Preparing For The Lord's Day

preparing

Preparing for the Lord's Day

Spiritual Training: The Preached Word

His nickname was The Trumpeter of God. John Knox, the leader of the 16th century Reformation movement in Scotland and the founder of the Presbyterian Church, was truly a man who sounded forth the Word of God. In his mission to reform the Scottish Church he engaged with monarchs and statesmen, he fought the stronghold of Roman Catholicism and he gave voice to social and educational principles that reflected the values of God’s Word. Yet above all else John Knox was a preacher of the gospel, and it was his gospel preaching that gave him such great power and influence over the direction of Scottish society. Even as one contemporary said of Knox, “I assure you, the voice of one man is able in one hour to put more life in us than five hundred trumpets continually blustering in our ears.” Knox was a man of passion and zeal for the gospel, and with such zeal he trumpeted the message of God’s salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. Just as in Knox’s day, so too do we need to hear the Word of God faithfully preached so that faith may arise in our hearts. In our passage for this Sunday we see the Lord’s command, to his prophet Jeremiah, to “blow the trumpet.” That is, to proclaim the message of salvation from coming judgment through God’s forgiving grace in Christ.

To come prepared for the sermon take time this week to read and to meditate upon Jeremiah 4:5-6, Psalm 2:6; 48:1-8, Isaiah 52:8-10, Romans 10:14-17, Hebrews 12:22-23, 2 Peter 2:4-10, and Westminster Shorter Catechism #’s 89-90.

As we gather to bring glory to God alone on this Reformation Sunday, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Processional Hymn ““Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”, the Acclamation of Praise “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less”, and the Hymn of Response “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”  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!

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. 

A Liturgical Note: 

As you will notice this Sunday the paraments have changed from green to red, indicating our celebration of Reformation Sunday. The Reformation was sparked when Martin Luther, a German Monk, nail his Ninety-Five Theses to the church door in Wittenburg on October 31, 1517. This document outlined his objections to the Roman Catholic practice of selling indulgences. However, this one act of protest led to a broad movement to reform the Church according to God’s Word alone. As Presbyterians we trace our theological heritage to the great themes of the Reformation: Salvation by Grace Alone; Through Faith Alone; By Christ Alone; According to the Word of God Alone; All to the Glory of God Alone.

Note in the worship service the several elements reflecting this celebration. Along with the red paraments are red-themed flower arrangements which emphasize the work of the Holy Spirit. Also, you will notice the Affirmation of Faith is taken from the Scots Confession written by Scottish Reformer John Knox, the Prayer of Illumination also written by Knox, the Hymn of Response, and A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, written by Martin Luther.  A bulletin insert will also be included to explain more about the celebration of Reformation Sunday.

Text: Jeremiah 4:5-6

Title: The Trumpet Blast

Outline:

  1. When You Hear the Trumpet Blast You Must Listen To The Message
  2. When You Hear the Trumpet Blast You Must Heed The Warning
  3. When You Hear the Trumpet Blast You Must Flee To Safety

 Sunday Bulletin