Prelude: Pastorale Richard Purvis

Call to Worship

Invocation

Hymn 21: Sing Praise to the Lord Laudate Dominum

Sing praise to the Lord! Praise him in the height;
rejoice in his word, you angels of light.
You heavens, adore him by whom you were made,
and worship before him, in brightness arrayed.

Sing praise to the Lord! Praise him on the earth
in tuneful accord, you saints of new birth.
Praise him who has brought you his grace from above;
praise him who has taught you to sing of his love.

Sing praise to the Lord! All things that give sound,
each jubilant chord, re-echo around.
Loud organs, his glory tell forth in deep tone,
and trumpets, the story of what he has done.

Sing praise to the Lord! Thanksgiving and song
to him be out-poured all ages along!
For love in creation, for heaven restored,
for grace of salvation, sing praise to the Lord!

Prayer of Confession

Almighty God, to know you is the fulfilment of our deepest longings and satisfaction of our most ardent desires. Yet foolishly we have sought our pleasures elsewhere. We have put the seeking of idols, which are bound to leave us feeling empty, above seeking you. We have failed to love you with all our heart, soul and mind. We have failed to love our neighbors as ourselves. Forgive us for our sins and grant that from now on we might serve you in newness of life. We pray these things in the name of your most precious son, Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Gospel’s Assurance of Pardon: Micah 7:18

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.

Doxology Tallis’ Canon

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host: praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Prayer of Illumination

Scripture Reading: Matthew 10:16–42

16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant[a] above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.

26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41 The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

Hymn 335: Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me Redhead

Gracious Spirit, dwell with me: I myself would gracious be;
and with words that help and heal would thy life in mine reveal;
and with actions bold and meek would for Christ my Savior speak.

Truthful Spirit, dwell with me: I myself would truthful be;
and with wisdom kind and clear let Thy life in mine appear;
and with actions brotherly speak my Lord’s sincerity.

Mighty Spirit, dwell with me: I myself would mighty be;
mighty so as to prevail, where unaided man must fail;
ever by a mighty hope, pressing on and bearing up.

Holy Spirit, dwell with me: I myself would holy be;
separate from sin, I would choose and cherish all things good,
and whatever I can be give to him who gave me thee!

Confession of Faith: Westminster Shorter Catechism, question 18

Question: Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?
Answer: The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called Original Sin; together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it.

Offering Prayer

(In person offerings may be made via the oak boxes. Give online at tenth.org/give or mail checks to: 1701 Delancey Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103)

Offertory: Adagio Antonio Vivaldi

Sermon: Risks and Rewards Rev. Gavin Lymberopoulos

Hymn 97: We Praise You, O God, Our Redeemer, Creator Kremser

We praise you, O God, our Redeemer, Creator,
in grateful devotion our tribute we bring.
We lay it before you, we kneel and adore you;
we bless your holy name, glad praises we sing.

We worship you, God of our fathers, we bless you;
through life’s storm and tempest our Guide you have been.
When perils o’ertake us, escape you will make us,
and with your help, O Lord, our battles we win.

With voices united our praises we offer,
to you, great Jehovah, glad anthems we raise.
Your strong arm will guide us, our God is beside us,
to you, our great Redeemer, forever be praise.

Benediction

Postlude: Fanfare William Matthias

Serving this evening:
George McFarland, platform
Colin Howland, organist
ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. May not copy or download more than 500 consecutive verses of the ESV Bible or more than one half of any book of the ESV Bible.

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