FAST FORWARD
STEWARDSHIP IN LIGHT OF ETERNITY
02 . 22 . 15
As we continue our sermon series on stewardship, we do so with our eyes and hearts set on FAST FORWARD... considering how our time, talents and treasures can be used by God for eternal purposes.
WELCOME!
He has called us, redeemed us, and set us free to use our life to His glory.
The following prayer may be used as you prepare for worship:
We praise you, God the Father: You created all things by your power and wisdom and so loved the world that you gave your Son to be our Savior.
Sanctuary Services THE CHURCH IN CORPORATE WORSHIP
We praise you, God the Son: You become human like us in all things, except sin, died for our offenses, and rose again for our justification.
It is only when you deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow your Lord that you begin to experience the transcendent humanity for which you were created.
Remember, Christ’s call to you is a rescue. In asking you to deny yourself and follow, He is giving to you what you could never earn or achieve on your own.
You will not find it in your marriage, in parenting your children, in accumulating possessions, in the esteem of friends, in theological knowledge, or in the most beautiful location.
Christ offers you what you cannot earn and what the physical creation can never offer: the all-surpassing glory of knowing Him.
We praise you, God the Holy Spirit: You lead us into all truth and spread the love of God in our hearts. All praise and glory be to you, our God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.
361 Egypt Road Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 843.856.3222 Equipping people to pursue Jesus Christ passionately as they impact the culture. eastcooperbaptist.com
FEBRUARY 22, 201
REFLECTION
This is the world’s best prize. This is the universe’s best meal. This is the only thing that will give life meaning and fill you with lasting joy.
The final question: In your everyday situations and relationships, where are you finding it hard to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Christ? –Paul David Tripp
Morning Welcome PRAISE EXPRESSED THROUGH LOVE IN ACTION
Prelude • Doxology • Jennifer Luiken
John Piper
There is the external impulse of seeing in history the Son of God laying down his life for us and constraining us in this way. But what’s unique about the Christian life is that there is also the internal impulse that comes from being born again and having the very love that sent the Son into the world pulsing through our souls by the life of God within. The new birth enables us to experience the manifestation of God’s love in history as an internal reality of God’s Spirit within us. The new birth creates the connection between God’s love for us and our love for each other. The new birth is the act of the Holy Spirit connecting our dead, selfish hearts with God’s living, loving heart so that his life becomes our life and his love becomes our love. This love is both by nature who God is and by manifestation what God has done in history sending his own Son to lay down his life that he might be the propitiation for our sins and that we might have eternal life.
Anthem of Praise • All Praise Rising • ECBC Choir, Orchestra Larry Faulkner and Cameron Wilson, soloists
All praise rising, all rejoicing, ev’ry honor rise to Thee. All the beauty, all the glory, all thanksgiving rise to Thee. All the music, all the singing, all the longing rise to Thee. In the sorrow and the laughter all praise rising, rise to Thee. And it will rise to Thee. If there be any peace, any love, if there is any joy then let them rise. If there be any good, any just, if there is any grace then let them rise. If there is any breath, any sound, if there is any life, then let it rise. All praise rise.
Scripture Proclamation • from Psalm 100:1-5; Mark 10:45; Revelation 5:12 Leader:
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Therefore, Let us lift our voices and exclaim that:
People:
Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, the servant who offered himself for our ransom, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and praise.
CROWN HIM (Majesty) CHRIS TOMLIN
The new birth connects us to that in such a way that it defines who we are as the children of God. If we are born again we love each other.
Crown Him with many crowns The Lamb upon His throne Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns All music but its own; Awake my soul and sing Of Him who died for me And hail Him as thy matchless King Through all eternity. Majesty, Lord of all Let every throne before Him fall The King of kings, O come adore Our God who reigns forevermore. Crown Him Lord of life Who triumphed o’er the grave And rose victorious in the strife For those He came to save; His glories now we sing Who died and rose on high Who died eternal life to bring And lives that death may die. All hail, Redeemer, hail For He has died for me His praise and glory shall not fail Throughout eternity.
