Order of Service, April 7, 2019

Introduction

Titus brought news from Corinth to Paul. He reported that the Corinthians had responded to Paul’s admonitions. They had repented and declared their allegiance to Paul, and thus to the Lord. The key idea is that Paul’s correction brought them sorrow, but it was the right kind of sorrow, sorrow that produced repentance. And their repentance brought joy to all the community of faith.

The hymn selections in this service express the themes of the sermon text: joy, repentance, and forgiveness, as well as the work of Christ that makes forgiveness possible.

Prelude

Call to Worship     Psalm 28:6-7

Invocation

PROCLAMATION

Hymn 13     Rejoice, the Lord is King!

Note: Our joy is great and overflows. The Lord is the One who “purged our stains” and now is our King.

Worship through Giving
Congregational Response 462     Be Thou My Vision

Hymn 141     Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed?

Note: Isaac Watts laments the depth of our sins and shows stunned amazement that Christ would die for us.

Was it for crimes that I have done,
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

Regret is insufficient to deal with sin. Forgiveness required the death of “Christ, the mighty Maker . . . for man, the creature’s sin.

Scripture Reading      Psalm 32

Note: Those whose sorry leads them to confess their sins receive forgiveness (v. 5). And those who receive forgiveness will be “glad in the Lord and rejoice” (v. 11).

Pastoral Prayer

Hymn Insert     Depth of Mercy

Note: Charles Wesley’s hymn reflects the emotion of godly sorrow: “can my God his wrath forebear, me, the chief of sinners spare?” It also holds forth the amazing truth that God mercy is inexhaustible: “God is love, his grace so free. Depth of mercy there for me.”

Message     Godly Sorrow, Repentance, and Joy
2 Corinthians 7:5-13
Pastor Steven Thomas

RESPONSE

Hymn Insert     Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy

Note:  We conclude this worship service with a hymn that gives voice to our gospel message.  We summon “sinners, poor and needy,” to come to Jesus. The lost must come to him for saving forgiveness; believers must come to him for sanctifying forgiveness. Come to him! Why would you delay!

Prayer Response     Mark Buhr

Benediction      John Miles