The Stewardship of Life Maximizing God’s Blessings for His Glory
Communion Worship
02.10.13
The Worship of Almighty God The Lord’s Day, February 10, 2013
The following prayer may be used as you prepare for worship:
Great Redeemer
It is your chief plan for my life that Christ be more glorious and dear to me than anything or anyone. Yet I know that I love him but little and live for him poorly.
9:00 and 10:15 am Sanctuary Services As we gather this day to celebrate The Lord’s Supper, we proclaim the reality of Christ’s redemptive power and join our hearts and voices together in praise... giving thanks for an amazing love that makes us... “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” I Peter 2:9
The Reflections for the Prelude
Because of your love for me, you have opened my eyes that I might see him, take him, receive him, possess him and love him.
My gracious Lord, your love is vast, eternal, full and free. It reaches far beyond my thought and brings my foolish pride to naught. How can such love seek me? Yet you have sought me, Holy Lord, from Heaven’s throne above; though lost and blind and dead in sin, Grant that I might worship him in all my ways and with rebel will, defiled within, you sought me in your love. seek him all my days. Such love was your design, O Lord, before the world was made, Most merciful Father, so when God the Father and the Son, renew my heart that I in Cov’nant formed that saving plan that sin’s debt might be paid. might turn from the Your saving love has triumphed, Lord, inordinate loves of this your grace has conquered me. fading world and find myself Now pardoned, cleansed, redeemed, restored, more surely fastened I lift my heart in worship, Lord, your yielded child to be. upon my blessed Savior at whose right hand are Eric. J. Alexander found eternal pleasures.
Give me a taste of heaven each day by working deep within me a love for Jesus that moves me out of myself and unto you. Do this that I might desire nothing but you forevermore. Amen
East Cooper Baptist Church 361 Egypt Road Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 843.856.3222 www.ecbconline.com Goose Creek Campus 100 S. Goose Creek Blvd. Goose Creek, SC 29445 843.856.3222 www.crosspointecbc.com
Perhaps one may dare to say only this, that in the immediate presence of death, and of the hopeless unbelief of his friends in the face of death, Jesus was facing that power which he had come to destroy, a power which is met by the wrath of him who is the author of life, but which could only be “cast out” when the author of life took the whole power of death upon himself. Lesslie Newbigin Lord, now indeed I find your power, and yours alone, Can change the leper’s spots, and melt the heart of stone. Elvina M. Hall
The Congregational Welcome The Prelude
The Gospel Hymn
Laura Turner In Christ Alone
The Love of Christ
Romans 8:35-39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Hymn of Adoration My Faith Has Found A Resting Place
Creation
Corporate Prayer of Confession A corporate confession of sin recognizes that our sin is more than an isolated example of bad judgement. We are all sinful people and we live in need of a Savior. When we sin we cannot pray to our God as we ought, we cannot be in relationship with our Redeemer as we ought, and we grieve the Holy Spirit. Our sin affects not only our life, but all those around us, especially the watching lost world, for our sin (unforgiven sin) interrupts our relationship to a Holy God and therefore hinders our witness. As we confess together, we recognize that God’s forgiveness is evident and allows us to see each other as we are: guilty sinners forgiven by a gracious God who has conquered all sin by His victory. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” I John 1:8-10
My faith has found a resting place, Not in device or creed; I trust the ever living One, His wounds for me shall plead. (no refrain) Enough for me that Jesus saves, This ends my fear and doubt; A sinful soul I come to Him, He’ll never cast me out. (no refrain) My heart is leaning on the Word, The living Word of God, Salvation by my Savior’s Name, Salvation through His blood. (no refrain) My great Physician heals the sick, The lost He came to save; For me His precious blood He shed, For me His life He gave.
The Corporate Prayer of Confession LEADER: Let us confess our sins together.
