Prelude

Prelude in A Minor Johann Sebastian Bach

I Wonder as I Wander arr. Robert Hebble

I wonder as I wander out under the sky, how Jesus, the Savior, did come for to die. For poor ornery people like you and like I: I wonder as I wander, out under the sky.

Call to Worship

•Doxology (Trinity Hymnal 731) Old Hundredth

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow; praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

•Prayer of Confession

O Lord, great God, whom we behold in awe and wonder, who has kept covenant and steadfast love with Your people from age to age: we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. We have known in our hearts what is right, and yet we did wrong anyway. We have been fascinated by evil, delighted with pleasing ourselves, satisfying our desires, pampering ourselves with pleasures. O Lord, great God, have mercy on us according to Your steadfast love. We know You are a God who delights in goodness. Grant that we too might delight in goodness. These prayers we present to You, O Father, in the name of Jesus, the Lamb who was slain and yet lives forever more. Amen.

•The Gospel’s Assurance of Pardon: Romans 8:1–2

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

•Invocation

•Hymn 77: Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven Andrews

•Responsive Reading: Psalm 59 (page 477)

•Gloria Patri (Trinity Hymnal 734) Meineke

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, Amen.

•Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into ­­heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession

Announcements

Living Church: Concert of Thanksgiving James Hala

•Hymn 648: My Jesus, I Love Thee Caritas

(In the 11am service, Praisemakers, ages 4–5, may go to B2 & B3; KLICK, grades 1–2, may go to B1)

•Offering Prayer

Offertory: Wondrous Love arr. Dale Wood

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul, what wondrous love is this, O my soul! What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadul curse for my soul, for my soul, to bear the dreadful curse for my soul!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:14–19 (page 977)

Sermon: What God Wants for You Dr. Ligon Duncan

•Hymn 81: O Love of God, How Strong and True Jerusalem

•Benediction

Postlude: Fugue in A Minor Johann Sebastian Bach

Serving this morning:
Dr. Liam Goligher & Tim Merkel, 9am platform
Dr. Liam Goligher & Rev. Greg Hobaugh, 11am platform
Colin Howland, organ

Speaker Biography

Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III is the Chancellor & CEO of Reformed Theological Seminary and the John E. Richards Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology. He studied at Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina (BA); Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri (M.Div., MA, cum laude); and the University of Edinburgh, Scotland (Ph.D.). He served as Senior Minister of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Mississippi for 17 years. He is co-founder of Together for the Gospel, Senior Fellow of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (having served as both Chairman of the Board and President) and was President of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals 2004 to 2012. Dr. Duncan has edited, written, and contributed to numerous books. Dr. Duncan and his wife Anne have two children in college, and they reside in Jackson, Mississippi.