ORDER OF WORSHIP
Call To Worship
Psalm 99 : 9
Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the Lord our God is Holy.
詩篇 99 : 9
你們要尊崇耶和華我們的神，在他的聖山下拜，因為耶和華我們的神本為聖。
Worship Through Songs
Good day beloved people of the Lord—blessed recipients of God’s indescribable grace.
The much-treasured song of the Christian Faith ‘Amazing Grace’ was penned by the former 18th century slave-trader turned minister of Christ, John Newton. He once said that “If I ever reach heaven I expect to find three wonders there–first, to meet some I had not thought to see there; second, to miss some I had expected to see there; and third, the greatest wonder of all, to find myself there.” This last remark is no false humility on his part but reflected an honest and sober realization that any who have walked with the Lord for so long will soon increasingly recognize—the two-fold recognition of the actual gravity of our own sinfulness and need for salvation; as well as the utter extravagance of God’s grace in providing for that salvation. Indeed, if we truly know ourselves and the God before whom we stand totally uncovered and understood, we will wonder, along with Newton, ‘why should He save me so?’
This must have been on the mind of one of the thieves crucified with Jesus—the one who pleaded to be remembered by him when He returns in his kingdom. The request came not so much as a reminder of any merit on his part that deserved remembrance and recompense, but rather as a final grasping for hope that perhaps this innocent man suffering beside him might just be God’s means of mercy on the terminal moments of his life ravaged by sin, shame, and regret. Then, wonder of wonders, amid Jesus’ own pain and anguish, He turned to him and, with serene finality, replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” And just like that, there is a soul now in heaven who knows, probably more than anyone else there, what it means to ask in utter amazement, ‘why would He save me so?’ And we can imagine him, if asked why he is there, probably answering, with tears of joy in his eyes, ‘I really don’t know…except that the One on the middle cross said I could come.’ So amazing the grace and so sweet the sound of the voice that welcomed this sinner home—the voice of Jesus whose very own blood flowed down that cross to bring us atonement, freedom and reconciliation with God.
“But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” [Titus 3]
In humility let us remember this and allow it to really take root in our lives, to produce the fruit of an increasing sense of gratitude, wonder and adoration for the God and Savior who loves us so. Let us worship him this day.
‘Lord Jesus, precious Savior, Mighty King,
“Let me at a throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief;
Kneeling there in deep contrition,
Help my unbelief.
Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.
Thou the Spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee?
Whom in heav’n but Thee?
Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry,
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.” *
In your most precious and powerful name, amen.’ * [Fanny Crosby]
Anthem
Cornerstone with Mighty to Save
Scripture Reading
For Rev. Alvin Rival
Matthew 20 : 1 – 16 (ESV)
1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ 5 So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ 8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ 9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, 12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last.”
馬 太 福 音 20 : 1 – 16 (CUV)
1 因 為 天 國 好 像 家 主 清 早 去 雇 人 進 他 的 葡 萄 園 做 工 ，
2 和 工 人 講 定 一 天 一 錢 銀 子 ， 就 打 發 他 們 進 葡 萄 園 去 。
3 約 在 巳 初 出 去 ， 看 見 市 上 還 有 閒 站 的 人 ，
4 就 對 他 們 說 ： 你 們 也 進 葡 萄 園 去 ， 所 當 給 的 ， 我 必 給 你 們 。 他 們 也 進 去 了 。
5 約 在 午 正 和 申 初 又 出 去 ， 也 是 這 樣 行 。
6 約 在 酉 初 出 去 ， 看 見 還 有 人 站 在 那 裡 ， 就 問 他 們 說 ： 你 們 為 甚 麼 整 天 在 這 裡 閒 站 呢 ？
7 他 們 說 ： 因 為 沒 有 人 雇 我 們 。 他 說 ： 你 們 也 進 葡 萄 園 去 。
8 到 了 晚 上 ， 園 主 對 管 事 的 說 ： 叫 工 人 都 來 ， 給 他 們 工 錢 ， 從 後 來 的 起 ， 到 先 來 的 為 止 。
9 約 在 酉 初 雇 的 人 來 了 ， 各 人 得 了 一 錢 銀 子 。
10 及 至 那 先 雇 的 來 了 ， 他 們 以 為 必 要 多 得 ； 誰 知 也 是 各 得 一 錢 。
11 他 們 得 了 ， 就 埋 怨 家 主 說 ：
12 我 們 整 天 勞 苦 受 熱 ， 那 後 來 的 只 做 了 一 小 時 ， 你 竟 叫 他 們 和 我 們 一 樣 麼 ？
13 家 主 回 答 其 中 的 一 人 說 ： 朋 友 ， 我 不 虧 負 你 ， 你 與 我 講 定 的 不 是 一 錢 銀 子 麼 ？
14 拿 你 的 走 罷 ！ 我 給 那 後 來 的 和 給 你 一 樣 ， 這 是 我 願 意 的 。
15 我 的 東 西 難 道 不 可 隨 我 的 意 思 用 麼 ？ 因 為 我 作 好 人 ， 你 就 紅 了 眼 麼 ？
16 這 樣 ， 那 在 後 的 ， 將 要 在 前 ； 在 前 的 ， 將 要 在 後 了 。 （ 有 古 卷 在 此 有 ： 因 為 被 召 的 人 多 ， 選 上 的 人 少 。 ）
For Rev. Danny Reyes (林永健牧師)
Genesis 50 : 15 – 21 (ESV)
15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people[b] should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
創 世 記 50 : 15 – 21 (CUV)
15 約 瑟 的 哥 哥 們 見 父 親 死 了 ， 就 說 ： 或 者 約 瑟 懷 恨 我 們 ， 照 著 我 們 從 前 待 他 一 切 的 惡 足 足 的 報 復 我 們 。
16 他 們 就 打 發 人 去 見 約 瑟 ， 說 ： 你 父 親 未 死 以 先 吩 咐 說 ：
17 你 們 要 對 約 瑟 這 樣 說 ： 從 前 你 哥 哥 們 惡 待 你 ， 求 你 饒 恕 他 們 的 過 犯 和 罪 惡 。 如 今 求 你 饒 恕 你 父 親 神 之 僕 人 的 過 犯 。 他 們 對 約 瑟 說 這 話 ， 約 瑟 就 哭 了 。
18 他 的 哥 哥 們 又 來 俯 伏 在 他 面 前 ， 說 ： 我 們 是 你 的 僕 人 。
19 約 瑟 對 他 們 說 ： 不 要 害 怕 ， 我 豈 能 代 替 神 呢 ？
20 從 前 你 們 的 意 思 是 要 害 我 ， 但 神 的 意 思 原 是 好 的 ， 要 保 全 許 多 人 的 性 命 ， 成 就 今 日 的 光 景 。
21 現 在 你 們 不 要 害 怕 ， 我 必 養 活 你 們 和 你 們 的 婦 人 孩 子 。 於 是 約 瑟 用 親 愛 的 話 安 慰 他 們 。
Sermon
Rev. Alvin Rival
林永健牧師
English Translation
Tithes And Offering
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Response Song
