The Parable of the Wedding Feast (Part 3)

Many will try to creep into Christ's kingdom clothed in their own righteousness. But the King will discover them all and cast them out.

Call to Worship

Sunday School

Studies in The Sermon on the Mount
by Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Sunday Service

Pastoral Reading

Revelation 19:11-21

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.” 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

Opening Song

Psalm 23 (TH #87)

1 The Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll not want;
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; he leadeth me
The quiet waters by.

2 My soul he doth restore again;
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
E’en for his own name’s sake.

3 Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale,
Yet will I fear none ill,
For thou art with me; and thy rod
And staff me comfort still.

4 My table thou hast furnished
In presence of my foes;
My head thou dost with oil anoint,
And my cup overflows.

5 Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me:
And in God’s house for evermore
My dwelling place shall be.

Prayer

Focus this week: Jude Crippen, age 3

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
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

Where Thou Leadest Me (CRC #5)

Verse 1
Where Thou leadest me, I dare not find complain
For Thou has never left nor will for all my days
Thy presence is my good and it shall ever be
I will go where Thou leadest me
That′s the verse two together

Verse 2
Sovereign is Thy hand to guide me when I’m worn
Thy good and perfect will, holds fast through every storm
What time I am afraid, my faith looks up to Thee
I will trust where Thou leadest me

Chorus
On the mountain high through the valley deep
I will go where Thou leadest me

Verse 3
O Shepherd, keep me near for I am prone to stray
The frailty of my flesh seeks refuge in Thy grace
This promise is my peace, my soul is safe in Thee
I will rest as Thou leadest me

Chorus
On the mountain high through the valley deep
I will go where Thou leadest me
On the mountain high through the valley deep
I will go where Thou leadest me
Ooh-oh-oh

Verse 4
Savior, light my path until that final day
If Thou art Lord of life, why should I fear the grave?
Proud death has lost its sting for all eternity
I will rise where Thou leadest me
Home with Christ where Thou leadest me

Chorus
On the mountain high through the valley deep
I will go where Thou leadest me, oh
On the mountain high through the valley deep
I will go where Thou leadest me
I will go where Thou leadest me

Writer(s): Kristyn Getty, Ben Shive, Bryan Fowler

Scripture Reading

Philippians 3

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Preaching the Word

The Parable of the Wedding Feast (Part 3)

Matthew 22:1-14

And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying,“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ 10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Closing Song

Great God, What o I See and Hear! (TH #321)

1 Great God, what do I see and hear!
The end of things created!
The Judge of mankind doth appear
on clouds of glory seated!
The trumpet sounds; the graves restore
the dead which they contained before:
prepare, my soul, to meet him.

2 The dead in Christ shall first arise,
at the last trumpet’s sounding,
caught up to meet him in the skies,
with joy their Lord surrounding;
no gloomy fears their souls dismay;
his presence sheds eternal day
on those prepared to meet him.

3 But sinners, filled with guilty fears,
behold his wrath prevailing;
for they shall rise, and find their tears
and sighs are unavailing:
the day of grace is past and gone;
trembling they stand before the throne,
all unprepared to meet him.

4 Great God, what do I see and hear!
The end of things created!
The Judge of mankind doth appear
on clouds of glory seated!
Beneath his cross I view the day
when heav’n and earth shall pass away,
and thus prepare to meet him.