GATHERING
THE CALL | Lamentations 3:25 [ESV] The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. CONFESSION | Lamentations 3:28–30 [ESV] The phrase, Kyrie eleison, simply means "Lord have mercy" and has been used by the Church for centuries, including by Reformers like John Calvin as a congregational refrain during worship. We often use it to ask for the forgiveness of personal sin, but it is just as appropriate to call upon God's saving mercy as we experience the sinful effects of others upon us. Here we will use it as such. You can speak it, or you can sing it: ~Kyrie eleison [sheet music]~ Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him; ~Kyrie eleison~ let him put his mouth in the dust-- there may yet be hope; ~Kyrie eleison~ let him give his cheek to the one who strikes, and let him be filled with insults. ~Kyrie eleison~ ASSURANCE | Lamentations 3:28–30 [ESV] For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men. SING | Doxology [sheet music] Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen WORD Read Psalm 30 2nd Reading: Ephesians 2:20-22 (Psalm 30: 4,5) “ Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” If you have ever been in the pits of life, down and out, feeling as if there will be no deliverance; then if you are delivered and drawn up again... there is nothing else so sweet. It is not in times of prosperity that God is teaching us dependence, but in the pits of life. Perhaps you find yourself there now, and the encouragement of the psalm is this: The Lord will not leave you there, but draw you up. If you find yourself crying out to God, asking for healing, saying with the psalmist, “What profit is there in my death,” then recall the many times the Lord has saved you before. As he was faithful then so will he be faithful now. If the Lord is using this period of time to teach you, then receive his instruction and know that his anger is only for a moment. It’s also important to acknowledge the night. Weep while it is night, but do not weep as if it will the night will remain. Part of the prayers of the saints ought to be prayers of weeping. It’s okay to grieve, and we ought to grieve well, but we do not grieve as those without hope. As sure as the sun will rise, so sure will God save his beloved. ABIDING SING
MONDAY-LECTIO DIVINA | Psalm 123 We memorize things we value. The brain has an incredible ability to remove information that we don’t need. As we make an effort to memorize the Psalms, the beginning of each week seeks to establish the value of God's Word in our hearts before we view it as information to be remembered. Read more about the Lectio Divina HERE.
SENDING LORD'S PRAYER Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen. Lamentations 3:22–24 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” WEEKEND FEAST LITURGY
Philippians 4:4–7 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Read Psalm 28 2nd Reading: Psalm 29 (Ps 29: 1-2) “Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.” In his book "Treasury of David, Charles Spurgeon says that this psalm is meant to be read while sitting in a thunderstorm, listening to howls from heaven. Perhaps he is right, in that the psalm characterizes the voice of God as peals of the thunder. If you have ever been outside while the thunder cracked overtop your head, then you have a sense of the voice of God mentioned in this psalm. The psalmist draws our attention to the power of God. The images are strong, such as God’s voice breaking cedars, shooting flames of fire, and stripping the forest bare. The beginning of the psalm calls God’s people to ascribe the glory to God that is due to him, and the end of the psalm images God seated on his throne. For the singer of the psalm, the challenge is this: Do you ascribe God the glory that he is due? It is a gracious thing that the Lord does not reveal himself to us all at once, lest we be torn apart like the imagery of the forest in the storm. Yet, while God is gracious, we ought not to forget that our God is powerful beyond all measure. It is easy to take for granted his grace and presume upon his gentleness. Where in your life could you do better in ascribing all glory, honor, and power to the Lord of heaven of earth? PREPARE FOR WORSHIP TOMORROW Consider inviting someone from Church over on Saturday. If you partake of a meal together, share things about gathered worship that you look forward to. Specifically:
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City Reformed Presbyterian ChurchThe 90 Days project is a collaborative effort of many church leaders. Matt Koerber and Daniel Snoke have taken lead roles, with others helping to write daily devotionals. Archives
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