Welcome
Thank you so much for joining us! The following page will take you through the order of worship for this Sunday.
If you are new, welcome! We also want to invite you to learn more about us. You can do so by selecting the button below.
If you are new, welcome! We also want to invite you to learn more about us. You can do so by selecting the button below.
A few tips for parents:
- Plan for your time – read through the guide and prepare the room where you are gathering
- Make your time joyful – have fun!!!
- Remember, it’s primarily about a relationship, not a task to scratch off
- Have your kids participate in age and maturity appropriate ways – reading, singing, etc.
Time of Reflection
“Envy is an ulcer of the soul.”
~Socrates, Greek philosopher (470-399BC)
“But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world, and they who are allied with him experience it.”
~Book of Wisdom 2:24 (an influential Jewish text from the 1st century BC)
“It requires wisdom to understand wisdom: the music is nothing if the audience is deaf.”
~Walter Lippmann, American political commentator (1889-1974)
“The truest wisdom is a resolute determination.”
~Napoleon Bonaparte, (a rather short) French emperor (1769-1821)
“Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.”
~Miles Kington, British journalist and musician (1941-2008)
“To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.”
~Bertrand Russell, British philosopher (1872-1970)
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.”
~Proverbs 9:10
“Out in the cold
And tryin’ to make fire
Two sticks and stone
Still got no fire
Once I was shown
But I was inside then
And spit on that good advice
Wisdom, wisdom
Where can I get some?
Wisdom, wisdom”
~Mother Mother, Canadian Rock Band (2005-present)
~Socrates, Greek philosopher (470-399BC)
“But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world, and they who are allied with him experience it.”
~Book of Wisdom 2:24 (an influential Jewish text from the 1st century BC)
“It requires wisdom to understand wisdom: the music is nothing if the audience is deaf.”
~Walter Lippmann, American political commentator (1889-1974)
“The truest wisdom is a resolute determination.”
~Napoleon Bonaparte, (a rather short) French emperor (1769-1821)
“Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.”
~Miles Kington, British journalist and musician (1941-2008)
“To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.”
~Bertrand Russell, British philosopher (1872-1970)
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.”
~Proverbs 9:10
“Out in the cold
And tryin’ to make fire
Two sticks and stone
Still got no fire
Once I was shown
But I was inside then
And spit on that good advice
Wisdom, wisdom
Where can I get some?
Wisdom, wisdom”
~Mother Mother, Canadian Rock Band (2005-present)
Opening Prayer
(select someone from your group to open your service in prayer)
Call to Worship
Psalm 90 (ESV)
LEADER: Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
CONGREGATION: Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants!
LEADER: Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
CONGREGATION: Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil.
LEADER: Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.
CONGREGATION: Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!
LEADER: Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
CONGREGATION: Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants!
LEADER: Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
CONGREGATION: Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil.
LEADER: Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.
CONGREGATION: Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!
Songs & Liturgy
(sing as a group and/or sing along to recorded versions)
COME, THOU FOUNT OF EVERY BLESSING
(Robert Robinson & Asahel Nettleton, 1757)
(Robert Robinson & Asahel Nettleton, 1757)
Come, Thou Fount of ev’ry blessing,
Tune my heart to sing thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above;
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.
Here I raise mine “Ebenezer”;
Hither by Thy help I come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure;
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wand’ring heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for thy courts above.
Oh that day when freed from sinning
I shall see Thy lovely face
Full arrayed in blood-washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry
Bring Thy promises to pass
For I know Thy pow’r will keep me
Till I’m home with Thee at last.
PUBLIC DOMAIN
Tune my heart to sing thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above;
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.
Here I raise mine “Ebenezer”;
Hither by Thy help I come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure;
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wand’ring heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for thy courts above.
Oh that day when freed from sinning
I shall see Thy lovely face
Full arrayed in blood-washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry
Bring Thy promises to pass
For I know Thy pow’r will keep me
Till I’m home with Thee at last.
PUBLIC DOMAIN
RESPONSIVE READING
1 Peter 2 (ESV)
LEADER: So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
CONGREGATION: Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
LEADER: As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
CONGREGATION: For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
LEADER: So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
CONGREGATION: And “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
LEADER: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
CONGREGATION: Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
LEADER: Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
CONGREGATION: Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
LEADER: So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
CONGREGATION: Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
LEADER: As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
CONGREGATION: For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
LEADER: So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
CONGREGATION: And “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
LEADER: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
CONGREGATION: Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
LEADER: Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
CONGREGATION: Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
HOW DEEP THE FATHER’S LOVE FOR US
(Stuart Townend)
(Stuart Townend)
How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss.
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.
Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders.
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished.
I will not boast in anything:
No gifts, no power, no wisdom.
But I will boast in Jesus Christ:
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart:
His wounds have paid my ransom.
©1995 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) CCLI#1791178
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss.
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.
Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders.
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished.
I will not boast in anything:
No gifts, no power, no wisdom.
But I will boast in Jesus Christ:
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart:
His wounds have paid my ransom.
©1995 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) CCLI#1791178
Sharing
(as a lead into the Prayer Time, as a group share how you are feeling and what you are learning; below are suggested questions)
- What are you learning about life/God lately?
- What do you want to pray for this week?
- What fears are you experiencing with this pandemic?
Prayer
(You may have an open time of prayer, pray the written prayer below, or listen to the prayer recorded by Pastor Ryan Bouton using the media player below.)
