Chapel Worship Guide 1.29.2012

Service Order for 9:00 AM
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Nemmers Family Chapel at Advocate Condell
Welcome

Prayer

Psalm 40:1 For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. 5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. 6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. 7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come– it is written about me in the scroll. 8 I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” 9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD. 10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly. 11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me. 12 For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me. 13 Be pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me. 14 May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. 15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” be appalled at their own shame. 16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, “The LORD be exalted!” 17 Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.

Message: Psalm 40: “Our God of Hope” by Jeremy Woods   

There are two major movements within this psalm, and in each movement we are called to praise and worship God for who he is and what he does. In the first movement, David roots his praise of God in the fact God has been merciful in the past, both to David and in many other ways (creation, Exodus, etc). The Lord has been merciful to us before too. And when he does show his mercy and we are able to see his goodness, this should inspire us to worship God and to proclaim him.

The second movement deals with a present situation which David is facing. We do not know the exact situation, but he is clearly in great danger. We all find ourselves in situations which is seems is too much for us. But we can look back and think to the goodness of God and in his mercy and love, and we can have confidence that he is not far from us when we call to him. Even in the midst of trials, we can rejoice and be glad, and we can praise the Lord for who he is, what he has done, and what he continues to do.

The greatest example of God’s action in his redemptive purpose was the Incarnation. God made all that was good, including man, but man fell from his grace through sin. Man was thus separate from God and could not, on his own merit, reconcile with him. Jesus Christ came to be that reconciler, and lived a perfect sinless life and for our sake was crucified to make us free. That was an action of the past, and we can have life in Christ if we put our hope in him. This is great hope for the future: Christ has conquered, and he will once again make all things right!

Benediction