“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Prayer of Adoration:
Song: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty – Hymn 53 v.1-3,5
The Old Testament Lesson: Psalm 70 (Trinity Hymnal pg. 810)
Confession of Faith: From The Belgic Confession of Faith
We believe that Jesus Christ, according to his divine nature, is the only Son of God—eternally begotten, not made or created. He is one in essence with the Father; coeternal; the exact image of the person of the Father and the “reflection of God’s glory,” being like the Father in all things.
The New Testament Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Song:Come Ye Souls By Sin Afflicted – CCLI# 2263115
Come ye souls by sin afflicted, Bowed with fruitless sorrow down;
By the broken law convicted, through the cross, behold the crown;
Look to Jesus; Look to Jesus; Look to Jesus;
Mercy flows through Him alone.
Take His easy yoke and wear it; Love will make your obedience sweet
Christ will give you strength to bear it, while His grace shall guide your feet
Safe to glory, Safe to glory, Safe to glory,
Where His ransomed captives meet.
Blessed are the eyes that see Him, Blest the ears that hear His voice;
Blessed are the souls that trust Him, And in Him alone rejoice;
His commandments, His commandments, His commandments
Then become their happy choice.
Sweet as home to pilgrims weary, Light to newly, opened eyes,
Like full springs in deserts dreary, Is the rest the cross supplies;
All who taste it, All who taste it, All who taste it
Shall to rest immortal rise.
Look to Jesus; Look to Jesus; Look to Jesus;
Mercy flows through Him alone.
Prayer for the Church: Matthew Elliott, Ruling Elder.
The Sermon: “The Mystery and Magnificence of the Son’s Greater Priesthood: Part One.” Hebrews 5:7-10. Dr. Michael Calvert, Teaching Elder.
Prayer of Confession:
Assurance of Pardon: Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
*Communion:
Song:Man of Sorrows, What a Name – Hymn 246 v.1-5
The Benediction: From Colossians 3:15,17
May the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And in whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Amen!
For a good while now we have been exploring the theme of the Greater Priesthood of our Lord Jesus as expressed in the words of Hebrews 5:1-10. And as we focus upon verse 7 for this weeks’ sermon, we will discover that Jesus was a praying Priest.
In this verse, the author of the Epistle tells us about our Lord’s “ prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears,” which were “ offered up” to the Father. And what is likely in view here is Christ’s final time in prayer before the crucifixion, as so dramatically recorded in Luke 22:39-44–
39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
There is much mystery here as well as majesty. And as we explore this amazing scene together, we will begin to understand what our Lord accomplished on the cross as our Great High Priest, what He endured for us, and how the benefit we have received from His prayers, and His death and resurrection, make our lives immeasurably wonderful!
Note About Our Sunday School Class ‘Understanding the Times’
This Sunday at 9:30 in the Worship Center we will begin exploring the topic of Existentialism. In the words of the late Dr. R. C. Sproul, existentialism is a philosophy (whether knowingly embraced or not) that has had an “ enormous impact” upon our world. And he claims that we encounter its pervasive influence “ virtually every day of our lives and in virtually every sphere of our culture.”
Existentialism, as we shall discover, is evidenced today in narcissism, victimology, reproductive rights, feminism, identity-politics, gay rights, transgenderism, gender-fluidity, and even anarchy. It is a world-view that we really need to understand so that we might be faithful witnesses of the Gospel.
The outline for Sunday’s class, including some suggested sources for further study, will be available for download at our website.
I love you all, and look forward to our gathering together on the Lord’s Day!
Mike
Announcements:
COVID-19 Message:
For those of you who are attending worship in person on Sunday morning, please practice social distancing as much as you are able and observe the pew markers so that we may keep a safe, 6-ft between families. During this time, we will not have nursery or fellowship time with food and drink. If any family member has been sick, or you have a pre-existing condition, please consider staying home and joining us by watching the recorded service when it is sent out. Masks are not required if you are maintaining social distance, but are welcome. We hope and pray that if you have any needs, you will let a staff member or deacon know so that we can serve you well during this trying time.