ALL: Almighty, eternal, most just and gracious God, help us to know that all things are shadows, but you are substance; all things are quicksand, but you are mountain; all things are shifting, but you are anchor; all things are ignorance, but you are wisdom. You are thrice holy, yet my life abounds with apologies not made, repentance not completed, forgiveness not offered, brothers not respected, reputations not defended, peace not pursued, neighbors not loved, Sabbaths not kept, appetites not restrained, parents not honored, spouses not cherished, children not trained, prisoners not visited, strangers not clothed, hungry not fed, providences ignored, envy unchecked, prayers unspoken, fears not conquered, truth not defended, sheep not fed, feet unmoved, tongues unbridled, eyes unguarded, time wasted, talents wasted, treasure wasted. Lord Jesus, deliver me from these chains, from wretchedness of the old ways that still hang on, from the sugar of sin as well as its gall, so that with earnest heart searching I may come to you, cast myself on you, trust in you, cry to you and be delivered by you.
The Silent Prayers The Words of Assurance
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
I John 1:9
The Prayer Response
Blessed Is The One
Blessed is the one whose sins are overcome Whom God has sheltered deep within His grace Blessed is the one who trusts in God the Son His steadfast love the sinner’s hiding place Jesus, Your blood covers all my sin Jesus, Your love draws my heart to sing What a Savior, Jesus I will always hide at my Savior’s side I find my refuge in His sovereign care When the waters rise, God will hear my cries His steadfast love will hold me safely there
The Celebration of the Lord’s Supper The Distribution of the Elements Thee Will I Love ECBC Choir • Larry Faulkner, solo
The Taking of the Elements
“For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” I Corinthians 11:26
The Offertory Prayer The Offertory
Britt Stokes, Deacon of the Day When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
When I survey the wondrous cross... On which the Prince of glory died,... My richest gain I count but loss,... And pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God! All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood. See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown? Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.
The Congregational Greetings The Morning Sermon The Benediction LEADER: Let us go forth to serve the world as those who love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and express that love toward one another and the watching world. CONGREGATION: THANKS BE TO GOD!
The Postlude
The Lord’s Supper The Lord’s Supper is a physical action, mandated by Jesus, through which God acts to nourish, sustain, comfort, challenge, teach and assure us. The celebration of the Lord’s Supper nourishes our faith and stirs our imaginations to perceive the work of God and the power of the Gospel more clearly. It is an act that helps pave the way for revival and renewal. East Cooper Baptist Church welcomes to the Lord’s Table all who have trusted in Jesus Christ as Savior.
Babies & Toddlers In order to maintain a worshipful atmosphere and for the comfort of our little ones, we ask that parents exit the service with their crying babies and talkative toddlers. We would encourage parents to use our excellent nursery and trained staff to care for your children.
The Morning Sermon The Stewardship of Life 1 Peter 4:7-11
Conrad “Buster” Brown, Senior Pastor 7
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the
covers The Spoken Word sake of your prayers.9 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love 10 CD’s of today’s sermon ($3.00 each) will be available at the church office after today. Free copies of the 3-hole punch sermon notes are available on the wall slats.
a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
“The absurd, briefly defined, is the confrontation between ourselves – with our demands for rationality and justice – and an “indifferent universe”. SisyMissed A Sermon? phus, who was condemned by the gods to the endless, futile task of rolling a rock up a mountain (whence it would roll back down on its own weight), thus (or want to hear it again?) becomes an exemplar of the human condition, struggling hopelessly and You can listen to Sunday messages online at pointlessly to achieve something.” www.ecbconline.com. The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, p. 116 Choose the “Resources” tab and click on “Sermons.”
Responding to the Word
As we sit under the reading and teaching of Scripture, it calls for a response as we ask ourselves “what will we do with the truth presented today?” The Christian life is marked by the offering of one’s self to God to be shaped, empowered, directed, and changed by God. In worship, God presents us with the costly self-offering of Jesus Christ. We are claimed by Christ and set free. In response to God’s love in Jesus Christ we offer our lives, our gifts, our time, our abilities, and our material goods, for God’s service, His glory, and our ultimate good.
