Preparing for the Lord's Day
Psalm 148 is the third hymn in the final five Psalms that make up the final doxology of the Psalter. Each of these five final Psalms call for worship of the Lord. Psalm 150 concludes, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” Psalm 148 calls upon not only those things that have breath, but upon all things in all of the created order to praise God. The Psalm calls upon the heavens and earth to join together in a unified chorus to praise the Lord God as the Creator, the Sustainer, and the Redeemer. It is a call to every Christian to renewed zeal in worship and also renewed desire toward mission. For the Lord deserves worship from all peoples in all places. As Pastor John Piper once explained, “Missions exist because worship doesn’t.” To properly respond to the call for universal worship in Psalm 148, every Christian must seek to worship God and to see His worship sound forth from everything in all of creation. To be prepared for the sermon take time this week to read and to meditate upon Psalm 148, Genesis 8:22-9:17, John 1:1-4, Romans 8:19-25, Colossians 1:15-20, Jude 6-13, and Westminster Confession of Faith 21.1-2.
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 “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”, the Acclamation of Praise “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” and the Hymn of Response “All Creatures of Our God and King.” 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 148
Title: Universal Worship
Outline:
- The Heavens Must Worship the Lord because He is the Creator (vv. 1-6)
- The Earth Must Worship the Lord because He is the Sustainer (vv. 7-12)
- The Church Must Worship the Lord because He is the Redeemer (vv. 13-14)
PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES (for your ongoing prayers and expressions of love)
CONGRATULATIONS TO Whitney and Frank Cairns in the birth of their daughter, Genevieve Grey, on Saturday April 25. Proud sisters are Charlotte and Felicity.
GIVING THANKS TO GOD that Sophia Boyers is recuperating at home after her extended care at UVA Medical Center and rehabilitation in Pennsylvania.
EXPRESSIONS OF LOVE AND SYMPATHY TO Debby Hallgren and family in the loss of her husband, Marty, who died on Wednesday, April 29 in Lynchburg. We give thanks to God for his reaffirmation of faith in Jesus Christ and for his reception as a covenant member of Rivermont Evangelical Presbyterian Church on April 21, 2020. A memorial service for Marty is being planned for Saturday, May 1, 2021.
PRAYING GOD'S HEALING MERCIES AND CHRIST'S PEACE FOR Greg Alty, Claire Dodd, Harold Hankins, Linda Mitchell, Harry Mullen, Michael Quintero, Andrew Shaddock, Charlotte Waters, and Ryan Webb.