Men’s Ministry:
Men’s book study of Calvin’s Institutes is meeting weekly on Tuesdays at 6:15-7:15 AM. We’re meeting upstairs at the Cooper House on Randolph Ave near downtown. All men are welcome to join us in building friendships as we discuss our lives in Christ at a practical level. If interested, please contact darondrown@gmail.com
Senior Fellows:
At 9 AM, Tues, Nov 10, the Senior Fellows will meet for Breakfast and Bible Study at the Church. We will wear masks, safe distance and use no touch food service. We will cover “Unconditional Election” in our ongoing Bible Study Series (What is Reformed theology?). A Zoom connection will be provided for those who cannot attend. All are welcome.
Future Topics:
Nov 17 – Limited Atonement
Nov 24 – Irresistible Grace
Dec 1 – Perseverance of the Saints
Women’s Ministry:
Therefore, here is the Current information regarding our Bible Studies this Fall. The three studies will be listed below.
Tuesday Morning Study facilitated by Amy Schnorrenberg
Time: 9:30 am
Place: Christ Pres
Topic: Marriage
Speaker: Video series by Paul Tripp
Childcare: Will be provided and currently in the planning stages
Contact person: Amy Schnorrenberg
Wednesday Morning Bible Study
Time: 10am -1130am
Place: Christ Pres Fellowship Hall
Topic: Pilgrim’s Progress (Penguin Classics )
( book can order through Amazon.com for $10.79 )
Speaker: Video series by Derek Thomas (Ligonier Ministry)
Contact person: Mary Lee McKee
Wednesday Night Bible Study
Time: 6pm – 730pm
Place: Christ Pres Fellowship Hall
Topic: Pilgrim’s Progress (Penguin Classics)
( book can be ordered through Amazon.com for $10.79 )
Speaker: Video series by Derek Thomas (Ligonier Ministry)
Contact person: Denise Scrip
For the two Wednesday Women’s studies I am in the process of learning how to incorporate a Zoom Meeting process for those who don’t feel comfortable meeting in person but still want to participate. I will let you know if and when it becomes available.
Children’s Ministry:
Staff Updates
Amanda Dean is now working as our Nursery Coordinator. She will assist me on Sunday mornings with nursery logistics and greeting, as well as help with some programming for that age group. Thank you, Amanda, for working with our children at Christ Pres! And thank you to Nikki Profozich, who has done this for several years – we are so thankful!
We also welcome back Ms. Irene and Ms. Myranda. They will work in the toddler nursery as we will continue to keep our baby room closed. They will check temps and wear masks as safety precautions. If you have an infant and need help during worship, please feel free to use them as well (they offered to help w/ babies). If you are signed up to volunteer for the remainder of the semester, feel free to stop by and see if they need help on your designated Sunday.
Resources
As always, feel free to check the hallway bookcases for resources. I purchase things here and there and add them to the shelves for YOUR use. Feel free to borrow a book or take one home to see if you like it. Just be sure to return in a timely manner for others to use. I added two upper elementary devotion books that might be good for your children to learn more about daily scripture reading. And, just a reminder that one of my favorite devotion books is Nancy Guthrie’s Dinner Table Devotions. Highly recommended for elementary and middle school families. I’ll be coming out w/ my annual Advent resource list mid month as well! Watch for that!
Save the Date
Save the date for the Nursery to 2nd grade Christmas party at the Dean’s house on Sunday, 12/6. Amanda will send out an RSVP closer to time. Mark that on your calendars (families invited!).
Watch for emails about upcoming fellowships and as always, check the bulletin for children’s updates.
Youth:
Youth group meets again on Sunday afternoon at 4:30 at the church house.
Career/Singles:
The young career/singles group meets every Sunday evening at 5:30 at the home of Jim and Sharon Daughtry, for a time of fellowship & spiritual encouragement. Other upcoming events include a bonfire on October 23rd at 6:00 at the home of Shay Huter, the Galaxy of Lights walking tour (dog-walk night) in November, & Winterlude concert in December. Details to follow.
