Sunday Meditation, June 20

Following Christ

Scripture for Meditation: John 15:18, 19

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” 

Hymn of Devotion: When I Survey the Wondrous

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ, my God;
All the vain things that charm me most––
I sacrifice them to His blood. 

See, from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small:
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Isaac Watts, 1674-1748

Hymn of Victory: The Church’s One Foundation  

The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord,
She is His new creation by water and the Word.
From heav’n He came and sought her to be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her, and for her life He died.

The Church shall never perish! Her dear Lord to defend,
To guide, sustain, and cherish, is with her to the end:
Though there be those who hate her, and false sons in her pale,
Against both foe or traitor she ever shall prevail.

Though with a scornful wonder men see her sore oppressed,
By schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed:
Yet saints their watch are keeping, their cry goes up, “How long?”
And soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song! 

’Mid toil and tribulation, and tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation of peace forevermore;
Till, with the vision glorious, her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious shall be the Church at rest.

Samuel J. Stone, 1839-1900

Prayer of Blessing

Responsive Reading: Psalm 69:4-8, 29-36

More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies.
What I did not steal must I now restore?

O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you. Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord God of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel.

For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's sons. . . . But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high!

I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

This will please the Lord more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive. For the Lord hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners. Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them.

For God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah,
and people shall dwell there and possess it; the offspring of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall dwell in it.

Hymn of Dependence: O Great God

O great God of highest heav’n, occupy my lowly heart;
Own it all and reign supreme, conquer every rebel pow’r.
Let no vice or sin remain that resists Your holy war;
You have loved and purchased me: make me Yours forevermore. 

I was blinded by my sin, had no ears to hear Your voice,
Did not know Your love within, had no taste for heaven’s joys.
Then Your Spirit gave me life, opened up Your Word to me,
Through the gospel of Your Son gave me endless hope and peace.

Help me now to live a life that’s dependent on Your grace;
Keep my heart and guard my soul from the evils that I face.
You are worthy to be praised with my every thought and deed;
O great God of highest heaven glorify Your Name through me. 

Words and music by Bob Kauflin. © 2006 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI).
Used by permission. CCLI #2783020

Prayer of Corporate Confession

Silence for Personal Confession

Assurance of Pardon: Luke 12:32

Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Response: Thanks be to God.

Confession of Faith: Heidelberg Catechism

Question 1: What is your only comfort in life and death?

Answer: That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by His Holy Spirit He also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for Him.

Hymn of Provision: Though Troubles Assail Us*

 Though troubles assail us and dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail us and foes all unite,
Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide,
The promise assures us, “The Lord will provide.”

When Satan assails us to stop up our path,
And courage all fails us, we triumph by faith.
He cannot take from us, though oft he has tried,
This heart-cheering promise, “The Lord will provide.”

No strength of our own and no goodness we claim;
Yet, since we have known of the Savior’s great Name,
In this our strong tower for safety we hide:
The Lord is our power, “The Lord will provide.”

When life sinks apace, and our death is in view,
The words of His grace shall all comfort us through,
Not fearing or doubting, with Christ on our side,
We hope to die shouting, “The Lord will provide.”

John Newton, 1725-1807, alt.

*Children may leave during this song.

Ministry of the Word

Hymn of Consecration: Jesus Paid It All

I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”

Refrain:
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim,
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.

And now complete in Him
My robe His righteousness,
Close sheltered ’neath His side,
I am divinely blest.

And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
“Jesus died my soul to save,”
My lips shall still repeat.

Elvina M. Hall, 1820-1889

*All Scripture, English Standard Version. © 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission.