Evening Worship Service

Prelude: I Know that My Redeemer Lives arr. George Shearing

Call to Worship

Invocation

Hymn 283: Alleluia! Alleluia! Ebenezer

Text: Christopher Wordsworth (1862)

Alleluia! Alleluia! Hearts to heav’n and voices raise;
sing to God a hymn of gladness, sing to God a hymn of praise:
he who on the cross a victim for the world’s salvation bled.
Jesus Christ, the King of Glory, now is risen from the dead.

Christ is risen, Christ the first-fruits of the holy harvest field,
which will all its full abundance at his second coming yield:
then the golden ears of harvest will their heads before him wave,
ripened by his glorious sunshine from the furrows of the grave.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory be to God on high;
alleluia to the Savior, who has won the victory;
alleluia to the Spirit, fount of love and sanctity;
Alleluia! Alleluia! To the Triune Majesty.

Prayer of Confession

Our Father, we praise you for the perfect righteousness of Christ, the only hope for sinners like us. Forgive us for not wanting to be more like him, for being content to remain as we are. Save us from being lukewarm or indifferent to your will. Take away our complacency and fill us with the fruit of your Holy Spirit. Keep us from judgmental attitudes and grant that we would be lovers of mercy, kindness, goodness, and truth, we pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Gospel’s Assurance of Pardon: Romans 8:33–34

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

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 17:24–18:14

24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” 26 And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! 8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire. 10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”

Hymn 267: The Day of Resurrection Lancashire

Text: John of Damascus (8th century)

The day of resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad;
the Passover of gladness, the Passover of God.
From death to life eternal, from this world to the sky,
our Christ hath brought us over with hymns of victory.

Our hearts be pure from evil, that we may see aright
the Lord in rays eternal of resurrection light;
and listening to his accents, may hear, so calm and plain,
his own “All hail!” and hearing, may raise the victor strain.

Now let the heav’ns be joyful, let earth her song begin;
let the round world keep triumph, and all that is therein;
invisible and visible, their notes let all things blend,
for Christ the Lord hath risen, our joy that hath no end.

Confession of Faith: Westminster Shorter Catechism, question 89

Question: How is the word made effectual for salvation?
Answer: The Spirit of God makes the reading, but especially the preaching, of the Word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto 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: I Know that My Redeemer Lives arr. J. Marty Cope

Chamber Choir

Sermon: Become Like Children Rev. Gavin Lymberopoulos

Hymn: Worship Christ, the Risen King Regent Square

text: Jack Hayford (1986)

Rise, O church, and lift your voices, Christ has conquered death and hell.
Sing as all the earth rejoices; resurrection anthems swell.
Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the risen King!

See the tomb where death had laid him, empty now, its mouth declares:
“Death and I could not contain him, for the throne of life he shares.”
Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the risen King!

Hear the earth protest and tremble, see the stone removed with power;
all hell’s minions may assemble, but cannot withstand his hour.
He has conquered, he has conquered, Christ the Lord, the risen King!

Doubt may lift its head and murmur, scoffers mock and sinners jeer;
but the truth proclaims a wonder thoughtful hearts receive with cheer.
He is risen, he is risen, now receive the risen King!

We acclaim your life, O Jesus, now we sing your victory;
sin or hell may seek to seize us, but your conquest keeps us free.
Stand in triumph, stand in triumph, worship Christ, the risen King!

Benediction

Postlude

Serving this evening:
George McFarland, platform
Aaron Patterson, organist