WORSHIP TOGETHER

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GATHERING & WELCOME

CALL TO WORSHIP

MARK 12:29–31

One of the Scribes came up and…asked him, “which of the commandments is the most important of all?”

Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart

and with all your soul

and with all your mind

and with all your strength.

‘The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

There is no other commandment greater than these.”

OH GIVE THANKS

We were wand’ring in the desert with our souls so starved and weak.

We were hungry for a homeland we did not know how to seek.

But we lifted up our voices to the only One who hears;

And the God of mercy came and brought us near.

We were locked out of the garden, with our backs bent down with pain.

In the shadow of death’s darkness, we were slaves to sin and blame.

Then we cried out in our labor to the only One who hears,

And the God of mercy wiped away our tears.

Oh give thanks to the LORD for His love endures forever!

We were wandering and lost, and our Father brought us home,

To a safe dwelling place, to a feast of joy and laughter.

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!

We were fools in our rebellion, with our hunger strike of pride.

We were sick and growing closer to the death we should have died.

Then he heard of our condition, and he called us by our names;

And the God of glory took away our shame.

Oh give thanks to the LORD for His love endures forever!

We were wandering and lost, and our Father brought us home,

To a safe dwelling place, to a feast of joy and laughter.

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!

We were far out on the ocean, making wealth and chasing dreams,

But the waves of great destruction brought us tremb’ling to our knees.

Then we cried like drunken sailors to the only One who hears,

And the God of comfort took away our fears.

Oh give thanks to the LORD for His love endures forever!

We were wandering and lost, and our Father brought us home,

To a safe dwelling place, to a feast of joy and laughter.

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!

© 2014 Kimbrough, Wendell; CCLI License 11029770

JESUS, WHAT A FRIEND FOR SINNERS

Jesus, what a friend for sinners!
Jesus! Lover of my soul;
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Savior, makes me whole.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Hallelujah! What a friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

Jesus, what a strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him.
Tempted, tried, and often failing,
He, my strength, my victory wins.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Hallelujah! What a friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

Jesus, what a help in sorrow,
While the billows o’er me roll!
Even when my heart is breaking,
He, my comfort, helps my soul.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Hallelujah! What a friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

Jesus, I do now receive Him,
More than all in Him I find.
He hath granted me forgiveness,
I am His, and He is mine.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Hallelujah! What a friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

Words: John Wilbur Chapman, 1910; Music: Rowland Prichard, 1830; Arr. Matthew Smith; PD; © 2004 detuned radio music; CCLI License 11029770

NEW TESTAMENT READING

LUKE 10:25–37

²⁵ And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” ²⁶ He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” ²⁷ And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” ²⁸ And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

²⁹ But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” ³⁰ Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. ³¹ Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. ³² So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. ³⁴ He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ ³⁶ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” ³⁷ He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

PASTORAL PRAYER

GIVING

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer.
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer. 

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer. 

Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he’ll take and shield you;
You will find a solace there.

Words: Joseph Scriven; Music: Charles Converse; PD; CCLI License 11029770

SERMON

PROVERBS 3:27–28

²⁷ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.

²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.

FRIENDSHIP

CONFESSION OF FAITH

FROM BELGIC CONFESSION, ARTICLE 28

Leader: What do you believe about the church?

We believe, since this holy congregation is an assembly of those who are saved, and that out of it there is no salvation, that no person of whatsoever state or condition he may be, ought to withdraw himself, to live in a separate state from it; but that all men are in duty bound to join and unite themselves with it; maintaining the unity of the Church; submitting themselves to the doctrine and discipline thereof; bowing their necks under the yoke of Jesus Christ; and as mutual members of the same body, serving to the edification of the brethren, according to the talents God has given them.

LORD’S SUPPER

BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD ABOVE

Before the throne of God above,
I have a strong and perfect plea:
A great High Priest whose name is love,
Whoever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on his hands,
My name is written on his heart;
I know that while in heav’n he stands,
No tongue can bid me thence de-part,

No tongue can bid me thence de-part.

When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless savior died

My sinful soul is counted free;
For God the just is satisfied
To look on him and pardon me,
To look on him and pardon me.

Behold him there, the risen Lamb!
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace.

One with himself, I cannot die;
My soul is purchased by his blood;
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God,
With Christ my Savior and my God.

One with himself I cannot die;

My soul is purchased by his blood;

My life is his with Christ on high,

With Christ my Savior and my God,

With Christ my Savior and my God.

© 1997 Sovereign Grace Worship; CCLI License 11029770

WE WILL FEAST IN THE HOUSE OF ZION

We will feast in the house of Zion;
We will sing with our hearts restored!
“He has done great things!” we will say together,
“We will feast and weep no more!”

We will not be burned by the fire–
He is the Lord our God!
We are not consumed, by the flood–
Upheld, protected, gathered up!

We will feast in the house of Zion;
We will sing with our hearts restored!
“He has done great things!” we will say together,
“We will feast and weep no more!”

In the dark of night, before the dawn,
My soul, be not afraid;
For the promised morning–oh how long?
Oh God of Jacob, be my strength!

We will feast in the house of Zion;
We will sing with our hearts restored!
“He has done great things!” we will say together,
“We will feast and weep no more!”

Every vow we’ve broken and betrayed–
You are the faithful One–
And from the garden to the grave,
Bind us together, bring shalom.

We will feast in the house of Zion;
We will sing with our hearts restored!
“He has done great things!” we will say together,
“We will feast and weep no more!”

Words/Music: Sandra McCracken and Joshua Moore; © 2015 Drink Your Tea, Joshmooreownsthis Music; CCLI License 11029770

BENEDICTION