First Presbyterian Church of Villa Rica

Order for the Worship of God
SUNDAY, March 20th, 2022, 11 AM

At Church and Online
(Live Stream and Online Bulletin)

Nursery 10 AM to 12 PM
10 AM Bible Study for all ages
11 AM Worship Services

 GATHERING OF GOD’S PEOPLE
“Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.” – Deuteronomy 4:10

PRELUDE WORSHIP
(As we prepare our hearts for worship let us quiet our hearts and our cell phones.)

Prelude Worship Song

Worship Live Stream

Sermon:  by Reverend Thomas Myers

G.F.C.

Matthew 13:36-43; 47-50
1st Peter 2:4-12
Romans 9:22-33
Romans 1:13-17

View Live Service:  Bulletin/Order of Worship

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP
INVOCATION

(All Scripture references are from the English Standard Version, ESV, unless otherwise noted.)

Worship through Hymn of Thanksgiving

“Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart”

Verse 1

Rejoice, ye pure in heart,
rejoice, give thanks, and sing:
your festal banner wave on high,
the cross of Christ your King.

Chorus

Rejoice, rejoice,
rejoice, give thanks, and sing.

Verse 3

With all the angel choirs,
with all the saints on earth,
pour out the strains of joy and bliss,
true rapture, noblest mirth!

(Chorus)

 Verse 4

Yes, on through life’s long path,
still chanting as ye go;
from youth to age, by night and day,
in gladness and in woe.

(Chorus)

Verse 6

Then on, ye pure in heart,
rejoice, give thanks, and sing;
your glorious banner wave on high,
the cross of Christ your King.

(Chorus)

 

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Worship through Responsive Reading of Psalm 1158

(NIV) Psalm 118

¹ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
² Let Israel say:
“His love endures forever.”
³ Let the house of Aaron say:
“His love endures forever.”
⁴ Let those who fear the LORD say:
“His love endures forever.”
⁵ When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD;
he brought me into a spacious place.
⁶ The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
⁷ The LORD is with me; he is my helper.
I look in triumph on my enemies.
⁸ It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in humans.
⁹ It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
¹⁰ All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them down.
¹¹ They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them down.
¹² They swarmed around me like bees,
but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the LORD I cut them down.
¹³ I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the LORD helped me.
¹⁴ The LORD is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.
¹⁵ Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!
¹⁶ The LORD’s right hand is lifted high;
the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!”
¹⁷ I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the LORD has done.
¹⁸ The LORD has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
¹⁹ Open for me the gates of the righteous;
I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.
²⁰ This is the gate of the LORD
through which the righteous may enter.
²¹ I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.
²² The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
²³ the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
²⁴ The LORD has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad.
²⁵ LORD, save us!
LORD, grant us success!
²⁶ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you.
²⁷ The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.
²⁸ You are my God, and I will praise you;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
²⁹ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

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Worship Through Songs of Praise:

“10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)“

Chorus

Bless the Lord O my soul O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name

Verse 1

The sun comes up it’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

(Chorus)

Verse 2

You’re rich in love and You’re slow to anger
Your name is great and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

(Chorus)

Verse 3

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

(Chorus 2x)

Ending

Worship Your holy name

Lord I’ll worship Your holy name

 

“Your Grace Is Enough“

 Verse 1

Great is Your faithfulness O God
You wrestle with the sinner’s restless heart
You lead us by still waters into mercy
And nothing can keep us apart

Pre-Chorus

(So) remember Your people
Remember Your children
Remember Your promise O God

Chorus (2x)

Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me

Verse 2

Great is Your love and justice, God
You use the weak to lead the strong
You lead us in the song of Your salvation
And all Your people sing along

Pre Chorus

(So) remember Your people
Remember Your children
Remember Your promise O God

Chorus (2x)

Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me

Pre Chorus

(So) remember Your people
Remember Your children
Remember Your promise O God

Chorus (2x)

Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me

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PASTORAL PRAYER

….Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

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WORSHIP THROUGH TITHES AND OFFERINGS

Offertory Worship Music:

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Verse of the Week:

2^nd PETER 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge.

Children Released to Children’s Church

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Exposition of God’s Word

Sermon:  by Reverend Thomas Myers

G.F.C.

Matthew 13:36-43; 47-50
1st Peter 2:4-12
Romans 9:22-33
Romans 1:13-17

Scripture Text

Matthew 13:36-43; 47-50
36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him,
saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one
who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed
is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy
who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are
angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of
the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom
all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that
place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like
the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea
and gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down
and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the end
of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and
throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of
teeth.

