Introduction
Joel Owen will preach this Lord’s Day. His sermon will deal with a turning point in Jacob’s life: God’s self-revelation and covenant confirmation at a place he called Bethel (the house of God).
The hymns selected for this service express our worship of and dependence on the majestic God who keeps the promises he has made to unworthy people such as we are.
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP
Prelude
Call to Worship: Psalm 145:18-21
Invocation
PROCLAMATION
Hymn 46 O Worship the King
Note: Based on Psalm 104, this hymn calls us to worship our great God, the King. He is glorious, almighty, loving, eternal, and gracious. In contrast (v. 4) we are “frail children of dust, and feeble as frail.” Even so, we respond to this great God, “in Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail.”
Worship through Giving
Hymn 23 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
Note: “To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever” (1 Timothy 1:17). With similar lyrics, we exalt God for his transcendent character. He is beyond our ability to grasp fully; his truth is inaccessible to our minds. But we can truly know him because he graciously makes himself known to his people.
Scripture Reading Psalm 139:1-24
Note: This song of David focuses on God’s ubiquitous presence—wherever we are, he is there. At first, David resented his inability to hide from God. But in the second half of the Psalm, he delighted in the knowledge of God’s presence.
Pastoral Prayer
Hymn 463 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 and that we will give him his rightful place as “first in my heart.”
Message: The Reality of God’s Presence
Genesis 28:10-22
Joel Owen
RESPONSE
Hymn 640 Abide with Me
Note: Abide with Me has been sung at funerals, perhaps more than any other hymn. Appropriate as that may be, ultimately it is a song that expresses our need for God’s presence in life—not just in death. Regardless of the number of our years, from the vantage point of eternity, life is brief. And so we sing:
I need Thy presence ev’ry passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
Prayer Response: Mark Williams
Benediction: Mark Williams