Prayer Requests:
Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Lincoln Ely, Rich Bagdazian, Zig and Virdia Jastrebski, Ramona Edwards, Bill Dent, Jacky Haynes, Steve Terry, Bill Cowley, Larrabee Kirkland, Elizabeth Holton, and Nolan Osmer. Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Noah and Karleigh Stephens (Thailand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); Amos and Jessica Williams (RUF at Alabama A&M); Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky and Alaina Garcia (church plant in Canada); Dieter Paulson (church plant in Scottsboro, AL); Gannon Miles (seminary student); The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center.
Online Donations:
If you would like to give to Christ Presbyterian, you can do so at the following link:
“ Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10
My Beloved Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
Well, here we are. Election day has finally arrived, and early tomorrow morning the polling places will open. Quite frankly, it is the arrival of a day that I have dreaded for some time. Of all of the Presidential elections I have voted in, I have approached this one with the deepest awareness of what is hanging in the balance, and all that could potentially result from the final tally of votes. So let me be the first to bluntly confess with the psalmist that, “ My soul also is greatly troubled” (Psalm 6:3), and “ I am in distress” (Psalm 31:9). Indeed, my faith is often very weak, and my perspective on things is significantly limited.
Good News for Today!
By now you’re likely wondering how this kind of talk from your pastor is related, if at all, to our Monday theme of ‘encouragement.’
Well, let’s look once again at Revelation 2:10.
As you can see, these are the very words of our Lord Jesus. And they were spoken to the Church at Smyrna, the second of the seven local Churches addressed in the Epistle. The whole of verse 10 reads this way:
“ Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
The likely scenario they faced was that the Roman emperor Domitian was about to bring down his wrath upon the Christian believers in that city. The members of the little Church there would soon face the prospect of imperial persecution, some would suffer imprisonment, and others might even face death if they did not say the words “Domitian is Lord.”
Surprisingly, Christ’s message to them was very brief indeed, and perhaps not what you would expect from Him. Our Lord simply says, “ Be faithful until death.”
You might have anticipated and desired more from Jesus, especially in view of the real peril confronting the Church there in AD 90. Yet, all they received was the exhortation to remain faithful to the Savior, the true Lord and King, even to death.
How could these words encourage anyone, or lift the spirits of those who were about to suffer for their allegiance to Jesus?
Let me suggest two sources of encouragement beautifully deposited in this one verse.
First, notice that Jesus tells them what their immediate future holds.
According to the Word of Jesus, they are “ about to suffer,” and Satan is “ about to throw” some of them “ into prison.” Their immediate future is not only known by their Lord and Savior, it has been determined from all eternity past! No accidental set of circumstances will come to pass for them, but only what has been ordained by God for their good–“ that you may be tested.”
In other words, their future was in no way in the hands of Domitian or any other earthly power! Jesus holds their immediate future! He controls their immediate future! And He has designed their immediate future to make them holy and strong! Every fraction of their future will serve this great divine purpose, no matter how it comes about! And, furthermore, it will last only as long as Jesus has determined–“ ten days.”
Second, notice that Jesus also tells them what their ultimate future holds.
As they remain faithful to the Lord, empowered by the knowledge that He is the true Sovereign One, they are to remember what awaits them in their ultimate future. And that is eternal life itself–“ the crown of life”!
For those first century believers in Smyrna, this meant that even if some should die out of loyalty to Jesus, no ultimate loss would be suffered. For eternal life with Christ would be their reward! Potentially, they may well be imprisoned, they could be persecuted in many ways, and some might even suffer martyrdom. But they could never forfeit the eternal gift of salvation in Christ Jesus! They could joyfully go about their days without fear at all! They were, as we have learned from our studies in Hebrews, pilgrims on the way to a Better Land!
