Worship Next Sunday
March
4, 2012
Preaching:
Intern Nathan Snyder
Sermon
text: 2 Samuel 6
Sermon
title: “Worshiping our holy and good God”
Music:
Opening
Hymn 9 All You That Fear Jehovah's Name
Preparation
Hymn 377 Jesus Where'er Your People Meet
Response
Hymn 358 For All the Saints
Closing
Hymn 420 At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing
Confession
of Faith: Heidelberg Catechism
New
Testament Passage: Hebrews
12:18-29
Preparation
Guide
Sunday:
Review morning sermon
(evening service @ 5pm)
Monday:
2 Samuel 6
Tuesday:
1 Kings 20:1-21
Wednesday:
1 Kings 20:22-43
Thursday:
Hebrews 12:18-29
Friday:
Exodus 20:15
Saturday:
2
Samuel 6
Suggested
Bible Study and Prayers
(Passages
that we will refer to in next Sunday's worship)
1
Kings 20
Father God, will
men of evil continue to disregard the true Word that comes from You?
Yet even dangerous men within Your church encounter a day of fear
when they face an enemy who seems stronger than they are. Will they
turn to You in that day? If they do, will it be only for a moment so
that they can turn back to their sin when they feel safe again?
Lord, You are so merciful, and we are so quickly enticed into foolish
works of unrighteousness. Grant to us hearts that are very willing
to hear Your Word, not for a brief moment only, but forever and ever.
You are the God of the hills and of the plains. There is no place
in all of creation that is free from Your sovereign power. Even our
spirits are within Your sure control. How wonderful are Your great
purposes, O Lord! The history of Your saving work is moving forward
in our times. Nations are hearing the Word of Christ, and light is
coming to dark places. Even when we begin to celebrate the new
progress of Your Word, the contest has just begun in that place. We
foolishly make a covenant with evil, and forget that our warfare is
not over until Your Son returns. Our great King Jesus will make a
full end of the wicked when He comes to rescue the righteous.
2 Samuel 6
God
of Glory, there are so many disappointments that we face in this age
of difficulty, yet You also bring moments of glory to us at just the
right time. Help those who are facing severe trials. Many are ready
to give up. Teach us the importance of Your Word. We know that
obedience to You is not simply a matter of good intentions. Have
mercy on us, for we are very weak. We rejoice before You with all
our might. Though we may be despised by others because of our
devotion to You, we pray that our hearts will not be unduly moved by
the insults of those who do not love You. Make us pure in heart,
mind, and body. We have been chosen by You that we might rejoice
before You always.
Hebrews
12
Lord God, if we
follow in the way of faith, we must set aside the entanglements of
sin by Your grace and look to Jesus Christ moment by moment. We are
Your children. We are disciplined by You because we are loved by
You. We trust that You are working out good things in us, that we
might somehow share in Your holiness. We will not be discouraged
today, because Your promises and love are secure in Christ. We turn
away from all bitterness and immorality. We will be accepted in the
Beloved One who is at Your right hand in the Zion that is above. We
look to You, O God. We long to be in the company of men and angels
in the presence of Jesus Christ. We absolutely will not refuse You.
We are afraid to make such a bold pledge, but we are convinced that
we must, and that Your strength is enough to help us in our obvious
weakness. You are speaking to us clearly by Your Word. We will not
refuse You. Give us more grace to keep our pledge. Forgive us again
and again through Christ and restore us to Your fellowship when we
foolishly wander away.
