Worship Preparation Guide for Sunday, May 15

The Christian life is not what we give to God but what God gives to us.  So the boast of the Christian is not in what we have done, but what God has done for us.  In this week’s passage Isaiah declares, “O LORD, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for us all our works.” (Is 26:12)  Jesus put it this way:  “But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” (John 3:21)   Paul also said, “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13 )

Sunday morning is that time when we gather together as God’s people to boast in Him, to recount to God, declare to one another, and proclaim to the world all that God has done for us in Christ. 

Is it proper to say to God, “we are proud of you, O Lord”?  I believe it is.  This kind of pride actually humbles us.  “Pride in God fills our hearts with a satisfaction that worldly pride cannot give.  The pride of the city of man inflates the ego, yet leaves the self empty.  But the boast in the city of God is God himself, because he is enough to enrich us forever.  Our place in the city of God is a gift of his grace.”  (Ray Ortlund) 

For God’s people corporate worship is the opportunity to fix our eyes on Jesus and set our heart’s attention and affection on him.  Even this longing for God and the desire to worship him is a gift from him. 

Are you in need of rest, renewal and peace?  Worship is one of means by which God pours out his grace and peace in our hearts.  As we set our heart and mind on him his peace is poured in by the Holy Spirit.  .  “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” 

“Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord” (I Corinthians 1:31).  This is what we seek to do as we gather every Lord’s Day.  By God’s grace this is what we will do this Sunday. 

This week we will sing a song that is a prayer.  It is a prayer asking God to help us worship him, to “tune our hearts” see him and sing his praise as we should.     Listen to the song and let the lyrics be your prayer as you prepare for worship. 

Come Thou Fount of every blessing, 

tune my heart to sing Thy grace;

Streams of mercy never ceasing 

Call for songs of loudest praise.

Teach me some melodious sonnet 

Sung by flaming tongues above;

Praise the mount I'm fixed upon it, 

Mount of Thy redeeming love.

I was lost in utter darkness

 'Til You came and rescued me;

I was bound by all my sin 

When your love came and set me free.

Now my soul can sing a new song, 

Now my heart has found a home;

Now Your grace is always with me 

And I'll never be alone.

Come Thou Fount come Thou King, 

Come Thou precious Prince of Peace;

Hear Your bride to You we sing, 

Come Thou Fount of our blessing.

O to grace how great a debtor 

Daily I'm constrained to be;

Let Thy goodness like a fetter 

Bind my wandering heart to Thee.

Prone to wander Lord I feel it, 

Prone to leave the God I love;

Here's my heart Lord take and seal it, 

Seal it for Thy courts above.

(CCLI Song # 4775010)