Leader: How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.
Congregation: Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!
Leader: For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Congregation: For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
All: O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you.
— Psalm 84:1-4, 10-12
Leader: What benefits do those who are effectually called partake of in this life?
Congregation: Those who are effectually called partake in this life of justification, adoption and sanctification, and the various benefits which either accompany or flow from them in this life.
— Westminster Shorter Catechism, Questions 32
All: Awesome and compassionate God, you have loved us with unfailing, self-giving mercy, but we have not loved you. You constantly call us, but we do not listen. You ask us to love, but we walk away from neighbors in need, wrapped in our own concerns. We condone evil, prejudice, and greed. God of grace, as you come to us in mercy, we repent in spirit and in truth, admit our sin, and gratefully receive your forgiveness through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen.
Leader: Now hear this promise of grace and forgiveness from the word of God, from Galatians 2, verses 16 and 19:
We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified... For through the law we died to the law, so that we might live to God.
Leader: To those who repent of their sin and look to Jesus Christ for salvation, the forgiveness of sins is fully yours, by the grace of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Congregation: Amen.
Leader: The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Congregation: slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
Leader: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
Congregation: for his steadfast love endures forever.
Leader: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Congregation: As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen.
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All: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
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Scripture Reading: Psalm 131
Reader: This is the word of God for the people of God.
Congregation: Thanks be to God.
Sermon
Prayer for Those Searching for Truth
Lord Jesus, you claim to be the way, the truth, and the life. If what you claim is true, please guide me, teach me, and open to me the reality of who you are. Grant that I might be unafraid of the cost of following you as I consider the reasons for doing so. Give me an understanding of you that is clear, convincing, and that leads to the life you promise. Amen.
Prayer for Those Desiring to Trust in Jesus Christ for the First Time
Lord Jesus, I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever before believed. And I know that through you I am more loved & accepted than I ever dared hope. I thank you for paying my debt, bearing my punishment on the cross, and providing forgiveness and new life. Knowing that you have been raised from the dead, I turn from my sins and receive you as my Savior and Lord and desire to live a life of loving and serving you. Amen.
