First Presbyterian Church of Villa Rica
Order for the Worship of God
SUNDAY, November 8th, 2020
At Church and Online
(Live Stream and Online Bulletin)
8:30 AM Worship Services (In Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall) Masks Required
9:30 AM Gathering Grounds (In Fellowship Hall —coffee, donuts)
10 AM Sunday School for all ages
11 AM Worship Services (In Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall, and via Live Stream Online)
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.)
Sermon: “Sola Fide!“
Faith, not Work (No Matter How Perfect)
8:30AM Worship 1: Direct YouTube Link
11 AM Worship 2: 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
“How Great Thou Art” (#44)
Psalm 2
1 Why do the nations conspire[a]
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.”
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
5 He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 “I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”
7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:
He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have become your father.
8 Ask me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will break them with a rod of iron[b];
you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear
and celebrate his rule with trembling.
12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry
and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] A psalm of David.
Psalm 8
1 Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
in the heavens.
2 Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?[c]
5 You have made them[d] a little lower than the angels[e]
and crowned them[f] with glory and honor.
6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their[g] feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,
8 the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
9 Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Psalm 9
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Death of the Son.” A psalm of David.
1 I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.
3 My enemies turn back;
they stumble and perish before you.
4 For you have upheld my right and my cause,
sitting enthroned as the righteous judge.
5 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.
6 Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies,
you have uprooted their cities;
even the memory of them has perished.
7 The Lord reigns forever;
he has established his throne for judgment.
8 He rules the world in righteousness
and judges the peoples with equity.
9 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
10 Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
11 Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion;
proclaim among the nations what he has done.
12 For he who avenges blood remembers;
he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.
13 Lord, see how my enemies persecute me!
Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,
14 that I may declare your praises
in the gates of Daughter Zion,
and there rejoice in your salvation.
15 The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;
their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.
16 The Lord is known by his acts of justice;
the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.[j]
17 The wicked go down to the realm of the dead,
all the nations that forget God.
18 But God will never forget the needy;
the hope of the afflicted will never perish.
19 Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph;
let the nations be judged in your presence.
20 Strike them with terror, Lord;
let the nations know they are only mortal.
Worship Through Scripture Songs of Thanksgiving:
“He Is Lord”
Verse 1
Oh blessed Lamb once slain
Will reign forevermore
His hands once bound now save
Our God will never fail
Chorus
He is Lord
He is Lord
Sings my soul He is the Lord
And He lives
Yes He lives
I’m alive ‘cause Jesus lives
Verse 2
‘Tis at the cross of Christ
Where earth and heaven meet
Where sin is overcome
To God the victory
(Chorus)
Bridge
And now let the earth resound with praise
For our Saviour God He reigns
He is high and lifted up
Arise for the King of glory waits
He is coming back again
He is coming back again
(Chorus)
“Jesus Messiah”
Verse 1
He became sin who knew no sin
That we might become His righteousness
He humbled Himself and carried the cross
Love so amazing love so amazing
Chorus 1
Jesus Messiah Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer Emmanuel
The Rescue for sinners
The Ransom from heaven
Jesus Messiah Lord of all
Verse 2
His body the bread His blood the wine
Broken and poured out all for love
The whole earth trembled and the veil was torn
Love so amazing love so amazing
Bridge
All our hope is in You
All our hope is in You
All the glory to You God
The Light of the world
Chorus 2
Jesus Messiah Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer Emmanuel
The Rescue for sinners
The Ransom from heaven
Jesus Messiah Lord of all
Jesus Messiah Lord of all
Children Church Dismissal (11 AM service, only)
Worship through Exposition of God’s Word: Rev. Thomas Myers
Sermon: “Sola Fide!“
Faith, not Work (No Matter How Perfect)
Abraham Justified by Faith
Romans 4:1-8
4 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in[a] him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
Genesis 15:1-6
God’s Covenant with Abram
After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue[a] childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son[b] shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Worship through Hymn of Commitment:
“Savior,Like a Shepherd Lead Us” (#599)
Verse 1
Savior, like a shepherd lead us,
much we need thy tender care;
in thy pleasant pastures feed us,
for our use thy folds prepare:
blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
thou hast bought us, thine we are;
blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
thou hast bought us, thine we are.