Prayer Request: This week CRC will be praying for Stefan and Antje Byers. Stefan is the lead pastor of Evangeliumsgemeinde Gemeinde in Jena, Germany. CRC has been a partner for about 5 years with the Jena Evangelical congregation by bringing Dartmouth students to serve over winter break. In fact, many of you will recall Stefan and Antje visiting CRC several times to connect with our community as well. We ask for the church to pray for continued wisdom for Stefan and Antje. Please pray Stefan and Antje remain encouraged in the Lord. Also pray that Stefan and Antje would have wisdom as Germany begins to lessen its restrictions, that the church will know how to minister and gather safely and appropriately.
Prayer Request: This week CRC will be praying for Stefan and Antje Byers. Stefan is the lead pastor of Evangeliumsgemeinde Gemeinde in Jena, Germany. CRC has been a partner for about 5 years with the Jena Evangelical congregation by bringing Dartmouth students to serve over winter break. In fact, many of you will recall Stefan and Antje visiting CRC several times to connect with our community as well. We ask for the church to pray for continued wisdom for Stefan and Antje. Please pray Stefan and Antje remain encouraged in the Lord. Also pray that Stefan and Antje would have wisdom as Germany begins to lessen its restrictions, that the church will know how to minister and gather safely and appropriately.
Our Heavenly Father
You have made us and you sustain us. In our time of trouble, we look to you and ask for your mercy and grace. We ask that you would provide for our daily needs, and especially have mercy on those who are suffering loss, and those who are bearing greater burdens in the course of the pandemic. We pray for strength and health, and ask for wisdom. We pray that you would guide those in authority and give them wisdom so that they might act justly, graciously, and effectively for the sake of our community
We pray for peace in our country and in our world, and for deliverance from both disease and fear. We pray that you would give us wisdom as we strive to better love the church, our families, and our community. Would you draw near to us, and give us the peace of your presence. Make us more like Jesus Christ, the wisdom and word of God made flesh. Thank you for your care for us! We rejoice in the grace that comes to us through Jesus, and pray that you would be glorified in and through us. We ask this in Christ’s name.
Amen.
You have made us and you sustain us. In our time of trouble, we look to you and ask for your mercy and grace. We ask that you would provide for our daily needs, and especially have mercy on those who are suffering loss, and those who are bearing greater burdens in the course of the pandemic. We pray for strength and health, and ask for wisdom. We pray that you would guide those in authority and give them wisdom so that they might act justly, graciously, and effectively for the sake of our community
We pray for peace in our country and in our world, and for deliverance from both disease and fear. We pray that you would give us wisdom as we strive to better love the church, our families, and our community. Would you draw near to us, and give us the peace of your presence. Make us more like Jesus Christ, the wisdom and word of God made flesh. Thank you for your care for us! We rejoice in the grace that comes to us through Jesus, and pray that you would be glorified in and through us. We ask this in Christ’s name.
Amen.
Listen to Sermon
“A Wisdom that Comes down from Above”
James 3:3-4:12 (ESV)
preached by Lindsay Whaley
James 3:3-4:12 (ESV)
preached by Lindsay Whaley
Confession of Faith
adapted from 1 Corinthians 1
LEADER: Christian, what is true wisdom?
CONGREGATION: Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. And because of God, believers are in Christ Jesus. He became for us wisdom from God. His our righteousness. He is our sanctification. He is our redemption.
LEADER: Christian, what is true wisdom?
CONGREGATION: Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. And because of God, believers are in Christ Jesus. He became for us wisdom from God. His our righteousness. He is our sanctification. He is our redemption.
Sharing Time
(have everyone share one thing that struck them from the sermon)
Song
(sing as a group and/or sing along to recorded versions)
HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD
(Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, Jesse Reeves)
(Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, Jesse Reeves)
The splendor of the King,
Clothed in majesty.
Let all the earth rejoice,
All the earth rejoice.
He wraps Himself in light,
And darkness tries to hide,
And trembles at His voice,
And trembles at His voice.
CHORUS:
How great is our God!
Sing with me,
How great is our God!
And all will see how great,
How great is our God!
Age to age He stands,
And time is in His hands,
Beginning and the End,
Beginning and the End,
The Godhead three in one:
Father, Spirit, Son,
The Lion and the Lamb,
The Lion and the Lamb.
(CHORUS)
BRIDGE:
Name above all names,
Worthy of all praise,
My heart will sing
How great is our God!
©2004 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) CCLI License #1791178
Clothed in majesty.
Let all the earth rejoice,
All the earth rejoice.
He wraps Himself in light,
And darkness tries to hide,
And trembles at His voice,
And trembles at His voice.
CHORUS:
How great is our God!
Sing with me,
How great is our God!
And all will see how great,
How great is our God!
Age to age He stands,
And time is in His hands,
Beginning and the End,
Beginning and the End,
The Godhead three in one:
Father, Spirit, Son,
The Lion and the Lamb,
The Lion and the Lamb.
(CHORUS)
BRIDGE:
Name above all names,
Worthy of all praise,
My heart will sing
How great is our God!
©2004 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) CCLI License #1791178
Closing Prayer
(select someone to close your time in prayer)
Benediction
(The leader or individual should read this aloud relishing in the confident assertion that Christ has conquered.)
LEADER: Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
PEOPLE: Amen! May it be to us according to the Word of God!
LEADER: Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
PEOPLE: Amen! May it be to us according to the Word of God!