First Presbyterian Church of Villa Rica

Order for the Worship of God
SUNDAY, September 5th, 2021, 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

COVID protocols: The leadership strongly recommends that everyone wear a mask in common areas when not seated for worship or Sunday school. We understand that many of us have been vaccinated, or have antibodies from getting the virus, and may not want to wear masks anymore. We would urge you to do so for any among us that are in poor health and susceptible to a severe reaction, or have a condition that does not allow them to be vaccinated. Currently the hospitals in Georgia are at capacity and we don’t want to add to the strain on their resources. Current reports are that this strain of the virus may start declining soon so we are hopeful that this strong recommendation will only be in effect until the end of September.  

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.  

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

Live Stream

Sermon:  “The Assurance, Joy, and Brazen Confidence of the True Christian:

#9 The Holy Spirit… Our Advocate

Direct YouTube Link

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

“To God Be the Glory” (55)

Verse 1

To God be the glory, great things he has done!
So loved he the world that he gave us his Son,
who yielded his life an atonement for sin,
and opened the life-gate that we may go in.

Chorus

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father thro’ Jesus the Son,
and give him the glory, great things he has done!

Verse 2

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood!
To ev’ry believer the promise of God;
the vilest offender who truly believes,
that moment from Jesus forgiveness receives.

(Chorus)

Verse 3

Great things he has taught us, great things he has done,
and great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
but purer and higher and greater will be
our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

(Chorus)

Worship through Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 45 Reading

116. Q.  Why is prayer necessary for Christians?
     A.  Because it is the chief part of thankfulness which God requires of us; and also, because God will give His grace and Holy Spirit to those only who with sincere desires continually ask them of Him, and are thankful for them.
117. Q.  What are the requisites of that prayer which is acceptable to God and which He will hear?
     A.  First, that we from the heart pray to the one true God only, who hath manifested Himself in His Word, for all things He hath commanded us to ask of Him; secondly, that we rightly and thoroughly know our need and misery, that so we may deeply humble ourselves in the presence of His divine majesty; thirdly, that we be fully persuaded that He, notwithstanding that we are unworthy of it, will, for the sake of Christ our Lord, certainly hear our prayer, as He has promised us in His Word.
118. Q.  What hath God commanded us to ask of Him?
     A.  All things necessary for soul and body, which Christ our Lord has comprised in that prayer He Himself has taught us.
119. Q.  What are the words of that prayer?
     A.  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 Songs of Praise:

“Lamb of God”

Verse 1

Your only Son no sin to hide
But You have sent Him from Your side
To walk upon this guilty sod
And to become the Lamb of God

Chorus

Oh Lamb of God sweet Lamb of God
I love the holy Lamb of God
Oh wash me in His precious blood
My Jesus Christ the Lamb of God

Verse 2

Your gift of love they crucified
They laughed and scorned Him as He died
The humble King they named a fraud
And sacrificed the Lamb of God

(Chorus)

Verse 3

I was so lost I should have died
But You have brought me to Your side
To be led by Your staff and rod
And to be called a lamb of God

(Chorus – 2x)

“You Are My All in All”

Chorus (Everyone)

Jesus Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
Jesus Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name

 Chorus (Women) – Verse 1 (Men)

Jesus Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
Jesus Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name

Verse 1 (Men)

You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure That I seek
You are my all in all
Seeking You as a precious jewel
Lord to give up, I’d be a fool
You are my All in all.

Verse 2 (Women) – Chorus (Men)

Taking my sin
My cross my shame
Rising again I bless Your name
You are my all in all
When I fall down You pick me up
When I am dry You fill my cup
You are my all in all

Chorus 2x (Everyone)

Jesus Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
Jesus Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name

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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.

WORSHIP THROUGH TITHES AND OFFERINGS

Offertory Song:

“Jesus Paid It All” #308

Verse 1

I hear the Savior say,
“Your strength indeed is small,
child of weakness, watch and pray,
find in me your all in all.”

Chorus

Jesus paid it all,
all to him I owe;
sin had left a crimson stain,
he washed it white as snow.

Verse 3

For nothing good have I
whereby your grace to claim —
I’ll wash my garments white
in the blood of Calv’ry’s lamb.

(Chorus)

Children Released to Children’s Church

Worship through Exposition of God’s Word: Reverend Thomas Myers

Sermon: “The Assurance, Joy, and Brazen Confidence of the True Christian:
Part #9 The Holy Spirit… Our Advocate

Reverend Thomas Myers

“His Eye Is on the Sparrow” #618

Verse 1

Why should I feel discouraged,
why should the shadows come,
why should my heart be lonely
and long for heav’n and home,
when Jesus is my portion?
My constant friend is he:
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me;
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.

Chorus

I sing because I’m happy I sing because I’m free
For His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me

Verse 2

“Let not your heart be troubled,”
his tender word I hear,
and resting on his goodness,
I lose my doubt and fear;
tho’ by the path he leadeth,
but one step I may see:
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me;
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.

(Chorus)

Verse 3

Whenever I am tempted,
whenever clouds arise,
when songs give place to sighing,
when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to him,
from care he sets me free;
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he cares for me;
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he cares for me.

