Preparing for the Lord's Day
Many of you might be familiar with Evangelism Explosion (E.E.). It is an evangelism program that was developed by Presbyterian Minister D. James Kennedy. This program utilized two diagnostic questions that help Christians begin an evangelistic conversation with a nonbeliever.
“Have you come to the place in your life where you know that if you died, you would go to heaven?”
“If you were to stand before God and he were to ask you, ‘Why should I let you into my heaven?’, what would you say?”
These may be the two most important questions to have answered. Why should God allow you to enter into his heaven? What right do you have to claim his eternal peace and rest? We are all on an unstoppable track toward eternity. There is no escaping the reality that one day you will meet your maker. And when you do, what will be your ground for claiming his reward?
This is the question that Galatians 2:15-16 answers. And this is why Paul is so insistent that a different gospel is no gospel at all. For, if we get this question wrong, we will not only miss the reward of eternity we will enter into eternal punishment. However, by God’s grace, we have great assurance through Jesus that we will surely be welcomed into his heaven. To come prepared for the sermon take time this week to read and to meditate upon Galatians 2:15-16, Genesis 18:25, Psalm 130:3;143:2, Proverbs 17:15, Romans 3:9-26; 8:33-34, 2 Corinthians 5:19-21, James 2:10, and WCF 11.
As we gather to worship our loving Father this Lord’s day, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Hymn of Praise “Rejoice the Lord Is King”, the Acclamation of Praise “And Can It Be That I Should Gain” and the Hymn of Response “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us.” Our special music will include, Prelude (8:00) "Only a Holy God," (11:00) "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" by the Sanctuary Choir. The Offertory Anthem (8:00) "If My People Will Pray" by the Sanctuary Choir, (11:00) "We Believe" by New Song.
Let us come to worship this Sunday prepared to hear God’s Word, to receive it in faith, to love and treasure it in our hearts, and to practice it in our lives that we may continue to glorify and enjoy Him!
Text: Galatians 2:15-16
Title: The Gospel of Justification
Outline:
- Justification
- Works of the Law
- Faith in Jesus Christ