The Lord’s Day, April 15, 2018

“…taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ…”














ORDER OF WORSHIP



Thank you for joining us this morning! At Christ the King, our
worship is a divine-human dialogue, in accordance with Scriptural
example and precedent, alternatively hearing God’s Word
and responding in prayer, song, or meditation. The gray boxes
throughout the bulletin were written to aid each worshipper in
thoughtful and meaningful participation in this dialogue. Please
prepare your heart by reading through the bulletin, praying for
those leading and worshipping around you, and silencing all
communication devices.

We encourage parents to involve children as soon as possible
in the worship service. In consideration of other worshippers,
we request parents with children not yet ready for unobtrusive
participation in worship to utilize the nursery or, if necessary, the
cry room. A nursery is available for children ages 3 months to 3
years during all Sunday morning activities.

* Indicates congregational standing



W e A pproAch the L ord

Prelude

Call to Worship


Notice how this psalm conveys the important idea that, although
God is a great King and transcendent, He condescends lovingly to
shepherd and nurture His people.

Psalm 95:1-7 ESV
1 Oh come, let us sing to the LORD;

let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;

let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

3 For the LORD is a great God,

and a great King above all gods.

4 In his hand are the depths of the earth;

the heights of the mountains are his also.

5 The sea is his, for he made it,

and his hands formed the dry land.

6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down;

let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!

7 For he is our God,

and we are the people of his pasture,

and the sheep of his hand.
Today, if you hear his voice,

Prayer of Adoration and Invocation

* Hymn of Praise

We praise the God who lovingly guides and provides for all that
He has made.

“Let All Things Now Living” (Trinity Hymnal #125)



W e A c k n o W L e d g e o ur S in

* Reading from the Law

Here we see in a nutshell God’s will for all those who are in
authority among His people. Prominent in what He says here is
the preeminent authority of God’s Law-Word, to which they are to
submit as they exercise their authority, and the fact that their hearts
“are not to be lifted up above” their brothers.

Deuteronomy 17:14-20 ESV
14 “When you come to the land that the Lord your God is giving

you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, I will set a king
over me, like all the nations that are around me,’ 15 you may indeed
set a king over you whom the Lord your God will choose. One from
among your brothers you shall set as king over you. You may not
put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. 16 Only he must
not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return
to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the Lord has said
to you, You shall never return that way again.’ 17 And he shall not
acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he
acquire for himself excessive silver and gold. 18 “And when he sits on
the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy
of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. 19 And it shall be with
him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to
fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these
statutes, and doing them, 20 that his heart may not be lifted up above
his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the command-
ment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue
long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.

Silent Confession of Sin



Corporate Confession of Sin

We here confess that we are false and full of sin, but knowing that
Jesus, full of truth and grace, is able to save us.

“Jesus, Lover of My Soul”

1. Jesus, lover of my soul, Let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll, While the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, ’Til life’s storm is past;
Safe into the haven guide; Receive my soul at last.

2. Other refuge have I none, I helpless, hang on Thee;
Leave, oh leave me not alone, Support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed, All help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head In the shadow of Thy wing.

3. Thou, O Christ, are all I want, Here more than all I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name, I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace.

4. Plenteous grace with Thee is found, Grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound; Make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art, Let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart; For all eternity.


© 2000 Greg Thompson. Words: Charles Wesley. Music: Greg Thompson. CCL #2223976.


We rejoice in the ASSurAnce of forgiveneSS

Assurance of Pardoning Grace

Salvation through the gospel is open only to those who humble
themselves, acknowledging their sin and admitting that they have
no hope apart from reliance on One outside of themselves, Jesus
Christ. In these verses we see the glorious result that is promised
for those who adopt such humility, membership and even
greatness within the Kingdom of God.



Matthew 18:1-4; 23:12 ESV
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the great-

est in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put

him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you
turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of
heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in
the kingdom of heaven. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled,
and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

* Hymn of Assurance

We now celebrate the One whose ultimate pastoral authority was
exercised in perfect humility and love as He gave Himself and his
life for us, so winning victory over sin and death for us.

“Crown Him with Many Crowns” (Trinity Hymnal #295)


We prAy for eAch other

Prayers of Intercession

(The minister will lead us in prayer, taking requests from individuals.)



