ORDER OF WORSHIP
Call To Worship
Psalm 95 : 1 – 3
1 Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song. 3 For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.
詩篇 95 : 1 – 3
1 來啊，我們要向耶和華歌唱，向拯救我們的磐石歡呼！2 我們要來感謝他，用詩歌向他歡呼！3 因耶和華為大神，為大王，超乎萬神之上。
Worship Through Songs
Good day Church—called, sanctified, and indwelt by the Living God. May our hearts overflow with love and grace from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Writing about the time when the prodigal son in Jesus’ parable came home to an unexpected welcome—when his father, among other things, clothed him with the best robe of the house, Tim Keller wrote…
“The best robe in the house would have been the father’s own robe, the unmistakable sign of restored standing in the family. The father is saying, “I’m not going to wait until you’ve paid off your debt; I’m not going to wait until you’ve duly groveled. You are not going to earn your way back into the family, I am going to simply take you back. I will cover your nakedness, poverty, and rags with the robes of my office and honor.” What a picture of grace. What a revelation of the Father’s heart. This “demonstrates the lavish prodigality of God’s grace. Jesus shows the father pouncing on his son in love not only before he has a chance to clean up his life and evidence a change of heart, but even before he can recite his repentance speech. Nothing, not even abject contrition, merits the favor of God. The Father’s love and acceptance are absolutely free.”
Yet, the pardoned penitent will not be filthy for long. For now, as the forgiven and accepted son, he will now joyfully accord the feast held in his honor—and ultimately its host, his own father—with the precious dignity and gratitude it deserves. He will be clean, clothed, and poised for the occasion—for now he is no longer a filthy pig-feeder in a strange and unforgiving land, but the beloved son who is finally home—who once was lost, but now is found, who once was dead, but now is alive.
This too, is a picture of God’s grace that is worth noting—for some of us may mistakenly suppose that ‘The whole point of the Christian gospel is that God loves and accepts us just as we are’ and let us stay as we are. Yet, as John Stott wrote, “This is a very confused statement of the gospel, … God does indeed accept us “just as we are”, and we do not have to make ourselves good first; indeed, we cannot. But his “acceptance” means that he fully and freely forgives all who repent and believe, not that he condones our continuance in sin. Again, it is true that we must accept one another, but only as fellow penitents and fellow pilgrims, not as fellow sinners who are resolved to persist in our sinning.”
In response to so great a sacrifice and so great a salvation, we affirm, with the apostle Paul that, ‘He died for us so that we will all live, not for ourselves, but for Him who died and rose from the dead.’ [2 Cor 5:15] Our lives are no longer our own since we were bought with a price—the precious blood of Jesus Christ. For as 1 John says, God not only forgives our sins when we confess, He also cleanses us from all unrighteousness. He not only cancels the written code that marked our guilt and sin, He makes our scarlet-like stains whiter than snow. All because of the cross. What amazing grace. What unfathomable love. Hallelujah! What a Savior. Let us worship him this day.
‘Dear Lord Jesus—Redeemer, Savior, Friend. We barely have the words to describe what privilege it is to belong to You—to be loved, cherished, and treasured by the One who is supremely worthy of glory, honor, and praise. Indeed, who are we that You should care for us so? What can we give back to You for all that You have given to us? Who is like You O Lord our God?
You have all power and authority and yet your word described You as knocking on the door of our lives, waiting for us to open it, to let You in, so You can be with us and we with You. It is simply astonishing that You should so value our love that You would suffer no rival for the throne of our hearts. You, who owns not just the ‘house’ to which the ‘door’ you’re knocking on is attached—but owns the very earth on which the ‘house’ stands—could by all rights demand entrance, yet in mercy and humility, You chose to knock … and wait. We are in awe of You—in utter amazement of your character and your ways. You are the humble King, the Master who serves, and the Shepherd who gives his life for the sheep. You are the God who came to seek and save the lost.
How can we not swing wide the door and entreat You to come in and make yourself at home? How can we not bid You welcome to our world—to our lives—and plead You to have your way with us? Come. Stay. Commune. Reign.
Cause us to live by your grace, mercy, and love every day; and fill our lives to overflowing, so your light and your life may shine through to all the broken and struggling people around us—regardless of who they are; as we, in humility and compassion, remember that we too are like them—weak, needy, and lost—were it not for You. Thank you for seeking us, finding us, and forgiving us—for loving us and keeping us to the end, our precious God and Savior, Amen.’
