First Presbyterian Church of Villa Rica

Order for the Worship of God
SUNDAY, September 26th, 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

 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:

#11 The 5 Unbreakable Links in the Golden Chain of our Great Salvation

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

“O Worship the King” (2)

Verse 1

O worship the King all glorious above
O gratefully sing His pow’r and His love
Our Shield and Defender the Ancient of Days
Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise

Verse 2

O tell of His might O sing of His grace
Whose robe is the light whose canopy space
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form
And dark is His path on the wings of the storm

Verse 3

The earth with its store of wonders untold
Almighty Your pow’r has founded of old
Has ‘stablished it fast by a changeless decree
And round it has cast like a mantle the sea

Verse 4

Your bountiful care what tongue can recite
It breathes in the air it shines in the light
It streams from the hills it descends to the plain
And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain

Verse 5

Frail children of dust and feeble as frail
In Thee you we trust nor find you to fail
Your mercies how tender how firm to the end
Our Maker Defender Redeemer and Friend

Verse 6

O measureless might ineffable love
While angels delight to hymn you above
The humbler creation though feeble their lays
With true adoration shall lisp to your praise

Worship through  Psalter Responsive Reading

(NIV) Psalm 46
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song.

¹ God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
⁵ God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
⁶ Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
⁷ The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
⁸ Come and see what the LORD has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
¹¹ The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

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Worship Through Songs of Praise:

“Before the Throne of God Above“

Verse 1

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heav’n He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart

Verse 2

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of my guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin
Because the sinless Saviour died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Bridge

Hallelujah, hallelujah
Praise the One risen son of God

(Praise the One risen son of God) – Ending

Verse 3

Behold Him there the risen Lamb
My perfect spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I Am
The King of glory and of grace
One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased with His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Saviour and my God
With Christ my Saviour and my God

(Bridge 3x)

 

“Days Of Elijah“

Verse 1

These are the days of Elijah
Declaring the Word of the Lord
And these are the days
Of Your servant Moses
Righteousness being restored
And though these are days
Of great trials
Of famine and darkness and sword
Still we are the voice
In the desert crying
Prepare ye the way of the Lord

Chorus

Behold He comes
Riding on the clouds
Shining like the sun
At the trumpet call
Lift your voice
It’s the year of Jubilee
And out of Zion’s hill
Salvation comes

 Verse 2

These are the days of Ezekiel
The dry bones becoming as flesh
And these are the days
Of Your servant David
Rebuilding a temple of praise
And these are the days of the harvest
The fields are as white in the world
And we are the laborers
In Your vineyard
Declaring the Word of the Lord

(Chorus)

Bridge

There is no god like Jehovah
There is no god like Jehovah
There is no god like Jehovah
There is no god like Jehovah

(Chorus 2x)

 

 

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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:

“The Steadfast Love”

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.
His mercies never come to an end;
They are new every morning,
New every morning:
Great is your faithfulness, O Lord,
Great is your faithfulness!

(Repeat 2x – the last time acapella)

 

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:

#11 The 5 Unbreakable Links in the Golden Chain of our Great Salvation

Reverend Thomas Myers

“O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus!” #535

Verse 1

O the deep, deep love of Jesus!
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free;
rolling as a mighty ocean
in its fullness over me.
Underneath me, all around me,
is the current of thy love;
leading onward, leading homeward,
to thy glorious rest above.

Verse 2

O the deep, deep love of Jesus!
Spread his praise from shore to shore;
how he loveth, ever loveth,
changeth never, nevermore;
how he watches o’er his loved ones,
died to call them all his own;
how for them he intercedeth,
watcheth o’er them from the throne.

Verse 3

O the deep, deep love of Jesus!
Love of ev’ry love the best:
’tis an ocean vast of blessing,
’tis a haven sweet of rest.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus!
’tis a heav’n of heav’ns to me;
and it lifts me up to glory,
for it lifts me up to thee.

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 at the Dickinson home. Bring a dish to share.

Mitchell/Forlaw Group:  Will be meeting 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 time.  This Small Group meets next on October 7th at Pastor Tom and Beth’s home; (the group rotates location and meets in various member’s homes). This 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

Join us following church today to go and sing to shut ins.

CHURCH LUNCHEON!

There will be a potluck lunch following the service on the 3rd Sunday of each month.  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 via Zoom at 7 PM.
Call the church office for info.

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

A 10-week ladies precept Bible study began on Sept. 8^th at 10am. The group is 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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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.

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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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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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