Christ Is Absolutely Unique Among All Who Ever Lived. He Is Unique in His Supernatural

March 9, 2014 First Sunday of Lent

Welcome to the worship service of Faith Presbyterian Church. We are delighted that your spiritual journey has brought you to our doorstep. We invite you to join us as we worship our Redeemer God and seek his transforming grace. We invite you to ponder this quoteto help orient you to our study in the Gospel of Mark.

Christ is absolutely unique among all who ever lived. He is unique in his supernatural nature, in his superlative character, and in his life and teaching. No other world teacher has claimed to be God. Even when the followers of some prophet deified their teacher, there is no proof given for that claim that can be compared to the fulfillment of prophecy, the sinless and miraculous life, and the resurrection. No other religious leader (except some who copied Christ) offered salvation by faith, apart from works, based on acting to take away the guilt for human sin. No religious or philosophical leader has displayed the love for people that Jesus did in dying for the sins of the world (John 15:13;Rom. 5:6–8). Jesus is absolutely unique among all human beings who ever lived.

Norman Geisler

Song of Ascent

O Worship The King

O worship the King all glorious above

O gratefully sing His wonderful love

Our Shield and Defender the Ancient of Days

Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise

O tell of His might O sing of His grace

Whose robe is the light and canopy space

His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form

And dark is His path on the wings of the storm

You alone are the matchless King

To You alone be all majesty

Your glories and wonders

What tongue can recite

You breathe in the air

You shine in the light

O measureless might ineffable love

While angels delight to worship above

Thy mercies how tender how firm to the end

Our Maker Defender Redeemer and Friend

Repeat Chorus

Chris Tomlin | Johann Michael Haydn | Robert Grant

Our Lord Calls His Church to Worship

Isaiah 40:31

… those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.

They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not faint.

Prayer of Approach

Worship in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs

Reading: Ezekiel 36:25-28

Leader:

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean;

Church:

I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.

Leader:

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you;

Church:

I will remove from you your heart of stone

and give you a heart of flesh.

Leader:

And I will put my Spirit in you

and move you to follow my decrees

and be careful to keep my laws.

Together:

You will live in the land I gave your forefathers;

you will be my people, and I will be your God.

Worship Leader: “The Word of the Lord!”

Church: “Thanks be to God!”

The Wonderful Cross

When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of Glory died

My richest gain I count but loss

And pour contempt on all my pride

Forbid it Lord that I should boast

Save in the death of Christ my God

all the vain things that charm me most

I sacrifice them to His blood

O the wonderful cross

Bids me come and die and find

That I may truly live

O the wonderful cross

All who gather here by grace

Draw near and bless Your name

See from His head His hands His feet

Sorrow and love flow mingled down

Did e'er such love and sorrow meet

Or thorns compose so rich a crown

Were the whole realm of nature mine

That were an offering far too small

Love so amazing so divine

Demands my soul my life my all

Repeat Chorus

Chris Tomlin | Isaac Watts | J. D. Walt | Jesse Reeves | Lowell Mason

What The Lord Has Done In Me

Let the weak say I am strong

Let the poor say I am rich

Let the blind say I can see

It's what the Lord has done in me

Hosanna hosanna

To the Lamb that was slain

Hosanna hosanna

Jesus died and rose again

Into the river I will wade

There my sins are washed away

From the heaven's mercy stream

Repeat Chorus

I will rise from waters deep

Into the saving arms of God

I will sing salvation songs

Jesus Christ has set me free

Repeat Chorus

CCLI License # 1999365

Of the Saviour’s love for me

Prayers of Praise and Thanksgiving

Worship in Tithes and Offerings

Offering of Music: Clayton Christenson

Worship Moment Lead by the Next Generation

At this time we invite to the front any children or teens who would like to share a “God Story,” Bible verse, catechism question, song, or some other expression of worship for Christ. Parents can prepare their children ahead of time for this worship, and make sure their contribution is scriptural and appropriate.

The New City Catechism: Use it online at

Q 9 What does God require in the first, second, and third commandments?

A First, that we know and trust God as the only true and living God.

Second, that we avoid all idolatry and do not worship God improperly.

Third, that we treat God’s name with fear and reverence, honoring also his Word and works.

Deuteronomy 6:13–14

Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you.

FaithChurch Year Verse for 2014

Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters,in view of God’s mercy,

to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,holy and pleasing to God—

this is your true and proper worship.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world,

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Then you will be able to test and approve

what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

DISMISSAL OF CHILDREN KINDERGARTEN-

THROUGH FIFTH GRADE TO THEIR CLASSES

GREET ONE ANOTHER WITH THE LOVE OF CHRIST

Song of Preparation

Blessed Be Your Name

Blessed be Your name

In the land that is plentiful

Where Your streams of abundance flow

Blessed be Your name

When I'm found in the desert place

Though I walk through the wilderness

Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out

I'll turn back to praise

When the darkness closes in

Lord still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name

When the sun's shining down on me

When the world's all as it should be

Blessed be Your name

On the road marked with suffering

Though there's pain in the offering

Blessed be Your name

Repeat Chorus

You give and take away

My heart will choose to say

Lord blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your glorious name

Beth Redman | Matt Redman

Pastoral Prayer

The Gospel Proclaimed

Sermon Series: Mark: The Essential Gospel

Sermon Title: Fear/Faith Factors

Sermon Text: Mark 6:1-30

Don’t let familiarity or the fear of man keep you from the becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ.

Faith Inhibiter #1: Familiarity (1-6)
Growing up Christian can be dangerous
Don’t forget how unique in the history of the universe Jesus is.
Your lack of faith could inhibit what Jesus would be pleased to do in a region.