(Chorus)

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: Meeting at 5 PM today outside at the Dickinson’s home. Bring a dish to share.

Mitchell/Forlaw Group:  Will resume meeting Sept 12^th at 5:30 pm at the Mitchell’s home. Bring a dish to share.

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NEW! Missions Small Group for Everyone, Thursday September 16th:  Every 1st and 3rd Thursday evening from 7-8 PM.  The group enjoyed a great  meeting at John and Marva’s home last Thursday.  The next meeting (September 16th) the group plans to meet at Gary and Melanie’s home; (the group rotates location and meets in various member’s homes). This new small group led by Teaching Elder Tom Myers and Ruling Elder Gary Brittain is sponsored by the Missions Committee, but everyone is invited.  This task oriented group spends the 1st 30 minutes in prayer and study the Word of God, and the second thirty minutes to prepare for the Missions Conference on November 5th, 6th, and 7th.  The group will have its last meeting on November 11th.

MISSIONS CONFERENCE with Dr. Harry Reeder

The Missions Conference will be on November 5th, 6th, and 7th and will continue the theme, “Across the Street, and Across the Sea”.  This year’s emphasis will be: “The Purpose, Mission, Vision, and Ministry of the Church”.  Anchor Speaker: Dr. Harry Reeder

PRAYER CARDS
Please complete the prayer request form in the right margin of this page, or if on your phone, scroll to the bottom of the page to find the form.  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.

 

HYMN SINGING

No visitation/singing after church is planned for today.

CHURCH LUNCHEON September 19th!

There will be a potluck lunch following the service on the 3rd Sunday of each month. (Next is September 19th) Bring a dish to share. This is a time of fellowship with old and new friends.  Visitors are welcome! There is always plenty of food.

(Please Stand As Able)

This Week in Our Church Life

HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS
Prayer Group now meets in person at 7 PM in the Church Conference Room.
Call the church office for info.

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

A 10-week ladies precept Bible study will begin on Sept. 8^th at 10am. We will be studying the 7 Churches  of Revelation. Contact Debby Morgan for more info. If childcare is needed contact Jeanie Forlaw.

Other Resources

Kingdom Outreach:  See our Missions and Outreach Page

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

A YEAR IN TABLETALK
You are invited to join us in reading through Tabletalk devotions for the year of 2021. January’s edition 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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Secondary Resources for Further Study
(The Bible itself being the only Living, Infallible, Sufficient, and Authoritative rule of faith and practice.)

PRAYER

We are able to talk to God. He speaks verbally to us in His Word and nonverbally through His obvious providence. We commune with Him through prayer. Charles Hodge declared that “prayer is the converse of the soul with God.” In and through prayer we express our reverence and adoration for God; we bare our souls in contrite confession before Him; we pour out the thanksgiving of grateful hearts, and we offer our petitions and supplications to Him.

In prayer we experience God as personal and powerful. He can hear us and act in response. Scripture teaches both the sovereign foreordination of God and the efficacy of prayer. The two are not inconsistent with one another, for God ordains the means as well as the ends for His divine purposes. Prayer is a means God uses to bring His sovereign will to pass.

Prayer is to be addressed to God alone, either to God as Triune or to the distinct persons of the Godhead. To pray to creatures is idolatry.

Proper prayer has several requisites. The first is that we approach God with sincerity. Empty and insincere phrases are a mockery to Him. Such prayer, far from being an exercise of godly religion, is an offense against God.

The second is that we approach God with reverence. In prayer we must always remember to whom we are speaking. To address God in a cavalier, casual, or flippant manner, as we might speak with our earthly friends, is to treat Him with the contempt of familiarity. As people pay homage to a king or entering his presence with a posture of respect and obeisance, so we come before God in full recognition of His supreme majesty.

The third requisite, which follows from the previous ones, is that we approach God in humility. Not only must we remember who He is, but we must also remember who and what we are. We are His adopted children. We are also sinful creatures. He invites us to come boldly before Him, but never arrogantly.

God instructs us to be earnest and fervent in our requests. At the same time, we come in willful submission. To say “Your will be done” is not an indication of a lack of faith. The faith we bring to prayer must include a trust that God is able to hear our prayers and that He is disposed to answer them. Yet when God says no to our request, this faith also trusts in His wisdom. God’s wisdom and benevolence must always and everywhere be assumed by those who entreat Him with petitions.

We pray in the name of Jesus because we do thereby acknowledge His office as mediator. As our High Priest, Christ is our intercessor even as the Holy Spirit is our helper in prayer.

Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 45

• Q 116.  Why is prayer necessary for Christians?
  A.  Because it is the chief part of thankfulness which God requires of us; and also, because God will give His grace and Holy Spirit to those only who with sincere desires continually ask them of Him, and are thankful for them.
• Q 117.  What are the requisites of that prayer which is acceptable to God and which He will hear?
  A.  First, that we from the heart pray to the one true God only, who hath manifested Himself in His Word, for all things He hath commanded us to ask of Him; secondly, that we rightly and thoroughly know our need and misery, that so we may deeply humble ourselves in the presence of His divine majesty; thirdly, that we be fully persuaded that He, notwithstanding that we are unworthy of it, will, for the sake of Christ our Lord, certainly hear our prayer, as He has promised us in His Word.
• Q118.  What hath God commanded us to ask of Him?
  A.  All things necessary for soul and body, which Christ our Lord has comprised in that prayer He Himself has taught us.
• Q119.  What are the words of that prayer?
  A.  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.

