Sunday Program

“Your Love Never Fails”

Welcome

Call to Worship Lamentations 3:22-26

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. 26 It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

“The Power of The Cross”

“All Who Are Thirsty”

Silent Confession of Sin and Prayer of Invocation/Assurance of Pardon

Scripture Reading 1 Peter 4:12-19

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

“It Is Well with My Soul” (#705)

Confession of Faith Heidelberg Catechism Question 127

Leader: What is the sixth petition?

All: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil;” that is, since we are so weak in ourselves that we cannot stand a moment, and besides, our enemies, the devil, the world, and our own flesh, assail us without ceasing, be pleased to preserve and strengthen us by the power of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may make firm stand against them and not be overcome in this spiritual warfare, until finally complete victory is ours.

Pastoral Prayer

“Unto Him”

Prayer of Illumination

Sermon: Psalm 129

“Help When Hurt”, Dr. Mike Campbell

A Song of Ascents. 

“Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”— let Israel now say— 2 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me. 3 The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows.” 4 The Lord is righteous; he has cut the cords of the wicked. 5 May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward! 6 Let them be like the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up, 7 with which the reaper does not fill his hand nor the binder of sheaves his arms, 8 nor do those who pass by say, “The blessing of the Lord be upon you! We bless you in the name of the Lord!”

“O God, Our Help in Ages Past” (#686, stanzas 1-3 & 6)

Benediction

Psalm 129:

A SONG OF ASCENTS. 

“Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”— let Israel now say— 2 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me. 3 The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows.” 4 The LORD is righteous; he has cut the cords of the wicked. 5 May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward! 6 Let them be like the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up, 7 with which the reaper does not fill his hand nor the binder of sheaves his arms, 8 nor do those who pass by say, “The blessing of the LORD be upon you! We bless you in the name of the LORD!”

Sermon Introduction:

2 Timothy 3:12: Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted….

1. Trust in God’s Faithfulness.

Verses 1-2a: “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”— let Israel now say— 2 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth,

Verse 3: The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows.”

(I’ll ask you to put these verses back on the screen again. Just listen for me to indicate it.)

Verse 2b: yet they have not prevailed against me.

Verse 4b: he has cut the cords of the wicked.

Verse 4a: The LORD is righteous….

2 Corinthians 4:7-10: But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

Isaiah 50:6: I gave my back to those who strike….

2. Pursue God’s Glory.

1 Corinthians 16:22: If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed.

Acts 9:4: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

Verse 5a: May all who hate Zion…

Verse 5: May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward!

Verses 6-7: Let them be like the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up, 7 with which the reaper does not fill his hand nor the binder of sheaves his arms,

Verse 8: nor do those who pass by say, “The blessing of the LORD be upon you! We bless you in the name of the LORD!”

Charles Spurgeon: “It is but justice that those who hate, harass, and hurt the good should be brought to naught. Those who confound right and wrong ought to be confounded, and those who turn back from God ought to be turned back…. How can we wish prosperity to those who would destroy that which is dearest to our hearts? This present age is so flippant that if a man loves the Savior, he is styled a fanatic, and if he hates the powers of evil, he is named a bigot.”