Preparing For The Lord's Day

preparing

Preparing for the Lord's Day

There are many signs that your home has been built on a poor foundation. Some of these signs include cracks in the brickwork, doors, and windows that stick when you open them, sagging or uneven floors, or counters and cabinets that are separating from the walls. You might try to fix all of these issues but if you have a poor foundation the problems will not go away. The foundation is what makes the home secure and sound. To have a stable and level foundation means that everything else in the home can come inline. However, if your foundation is poor the home will continually have issues. In our Psalm for this Sunday, the central call is to know that the Lord is God. There are many rivals to the title “God” in our lives and in the world. There are, of course, false religions but there are also false hopes in self, in money, and in government. Who or what you practically follow as God will affect the rest of your life. It is the foundation for how you understand the world and evaluate right and wrong. If you do not know the Lord as God then your life’s foundation will be poor. Yet the one who knows that the Lord is God will have a solid foundation that will bring order and peace to his life. To come prepared for the sermon, take time this week to read and to meditate upon Psalm 100, Deuteronomy 4:35, Joshua 24:15, Psalm 86:9-10, Isaiah 45:5-6, John 17:3, Philippians 2:5-11, Hebrews 4:16; 13:15, and this article on Rejoicing unto the Lord.

As we gather 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 “All People That on Earth Do Dwell,” the Acclamation of Praise, “And Can It Be That I Should Gain,” and the Hymn of Response “All Praise to God, Who Reigns Above.” Our Sanctuary Choir will be singing at the 11:00 service, "Be Still." 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 100

 

Title: No Other God

 

Outline:

To Know that the Lord is God every Christian must: 

  1. Come into His presence 
  2. Serve Him with gladness
  3. Bless His name

Exegetical Note:

In Hebrew literature often the author will employ a literary device called a chiasm. A chiasm is a series of words or ideas that are developed to a central point and then repeated in reverse order. For example (A=car, B=hood, X=engine, B`=hood, A`=car). The idea that is at the center of the chiasm is the idea that is being highlighted. In Psalm 100 there are seven commands arranged in a chiastic structure with the command to know the Lord as the central imperative. As we turn our attention to this Psalm we must understand that the most important command is to know the Lord is God.

A. Make a joyful noise

      B. Serve the Lord

            C. Come into His presence

               X. Know that the Lord, He is God

            C`. Enter His Gates

      B`. Give thanks to the Lord

A`. Bless His name

 

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