Call to Worship From Psalm 24
Pastor: Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
That the King of Glory may come in.
Congregation: Who is the King of Glory?
Pastor: The Lord, strong and mighty,
The Lord, mighty in battle!
Lift up your heads, O gates!
That the King of glory may come in.
Congregation: Who is the King of Glory?
All: The Lord of hosts.
He is the King of Glory.
PRAYER of INVOCATION From II Kings 19:15-16
O Lord the God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God—you alone—of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. Incline your ear and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see. Visit us and accept our worship today in the name of your Son Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit. Amen. ◆
SONG “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” CH#581
Confession and Assurance
READING of GOD’S LAW
Hear God’s Law, His Will for Your Life, from Deuteronomy 6:4-9
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
And these words that I command you today shall be on
your heart.
You shall teach them diligently to your children,
and shall talk of them when you sit in your house,
and when you walk by the way,
and when you lie down,
and when you rise.
You shall bind them as a sign on your hand,
and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on
your gates.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PRAYER of CONFESSION
Congregational Response: We confess our sin to you.
ASSURANCE of PARDON From Exodus 34:6-7, Matt 5:3
Receive these words of comfort from God:
“The Lord, the Lord, is a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.”
Our Lord Jesus speaks comfort to those who come to him with nothing but sin and repentance: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” Brothers and sisters, the pardon of Christ is a grace that is greater than all our sin. Be assured that you are forgiven. Amen. ◆
SONG of RESPONSE “Forever Holy”
A thousand generations, falling down in worship
To sing the song of ages to the Lamb
And all who've gone before us and all who will believe
Will sing the song of ages to the Lamb
Your name is the highest; Your name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all
All thrones and dominions, All powers and positions
Your name stands above them all
And the angels cry, Holy; All creation cries, Holy
You are lifted high, Holy; Holy forever!
If you've been forgiven and if you've been redeemed
Sing the song forever to the Lamb
If you walk in freedom and if you bear His name
Sing the song forever to the Lamb
We'll sing the song forever and amen!
And the angels cry, Holy; All creation cries, Holy
You are lifted high, Holy; Holy forever!
Hear Your people sing, Holy; to the King of Kings, Holy
You will always be, Holy; Holy forever!
Ingram / Johnson / Tomlin / Wickham ©2022 S.D.G. Publishing, Capitol Cmg Paragon, Be Essential Songs CCLI #3071858
Life of Worship
PROFESSION of FAITH The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all that exists—seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father before all worlds; Light of Light, True God of True God, begotten, not made, of One Being with the Father. Through Him, all things were made.
For us and for our salvation, He came down from heaven. By the power of the Holy Spirit, he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.
For our sake, He was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suf-fered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again, in accordance with the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, where he sits at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord, the Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and from the Son. With the Father and the Son He is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy, universal, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism unto the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
Amen. ◆
OFFERING and PRAYER of DEDICATION
DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts.
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
CHILDREN’S CATECHISM
Q2. What is God?
A: God is the Creator of everyone and everything.
From The New City Catechism for Kids, ©2018 Crossway Books. Used with permission.
PASSING of the PEACE
(Children age 3 through grade 5 may go to Judson Kids.)
PRAYER of INTERCESSION
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, forever.
Amen. ◆
SONG “How Great Thou Art” CH #147
Ministry of the Word
PRAYER for ILLUMINATION
Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; grant us that we may in such a way hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of your holy Word, we may embrace and hold fast to the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. ◆
SERMON “James, the Brother of Our Lord” James 1:1
SONG of RESPONSE “Seek Ye First”
Seek ye first the kingdom of God
And His righteousness;
And all these things shall be added unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah
Ask, and it shall be given unto you;
Seek, and you shall find.
Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah
Man shall not live by bread alone,
But by every word
That proceeds out from the mouth of God.
Hallelu, Hallelujah
BENEDICTION