1st Peter 2: 4-12
4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen
and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house,
to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus
Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone
chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the
honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the
builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a
rock of offense. ”They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined
to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his
own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of
darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are
God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the
flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles
honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good
deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Romans 9:22-33
22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured
with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make
known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand
for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the
Gentiles? 25 As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my
people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’” 26 “And in the very place
where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of
the living God.’” 27 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the
sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, 28 for the
Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” 29 And as Isaiah
predicted, “If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like
Sodom and become like Gomorrah.” 30 What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did
not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but
that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in
reaching that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were
based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written,
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever
believes in him will not be put to shame.”
Romans 1:13-17
13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you
(but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you
as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and
to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel
to you also who are in Rome. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power
of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the
Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is
written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

(for further study info: scroll down)

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“Marvelous Grace of Our Loving Lord”

Verse 1

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt,
yonder on Calvary’s mount out-poured,
there where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Chorus

Grace, grace, God’s grace,
grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
grace, grace, God’s grace,
grace that is greater than all our sin.

Verse 2

Sin and despair like the sea waves cold,
threaten the soul with infinite loss;
grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
points to the Refuge, the mighty cross.

(Chorus)

 Verse 3

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide,
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! there is flowing a crimson tide;
Whiter than snow you may be today.

(Chorus)

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Benediction

Doxology: Hymn #731

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heav’ly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Worship Through Tithes and Offerings

THIS WEEK AND UPCOMING EVENTS

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SMALL GROUPS TODAY:

Whittle/Dickinson Group: Not Meeting today.

Mitchell/Forlaw Group: Not Meeting Today.

PRAYER CARDS

Please complete the prayer request form in the right margin of this page (bottom of page on your phone or tablet).  There are also index cards next to the bulletins on the tables in the back. Pastor Tom would like to know how he can pray for you. You may enter your request in the form on this page, put them in the offering box, or hand them to Pastor Tom.

MISSIONARY OF THE MONTH

Please be in prayer for our missionary of the month.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

PRAYER TIME

Pastor Tom will be leading a time of prayer at the new office (303 Main Street Villa Rica) every Monday from 12 till 12:30.  The Wednesday Zoom prayer meeting continues.

SINGING TO OUR AT HOME MEMBERS :

We will sing to our at home members on March 20^th after the church lunch.

WIC

The ladies will start meeting the 4^th Friday of  every month for lunch and fellowship. Please contact Donna with any questions.

VBS

Vacation Bible School is happening this summer! July 11-15 from 6-8 pm. Please put these dates on your calendar and pray on how you can help.  Contact Jeannie with any questions.

PRESBYTERY HERE!

FPVR will be hosting our Presbytery meeting on April 5^th at 2pm.

CHURCH LUNCH:

We will have church lunch and fellowship following the morning service.

SERVING SCHEDULE

Children’s Church

March- Mary Ashklock

April-Jeannie Forlaw

May- Jessica Davis

Nursery Helpers

March 20^th – Noelle Eckstein

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THANK YOU FOR 20 YEARS OF FAITHFUL SERVICE!

We would like to say a big thank you to John and Marva Grant for all they have done in and for our church. We will miss you both very much! 

This Week in Our Church Life

HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS
Prayer Group now meets Wednesdays via Zoom at 7 PM.

Call the church office for info.

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WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY
Wednesdays at 10am, PRECEPT BIBLE STUDY

Debbie is leading a study on the gospel of John. Please contact Debby for more info. If childcare is needed contact Jeannie.

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Other Resources

Kingdom Outreach:  See our Missions and Outreach Page

 What is Happening this Week, this Month?  Visit our This Week page.

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A YEAR IN TABLETALK
You are invited to join us in reading through Tabletalk devotions for the year of 2022. Monthly editions will be available by the offering box in the Sanctuary. You can purchase a subscription by calling 1-800-435-4343 or by visiting the Table Talk website. You can also begin a free subscription through the website.

Continue to pray and encourage one another.1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

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Philippians 2:3-4
(ESV) Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴ Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 

The Elders and Deacons of First Presbyterian Church of Villa Rica.

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Secondary Resources for Further Study
(The Bible itself being the only Living, Infallible, Sufficient, and Authoritative rule of faith and practice.)