(“American youth are languid, empty, and adrift.) “They can be anything they want to be”, but they have no particular reason to want to be anything in particular… Why are we surprised that such unfurnished persons should be preoccupied principally with themselves and with finding means to avoid permanent freefall?” Allan Bloom, The Closing of the American Mind, 1987. “The moral drifter has no responsibilities, no hope, and no purpose. He is free from all commitments and tries not to concern himself with the perilous quest of life and death. He is a stranger, a tourist, an indifferent observer. He is the television-watcher, the apathetic consumer… The drifter is homeless. Nothing is stable or binding in his life, and so he always expects the arbitrary and the fleeting. Divorced from tradition, nature, and the old responsibility of upholding the family name, the drifter does what advertisers tell him or what his urges urge him. He has sex when it is convenient but never falls in love. His parents are divorced or distant, and his home life is dominated by the anxious extremes of yelling and silence. When it comes to politics, culture, and morality, the drifter is tolerant by default. He does not judge others because he is unwilling, afraid, or unable to judge himself. His life boils down to the defensive statement: “I’m not bothering anyone.” He focuses almost entirely on himself…” Eric S. Cohen, First Things, “To Wonder Again“, May 2000 How do I know that I am glorifying God as a good steward before my gracious King?
I. Do I live with the end in view? (1 Peter 4:7) Do I understand the only foundation as I live out of the glory and wonder of the foundation that is mine in the gospel of Jesus Christ? (Mark 12:40b, James 3:1, Romans 4:12, Matthew 16:27, 2 Corinthians 5:10, 1 Peter 5:4) “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” James 3:1 “And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.” Romans 4:12 “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.” Matthew 16:27 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10 “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” 1 Peter 5:4 “We affirm that we design nothing in virtue and morality but to improve them, by fixing them on a proper foundation (Christ and him crucified) or in grafting them into that stock whereon they alone will thrive and grow (the strong reality of Christ the vine – John 15), to the glory of God and the good of the souls of men. Never shall we be moved from this design…” The Works of John Owen – The Holy Spirit, Vol. III, p. 218 I. Am I a worshipper who joyously embraces the reality of the God who is? III. Am I in vital community in the local church? * Are my relationships strong? Am I pursuing peace? (Proverbs 28:13, Matthew 5:23-24, James 5:16) * Am I in submission to godly leaders? (1 Peter 5:5-7) * Am I known as a grumbler? (1 Peter 4:9b) IV. Am I conscientiously living as a called out person to the glory of God? Do I see my life as significant? Do I realize there are “no little people and no little places and no little callings”?
Information 02.10 Please complete and place in the offering plate SANCTUARY Visitor
Tear-off Sign-Up Info
________________________________ NAME ________________________________ SPOUSE NAME (if applicable) ________________________________ STREET / P.O. BOX ________________________________ CITY ________________________________ STATE ZIP (__________ ) ____________________ HOME PHONE ( __________ ) ____________________ CELL PHONE ( __________ ) ____________________ CELL PHONE SPOUSE ________________________________ E-MAIL ________________________________ E-MAIL SPOUSE Birthdate _________________ Birthdate Spouse__________________ Children’s Names / Gender /Birthdates ____________________M/F __________ NAME BIRTHDATE ____________________M/F __________ NAME BIRTHDATE ____________________M/F __________ NAME BIRTHDATE ___ I would like to become a Christian. ___ I would like to join ECBC. ___ I would like a personal visit. ___ I have a confidential need to discuss. ___ Add me to mail / e-mail list. ___ I would like information re:________ ___ I would like to join a Community Group. ___ Other: ________________________
Prayer Requests / People in Need Prayer Line: 856-3222 ext. PRAY(7729)
Please list your prayer requests and/ or names (with detailed information) of people in need. Thank you! ___Confidential (distributed only to Pastors)
Hannah’s Heart
Please print your name and contact info on the opposite side of this tear-off. Please pray for us as we deal with infertility. I would like more information on this group.