The Morning Prayer of Praise 10,000 REASONS
The Celebration of Baptism
Thoughts by song-writer Matt Redman
BELIEVERS BAPTISM
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing... Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find.”
It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus.
When I talk about the reasons for God’s worth and say there are ‘ten thousand reasons for my heart to find’ that’s actually a huge poetic understatement. The reasons for the praise of God are so wide and wonderful that we could sing from now until forever and never run out of ideas as to why He is quite so worthy -- the glories of creation, the countless blessings weaved into our everyday existences, and the miracle of life itself.
It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming. Matthew 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; 20:7; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16,21; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12. From The Baptist Faith and Message, Article VII. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We Celebrate Today with: Christine Johnson Antoinette Kempinger Stan Kempinger Anna Grace McCants Catherine Sweatt Kate Wall Spencer Willis
We think about families and social circles, and provision in our lives. And we praise, and praise, and praise again. Perhaps that’s why at the end of Psalm 30 the worshipper says: “...my heart may sing to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give You thanks forever.” (Psalm 30:12)
10,000 REASONS (Bless the Lord) MATT REDMAN
The psalmist knows of a multitude of reasons why we should worship God. And he knows of not one reason why he should refrain from doing so. He can’t think of a single motive why he should remain silent.
There will be an eternity of reasons to adore and revere Him.
The same must be true for our own lives. The worship of Jesus should be vibrant, creative and colorful as we unfold our hearts in praise.
Bless the Lord O my soul O my soul Worship His holy name Sing like never before O my soul I’ll worship Your holy name The sun comes up it’s a new day dawning It’s time to sing Your song again Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me Let me be singing when the evening comes You’re rich in love and You’re slow to anger Your name is great and Your heart is kind For all Your goodness I will keep on singing Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find And on that day when my strength is failing The end draws near and my time has come Still my soul will sing Your praise unending Ten thousand years and then forevermore
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY NICEA
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: ”You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Revelation 4:8-11
OFFERTORY PRAYER • Eric Nelson, Deacon of the Day
OFFERTORY • ECBC Orchestra CONGREGATIONAL GREETINGS MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS THE MORNING SERMON BENEDICTION POSTLUDE
MORNING MESSAGE Staying Power in the Stewardship of Life
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.
Conrad “Buster” Brown, Senior Pastor I Timothy 6:13-16
13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession,14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
The stewardship of life is an invitation to joy, usefulness, and fullness of life in Christ as all things are continuously committed to his lordship and rule. The “stewardship of life” admits to degrees. Joy and staying power in this endeavor is intricately linked to a growing knowledge of the beauty, grandeur, and glory of the triune God and his purposes in history.
The Spoken Word
CD’s of today’s sermon ($3 each) may be special ordered through the church office during the week. The messages may also be heard online at the church website.
“The stewardship of life admits to degrees.”
Responding to the Word
If we are to fight the good fight of the faith (1 Timothy 6:12), zealously take hold of the eternal life to which we have been called (1 Timothy 6:12), and press on to obedience for our “progress and joy in the faith” (Philippians 1:25), then we must: 1. Be exceedingly careful not to have the word of God choked in our lives. We must listen to the word with an “honest and good heart”. “14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patien ce.” Luke 8:14-15 “What fell among the thorns stands for people who have the potential for spiritual advance. But life will hold just so much, and these people fill their lives with so many things that there is no room for spiritual fruit. Over against all of these are those in the good soil. “Honest and good heart” are those who retain the word and bring forth fruit.” Leon Morris, The Gospel According to Luke, Tyndale Bible Commentary
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 and His Word. In worship, God presents us with the costly self-offering of Jesus Christ. We are calmed 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.
