Worship

Prelude: “I Love You, Lord” by Klein/arr. Hayes   Annette Sprinkel, Piano

Welcome & Announcements:  Text “Welcome” to 540-712-6440.

Call to Worship: (from Revelation 19:1-7)

One: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments.

All: “Amen, Hallelujah!” “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both great and small!”

One: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

All: Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.

One: Let us make ourselves ready through worship now!

O FOR A THOUSAND TONGUES TO SING (466)

Anthem: “Autumn Carol” (Choir)

First Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 3:3-18 (p.1205)

PLOTLINE: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Sermon: “The End?” – Revelation 21:1-8 (p.1230)

The Passing of the Peace

Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Forgiveness:

All: Father, I ask your forgiveness for the times that I have struggled with cowardice – caring more for what others think than you. Grant me more boldness and resolve in my allegiance to you. How often I have caved under the pressure to compromise my allegiance to King Jesus. Forgive me for running away from difficulty and danger in my service to you. Show me where I am refusing to believe and rest in the liberating truths of the gospel. Deliver me from faithlessness. Deliver me O Lord from all types of sexual perversion. May I gladly submit to your Word and agree without reservation with all that you call an abomination. Forgive me O Lord for neglecting or withdrawing the lawful and necessary means of preservation of life; sinful anger, hatred, envy, the desire for revenge; all excessive passions, distracting cares; immoderate use of meat, drink, labor, and recreations; provoking words, oppression, quarreling, striking, wounding, and: whatsoever else tends to the destruction of the life of any. Pardon me for all the times I have struggled with impure thoughts, words, and actions. Forgive me for the times that I have given my heart’s affection to other idols. I have had other gods before you! Grant me your pardoning grace for all the times I have spoken lies. Forgive me for the times that I have not maintained and promoted the truth. For all the times that I have spoken words that have injured another person’s good name and reputation.

One: Friends hear and believe the good news of the gospel from Romans 8:1-2:

All: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death.                            

(from 2cherish2commend.com/2022/12/10/praying-scripture-revelation-211-8)

Prayers of the People & THE LORD’S PRAYER (p.16)

HALLELUJAH, WHAT A SAVIOR!

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 heaven 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!

“ALL HIS” – 2025 STEWARDSHIP COMMITTMENT

 Closing Hymn: BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS (438)

Benediction

Postlude

• Where has this Plotline series most helped aid your understanding and faith of the grand narrative of redemption? What areas of scripture do you feel like you particularly need to learn more?
• What do you need to do to be prepared for “The End?” How should we now live in light of The End?”
• Scripture includes both warnings and encouragements about The End. Which is more motivating for you right now? Why do we need both warnings and encouragements?
• 2 Peter 3:12 talks about us speeding the coming of the day of the Lord. How do we do that? Are you doing that? Why or why not?
• Revelation 21 describes the new heaven and new earth. What about that do you most look forward to and why? The new heaven and new earth means being with God in direct ways but how can we be with God right now?