Preparing For The Lord's Day

preparing

Preparing for the Lord's Day

It is every Pastor’s worst nightmare. You come to preach your sermon and there is nobody in the sanctuary! Throughout my years as a pastor I have had such fearful dreams yet this week it came to pass. But in a way that I could never have foreseen. Last Saturday the Pastors and staff met together to decide if we would hold a public worship service and felt, according to the CDC guidelines, that we could meet together in a responsible and safe manner. This week that has changed. The rapid spread of the Coronavirus has brought us to a time when it is no longer prudent nor safe to meet together. And so, we quickly transferred our efforts from a public worship service to preparing a digital worship service for our congregation.

In this worship service we have tried to create an experience that is much like what you would expect on any normal Sunday at Rivermont. There will be the regular liturgical elements such as the call to worship and the prayer of adoration and confession. We will continue our sermon series in the Psalms with Psalm 16. There will be familiar hymns to sing and even a benediction to end the service. While we must be separated physically at this time, it is of utmost importance for us to remain connected spiritually. We are asking each family and individual in the church to set aside Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. to begin watching the service which will run for approximately one hour. 

To be prepared for the sermon take time this week to read and to meditate upon Psalm 16, Joshua 18:9-10, Matthew 24:35, Acts 2:22-36 and 1 Peter 1:4-6. 

As we gather in our homes to worship the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit this Lord’s day, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Hymn of Praise “O Worship the King, the Acclamation of Praise “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” and the Hymn of Response “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” 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!

Sermon Information 

Text: Psalm 16

Title: Sheltering in Place

Outline: 

  1. To Find Shelter in the Lord we must Commit to Him Alone (verses 1-4)
    1. Commit to the Lord
    2. Commit to His People
    3. Commit to Exclusivity
  2. To Find Shelter in the Lord we must be Content in Him Alone (verses 5-6)
    1. Content with Your Lot
    2. Content with Your Inheritance
    3. Content in Your Lord
  3. To Find Shelter in the Lord we must be Confident in Him Alone (verses 7-10)
    1. Confident in His Word
    2. Confident in His Presence
    3. Confident in His Salvation