Welcome
Call to Worship
Praise the Lord from the earth,
You great sea creatures and all the depths;
Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
Mountains and all hills;
Fruitful trees and all cedars;
Beasts and all cattle;
Creeping things and flying fowl;
Kings of the earth and all peoples;
Princes and all judges of the earth;
Both young men and maidens;
Old men and children.
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For His name alone is exalted;
His glory is above the earth and heaven.
Psalm 148:7–13 (NKJV)
Hymn # 125 Let All Things Now Living
1 Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving
to God our Creator triumphantly raise; who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us,
who guides us and leads to the end of our days, His banners are o'er us, his light goes before us,
a pillar of fire shining forth in the night, ‘till shadows have vanished and darkness is banished,
as forward we travel from light into light. 2 His law he enforces: the stars in their courses,
the sun in its orbit obediently shine; The hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains,
the deeps of the ocean proclaim him divine. We too, should be voicing our love and rejoicing,
with glad adoration, a song let us raise, ‘till all things now living unite in thanksgiving
to God in the highest, hosanna and praise!
Call To Confession
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Romans 12:9–14 (NKJV):
Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord;
Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with You that You may be feared.
Psalm 130:1–4 (NKJV)
Confession of Sins
Let us, therefore, confess our sin, saying together:
Merciful Heavenly Father, pardon us our many sins; the sins we know and the sins hidden from our conscience. Cleanse us from wrong motives and forgive us for feeble obedience. By your Spirit renew our hearts to love you, our minds to know you, and our wills to obey you. For we ask this mercy in the name of your Son who shed his blood for us. Amen.
Word of Assurance
God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Romans 5:8–9 (NKJV)
Song of Renewal
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.
Trinity Hymnal # 521, stanza 1
Scripture Lessons: John 3:1–15 (NKJV mod.)
1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’
8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”
10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?
11 Most assuredly, I say to you, we speak what we know and testify what we have seen, and you do not receive our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?"
13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
Sermon
Hymn # 455 And Can It Be That I Should Gain
1 And can it be that I should gain an int'rest in the Savior's blood? Died he for me, who caused his pain? For me, who him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me? Refrain: Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
2 'Tis myst'ry all! Th'Immortal dies: who can explore his strange design? In vain the firstborn seraph tries to sound the depths of love divine. 'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore, let angel minds inquire no more. [Refrain] 3 He left his Father's throne above (so free, so infinite his grace!), humbled himself (so great his love!) and bled for all his chosen race! 'Tis mercy all, immense and free, for, O my God, it found out me! [Refrain] 4 Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature's night; thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; my chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth, and followed thee. [Refrain] 5 No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in him, is mine! Alive in him, my living Head, and clothed in righteousness divine, bold I approach th'eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ, my own. [Refrain]
Prayer of the Church and the Lord’s Prayer
“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on 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.”
Hymn # 309 Rejoice, the Lord is King
1 Rejoice, the Lord is King: your Lord and King adore! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing, and triumph evermore.
Refrain: Lift up your heart, lift up your voice! Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
2 Jesus the Savior reigns, the God of truth and love; when he had purged our stains, he took his seat above. [Refrain]
3 His kingdom cannot fail, he rules o'er earth and heav'n; the keys of death and hell are to our Jesus giv'n. [Refrain]
4 He sits at God's right hand till all his foes submit, and bow to his command, and fall beneath his feet. [Refrain]
5 Rejoice in glorious hope! Our Lord, the Judge, shall come, and take his servants up to their eternal home. [Refrain]
Benediction
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Numbers 6:24–26 (NKJV)
