2020 Getty Music Hymns and Songs (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)Getty Music Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
Jordan Kauflin Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
Love Your Enemies Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
Matthew Merker Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
Messenger Hymns (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License # 108183
Preaching the Word
Colossians 2:18-19
Closing Song
Jesus Christ, Our Sure Foundation (TH #354)
Jesus Christ, our sure foundation,
he whose purpose stays the same,
building for himself a nation,
giving those he calls his name.
Praise we now and evermore, Jesus we adore! God has giv’n to us salvation,
Jesus Christ has borne our blame.
Shepherd, Guardian, he who teaches, on whose grace the church depends, tending it through hist’ry’s reaches, and will keep it to the end.
Praise we now and evermore, Jesus we adore! He who from the first did seek us,
Savior, Ruler, Guide, and Friend.
Jesus, come, your kingdom bringing, how we long to see its sight!
Ev’ry saint, Christ’s praises singing, stands before th’eternal Light.
Praise we now and ever more, Jesus we adore! Exaltation ever ringing, Christ, our King, return in might.