Preparing For The Lord's Day

preparing

Preparing for the Lord's Day

It is common to express one’s experience of guilt as being weighed down or burdened by the emotion. One might think that it is merely an expression, but research suggests that people who have feelings of guilt literally feel heavier. There is a true physical feeling of carrying a weight when one’s conscience is sounding the alarm. To alleviate this guilt people will pursue all sorts of self-destructive behaviors to pay for their wrong doings. Other people will try to make things right through good deeds. And still others will avoid any reminder of their guilt including the person they have wronged. Unresolved guilt can destroy a life. But when guilt is forgiven it brings great freedom.

The story is told of a young boy who was playing on his family farm and threw a rock into the flock of geese the family raised. The stone hit one of the geese square in the head and killed it instantly. The young boy quickly buried the body believing that no one would notice. Yet that night after dinner his sister whispered to him, “I know what you did. Now do my dish duty or I will tell.” This same scene played out several times through-out the next few days. Every time the boy’s sister had a chore the young boy was driven by his guilt to comply with her demands. However, one morning everything changed. When his sister demanded he do the morning dishes he denied her request. She replied, “I will tell on you.” The boy said, “That is just fine, because last night I told mom what I did. I am free!”

In our Psalm for this week we see the blessing of being free from guilt. The Psalmist in verse one explains, “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” To be forgiven by the Lord of our transgression is a great blessing and freedom. Through his forgiveness a weight is lifted from us and we can again live in the blessing that the Lord desires for his people through Jesus Christ. To come prepared for the sermon take time this week to read and to meditate upon Psalm 32, Genesis 3:6-13, Leviticus 19:22, Isaiah 40:2; 55:6-7, Romans 4:23-25, 1 John 1:7-9, and Westminster Confession of Faith 11.1.  

This week we will celebrate that sacrament of the Lord’s Supper during our worship service. As we receive the elements of bread and wine we look in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ. For as we physically receive the signs of the Lord’s body and blood, spiritually we feed upon him and all his benefits. Our hymns for this week include “Come, Ye Sinners,” “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say,” and “Jesus Paid it All

If you’re going to be out of town this Sunday, let me encourage you to listen to the sermon online, through the Rivermont App, (available at the App Store or Google Play), or you can download the REPC podcast, which will be delivered to your mobile device. 

Sermon Text: Psalm 32

Sermon Title: The Blessing of Forgiveness

Sermon Outline:

  1. The Blessing of Forgiveness Promised (vv.1-2)
  2. The Blessing of Forgiveness Explained (vv.  3-5)
  3. The Blessing of Forgiveness Applied (vv. 6-11)
    1. Pray
    2. Submit
    3. Trust
    4. Rejoice

 Sunday's bulletin