Order of Worship
Welcome and Announcements
Meditation Passage
Psalm 37:39-40
"The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him."
* Apostolic Greeting
[Reserved for Ministers]
* God Calls His People to Worship
Colossians 3:1-4
"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
* Invocation
God Commands His People:
Exodus 20:7
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
We Confess Our Faith
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q. 53. Which is the third commandment?
A. The third commandment is, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Q. 54. What is required in the third commandment?
A. The third commandment requireth the holy and reverent use of God’s names, titles, attributes, ordinances, word and works.
Q. 55. What is forbidden in the third commandment?
A. The third commandment forbiddeth all profaning or abusing of anything whereby God maketh himself known.
Q. 56. What is the reason annexed to the third commandment?
A. The reason annexed to the third commandment is that however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment.
Confession of Sin
(Silent confession followed by corporate confession)
Almighty and eternal Father, we confess that we have taken your name in vain. We know that you have placed your name upon us in baptism, yet we have often lived in ways which shame you. At times, we ourselves have been ashamed of bearing your name before others. Rather than using our tongues to bless you, we have used them to curse those made in your image. We have belittled your name by harboring meager thoughts of you and your grace. We have have used your name to justify uncharitable thoughts and actions toward our neighbors. Have mercy upon us o God. Do not treat us as our sins deserve, but forgive us our sins for the sake of your dear son, Jesus Christ. By your Spirit’s power grant us repentance so that we may give our lives unto the hallowing of your name. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Ephesians 2:4-7
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved -- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
* We Praise God in Song
Doxology (#567)
God Speaks Through His Word - Acts 6:8-15
Sermon: Lord, Grant Your Servants To Speak With All Boldness
Speaker: Elder James Schwacofer
Congregational Prayer (Followed by the Lord's Prayer)
Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
Closing Doxology
Psalm 72:18-19
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!