Verse 2
We are thine; do thou befriend us,
be the guardian of our way;
keep thy flock, from sin defend us,
seek us when we go astray:
blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
hear, O hear us when we pray;
blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
hear, O hear us when we pray.
Verse 3
Thou hast promised to receive us,
poor and sinful though we be;
thou hast mercy to relieve us,
grace to cleanse, and pow’r to free:
blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
let us early turn to thee;
blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
let us early turn to thee.
Verse 4
Early let us seek thy favor;
early let us do thy will;
blessed Lord and only Savior,
with thy love our bosoms fill:
blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
thou hast loved us, love us still,
blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
thou hast loved us, love us still.
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
Scan Me To Give, or place tithe in box at back table in sanctuary.
GATHERING GROUNDS
Join us in the fellowship hall Sunday mornings from 9:30-10:00 am for coffee and donuts.
HYMN SINGING
Join us in Fairfield today following the 11:00 am service to sing to Bill Burns, Ethel Gonzalez and James Oates. Let Pastor Tom know if you are going following the service so that your name can be put into the Fairfield gate.
SMALL GROUPS TODAY:
Whittle/Dickinson Group will be meeting this week at the Brittain’s home at 3:30 PM (1957 Mann Road). Meat is provided, please bring either a side or an appetite.
Mitchell/Forlaw Group will be meeting at 5:30 in the Fellowship Hall. Bring a dish to share for dinner.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD (Sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse ministry)
The boxes for Operation Christmas Child are available by the nursery and in the fellowship hall. The deadline to bring them back is November 15th.
Check out their website for packing ideas.
Postlude
(Please Stand As Able)
This Week in Our Church Life
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.
HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS
Meeting online through zoom on Wednesdays at 6:30pm. Be on the lookout for the email with the link.
WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY
Wednesdays at 10am, the women s’ Bible study will be meeting in the fellowship hall.
Other Resources
Kingdom Outreach: See our Missions and Outreach Page
What is Happening this Week, this Month? Visit our This Week page.
Today’s Additional Resources
Westminster Confession of Faith:
Chapter 14
Saving Faith
2. By this faith a Christian believes whatever is revealed in the word to be the true, authentic,
authoritative statement of God himself. 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.
He trembles at God’s awesome threats, and eagerly embraces his promises about this life and the life to
come. 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.
Chapter 16
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.
Special Announcement
Dear Believers of First Pres. Villa Rica,
After almost six months of suspending in-person Sunday morning activities with the exception of Worship, we are excited to announce the resumption of both infant and toddler nurseries beginning September 20th (both services), and the resumption of all Sunday morning activities beginning October 4th. Both morning Worship services will be maintained, with a shift in start time of both services to accommodate Sunday School (for all ages) and fellowship time. Children’s Church will also be offered during both services.
We make this decision following our nation’s efforts to return to normalcy but not with disregard to the continued threat COVID-19 is to us. Please know that procedures will be in place to ensure the safety and health of all.
New schedule as of Sunday, October 4th:
0830-0930 Worship 1 (Parking lot)
0930-1000 Break / Fellowship
1000-1045 Sunday School
1045-1100 Break
1100-1200 Worship 2 (Sanctuary & Fellowship Hall)
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. Special thanks to Jeannie Forlaw for her work in her new role as Children’s Ministry Director and for the coordination of both the Children’s Education and Worship Committees in putting together our resumption plan.
