Evening Worship Service

Prelude: Abide with Me Samuel Liddle

Sharon Neff, soprano

Abide with me! fast falls the eventide; the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide! When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, help of the helpless, O abide with me! Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day! Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away; change and decay in all around I see; O thou, who changest not, abide with me! I need thy presence every passing hour; what but thy grace can foil the tempter’s power? Who like thyself my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me! I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless; ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness; where is death’s sting? Where, grace thy victory? I triumph still, if thou abide with me! Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes; shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies; heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee—in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

Call to Worship

Invocation

Hymn 53: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty Lobe Den Herren
Text: Joachim Neander (1680)

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to his temple draw near, join me in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth,
shelters thee under his wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires e’er have been granted in what he ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee!
Surely his goodness and mercy here daily attend thee;
ponder anew what the Almighty will do, if with his love he befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord, who with marvelous wisdom hath made thee,
decked thee with health, and with loving hand guided and stayed thee.
How oft in grief hath not he brought thee relief, spreading his wings to o’ershade thee!

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before him!
Let the amen sound from his people again; gladly fore’er we adore him.

Prayer of Confession

O Lord our God, no day of our lives passes that does not prove us guilty in your sight. Even our best efforts are as filthy rags before you. We ask you to forgive our sin because he who knew no sin was made to be sin for us; that in Christ we might be fully pardoned and restored. Grant that, by resting in his righteousness alone, we may hereafter walk in newness of life, and run with endurance the race that is set before us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Gospel’s Assurance of Pardon: Titus 3:4–5

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.

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: Romans 2:17–29

17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” 25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. 28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

Hymn: Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy Arise Text: Jospeh Hart (1759)

Confession of Faith: Westminster Shorter Catechism, question 1

Question: What is the chief end of man?
Answer: Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.

Offering Prayer

(For online giving go to tenth.org/give or mail checks to: 1701 Delancey Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103)

Offertory: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah arr. Edwin Childs

Sharon Neff, soprano

Guide me, O thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak, but thou art mighty, hold me with thy powerful hand; Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more. Open now the crystal fountain, whence the healing stream doth flow; let the fire and cloudy pillar lead me all my journey through; strong Deliverer, be thou still my strength and shield. When I tread the verge of Jordan, bid my anxious fears subside; death of death, and hell’s destruction, land me safe on Canaan’s side; songs of praises I will ever give to thee.

Sermon: A Matter of the Heart Rev. John

Hymn 246: Man of Sorrows! What a Name Hallelujah! What a Savior

Text: Philip Bliss (1875)

Man of Sorrows! what a name for the Son of God, who came
ruined sinners to reclaim: Hallelujah! what a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place condemned he stood,
sealed my pardon with his blood: Hallelujah! what a Savior!

Guilty, vile, and helpless, we; spotless Lamb of God was he;
full atonement! can it be? Hallelujah! what a Savior!

Lifted up was he to die, “It is finished!” was his cry;
now in heav’n exalted high: Hallelujah! what a Savior!

When he comes, our glorious King, all his ransomed home to bring,
then anew this song we’ll sing: Hallelujah! what a Savior!

Benediction

Postlude

Serving this evening:
Jared Cochrum, platform
Aaron Patterson, organist