Welcome
Call to Worship
Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
Tremble before Him, all the earth.
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns;
The world also is firmly established,
It shall not be moved.
Psalm 96:9–10 (NKJV)
Hymn # 45 Now unto Jehovah, Ye Sons of the Mighty
1 Now unto Jehovah, ye sons of the mighty, all glory and strength and dominion accord; ascribe to him glory, and render him honor, in beauty of holiness worship the Lord, in beauty of holiness worship the Lord.
2 The voice of Jehovah comes down on the waters; in thunder the God of the glory draws nigh. Lo, over the waves of the wide-flowing waters Jehovah as King is enthroned on high! Jehovah as King is enthroned on high!
3 The voice of Jehovah is mighty, is mighty; The voice of Jehovah in majesty speaks: The voice of Jehovah the cedars is breaking; Jehovah the cedars of Lebanon breaks, Jehovah the cedars of Lebanon breaks.
4 Each one, in His temple, His glory proclaimeth. He sat on the flood; he is King on his throne. Jehovah all strength to his people imparteth; Jehovah with peace ever blesseth his own, Jehovah with peace ever blesseth his own
Call To Confession
And God spoke all these words, saying:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 You shall have no other gods before Me.
4 You shall not make for yourself a carved image...5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.
7 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
12 Honor your father and your mother.
13 You shall not murder.
14 You shall not commit adultery.
15 You shall not steal.
16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17 You shall not desire...anything that is your neighbor’s.
I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You
In a time when You may be found.
Psalm 32:5–6 (NKJV)
Confession of Sins
Let us, therefore, confess our sin, saying together:
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me... Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities” through Jesus your Son. Amen.
Word of Assurance
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:11–13 (NKJV)
Song of Renewal
Gracious God my heart renew,
Make my spirit right and true;
Cast me not away from thee,
Let thy Spirit dwell in me;
Thy salvation's joy impart.
Steadfast make my willing heart.
#486, stanza 5 (Ps 51:10-11)
Scripture Lessons:
Daniel 6 (NKJV):
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom;
2 and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss.
3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.
4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.
5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”
6 So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever!
7 All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.”
9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
12 And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.”
13 So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
14 And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
15 Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”
16 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.”
17 Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.
18 Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him.
19 Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions.
20 And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever!
22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”
23 Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.
24 And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.
25 Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
26 I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end.
27 He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Psalm 118 (NKJV):
1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
2 Let Israel now say, “His mercy endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron now say, “His mercy endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord now say,“His mercy endures forever.”
5 I called on the Lord in distress; The Lord answered me and set me
in a broad place.
6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
7 The Lord is for me among those who help me; Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.
8 It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in princes. 10 All nations surrounded me, But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
11 They surrounded me, Yes, they surrounded me; But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
12 They surrounded me like bees; They were quenched like a fire of thorns; For in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
13 You pushed me violently, that I might fall, But the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.
15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation Is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
16 The right hand of the Lord is exalted; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
17 I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the Lord.
18 The Lord has chastened me severely, But He has not given me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, And I will praise the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord, Through which the righteous shall enter.
21 I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.
27 God is the Lord, And He has given us light; Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You.
29 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
Sermon
Hymn # 69 Thy God Reigneth!
1 Trembling soul, beset by fears, "Thy God reigneth!" Look above and dry thy tears: "Thy God reigneth!" Though thy foes with pow'r assail, naught against thee shall prevail; trust in him - he'll never fail: "Thy God reigneth, thy God reigneth!"
2 Sinful soul, thy debt is paid; "Thy God reigneth!" On the Lord thy sins were laid; "Thy God reigneth!" On the cross of Calvary, Jesus shed his blood for thee, from all sin to set thee free: "Thy God reigneth, thy God reigneth!"
3 Seeking soul, to Jesus turn; "Thy God reigneth!" None that seek him will he spurn; "Thy God reigneth!" Wand'ring sheep the Shepherd seeks, and when found he ever keeps, for "he slumbers not nor sleeps": "Thy God reigneth, thy God reigneth!"
4 Join, ye saints, the truth proclaim, "Thy God reigneth!" Shout it forth with glad acclaim, "Thy God reigneth!" Zion, wake! the morn is nigh, see it break from yonder sky; loud and clear the watchmen cry: "Thy God reigneth, thy God reigneth!"
5 Church of Christ, awake, awake! "Thy God reigneth!" Forward, then, fresh courage take: "Thy God reigneth!" Soon, descending from his throne, he shall claim thee for his own; sin shall then be overthrown: "Thy God reigneth, thy God reigneth!"
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 # 427 Amidst Us Our Beloved Stands (1-2)
1 Amidst us our Beloved stands, and bids us view his pierced hands; points to the wounded feet and side, blest emblems of the Crucified.
2 What food luxurious loads the board, when at his table sits the Lord! The wine how rich, the bread how sweet, when Jesus deigns the guests to meet!
Lord's Supper
Hymn # 427 Amidst Us Our Beloved Stands (3-4)
3 If now, with eyes defiled and dim, we see the signs, but see not him; O may his love the scales displace, and bid us see him face to face!
4 O glorious Bridegroom of our hearts, your present smile a heav’n imparts! O lift the veil, if veil there be, let every saint your glory see!
Benediction