Canons or Dort of divine predestination
Article 1
Since all people have sinned in Adam and have come under the sentence of the curse and eternal death, God
would have done no one an injustice if it had been his will to leave the entire human race in sin and under the
curse, and to condemn them on account of their sin. As the apostle says: “The whole world is liable to the
condemnation of God” (Rom. 3:19)“All have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God”(Rom 3:23) and “The
wadges of sin is death” (Rom.6:23)
Article 7
Election [or choosing] is God’s unchangeable purpose by which he did the following:
Before the foundation of the world, by sheer grace, according to the free good pleasure of his will, he chose in
Christ to salvation a definite number of particular people out of the entire human race, which had fallen by its
own fault from its original innocence into sin and ruin. Those chosen were neither better nor more deserving
than the others, but lay with them in the common misery. He did this in Christ, whom he also appointed from
eternity to be the mediator, the head of all those chosen, and the foundation of their salvation.
And so he decided to give the chosen ones to Christ to be saved, and to call and draw them effectively into
Christ’s fellowship through his Word and Spirit. In other words, he decided to grant them true faith in Christ, to
justify them, to sanctify them, and finally, after powerfully preserving them in the fellowship of his Son, to
glorify them.
God did all this in order to demonstrate his mercy, to the praise of the riches of his glorious grace. As Scripture
says, “God chose us in Christ, before the foundation of the world, so that we should be holy and blameless
before him with love; he predestined us whom he adopted as his children through Jesus Christ, in himself,
according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, by which he freely made us
pleasing to himself in his beloved” (Eph. 1:4–6) And elsewhere, “Those whom he predestined, he also called;
and those whom he called, he also justified; and those whom he justified, he also glorified” (Rom. 8:30)
W.C.F
Chapter 10 of effectual calling. Paragraph 1
1. At the right time, appointed by him, God effectually calls all those and only those whom he has predestined to life. He
calls them by his word and Spirit out of their natural state of sin and death into grace and salvation through Jesus Christ.1
He enlightens their minds spiritually with a saving understanding of the things of God.2 He takes away their heart of stone
and gives them a heart of flesh.3 He renews their wills and by his almighty power leads them to what is good.4 And so he
effectually draws them to Jesus Christ.5 But they come to Jesus voluntarily, having been made willing by God’s grace.6
1. Rom 8.28,30, 11.7, Eph 1.5,10-11, 2 Thes 2.13-14, 2 Cor 3.3,6, Rom 8.2, 2 Tm 1.9-10, Jn 15.16, Acts 13.48, 1 Thes
5.9, Jas 1.18, 1 Cor 2.12, Eph 2.1-10. 2. Acts 26.18, 1 Cor 2.10,12, Eph 1.17-18, 2 Cor 4.6. 3. Ez 36.26. 4. Ez 11.19, Phil
2.13, Dt 30.6, Ez 36.27, Phil 4.13, Jn 3.5, Gal 6.15, Ti 3.5, 1 Pt 1.23. 5. Eph 1.19, Jn 6.44-45. 6. Sg 1.4, Ps 110.3, Jn 6.37,
Rom 6.16-18, Mt 11.28, Rv 22.17; see under figure 5 above.
W.C.F
Chapter 14 of saving faith. Paragraph 2
2. By this faith a Christian believes whatever is revealed in the word to be the true, authentic, authoritative statement of
God himself.4 By this faith the believer also acts according to what particular passages in the word say. By faith the
believer humbly submits to and obeys God’s various commands.5 He trembles at God’s awesome threats,6 and eagerly
embraces his promises about this life and the life to come.7 But the chief actions of saving faith are accepting, receiving,
and resting on Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, in the power of the covenant of grace.8
4. Jn 4.42, 1 Thes 2.13, 1 Jn 5.10, Acts 24.14. 5. Rom 16.26, Mt 22.37-40. 6. Is 66.2. 7. Heb 11.13, 1 Tm 4.8. 8. Jn 1.12,
Acts 16.31, Gal 2.20, Acts 15.11.

W.C.F   Chapter 11 of Justification

2. Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the only means of justification. In the person justified, however, it is always accompanied by all the other saving graces and is not a dead faith, but works by love.

W.C.F   Chapter 16 of Good Works

2. These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruit and evidence of a true and living faith. By them believers show their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance of salvation, edify their brothers in the Lord, and become ornaments of all those who profess the gospel. Good works in believers silence the criticism of the enemies of the gospel. They also glorify God by showing that believers are the workmanship and creation of Jesus Christ, because their aim is that holiness of living which leads to eternal life

W.C.F   Chapter 18 of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation

2. This certainty is not based on the fallible hope of guesswork or probabilities. Rather, it is the infallible assurance of faith, established on the divine truth of the promises of salvation. There is also the inner evidence of spiritual insight, given to us by God, to which these promises are directed. And there is the testimony of the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God. This Spirit is the pledge of our inheritance. By him we are sealed until the day of redemption.