Faith Builder: Fear of the Lord (7-13)
Fruit of real Faith: Obeying Christ’s Mandate to Make Disciples
Trusting his provision
Trusting his power
Trusting him for the produce

Three Components of the Fear of the Lord

Fear of the Lord’s Holiness
Fear from the fresh awareness of your Sinfulness in the presence of his Holiness
Overwhelming Awe of the Lord’s Grace demonstrated on the cross.

Faith Inhibiter #2: Fear of Man (14-30)
Why Herod did what he did:

Locked in the prison of the freedom of desire
Locked in the prison of the fear of what the important people might think of him

What Herod should have done (what every true follower of Jesus has to be willing to do)

Refuse to succumb to peer pressure of wife or anybody else
Lose public power and status
Publically confess his sins
Renounce his kingdom, not just half but all of it.
Place his confidence in the Baptist’s Lord
Make disciples instead of killing them.

Hymn of Response

Come Thou Fount

Come, thou fount of every blessing

Tune my heart to sing thy grace

Streams of mercy, never ceasing

Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet

Sung by flaming tongues above

Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it

Mount of God’s unchanging love

Up till now Thy love has blessed me

Thou hast brought me to this place

And I know Thy hand will bring me

Safely home by Thy good grace

Jesus sought me when a stranger

Wand’ring from the fold of God

He, to rescue me from danger

Bought me with His precious blood

O to grace how great a debtor

Daily I’m constrained to be

Let Thy goodness, like a fetter

Bind my wand’ring heart to Thee

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it

Prone to leave the God I love

Here’s my heart, O take and seal it

Seal it for Thy courts above

Robert Robinson – 1758

Traditional American Melody – 1813

Public Domain / CCLI #1999365

The Word Made Visible: The Mystery of the Lord’s Table

The Lord’s Supper, also called Communion, or the Eucharist, is one of the two sacraments of Christ’s church, the other being Baptism. While Baptism is the sacrament that signifies the new birth initiation into the New Covenant, the Lord’s Supper, patterned after the Feast of Passover, signifies the ongoing New Covenant grace promised to live the Christian life. We invite all baptized members of any Christ-Centered church to join us at this sacred table.

If you are not a Christian, we encourage you to spend this time in meditation. Consider the prayer written in the back of the program to help you come to terms with the Gospel of Christ and be reconciled to God through repentance and faith in Him. Take advantage of our many growth opportunities, be baptized, and join us for this feast soon.

In 1 Corinthians 11, the Apostle Paul urges the church to partake in a worthy manner. To partake worthily requires us to examine ourselves so that we will not participate “without discerning the body.” This phrase is rich in meaning and includes at least four areas of examination. May the following questions guide you in your preparation:

1) Do you really believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Savior of sinners and do you receive and rest upon Him alone for your salvation from sin, death and Hell, to righteousness, life and heaven?

2) Do you desire to let go of anything in your life that would profane this communion with Christ? How vile it would be to want to hold on to something Jesus had to suffer and die to release you from.

3) Are you reconciled with all members of the Church? “Discerning the body” in its context also requires us to examine our relationships with one another as members of the body of Christ. How can we in good conscience participate in a Supper that showcases the very means of God’s forgiveness if we haven’t forgiven our brother or sister?

4) And finally, do you view this holy Supper as nourishment from your Master to fulfill the purposes He has revealed in his Word for you to accomplish as a member of His body: advancing His kingdom, by His power, for His glory in the world?

Let us lift our hearts:

Pastor: The LORDbe with you.

Church:And with your spirit.

Pastor:Lift up your hearts.

Church:We lift them up to the LORD.

Pastor:Let us give thanks to the LORDour God.

Church:It is right and just to do.

Words of Institution: 1 Corinthians 11:23-29

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Prayer of Confession and Covenant Renewal

Our Father in Heaven,

Forgive us who have grown up with Jesus for becoming so familiar with him we have lost the sense of overwhelming awe his Person deserves.

Forgive us for being so ruled by our own desires that we have shelved the Master’s mandate to make disciples.

Forgive us for caring more about what people think of us than standing publically for Christ and his kingdom.

Fill us with your Holy Spirit,that we might winsomely and unapologetically fulfill our Master’s mandate to the praise of his matchless Name.

Assurance of Pardon

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God?

Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

And that is what some of you were.

But you were washed,

you were sanctified,

you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ

and by the Spirit of our God.

(The Apostles' Creed -- Fourth Century AD)

I believe in God the Father, Almighty,

Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ,

His only begotten Son, our Lord;

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary;

suffered under Pontius Pilate;

was crucified, dead, and buried;

He descended into hell;1

the third day He rose again from the dead;

He ascended into heaven,

and sits at the right hand of God

the Father Almighty;

from there He will come to judge

the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,2

the communion of saints;

the forgiveness of sins;

the resurrection of the body;

and the life everlasting.

1That is, He truly suffered the punishment deserved by sinners.

2"Catholic" means "universal"; God's people are all around the world.

Prayer of Consecration and Lord’s Prayer

(Share the bread, hold the cup, tinted glasses are grape juice)

“The Gifts of God for the people of God”

“Let us feed on Him in our hearts by faith with thanksgiving”

“O, taste and see that the Lord is good!”

Personal Prayers of Adoration

Songs of Adoration

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light my strength my song

This Cornerstone this solid Ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love what depths of peace

When fears are stilled when strivings cease

My Comforter my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless babe

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

Till on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

Keith Getty | Stuart Townend