Lord’s Day 10

Q&A 27
Q. What do you understand by the providence of God?
A. The almighty and ever present power of God¹ by which God upholds, as with his hand, heaven and earth and all creatures,² and so rules them that leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and lean years, food and drink, health and sickness, prosperity and poverty—³all things, in fact, come to us not by chance⁴ but by his fatherly hand.⁵

Q&A 28
Q. How does the knowledge of God’s creation and providence help us?
A. We can be patient when things go against us,¹ thankful when things go well,² and for the future we can have good confidence in our faithful God and Father that nothing in creation will separate us from his love.³ For all creatures are so completely in God’s hand that without his will they can neither move nor be moved.

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…from the Westminster Confession of Faith 

Chapter X

Effectual Calling

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. He enlightens their minds spiritually with a saving understanding of the things of God. He takes away their heart of stone and gives them a heart of flesh. He renews their wills and by his almighty power leads them to what is good. And so he effectually draws them to Jesus Christ. But they come to Jesus voluntarily, having been made willing by God’s grace.
2. This effectual call is freely made by God and is entirely an act of his special grace. It does not depend on anything God foreknew or foresaw about the person called,  who is completely passive. God himself gives life and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He thereby enables each person to answer his call and to accept the grace he offers and actually gives.

CHAPTER XVIII Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation 

1. Although hypocrites and other unregenerate people may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and fleshly presumptions of being in God’s favor and in a state of salvation (a hope of theirs that will perish), yet people who truly believe in the Lord Jesus and love him in sincerity, trying to walk in all good conscience before him, may be assured with certainty in this life that they are in the state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, a hope that will never make them ashamed.
2. This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable belief grounded on a fallible hope, but a confident assurance of faith founded on
   • the divine truth of the promises of salvation,
   • the inward evidence of those graces unto which these promises are made,
   • and the testimony of the Spirit of adoption witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God.
     This Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, by which we are sealed to the day of redemption.
3. This confident assurance does not belong to the essence of faith, so that a true believer may wait a long time and come into conflict with many difficulties before he partakes of it. Yet, being enabled by the Spirit to know the things that are freely given to him by God, a person may attain it, without extraordinary revelation, in the right use of ordinary means. Therefore it is the duty of each person to give great diligence to make sure of his calling and selection by God, so that by it his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, which are the proper fruits of this assurance. Thus this assurance is far from inclining people to looseness.
4. True believers may have the assurance of their salvation shaken in various ways, diminished, and cease for a time,

• • by negligence in preserving it,
  • by falling into some special sin which wounds the conscience and grieves the Spirit;
  • by some sudden or vehement temptation,
  • or by God’s withdrawing the light of his face, allowing even those who fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light.

Yet are they never utterly destitute of the seed of God, the life of faith, the love of Christ and the brethren, sincerity of heart, and consciousness of duty, all of which the operation of the Spirit may use to revive this assurance in due time. In the meantime, they are supported by the Spirit from utter despair.

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Special Announcement

Dear Believers of First Pres. Villa Rica,

COVID protocols: The leadership strongly recommends that everyone wear a mask in common areas when not seated for worship or Sunday school. We understand that many of us have been vaccinated, or have antibodies from getting the virus, and may not want to wear masks anymore. We would urge you to do so for any among us that are in poor health and susceptible to a severe reaction, or have a condition that does not allow them to be vaccinated. Currently the hospitals in Georgia are at capacity and we don’t want to add to the strain on their resources. Current reports are that this strain of the virus may start declining soon so we are hopeful that this strong recommendation will only be in effect until the end of September.  Please respect physical distancing from anyone wearing a mask. If someone is wearing a mask, they either would like protection by masking and physical distancing, or they may be protecting others.  Either way, please respect the person by respecting mask.

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.

 Sunday Schedule:

Nursery Provided 1000-1200 AM
1000-1045 Bible Study for all Ages
1045-1100 Break
1100-1200 Worship 2 (Sanctuary & Fellowship Hall), , plus online live-stream: Masks encouraged indoors until seated, physical distancing is also encouraged.

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

COVID protocols: The leadership strongly recommends that everyone wear a mask in common areas when not seated for worship or Sunday school. We understand that many of us have been vaccinated, or have antibodies from getting the virus, and may not want to wear masks anymore. We would urge you to do so for any among us that are in poor health and susceptible to a severe reaction, or have a condition that does not allow them to be vaccinated. Currently the hospitals in Georgia are at capacity and we don’t want to add to the strain on their resources. Current reports are that this strain of the virus may start declining soon so we are hopeful that this strong recommendation will only be in effect until the end of September.

If you or your child have flu-like symptoms or a fever, please stay home.

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