February 5, 2023
Call to Worship
Psalm 147:1-12
A PSALM OF DAVID.
All: Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.
Leader: The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
All: He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Leader: He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.
All: Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.
Leader: The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre! He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills. He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry. His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.
All: Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!
Prayer of Adoration
O How Good to Be Together
Written by Paul Ranheim & Kirk Sauers ©2020 Mellow Toad Music (BMI), Bold Canary Music (BMI).
Oh how good to be together
In this weary world we trod
What a gift, what a treasure
Kindred in the house of God
On this day the Lord has fashioned
Come rejoice with all your might
Raise a banner of salvation
He has led us through the night
CHORUS
Oh the joy, oh the sweetness
To be gathered in the name of the Lord
Evermore, he will keep us
From the valley to the golden shore
When it looked like evil conquered
When we felt the darkest hour
In despair we sought the Father
And he has proved his mighty power (CHORUS)
Tell the theme of his provision
How he met our every need
He has been our firm foundation
And he will ever, always be (CHORUS)
All I Have is Christ
Sovereign Grace Music.
I once was lost in darkest night, yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own a rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first I would refuse You still
But as I ran my hell-bound race indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state and led me to the cross
And I beheld God's love displayed You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me now all I know is grace
Chorus:
Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life
Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life
Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone and live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands could never come from me
Oh Father, use my ransomed life in any way You choose
And let my song forever be; my only boast is You
Prayer of Confession
Genesis 13:14-16, 15:1-4
Leader: The LORD said to Abram … "Lift up your eyes and look … for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.
All: So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.
Leader: After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great." But Abram said,
All: "O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus? Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir."
Leader: And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: "This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir."
Silent Prayers
God’s Assurance of Forgiveness
Genesis 15:5-6, Romans 4:20-5:1
Leader: And [God] brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."
All: And [Abram] believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
[Abraham] grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness.”
All: But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Be Thou My Vision
Translated 1905 from the old Irish hymn “Bi Thusa ‘mo Shuile” by Mary E. Byrne. Arr. Ascend the Hill, 2010.
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light
Be Thou my wisdom, Thou my true word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and Thou only first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art
Bridge:
Oh God, be my everything, be my delight
Be, Jesus, my glory, my soul satisfied
High King of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all; Still be my vision, O ruler of all
Family Life
† During a brief intermission, children can go with their teachers for a lesson.
The musicians will call us back with a song reprised.
Sermon Passage
Genesis 15
15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great." 2 But Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3 And Abram said, "Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir." 4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: "This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir." 5 And he brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." 6 And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
7 And he said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess." 8 But he said, "O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?" 9 He said to him, "Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon." 10 And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half. 11 And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. 12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then the LORD said to Abram, "Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. 14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 As for yourself, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. 16 And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete." 17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites."
Pastor: The grass withers and the flower fades...
All: ...but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)
Sermon
"Look Up at the Stars"
Mike McBride, Pastor
Whatever My God Ordains Is Right
Sovereign Grace Music, Bob Kauflin
Whate'er my God ordains is right; His holy will abideth
I will be still, whate'er He does; And follow where He guideth
He is my God, though dark my road; He holds me that I shall not fall
And so to Him I leave it all; And so to Him I leave it all
Whate'er my God ordains is right; He never will deceive me
He leads me by the proper path; I know He will not leave me
I take, content, what He hath sent; His hand can turn my griefs away
And patiently I wait His day; And patiently I wait His day
Whate'er my God ordains is right; Though now this cup, in drinking
May bitter seem to my faint heart; I take it, all unshrinking
My God is true, each morn anew; Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart
And pain and sorrow shall depart; And pain and sorrow shall depart
Whate'er my God ordains is right; Here shall my stand be taken
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine; Yet am I not forsaken
My Father's care is ‘round me there; He holds me that I shall not fall
And so to Him I leave it all; And so to Him I leave it all
My Father's care is round me there; He holds me that I shall not fall
And so to Him I leave it all; And so to Him I leave it all
The Lord’s Supper
† Receive bread and juice from one of our section hosts near you. Gluten free options are available at the front table.
This Is Amazing Grace
Phil Wickham
Who breaks the power of sin and darkness?
Whose love is mighty and so much stronger?
The King of glory, the King above all kings
Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder?
And leaves us breathless in awe and wonder?
The King of glory, the King above all kings
Chorus:
This is amazing grace; This is unfailing love
That You would take my place; That You would bear my cross
You laid down Your life that I would be set free
Oh, Jesus, I sing for all that You've done for me
Who brings our chaos back into order?
Who makes the orphans a son and daughter?
The King of glory, the King of glory
Who rules the nations with truth and justice
Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance
The King of glory, the King above all kings
Bridge:Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave
Benediction
† We invite you to stretch out your hands as you receive the Lord’s blessing.