May we continue to labor together in love for the sake of the gospel and God’s kingdom,
The Session
COVID PROTOCOLS: In an effort to anticipate the needs as to the activities of the church in these times of uncertainty regarding COVID and the weather, there will be some changes upcoming in Worship location and virus protocols. We have cooler weather approaching that will necessitate moving the Parking Lot Worship Service indoors, and we have some additional information for sanitation procedures for Worship Services, Sunday Schools, Nursery, and Children’s Church. The Parking Lot Worship Service will move indoors to the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall starting on Sunday, October 25th. This service will utilize strict COVID protocols to protect those with high concerns respecting the virus. Masks and social distancing will be required at all times for this 8:30 worship. See below for additional requirements and procedures. The updated schedule as of Sunday, October 4th is, as follows:
8:30-9:30 Worship One (Parking Lot 10/18; Sanctuary & Fellowship Hall 10/25, and thereafter)
Nursery Provided
9:30-10:00 Gathering Grounds: Break/Fellowship
10:00-10:45 Sunday School (Adult and Children)
10:45-11:00 Break
11:00-12:00 Worship Two (Sanctuary & Fellowship Hall)
Children’s Church (Large Classroom)
Nursery Provided
COVID Protocols for Worship One (8:30-9:30):
–Masks are mandatory at all times including while singing. This applies to the Sanctuary and the Fellowship Hall. Pastor Tom will not wear a mask while preaching at the pulpit.
–Social distancing will be maintained at all times.
–A sanitizing station with masks will be provided at the lower entrance, at the front door entrance, and the entrance into the Fellowship Hall. There will also be spray sanitizer and hand sanitizer available at these locations.
–Ushers will seat people as they arrive and direct as they exit. The Sanctuary aisles will have directional arrows for one-way traffic. Worshipers will be seated from the front of the church to the back and will exit the church from the back to the front.
-Anyone that does not have a mask will be given one.
–At the conclusion of this service the pews and cushions will be sprayed with sanitizer. The Fellowship Hall will also be sanitized.
-The CDC recommends masks for children above the age of two years.
COVID Protocols for Break/Fellowship (9:30-10:00):
–Masks are optional and social distance is recommended. For those that are wearing a mask, know that they are wearing it for a reason, and give them extra respect in regards to distance protocols.
COVID Protocols for Adult Sunday School (10:00-10:45):
-The adult SS will meet in the Fellowship Hall.
-Masks are optional. Social distancing for seating is mandatory.
-Immediately following SS the tables and chairs will be sanitized.
COVID Protocols for Children’s Sunday School and Children’s Church:
-Masks are optional.
-Children’s masks and hand sanitizers will be available and use encouraged.
-Each child will have their own labeled supply box containing crayons, etc., that will be sanitized after each use.
-Tables and chairs will be cleaned between uses.
COVID Protocols for the Nursery:
-Nursery toys and surfaces will be sanitized with antibacterial wipes and spray and allowed to dry between services.
-At the end of the second service toys will be immersed in food-grade sanitizer and surfaces wiped and sprayed.
COVID Protocols for Worship Two (11:00-12:00)
-Masks are optional.
-Social distancing is required for seating
-Give respect to those choosing to wear a mask.
-Ushers will not be required for seating or exit.
We pray for an end to this virus, but until then, we must make the best of a difficult situation. We understand that all these different rules may be hard to keep up with, but we endeavor to provide as many options as possible so that most can attend a Worship Service. The safety of the congregation is paramount, and the ability to have a choice on the level of protocols is necessary. Those at the upper end of risk from this virus are encouraged to utilize the live stream option in the safety of your homes. 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 during this unprecedented occasion.
Prayerfully, The Session
Westminster Confession of Faith in Modern English Chapter 11 – Justification
1. Those whom God effectually calls he also freely justifies. He does not pour righteousness into them but
pardons their sins and looks on them and accepts them as if they were righteous—not because of anything
worked in them or done by them, but for Christ’s sake alone. He does not consider their faith itself, the act of
believing, as their righteousness or any other obedient response to the gospel on their part. Rather, he imputes to
them the obedience and judicial satisfaction earned by Christ. For their part, they receive and rest on Christ and
his righteousness by faith (and this faith is not their own but is itself a gift of God).
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.
3. By his obedience and death Christ completely discharged the debt of all those who are so justified, and he
made the correct, real, and full satisfaction to his Father’s justice on their behalf. Since Christ was voluntarily
given by the Father for them, and since his obedience and satisfaction were accepted in their place and not for
anything in them, their justification is the result only of his free grace—so that both the perfect justice and the
rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners.
6. The justification of believers under the Old Testament was in all these respects identical with the justification
of believers under the New Testament.
Shorter Catechism Q&A 33
Q: What is justification?
A: Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in
his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.