Anthem
Ask Me Why
Scripture Reading
Luke 15 : 11 – 32 (ESV)
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
路 加 福 音 15 : 11 – 32 (CUV)
11 耶 穌 又 說 ： 一 個 人 有 兩 個 兒 子 。
12 小 兒 子 對 父 親 說 ： 父 親 ， 請 你 把 我 應 得 的 家 業 分 給 我 。 他 父 親 就 把 產 業 分 給 他 們 。
13 過 了 不 多 幾 日 ， 小 兒 子 就 把 他 一 切 所 有 的 都 收 拾 起 來 ， 往 遠 方 去 了 。 在 那 裡 任 意 放 蕩 ， 浪 費 貲 財 。
14 既 耗 盡 了 一 切 所 有 的 ， 又 遇 著 那 地 方 大 遭 饑 荒 ， 就 窮 苦 起 來 。
15 於 是 去 投 靠 那 地 方 的 一 個 人 ； 那 人 打 發 他 到 田 裡 去 放 豬 。
16 他 恨 不 得 拿 豬 所 吃 的 豆 莢 充 飢 ， 也 沒 有 人 給 他 。
17 他 醒 悟 過 來 ， 就 說 ： 我 父 親 有 多 少 的 雇 工 ， 口 糧 有 餘 ， 我 倒 在 這 裡 餓 死 麼 ？
18 我 要 起 來 ， 到 我 父 親 那 裡 去 ， 向 他 說 ： 父 親 ！ 我 得 罪 了 天 ， 又 得 罪 了 你 ；
19 從 今 以 後 ， 我 不 配 稱 為 你 的 兒 子 ， 把 我 當 作 一 個 雇 工 罷 ！
20 於 是 起 來 ， 往 他 父 親 那 裡 去 。 相 離 還 遠 ， 他 父 親 看 見 ， 就 動 了 慈 心 ， 跑 去 抱 著 他 的 頸 項 ， 連 連 與 他 親 嘴 。
21 兒 子 說 ： 父 親 ！ 我 得 罪 了 天 ， 又 得 罪 了 你 ； 從 今 以 後 ， 我 不 配 稱 為 你 的 兒 子 。
22 父 親 卻 吩 咐 僕 人 說 ： 把 那 上 好 的 袍 子 快 拿 出 來 給 他 穿 ； 把 戒 指 戴 在 他 指 頭 上 ； 把 鞋 穿 在 他 腳 上 ；
23 把 那 肥 牛 犢 牽 來 宰 了 ， 我 們 可 以 吃 喝 快 樂 ；
24 因 為 我 這 個 兒 子 是 死 而 復 活 ， 失 而 又 得 的 。 他 們 就 快 樂 起 來 。
25 那 時 ， 大 兒 子 正 在 田 裡 。 他 回 來 ， 離 家 不 遠 ， 聽 見 作 樂 跳 舞 的 聲 音 ，
26 便 叫 過 一 個 僕 人 來 ， 問 是 甚 麼 事 。
27 僕 人 說 ： 你 兄 弟 來 了 ； 你 父 親 因 為 得 他 無 災 無 病 的 回 來 ， 把 肥 牛 犢 宰 了 。
28 大 兒 子 卻 生 氣 ， 不 肯 進 去 ； 他 父 親 就 出 來 勸 他 。
29 他 對 父 親 說 ： 我 服 事 你 這 多 年 ， 從 來 沒 有 違 背 過 你 的 命 ， 你 並 沒 有 給 我 一 隻 山 羊 羔 ， 叫 我 和 朋 友 一 同 快 樂 。
30 但 你 這 個 兒 子 和 娼 妓 吞 盡 了 你 的 產 業 ， 他 一 來 了 ， 你 倒 為 他 宰 了 肥 牛 犢 。
31 父 親 對 他 說 ： 兒 阿 ！ 你 常 和 我 同 在 ， 我 一 切 所 有 的 都 是 你 的 ；
32 只 是 你 這 個 兄 弟 是 死 而 復 活 、 失 而 又 得 的 ， 所 以 我 們 理 當 歡 喜 快 樂 。
Sermon
Dr. Gerardo Lisbe, Jr.:
中文翻譯:
Tithes And Offering
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Response Song
