First, a reminder that service times have changed:
Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Fellowship: 10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Worship: 10:50 a.m. to 12:05 p.m.
Second, we are doing two things, beginning this Sunday, September 11, to aid in the immediate heart preparation for worship:
(1) The coffee counter will be closed at 10:45 and will not reopen until after announcements at the end of the service.
(2) Though worship will begin at 10:50, there will be a prelude at 10:45 and we will encourage everyone to take their seats and prayerfully prepare for worship in quietness and reverence at that time.
Third, for the next ten week in this heart prep blog I’m going to be including one of John Piper’s ten tips for heart preparation on Saturday night and Sunday morning. The first of these is:
1. Pray that God Would Give You a Good and Honest Heart
The heart we need is a work of God. That’s why we pray for it. “I will give you a new heart” (Ezekiel 36:26). “I will give them a heart to know Me” (Jeremiah 24:7). Let’s pray, “O Lord, give me a heart for you. Give me a good and honest heart. Give me a soft and receptive heart. Give me a humble and meek heart. Give me an fruitful heart.”
Finally, worship this week we are studying one of the great texts in the account of Elijah’s life, the showdown with the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel. As we read this text we can hardly help but worship a God who is awesome in power and perfect in holiness:
O Worship the King (This version does the verses on tune, but has a bridge from some unknown source.)
Every Knee Shall Bow
Great and Mighty (This is being used as a soundtrack to a missions trip report, but it is the version we sing!)
Offertory: We Shall Assemble/In This Sanctuary
