Evening Worship Service

Prelude: Contemplation on Tallis’ Canon Richard Purvis

Call to Worship

Invocation

Hymn 441: Jesus Shall Reign Duke Street

Jesus shall reign where’er the sun does his successive journeys run;
his kingdom stretch from shore to shore, till moons shall wax and wane no more.

To him shall endless prayer be made, and praises throng to crown his head;
his name, like sweet perfume, shall rise with every morning sacrifice.

People and realms of every tongue dwell on his love with sweetest song;
and infant voices shall proclaim their early blessings on his name.

Blessings abound where’er he reigns; the pris’ner leaps to lose his chains,
the weary find eternal rest, and all the sons of want are blest.

Let every creature rise and bring peculiar honors to our King,
angels descend with songs again, and earth repeat the loud amen!

Prayer of Confession

Our Father, Giver of every perfect gift, we confess that our souls have not been fully satisfied in you. We covet honor and possessions, envy those who have what we do not, and are prone to complain under our circumstances. Please forgive our ingratitude, O God. Grant us the joy which comes from your Holy Spirit, that we might find our deepest longings met in you, we pray through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Gospel’s Assurance of Pardon: John 3:16–17

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

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 13:24–43

24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” 31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” 33 He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.” 34 All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. 35 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.” 36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

Hymn 486: God Be Merciful to Me Redhead

God, be merciful to me, on thy grace I rest my plea;
plenteous in compassion thou, blot out my transgressions now;
wash me, make me pure within, cleanse, O cleanse me from my sin.

My transgressions I confess, grief and guilt my soul oppress;
I have sinned against thy grace and provoked thee to thy face;
I confess thy judgment just, speechless, I thy mercy trust.

I am evil, born in sin; thou desirest truth within.
thou alone my Savior art, teach thy wisdom to my heart;
make me pure, thy grace bestow, wash me whiter than the snow.

Broken, humbled to the dust by thy wrath and judgment just,
let my contrite heart rejoice and in gladness hear thy voice;
from my sins O hide thy face, blot them out in boundless grace.

Gracious God, my heart renew, make my spirit right and true;
cast me not away from thee, let thy Spirit dwell in me;
thy salvation’s joy impart, steadfast make my willing heart. (continued on next page)

Sinners then shall learn from me and return, O God, to thee;
Savior, all my guilt remove, and my tongue shall sing thy love;
touch my silent lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall praise accord.

Confession of Faith: Westminster Shorter Catechism, question 24

Question: How does Christ execute the office of a prophet?
Answer: Christ executes the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.

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: The Lord’s My Shepherd Bob Chilcott

Chamber Choir

Sermon: Kingdom Comparisons Rev. Gavin Lymberopoulos

Hymn 342: Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation Regent Square

Christ is made the sure foundation, Christ the head and cornerstone,
chosen of the Lord and precious, binding all the church in one;
holy Zion’s help forever and her confidence alone.

All that dedicated city, dearly loved of God on high,
in exultant jubilation pours perpetual melody;
God the One in Three adoring in glad hymns eternally.

To this temple, where we call thee, come, O Lord of hosts today:
with thy wonted loving-kindness hear thy people as they pray;
and thy fullest benediction shed within its walls alway.

Here vouchsafe to all thy servants what they ask of thee to gain,
what they gain from thee forever with the blessed to retain,
and hereafter in thy glory evermore with thee to reign.

Laud and honor to the Father, laud and honor to the Son,
laud and honor to the Spirit, ever Three and ever One,
One in might, and One in glory, while unending ages run.

Benediction

Postlude

Serving this evening:
Rev. Carroll Wynne, platform
Colin Howland, organist