Abraham - The covenant confirmed

Abraham

The covenant confirmed

Announcements

Call to worship

Bible Verse

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts (Psalm 95:6-8).

Blessing

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, (Galatians 1:3-4)

Hymn:                            “Bless the Lord O my soul” (Screen Psalm Praise)

Invocation

Scripture Reading                     Galatians 3:6-14; 26-29

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Declaration of pardoning

No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34)

Hymn No 574:            “Blessed assurance”

Offering and Dedication

While the offering is taken up, remaining seated, we sing:

Hymn:                            “O, the mercy of God” (Screen – G Bullock)

Prayer for others

Hymn:                            “These are the facts” (Screen - Psalm Praise)

Scripture Reading     Genesis 17:1-16; 23-27      

Sermon                          The Covenant confirmed

•     God the Head of the Covenant

–    Covenant of grace

•     Not of works

–    Everlasting covenant

•     Generations to come

•     The “seed” of Abraham

–    I am your God

•     God set the conditions

•     He demanded “holiness”

•     Circumcision the sign of the covenant

–    The sign of grace

•     It is not grace itself

•     It is not the covenant itself

•     A sign of blood

–    All males

•     Born to the family

•     Bought to the family

•     All ages

•     Compulsory

•     Jesus Christ – the “SEED” of Abraham

–    By his blood – He redeemed us

–    Abraham – “all nations” will be blessed

–    Christ – we are children of Abraham

–    Christ – we are saved by grace not works

–    Christ – we are baptised in Him

•     He is our Covenant Head

•     No sign of blood

•     Promise of the Holy Spirit

•     The Baptism into Christ

–    All

•     Females included

–    All ages

•     Children as well as adults

•     When?

–    How?

•     With water

•     Immersed?

Conclusion

Prayer including The Lord’s Prayer

Hymn No 109:                            “A debtor to mercy alone”

Benediction

Threefold “Amen”

Hymn 637