We too are Christian pilgrims. This world, like the wilderness of Sinai, is not our home either. Rather, it’s our mission station. Our hopes lie elsewhere. Our future is eternally secured by a much greater Kingdom and King! And no one can vote our Sovereign Lord in or out of office, for He is “ the Alpha and the Omega” (Revelation 21:13), the One whose Kingdom shall have “ no end” (Isaiah 9:7)!
So come what may tomorrow, or any other day for that matter, the real winner will always be Christ! And His landslide victory, achieved on the cross and at His empty tomb, will be eternally enjoyed by His faithful people!
Vote Early, Vote Often! (just kidding about the ‘often’ part)
So, as good citizens of this earthly city, let us go out tomorrow and cast our vote. Let us pray fervently for our nation and her leaders. But let us never, even for a second, embrace the idea that our future, either immediate or ultimate, is really in the balance! For our Lord is the King! And wherever His will takes us, and whatever it takes us through, it will surely result in our greater holiness and His greater glory! His Kingdom shall never end!
Let us be faithful to Him, fearless in our service and witness, and counting on the blessing we will certainly receive when we see Him face-to-face!
You are my beloved family, and I joyfully and unceasingly pray for you!
Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
Prayer of Adoration:
Song:A Mighty Fortress Is Our God – Hymn No. 92, v.1-4
The Old Testament Lesson: Psalm 149
Confession of Faith: The Westminster Confession of Faith
Chapter 8: Christ Our Mediator – In his eternal purpose it pleased God to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, to be the mediator between God and man. Jesus is the prophet, priest, and king, the head and savior of his church, the heir of all things, and judge of the world. From all eternity God gave him a people to be his seed and to be in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified by him.
The New Testament Lesson: 1 John 3:1-3
Pastor: See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. People: The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Pastor: Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. People: And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
Song: Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul – CCLI #3112430
Dear refuge of my weary soul, on Thee, when sorrows rise
On Thee, when waves of trouble roll, my fainting hope relies
To Thee I tell each rising grief, for Thou alone canst heal
Thy Word can bring a sweet relief, for every pain I feel
But oh, when gloomy doubts prevail I fear to call Thee mine
The springs of comfort seem to fail, and all my hopes decline
Yet gracious God, where shall I flee, Thou art my only trust
And still my soul would cleave to Thee, though prostrate in the dust
Hast Thou not bid me seek Thy face, and shall I seek in vain
And can the ear of sovereign grace, be deaf when I complain
No still the ear of sovereign grace attends the mourner’s prayer
Oh may I ever find access to breathe my sorrows there
Thy mercy seat is open still, here let my soul retreat
With humble hope attend Thy will, and wait beneath Thy feet
Thy mercy seat is open still, here let my soul retreat
With humble hope attend Thy will, and wait beneath Thy feet
Prayer for the Church: Daron Drown, Ruling Elder.
The Sermon: “Our High Priest Forever.” Hebrews 5:5-6. Dr. Michael Calvert, Teaching Elder.
Confession of Sin:
Assurance of Pardon: Isaiah 54:10
For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
*Communion:
Song: Hark the Voice of Love and Mercy – CCLI #2793362
Hark, the voice of love and mercy, sounds aloud from Calvary!
See it rends the rocks asunder; shakes the earth and veils the sky!
“It is finished, it is finished,” hear the dying Savior cry.
“It is finished, it is finished,” hear the dying Savior cry.
“It is finished,” o what pleasure do these charming words afford.
Heavenly blessings without measure flow to us from Christ the Lord.
“It is finished, it is finished,” saints the dying words record.
“It is finished, it is finished,” saints the dying words record.
Finished all the types and shadows of the ceremonial law.
Finished all that God had promised, death and hell no more shall awe.
“It is finished, it is finished,” saints from hence your comfort draw.
“It is finished, it is finished,” saints from hence your comfort draw.
Tune your harps anew, ye seraphs, join to sing the pleasing theme
Saints of earth and all in heaven join to praise Immanuel’s name.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Glory to the bleeding lamb!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Glory to the bleeding lamb!
The Benediction: From 1 Thessalonians 5:23
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!