We heAr inStruction from the Lord

Sermon
“An Exemplary Expression of Pastoral Discipline” (Rev. Mike Biggs)
* Acts 15:22-35 ESV
22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the
whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to
Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas,
and Silas, leading men among the brothers, 23 with the following
letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the
brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia,
greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone
out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds,
although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us,
having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you
with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their
lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore
sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by
word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to
us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that
you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood,
and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If
you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.” 30 So
when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having
gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 And
when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.
32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged
and strengthened the brothers with many words. 33 And after they
had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers
to those who had sent them. 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in
Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many
others also.

Leader:
This is the Word of the Lord.

Congregation:
Thanks be to God!



W e commune With o ur L ord

Communion Meditation

Words of Institution

Prayer of Consecration

Confession of Faith

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by
the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under
Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended
into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended
into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father
Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of
saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the
life everlasting. Amen. (*or universal)

Distribution of Elements

Because we believe that wine was used in the Last Supper and
is thus more in accord with the fullness of symbolism intended by
God in the Lord’s Supper, we offer wine and encourage those who
take part in Communion to take this. For those with conscientious
convictions against the use of wine, however, we offer the option
of grape juice, which is contained in the inner circle of the
communion trays. The cups containing wine are in the outer circles
of the trays.

“The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want” (Trinity Hymnal #87)



We reSpond to the grAce of the Lord

Offering Meditation

As we present our offerings to God today, we must realize that in
so doing we follow in the footsteps of our Lord, whose example of
humble, loving self-giving we are commanded to emulate.

II Corinthians 8:9 ESV
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was
rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty
might become rich.

Presentation of Offerings

See Communion

* Doxology (Trinity Hymnal #731)

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication



We reSpond to the Word


As we leave today we pray for the godly humility that will not only
qualify us for entry into the Kingdom, but enable us to minister
effectively to each other, and to reveal and share the glories of the
Kingdom of God to those who are yet outside of it.

* “Jesus Cast a Look on Me”

1. Jesus cast a look on me,
Give me sweet simplicity
Make me poor and keep me low,
Seeking only Thee to know

2. All that feeds my busy pride,
Cast it evermore aside
Bid my will to Thine submit,
Lay me humbly at Thy feet

3. Make me like a little child,
Of my strength and wisdom spoiled
Seeing only in Thy light,
Walking only in Thy might

4. Leaning on Thy loving breast,
Where a weary soul can rest
Feeling well the peace of God,
Flowing from His precious blood

5. In this posture let me live,
And hosannas daily give
In this temper let me die,
And hosannas ever cry!


© MPJ Music. Words: John Berridge. Music: Matthew Perryman Jones. CCL #2223976.

Benediction


VISION


Purpose (our reason for existence): to reverse the effects of rebellion
against God (sin)

Mission (what we are called to do): to build the Kingdom of God, by…

• adding people (incorporation)

• building people (edification)

Core Values (our fundamental commitments):

1. Knowing truth from God (Scripture)

2. Being right with God (Justification)

3. Living life for God (Sanctification)

Goals (what we seek to accomplish):

1. Worship—People experiencing and being attracted to and trained
in the enjoyment of God

2. Fellowship—People displaying and enjoying genuinely loving and
giving relationships/Christian community

3. Christian Education—People being confronted with and oriented to
the whole truth of God

4. Outreach—People being drawn to the Church and trained to draw
others

5. Mercy—People caring about and meeting the material needs of
both non-Christians and other Christians

How can you be a part of all this?



SERMON NOTES
April 15, 2018


“An Exemplary Expression of Pastoral Discipline” (Rev. Mike Biggs)
Acts 15:22-35



Introduction:






What is involved in the godly exercise of pastoral discipline?

I. Godly pastoral discipline involves personal interaction,
vv. 22, 23, 26, 27.
A. Credibility.










B. Elaboration.



II. Godly pastoral discipline involves constructive communication,
vv. 23-29.
A. Unapologetic authority.








B. Winsome humility.









C. Tactful instruction.









D. Loving wisdom.



III. Godly pastoral discipline involves persistent nurture,
vv. 30-35.
A. Prudent agenda.







B. Didactic emphasis.








C. Constant encouragement.




For Your Personal Devotions



Points of Application:














Memorable Illustrations:














Evaluation:






Questions for Further Study: