THE REVELATION OF HEAVENLY GLORY (Revelation 7: 9 - 17)

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Order of Worship:

For Pre-Service Reading: Psalm 16, Page 125 (Front Of Supplement)

Choir Anthem - “All Hail The Power Of Jesus' Name”

(The Choir will sing V 1-3 with the congregation invited to join the choir on V 4
O, that with yonder sacred yonder throng, we at His feet may fall.
We'll join the everlasting song, and crown Him Lord of all.
We'll join the everlasting song, and crown Him Lord of all.
(Choir: Final Refrain)

Opening Hymn 613 - “Jerusalem The Golden”

The Liturgy: Hymnal, Pages 5 – 9 (AsWritten)

The Scripture Reading (Revelation 5: 9 – 14) And Creed

I believe that God created us to live with him forever. When sin severed our loving relationship with God and destroyed our eternal hope, God in mercy found and effected a plan to restore both. In love He promised and sent His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to become one of us, to live and then give His life as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Through His substitionary death on the cross and His Easter resurrection, He has conquered sin, death and Satan. Through faith in that Gospel message, His forgiveness, salvation and victory become ours. As His believing children, we now live in the sure & joyful hope of the resurrection of the body and life everlasting in heaven. We believe that in His Presence there is fullness of joy and at His right hand there are pleasures forevermore. We eagerly await His return to take us to Himself where we will join the hosts of heaven in praising and glorifying the lamb forevermore. Amen.

Hymn 656 - “Behold, A Host Arrayed In White”

The Sermon ......................... Revelation 7: 9 - 17

After this I saw a great multitude that no one could count from every nation,tribe and people standing before the throne and in the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches. And they cried out loudly: “Salvation belongs to our God, Who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.” All the angels and those around the throne fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen!” Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes - who are they and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know. These are they who have come out of great tribulation and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.Therefore, they are before the God's throne, serving Him day and night in His temple; And He Who sits on the throne will spread His tent over them. Never again will they hunger or thirst; The sun or scorching heat will not beat upon them. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their Shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

THE REVELATION OF HEAVENLY GLORY

1. The Reality Of Heaven - God's Sure Promise
2. The Inhabitants Of Heaven - God, Angels & Redeemed
3. The Activities Of Heaven - Praising God & The Lamb

Hymn: “Behold The Lamb Of God”
Based On Revelation 5: 9-14; 7: 9-17
(Lyrics: Judith Snell ; Melody: St. Thomas (Hymn 27)

Behold the Lamb of God! Who carried all our sin;
He washed us pure in holy blood, And made us pure within.

Behold the Lamb of God! Worthy alone is He
To glory, honor, pow'r and praise From all on land and sea.

Behold the Lamb of God! Surrounded at the throne;
By multitudes of saints forgiv'n Washed in His blood alone.

Behold the Lamb! His throne! Where all our fears are stilled;
Love, joy and light for darkness there; All hope forever filled.

Behold the Lamb Who lives! Who passed through death's dark door;
Because He lives, I too shall live With joy forevermore.

The Offering, Prayers And Benediction

The Closing Hymn 660 (V 1 & 4) - “I'm But A Stranger Here”
Silent Prayer And Announcements

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

CHRIST “UNSEALS” HUMAN HISTORY: THE LAMB OVERCOMES ALL SIN-FORCES (Revelation 6:1 – 7:10)

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Order of Worship:

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
September 20, 2009 9:00 a.m.

For Pre-Service Reading: Psalm 25, Page 128 (Front Of Hymnal)

Opening Prayer By Pastor

Opening Hymn 15 - “From All That Dwell Below The Skies”

The Invocation and Confession Of Sins

C: Lord of life, I confess that I am by nature dead in sin. For a sometimes lack of love for You and for one another, for failure to always trust You and to follow Your Word, for selfishness and pride, for sins of habit and sins of choice, for the evil I have done and good I have failed to do – For all this, and so much more, I deserve to be cast away from Your presence forever. Yet, O Lord, I am truly sorry for my sins and repent; Have mercy on me and forgive me for the sake of Jesus, my Savior, Who was delivered for my offenses and raised again for my justification. In my weakness, strengthen me to love and live for You as Your dear child. In Jesus' Name we pray.

The Absolution And The Collect (Prayer)

Sing The “Te Deum” (Hymnal, Pages 35 - 37)

The Scripture Reading – Revelation 5: 1 – 14

The “scroll'”which no one could open represents the future, all unknown to man. Understandably, this saddens John. Yet, those tears are removed by the vision of the Lamb, Judah's Lion Who alone is open the scroll of our destiny. And what John sees is a Savior and King Who loves us and as our earthly and eternal future in His saving and almighty hands. For John and all in heaven, this evokes boundless praise and worship of the Lamb.

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty; From thence He shall come again to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.

Hymn 437 - “Who Trusts In God, A Strong Abode”

The Sermon .................. Revelation 6:1 – 7:10 (Excerpts)

I watched as the Lamb opened the seven seals. The first was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown and he rode out as a Conqueror.... The second was a fiery red horse with its rider having a large sword, power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other..... The third seal was a black horse with its rider have a scale in his hand. And he was buying and selling.... And the fourth was a pale horse with a rider named “Death”, and Hades following behind him, with power to kill some..... The fifth seal was the souls of those slain because of the Word of God and their testimony. And they wore white robes and cried out, “How long, Lord, before you return?”.... As the sixth seal was opened, a great earthquake struck with the sun turning black, the moon red and stars falling from the sky. The earth itself rolled up like a scroll and many cried out for the mountains to fall on them, “For the great day of wrath has come and who can stand?”.... After this I saw four angels holding back from harm those who had the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.... And this great multitude that noone could count stood before the Lamb in white robes and proclaimed in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God Who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.”

CHRIST “UNSEALS” HUMAN HISTORY:
THE LAMB OVERCOMES ALL SIN-FORCES

Hymn 430 (V1-2,4,6-8) - “What Is The World To Me”

The Offering, Lord's Prayer, Benediction & Children's Message

The Closing Hymn 54 - “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah”

Silent Prayer And Announcements

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

SEE JESUS IN ALL HIS GLORY (Revelation 1: 9-19)

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Order of Worship:

For Pre-Service Reading: Psalm 45, Page 32 (Front Of Supplement)

Opening Hymn 756 (Supplement) - “Jesus, Lover of My Soul”

The Service Of The Word (Supplement: Pages 12 - 15)

The Scripture Reading - Revelation 1: 1 - 8
These opening verses of Revelation provide some wonderful insights into the the purpose and interpretation of this Book. Clearly Jesus is the author of these inspired visions, given to His church through John, to provide comfort & hope regarding “the things that must soon take place” in our lives and in the world. While the forces of evil are many & mighty, it is Jesus in Whose living, loving, almighty and eternal hands the destiny of all things in heaven and earth rest. To Him be glory forever and ever!

Hymn 765 (Supplement) - “Christ High-Ascended”

The Sermon ......................... Revelation 1: 9-19

I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and perseverance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit and heard behind me a voice like a trumpet, which said:“Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches.” And I saw seven golden lampstands, and Someone 'like a Son of Man' dressed in a robe and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like blazing fire.His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice like the sound of rushing waters. In His right hand were seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw Him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then He placed His right hand on me and said: “Fear not. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead and behold, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Write, therefore what you have seen, what is now and what will happen later.”

SEE JESUS IN ALL HIS GLORY

The “Create In Me....” (Page 16 In Supplement)

Hymn 757 (Supplement) - “Christ Triumphant, Ever Reigning”

The Installation Of The Sunday School Staff

The Offering, Prayers and Benediction

The Closing Hymn 738 (Supplement)“Alleluia! Sing To Jesus”

Silent Prayer And Announcements

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

SARDIS: MORE DEAD THAN ALIVE (Revelation 3: 1 - 6) & LAODICEA: NEITHER HOT NOR COLD (Revelation 3: 14 - 22)

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Order of Worship:

For Pre-Service Reading: Psalm 116, Page 148 (Front Of Hymnal)

Opening Hymn 11 - “Safely Through Another Week”

The Invocation and Pastoral Prayer

The Nicene Creed (Hymnal, Page 22)

The Sermon (I) ......................... Revelation 3: 1 - 6

To the angel of the church in Sardis, write: “These are the words of Him Who holds the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your works; You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. Remember what you have received and heard; Hold it fast, and repent. For I will come at an unknown time like a thief. Yet I have a few in Sardis who have not soiled theirgarments. They will walk with Me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will be dressed in white. I will never blot out His name from the Book of Life, but will confess his name before My Father and His angels. He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

SARDIS: MORE DEAD THAN ALIVE

Hymn 361 - “O Jesus, King Most Wonderful”

Sermon (II) ........................ Revelation 3: 14 - 22

To the angel of the church in Laodicea: “These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, Ruler of God's creation: I know your works, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! But because you are lukewarm -neither hot nor cold – I will spit you out of My mouth. You say, 'Iam rich and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire,so you can become rich;And white clothes to wear to cover your shameful nakedness, and salve for your eyes so you can see.Those I love I rebuke and discipline. So be zealous and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him and he with Me. Whoever overcomes will sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

LAODICEA: NEITHER HOT NOR COLD

Hymn 73 (V4-5) 2nd Tune-“Fling Wide The Portals Of Your Heart”

Our Faith-Gifts For The Lord's Work

Prayer Before Receiving The Sacrament
(Hymnal, Page 118)

The Absolution

Distribution Of the Sacrament (Hymn 315)

(Since Holy Scripture presents the reception of Holy Communion as a most intimate expression of spiritual and confessional unity, we ask that only those who have publicly expressed such unity by membership at Berea or another CLC congregation come forward. Any having questions or seeking a church home are invited to speak with the pastor.)

The Closing Liturgy (Hymnal, Pages 29 - 31)

The Closing Hymn 309 - “O Jesus, Blessed Lord, To Thee”

Silent Prayer And Announcements
Go in peace. Serve the Lord with gladness.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.