CALL TO WORSHIP

(Tune – O For A Thousand Tongues – p. 46)

Now gracious God, Thine arm reveal

And make Thy glory known;

Now let us all Thy presence feel

And soften hearts of stone.

Help us to venture near Thy throne

And plead our Savior’s name;

For all that we can call our own

Is vanity and shame.

From all the guilt of wretched sin

May mercy set us free;

And let the week we now begin

Begin and end with Thee.

Send down Thy Spirit from above

That we may love Thee more;

And others now may learn to love

Who never loved before.

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TODAY’S SERVICES – Messages by Pastor Bill Parker

BIBLE CLASS – 10:00 a.m. –

No Power but of God – Romans 13:1-7

MORNING WORSHIP – 11:00 a.m –

• OPENING – Psalm 34:17-10

• CALL TO WORSHIP (above)

• HYMN – Only a Sinner – p. 474

• READING – 2 Peter 3:1-10

• MESSAGE – Issues of Repentance – 2 Peter 3:9

• CLOSING HYMN – Depth of Mercy – p. 477

Birthdays: Richman Margeson – Jan. 20^th | Bill Sparks – Jan. 22^nd

We extend our sincere sympathies and prayers for Becky Pannell and family upon the death of her mother, Mrs. Clara Edith McCormick, who passed away last Sunday, January 12, 2020. May the Lord give them the comfort that only He can give in their time of grief.

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THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES

The Lord said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). There is no sound Scriptural argument that would excuse God’s children to be negligent in the obedience of faith and love. Sinners saved by grace are to live by grace, looking unto Christ for their whole salvation and righteousness before God. They have been made holy in and by Christ, which means they have been separated from the world by God. This separation means they are not to be joined with the world in unbelief and disobedience, whether moral or religious. If we are in Christ, He is the Vine, and we are the branches. The life is in and from the Vine, which is Christ Who is our life (Gal. 2:19-21; Col. 3:1-4). Where sinners are IN HIM, there is life, and where there is life, there is fruit. The branches (Christ’s justified, redeemed, and regenerated people) bear the fruit of the Vine. This fruit is faith, repentance, and obedience in following Christ according to His Word. —Pastor Bill Parker

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WHY WE DO NOT GIVE “ALTAR CALLS”

We do not give altar calls or invitations at the close of the service, nor do we pressure men and women to make a “decision” and join the church. In the preaching of the Gospel, people are called upon to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and come to Him. Christ is our eternal high priest, sacrifice, and altar. Salvation is coming to HIM alone for forgiveness, righteousness, and eternal life. This is a heart work conducted entirely between the sinner and the Saviour. One may ask, “How, then, do I confess Christ publicly?” The command and example of Scripture for publicly confessing Christ is believer’s baptism. If, through the preaching of the Gospel, God by His Spirit has graciously revealed Christ to your heart and given you faith to believe on Him for all of your salvation; and you would like to confess Him in baptism and/or unite with this assembly of believers, please let me know. —Pastor Bill Parker

CHRIST OUR SURETY

Our Surety is expressly said to have been made both sin and a curse for His redeemed, that they “might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (II Cor. 5:21; Galatians 3:13). And what a blessedness is there contained in this one view of the completeness of the church in Jesus! So that, in the very moment that the child of God feels the workings of corruption within him, and is groaning under a body of sin and death, which he carries about with him, though he sees nothing in himself but sin and imperfection, yea, sometimes, as it appears to him growing imperfections, yet looking to the Lord Jesus as his Surety, and considering the Redeemer’s holiness, and not anything in himself, as the standard of justification, here he rests his well-founded hope. This was blessedly set forth by the Holy Ghost – “Surely, shall one say, even to Him shall men come, and all that are incensed against Him shall be ashamed” (Isaiah 45:24). —Robert Hawker

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Look at a candle and how it burns. The more the light shines, the more the candle diminishes. What a beautiful illustration of the believer in Christ! The more he learns the Gospel of Christ, the more precious Christ becomes and the less he thinks of himself. One who is truly the Lord’s shines forth the light of HIS righteousness, grace, goodness, mercy, forgiveness, and truth. In so shining, self does not get bigger and more noticeable – CHRIST does! The glory is not to self but to HIM. John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). —Author Unknown

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