Elder Nominations
Please PRINT name on reverse. ___ Yes! I am a member of ECBC in good standing and, after prayerful consideration would like to nominate the following men for the Office of Elder. Unsigned or illegible nominations are not valid. I am a member of ECBC age 18+ Signed___________________________ ELDER NOMINATION(S): _________________________________ _________________________________
Bulletin Board
ELDER NOMINATIONS Nominations for the Office of Elder have begun. Please prayerfully consider men whom you believe would fit the qualifications for Elder and who would be willing to serve. NOMINATION REQUIREMENTS: 1) You must be a member of ECBC and at least 18 years of age to make nominations. 2) The man(men) you nominate must be 21 years of age or older and have been a member of ECBC at least a year. 3) All nomination forms must be signed. You may make nominations on today’s tearoff or online at: www.ecbconline.com/nomination. SCRIPTURAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR ELDER: 1 Timothy 3:1-7; 1 Peter 1:3. Please contact your nominee to ensure he/ they would be willing to serve if selected. Prime Time Adult Gathering On February 9 at 12:00 pm in room B214, all senior adults are invited to enjoy a Chef Bob catered meal and a musical program presented by Jennifer Luiken and some of her students. You can register by calling Melissa Griffin at 856-3222 ext. 2026. SHORT TERM MISSION TRIP TO NAPLES, ITALY Join our global partners, Steve and April, as they teach English and spread the Good News! ECBC is heading to Naples, Italy May 10-18 and we need 3 more people to go. Cost is airfare + $450. More info and application at ecbconline.com/naples. Application deadline is March 1. Contact Melissa if interested at
[email protected]. Bonhoeffer: An Evening with Eric Metaxas – Live Simulcast ECBC Sanctuary - Monday, March 4, 2013 from 7:00pm-10:00. Join us as Eric shares the story of how Bonhoeffer gives witness to one man’s extraordinary faith and to the tortured fate of the nation he sought to deliver from the curse of Nazism. Hannah’s Heart - Today Is the desire to be parents an important matter of prayer for you? If you are a couple dealing with infertility concerns and wish to meet with a like minded group for PRAYER, please join us on the second Sunday of each month. The group will meet at 11:30 a.m. in the ECBC Prayer Room. Come and pray with us or complete the form on the tear-off and we will pray for you. Global ImPact Conference – Feb 22-24 – Registration Open Registration for the Global Impact Conference and the Kids Mission Festival is now open. Visit www.ecbconline.com/GIC to register. We need volunteers to help in the kitchen and with childcare. If you can help, contact Melissa at
[email protected]. WILD GAME BANQUET – WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 13 AT 6PM There will be lots of food, door prizes, and guest speaker Jeff Struecker. A decorated member of the U.S. Army’s most elite fighting corps, Jeff was prominently featured in the national best-seller “Black Hawk Down.” Tickets are available online and at the kiosks. Questions? Ask Melissa at
[email protected]. If you can volunteer to help with the Wild Game Banquet or if you have a large pull behind gas grill that we can use please contact Melissa. THE WORLD AT OUR DOOR We need 4-5 families willing to host upstate international college and graduate students over Easter weekend, March 29-31. These students come from a variety of religious backgrounds and countries. What better weekend than Easter to show the love of Christ in a tangible way. Please see www.joshuasway.org to find out more about this non-profit organization. If interested please contact Florin at
[email protected].
Giving
Given Last Week Required to Date Given to Date Over/[Under]
ECBC Info
361 Egypt Road Main Office Emergency Line Fax Web
$81,559 $2,805,000 $2,887,589 $82,589 MP, SC 29464 856-ECBC ext. 7777 856-1136 ecbconline.com
ECBC Pastoral Staff Danny Beech Andy Boyer Conrad Brown Dave Bruner Jonathan Chapman Dean Henderson Steve Heron Josh Romine Carl Schooling Craig Tuck Steve Tuck
856-3222
Middle School ext. 2027 Equipping ext. 2026 Senior Pastor ext. 2006 Global Impact ext. 2026 High School ext. 2029 Worship ext. 2040 Community Group Pastor ext. 2022 College ext. 2010 Pastoral Care ext. 2003 Ministry Development ext. 2000 Children & Family ext. 2028
