CALL TO WORSHIP
(Tune – How Firm a Foundation – p. 268)

Thy mercy, My God, is the theme of my song,
The joy of my heart, the boast of my tongue;
Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last,
Hath won my affection and bound my heart fast.

For unworthy sinners my Lord bowed His head,
For unworthy sinners He suffered and bled,
My spirit rejoices, the work it is done,
My soul is redeemed, and salvation is won!

Great God of mercies, Thy goodness I own,
And the covenant of love of Thy glorified Son;
All praise to the Saviour whose blood so divine,
Sealed pardon and mercy and righteousness mine.

Great God of glory, how rich is Thy grace!
What wonderful love is revealed in Thy face!
Lord Jesus, Beloved, we’re washed in Thy blood,
With hope we shall stand at the throne of our God.

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TODAY’S SERVICES – Messages by Pastor Bill Parker
BIBLE CLASS – 10:00 a.m. – The First Resurrection –

Revelation 20:5-6

MORNING WORSHIP – 11:00 a.m –
OPENING – Matthew 28:18-20
CALL TO WORSHIP (above)
HYMN – Come Thou Fount – p. 17
READING – Acts 2:22-42
MESSAGE – BELIEVER’S BAPTISM (1) – Acts 2:37-41
CLOSING HYMN – My Savior – p. 226

MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY – WEDNESDAY – 6:30 P.M
Preaching Christ in the End Times

Birthdays: Carolyn Hayes - Jan. 9th | Jim Byrd - Jan. 11th | Amy Hiers - Jan. 12th

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GRACE, LOVE, AND GRATITUDE

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (Romans 6:14)

GRACE through righteousness is the realm in which we as true Christians live. For it is in and through the Lord Jesus Christ (by whom all salvation and spiritual blessings are given by God to us, NOT on the ground of any merit in us but on the ground of Christ’s righteousness imputed to us) that we live. LOVE is the motive of our life and obedience as it is God’s love for us in Christ who gave Himself for us to secure our whole salvation by His obedience unto death as our Surety and Substitute. We love Him because He first loved us. GRATITUDE is the expression of our hearts as we serve the Lord and worship Him as our Lord and Savior. All this establishes within us the motive for our life and obedience. This is what inspires, motivates, and energizes us for service to our great God and Savior.

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The sinner who has saving faith believes that there is a fullness of salvation in Christ for poor sinners. “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him….” (Heb. 7:25). In the word of the Gospel Christ is held forth as an able Saviour – able to save men from their sins and from the wrath of God. His merit is a sufficient shield against the tempest of wrath which incensed justice is ready to exact against transgressors.

The sinner who has saving faith knows that the righteousness Christ fulfilled as the condition of the Covenant of Grace is so valuable in itself, and in the eyes of the Father, that it is sufficient to procure justification, sanctification, and all other saving benefits to sinners who in themselves deserve death and damnation. So they are happy who are in Him. They shall never perish but have everlasting life, being eternally secure under the cover of His righteousness as a sufficient defense.

–Thomas Boston

It is impossible to convince unbelievers of both the joy and the necessity of

having a determination to only preach “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). The natural man cannot comprehend our desire to exalt the blessed Savior – His Person, His blood and His righteousness – in every service. The fact is, no subject is more delightful, more needful or more practical than the Gospel of Christ. If we would worship God, we must preach Christ and His successful sacrifice, for this is the subject that honors God and assures us of His presence and blessing. If we would be helpful to the lost, we must preach the crucified Christ, pointing sinners to their only hope of salvation. If we would feed the sheep, no message is more pleasant, instructive or strengthening than the Shepherd’s redeeming love and mercy. And as for practicality, the love of Christ and His marvelous work of redemption constrains and motivates us to live in this world in a manner honoring to our Redeemer. We preach Christ and Him crucified because we are commanded to and because we want to; He is our all in all. His blood made an end of our sins, finished our transgressions and brought in everlasting righteousness. He is our Surety and unfailing Friend. He chose us unto salvation in eternal love and pledged to redeem, save, preserve and glorify us. Christ received us as a gift from the Father and was commissioned to bring us safely home and present us “without spot, or wrinkle or any such thing” (Ephesians 5:27). He is everything to the Father and everything to the Father’s children. It will be our great joy to see Him face to face.

—Pastor Jim Byrd----------0----------