Psalm 147:1-12
A PSALM OF DAVID.
All: Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.
Leader: The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
All: He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Leader: He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.
All: Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.
Leader: The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre! He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills. He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry. His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.
All: Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!
Prayer of Adoration
O How Good to Be Together
Written by Paul Ranheim & Kirk Sauers ©2020 Mellow Toad Music (BMI), Bold Canary Music (BMI).
Oh how good to be together
In this weary world we trod
What a gift, what a treasure
Kindred in the house of God
On this day the Lord has fashioned
Come rejoice with all your might
Raise a banner of salvation
He has led us through the night
CHORUS
Oh the joy, oh the sweetness
To be gathered in the name of the Lord
Evermore, he will keep us
From the valley to the golden shore
When it looked like evil conquered
When we felt the darkest hour
In despair we sought the Father
And he has proved his mighty power (CHORUS)
Tell the theme of his provision
How he met our every need
He has been our firm foundation
And he will ever, always be (CHORUS)
All I Have is Christ
Sovereign Grace Music.
I once was lost in darkest night, yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own a rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first I would refuse You still
But as I ran my hell-bound race indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state and led me to the cross
And I beheld God's love displayed You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me now all I know is grace
Chorus:
Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life
Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life
Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone and live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands could never come from me
Oh Father, use my ransomed life in any way You choose
And let my song forever be; my only boast is You
Prayer of Confession
Genesis 13:14-16, 15:1-4
Leader: The LORD said to Abram … "Lift up your eyes and look … for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.
All: So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.
Leader: After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great." But Abram said,
All: "O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus? Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir."
Leader: And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: "This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir."
Silent Prayers
God’s Assurance of Forgiveness
Genesis 15:5-6, Romans 4:20-5:1
Leader: And [God] brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."
All: And [Abram] believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
[Abraham] grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness.”
All: But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Be Thou My Vision
Translated 1905 from the old Irish hymn “Bi Thusa ‘mo Shuile” by Mary E. Byrne. Arr. Ascend the Hill, 2010.
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light
Be Thou my wisdom, Thou my true word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and Thou only first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art
Bridge:
Oh God, be my everything, be my delight
Be, Jesus, my glory, my soul satisfied
High King of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all; Still be my vision, O ruler of all
Family Life
† During a brief intermission, children can go with their teachers for a lesson.
The musicians will call us back with a song reprised.
Sermon Passage
Genesis 15
15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great." 2 But Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3 And Abram said, "Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir." 4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: "This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir." 5 And he brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." 6 And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
7 And he said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess." 8 But he said, "O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?" 9 He said to him, "Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon." 10 And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half. 11 And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. 12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then the LORD said to Abram, "Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. 14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 As for yourself, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. 16 And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete." 17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites."
Pastor: The grass withers and the flower fades...
All: ...but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)
Sermon
"Look Up at the Stars"
Mike McBride, Pastor
Whatever My God Ordains Is Right
Sovereign Grace Music, Bob Kauflin
Whate'er my God ordains is right; His holy will abideth
I will be still, whate'er He does; And follow where He guideth
He is my God, though dark my road; He holds me that I shall not fall
And so to Him I leave it all; And so to Him I leave it all
Whate'er my God ordains is right; He never will deceive me
He leads me by the proper path; I know He will not leave me
I take, content, what He hath sent; His hand can turn my griefs away
And patiently I wait His day; And patiently I wait His day
Whate'er my God ordains is right; Though now this cup, in drinking
May bitter seem to my faint heart; I take it, all unshrinking
My God is true, each morn anew; Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart
And pain and sorrow shall depart; And pain and sorrow shall depart
Whate'er my God ordains is right; Here shall my stand be taken
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine; Yet am I not forsaken
My Father's care is ‘round me there; He holds me that I shall not fall
And so to Him I leave it all; And so to Him I leave it all
My Father's care is round me there; He holds me that I shall not fall
And so to Him I leave it all; And so to Him I leave it all
The Lord’s Supper
† Receive bread and juice from one of our section hosts near you. Gluten free options are available at the front table.
This Is Amazing Grace
Phil Wickham
Who breaks the power of sin and darkness?
Whose love is mighty and so much stronger?
The King of glory, the King above all kings
Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder?
And leaves us breathless in awe and wonder?
The King of glory, the King above all kings
Chorus:
This is amazing grace; This is unfailing love
That You would take my place; That You would bear my cross
You laid down Your life that I would be set free
Oh, Jesus, I sing for all that You've done for me
Who brings our chaos back into order?
Who makes the orphans a son and daughter?
The King of glory, the King of glory
Who rules the nations with truth and justice
Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance
The King of glory, the King above all kings
Bridge:Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave
Benediction
† We invite you to stretch out your hands as you receive the Lord’s blessing.
Posted in Worship Guide