Westminster Confession Of Faith – Lord’s Day 5

Chapter 3 – Of God’s Eternal Decree (Paragraphs 1 – 4)
I. God from all eternity did by the most and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby neither is God the author of sin; nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.
II. Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all supposed conditions; yet has he not decreed any thing because he foresaw it as future, as that which would come to pass, upon such conditions.
III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others foreordained to everlasting death.
IV. These angels and men, thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed; and their number is so certain and definite that it can not be either increased or diminished.

Our sermon, Nothing Without A Parable, introduces the first of our series on the Parables of Jesus, the Parables of the Kingdom as Jesus tells his disciples why he teaches in parables.

For those unable to join us at MGPC, the service will be live-streamed.
The video is available at our website and youtube channel.

Song: No Longer Slaves
Welcome:
Call to Worship
Song: Glorious Day
Prayer Of Confession
Song: Approach My Soul The Mercy Seat
Affirming our Faith
Song: Now To Him Who Loved Us
Bible Reading: Romans 6:1-14 -Focus shifts in chapter 6 from justification (3:21-5:21) to sanctification. Union with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection mean new life, freedom from bondage to sin, and freedom to serve God’s righteousness.
Bible Memorisation: Galatians 5:22-23
Song: I Will Sing The Wondrous Story
Bible Reading: Matthew 13: 10-17
Sermon: Nothing Without A Parable
Announcements:
Pastoral Prayer:
Closing Blessing
Song: Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me

To impose Bible proclamation on the basis of authority or office, or using rhetorical devices to entice an audience place the focus on the speaker, not the message.
Preaching remembers that the only authority the speaker has, and the only reason it should be heard, is that it wholly shares the scriptures.

There is a possible life of great nobleness and usefulness for the preacher who, frankly recognising and cordial accepting the attitude towards his office which he finds on the world’s part, preaches truth and duty on their own intrinsic authority, and wins personal power and influence because he does not seek them, but seeks the prevalence of righteousness and the salvation of men’s souls.

Phillips Brooks, The Joy Of Preaching, Kregel Classics, 1989, pg. 178.