Introduction
The sermon text for this Lord’s Day contains a startling account of Jesus’s interaction with his own family (Luke 8:19-21). He declared, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” The unmistakable point of the paragraph is that a relationship with Jesus is the most important relationship that you can have.”
The hymns in our worship service exalt and praise our Lord, recognizing that knowing and loving him is our greatest priority.
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP
Welcome and Call to Worship
Prelude
Invocation
PROCLAMATION
Hymn 59 All Creatures of Our God and King
Note: This hymn summons all Creation to unite in praise of our God and King. The Lord Jesus is the center of our praise:
Praise Him, Who came from heav’n above
And bore your guilt of sin in love.
O praise Him, O praise Him,
Hymn 462 Be Thou My Vision
Note: The “high King of heaven” is the subject of this hymn. It is a prayer that he will fill our vision, will take his rightful place: “Thou and thou only, first in my heart.” May nothing and no one else usurp his place in our hearts because he is our inheritance, our treasure, our best thought.
Scripture Reading: Psalm 84:1-12
Note: The Psalmist expressed his longing for the Lord’s presence, symbolized by the Israel’s place of worship. Nothing is better than knowing God; “A day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere” (v. 10).
Pastoral Prayer
Hymn HBC 30 My Jesus Fair
Note: My Jesus Fair portrays the death Jesus endured to “end that curse for all.” The lyrics declare our wonder, “O matchless grace that *God should die for men.” We offer in song the appropriate response to the depth of God’s wisdom and love revealed in the cross: “With joyful grief I lift my praise, Abhorring all my sin, adoring only Him.” (*Reference to God dying is poetic language that stresses the mystery that God became a man to die; it should not be understood to mean that God actually died.)
Message: The Love that Transcends All Others
Luke 8:19-21
Pastor Steven Thomas
RESPONSE
Hymn Insert (Tune: 643) All Praise to Thee, for Thou, O King Divine
Note: We last sang this hymn a while ago, but the tune is very familiar. It is a fitting prayer offered in response to the theme of the sermon. It expresses our belief that the most important relationship we have is with Jesus. Therefore, we long for that day when every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Prayer Response: Jeremy Sherrill
Benediction: John Miles