Introduction
This Lord’s Day the sermon text of the worship service (Luke 13:10-17) describes an event that displayed the great mercy of the Lord. Jesus performed a miraculous healing on the Sabbath, sparking criticism from the self-righteous religious leaders. Jesus rebuked them for their hypocrisy and failure of mercy. The message of Jesus is a message of mercy extended to the undeserving for the glory of God.
The hymns selected for the worship service emphasize the mercy of God and summon the spiritually “poor and needy” to flee to Jesus to receive God’s mercy. We will conclude with a hymn that praises the King of heaven for his mercy.
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP
Welcome
Prelude
Call to Worship: 1 Peter 1:3
Invocation
PROCLAMATION
Hymn 243: Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Notes: Our first hymn calls on the Lord to help us praise him in worship-filled song. The first verse recognizes God as the “fount” of every blessing. From him come “streams of mercy, never ceasing.”
Hymn 333 How Sad Our State
Notes: This classic hymn reminds us of the true human condition. Like the woman in the sermon text, at one time we were slaves to sin, our minds held captive by Satan (v. 1). But God took the initiative to do for us what we could never do for ourselves. His “voice of sov’reign grace [sounded] from the sacred Word” to call us to faith in Jesus.
Scripture Reading: Psalm 145:1-21
Note: In this Psalm, David praises the Lord who is “gracious and merciful. He is “good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made” (8-9).
Pastoral Prayer
Hymn Insert Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy
Note: We summon “sinners, poor and needy,” to come to Jesus for grace and mercy. The lost must come to him for saving forgiveness; believers must come to him for sanctifying forgiveness. Come to him! Why would you delay!
Message: Streams of Mercy, Never Ceasing
Text: Luke 13:10-17
Steven Thomas
RESPONSE
Hymn 2: Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven
Note: The fourth verse of this hymn prays to the Lord for help to adore the King of heaven. Woven throughout the hymn, we find motivation for such adoring worship: his saving work, graciousness and mercy, eternal constancy, patience, goodness, immutability, eternality, and sovereignty. The service that began by singing of “streams of mercy now concludes with praise; “Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven!” is the only appropriate response to His mercy.
Prayer Response: Mark Buhr
Benediction: John Miles