The Canons of Dort of divine predestination – Article 1 

God’s right to condemn all people

Since all people have sinned in Adam and have some under the sentence of the curse and eternal death, God would have done no one an injustice if it has been his will to leave the entire human race in sin and under the curse, and to condemn them to account of their sin. As the apostle says: “ The whole world is liable to the condemnation of God.”(Romans 3:19) “All have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.”(Romans 3:23) And “The wages of sin is death.”(Romans 6:23)

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W.C.F Chapter 3 of God’s eternal decree: Paragraph 3-7

3. In order to manifest his glory God has ordered that some men and angels should be predestined to everlasting life and that others should be foreordained to everlasting death.
4. This predestination and foreordination of angels and men are precise and unchangeable. The number and identity of angels and men in each group are certain, definite, and unalterable
5. Before the creation of the world, according to his eternal, unchangeable plan and the hidden purpose and good pleasure of his will, God has chosen in Christ those of mankind who are predestined to life and to everlasting glory. He has done this solely out of his own mercy and love and completely to the praise of his wonderful grace. This choice was completely independent of his foreknowledge of how his created beings would be or act. Neither their faith nor good works nor perseverance had any part in influencing his selection
6. Just as God has determined that the elect shall be glorified, so, too, in the eternal and completely free purpose of his will he has foreordained all the means by which that election is accomplished. And so, those who are chosen, having fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ. They are effectually called to faith in Christ by his Spirit working in them at the right time, and they are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by his power through faith unto salvation. Only the elect, and no others, are redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved.
7. According to the hidden purpose of his own will, by which he offers or withholds mercy at his pleasure, and for the glory of his sovereign power over his creatures, it pleased God not to call the rest of mankind and to ordain them to dishonor and wrath for their sin to the praise of his glorious justice.

W.C.F Chapter 1, Of the Holy Scripture, Paragraph 1, 4 -7, 9-10

1.Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men unexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church; and afterwards, for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing: which maketh the Holy Scripture to be most necessary; those former ways of God’s revealing his will unto his people being now ceased. 4. The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man, or church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God. 5. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scripture. And the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is, to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man’s salvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God: yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work. of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts 6. The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man’s salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word: and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature, and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.7. All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them. 9. The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself: and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly. 10. The supreme judge by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture.

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Canons Of Dort

The first main point of doctrine, divine election and reprobation

Article 1: God’s Right to Condemn All People

Since all people have sinned in Adam and have come under the sentence of the curse and eternal death, God would have done no one an injustice if it had been his will to leave the entire ­human race in sin and under the curse, and to condemn them on account of their sin. As the apostle says: “The whole world is liable to the condemnation of God” (Rom. 3:19), “All have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23), and “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23).

Article 2: The Manifestation of God’s Love

But this is how God showed his love: he sent his only begotten Son into the world, so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (1 John 4:9; John 3:16).

Article 3: The Preaching of the Gospel

In order that people may be brought to faith, God mercifully sends messengers of this very joyful message to the people and at the time he wills. By this ministry people are called to repentance and faith in Christ crucified. For “how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without someone preaching? And how shall they preach unless they have been sent?” (Rom. 10:14-15).

Article 4: A Twofold Response to the Gospel

God’s wrath remains on those who do not believe this gospel. But those who do accept it and embrace Jesus the Savior with a true and living faith are delivered through him from God’s wrath and from destruction, and receive the gift of eternal life.

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Westminster Confession of Faith

Chapter 10  of Effectual calling

1.All those whom God has predestined to life, and only those, he is pleased to effectually call at his appointed and accepted time, by his Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to come to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ. In this call, he enlightens their minds spiritually, in a way effective to salvation, so that they understand the things of God. He takes away their heart of stone and gives to them a heart of flesh; he renews their wills; and by his almighty power he makes them determined to do what is good. This effectually draws them to Jesus Christ, yet in such a way that they come completely freely, being made willing by his grace.

2. This effectual call comes entirely from God’s free and special grace, not from anything at all foreseen in the person, who is completely passive in it until, being made alive and renewed by the Holy Spirit, he is enabled by it to answer the call and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it.

Shorter Catechism Q&A 31

Q. 31. What is effectual calling?
A. Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.

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Sunday Schedule:

Nursery Provided 1000-1200 AM
1000-1045 Bible Study for all Ages
1045-1100 Break
1100-1200 Worship (Sanctuary & Fellowship Hall), , plus online live-stream.

We thank the Lord for His faithfulness to us and for His hand of protection. Thank you for your support, encouragement and love for each other during these challenging times.

May we continue to labor together in love for the sake of the gospel and God’s kingdom,
The Session

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10:00-10:45       Adult Bible Study in the Fellowship Hall, other ages in various classrooms. (Nursery Provided)

10:45-11:00       Break

11:00-12:00       Worship (Sanctuary, plus live-stream).  Fellowship Hall live stream available for overflow and physical distancing.

Children’s Church (Large Classroom)

Nursery Provided 1000 to 1200 AM

If you or your child have flu-like symptoms or a fever, please stay home and enjoy the Online Bulletin and Live-Stream.

We thank you for your prayers, for the willingness you have shown to be diligent in worship, and for your support of FPCVR.

Prayerfully, The Session