“Though of little weak faith where steadfastness is lacking, will carry a man to Christ in heaven, yet it will never carry him comfortably or pleasantly there… The least true faith will do its work safely, though not so sweetly.” John Owen, The Works of John Owen, Vol. VII, p. 42
“If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the reward’s promise in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mudpies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory, pp. 3-4 2. [To] continuously disentangle my soul [make corrections to daily living], I must be a worshiper who is continuously transfixed/overwhelmed by beauty and grandeur of the living God in the person of Christ. “Would it not be better to be dead than to have this horrible fear that Aslan has come and is not like the Aslan we have believed in and longed for? It is as if the sun rose one day and were a black sun.” C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle
29 And as he [Jesus] was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. 34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alo ne.” Luke 9:30
Five foundation-principles of the knowledge about God: 1. God has spoken to man, and the Bible is His Word, given to us to make us wise unto salvation. 2. God is Lord and King over His world; He rules all things for His own glory, displaying his perfections in all that He does, in order that men may worship and adore Him. 3. God is Saviour, active in sovereign love through the Lord Jesus Christ to rescue believers from the guilt and power of sin, to adopt them as His sons, and to bless them accordingly. 4. God is Triune; there are within the Godhead three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and the work of salvation is one in which all three act together, the Father purposing redemption, the Son securing it, and the Spirit applying it. 5. Godliness means responding to God’s revelation in trust and obedience, faith and worship, prayer and praise, submission and service. Life must be seen and lived in the light of God’s Word. This, and nothing else, is true religion. J.I. Packer, Knowing God, pp. 15-16 God is: The blessed and only sovereign. (This phrase designates God as containing all happiness in himself and bestowing it on men.) (1 Timothy 1:11) The King of kings and Lord of lords. Who alone has immortality (no beginning and no end). Who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see.
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“This is added for the sake of additional explanation, that men may learn to look by faith to Him, whom they cannot see with the bodily eyes, or even with the powers of their understanding; for I view this as referring not only to the bodily eyes, but also to the faculties of the soul…The apostle fortifies us against this danger [of asking: “Do we truly know God even though we don’t see him?”] by affirming that it ought not to be judged according to our senses, because it exceeds our capacity; for the reason why we do not see is, that our sight is not so keen as to ascend to so great a height.” John Calvin, Calvin’s Commentary on 1 Timothy, pp. 168-169
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JOYFUL STAYING POWER IN THE STEWARDSHIP OF LIFE INVOLVES THE ONGOING TREASURING OF THE BEAUTY AND GRANDEUR OF THE TRIUNE GOD IN DAILY WORSHIP.
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GLOBAL IMPACT CONFERENCE – FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 1 We are looking for families to host the missionary families attending our Global Impact Conference. If you are willing to provide lodging and meals (which usually amounts to breakfast), contact Erin Kortvelesy at
[email protected] or 856-3222 ext. 2027 We are also in need of volunteers for the Kid’s Missions Festival, nursery-5th grade. Contact Crystal Cantrell at
[email protected] to volunteer.
Prayer Line: 856-3222 ext. PRAY(7729)
Schedule of Events (Register at www.eastcooperbaptist.com) Friday, 27 February 6:30-8:30pm - Global Impact Banquet with John Brady ($5/person. Registration required.) 6:30-8:30pm - Kid’s Mission Festival (K-5th grades. Registration required.) Saturday, 28 February 10am-12:30pm - Global Impact Brunch (Free. Registration required.) Enjoy a free hot breakfast buffet and then choose “electives” where you can: Hear specific missionaries share about their work. Hear local ministry advocates (i.e., Lowcountry Pregnancy Center, Hotdog Ministry) share their work and how you can be involved. 10am-12:30pm - Kid’s Mission Festival (Registration required) Sunday, 1 March 9:30 & 11:00am - Sunday Morning Bible Classes with Global Partners 9:30 & 11:00am - Worship Services with John Brady 12:30-1:45pm - College Lunch 5:30-6:20pm - Missionaries with Community Groups (at ECBC) 6:30-7:30pm - Church-wide Celebration of Missions (sanctuary) A joyful evening of worship, prayer and encouragement *Childcare available at all events but registration required. Global Partner Retreats We are looking for people to join our team for our Thailand (July 17-25) and/or Dubai (July 25-Aug 1) Global Partner Retreats. The team will be providing childcare and a VBS program for the children while Buster is ministering to the adults through preaching and our worship team leads them in music. This is a family-friendly trip. For more information go to www.eastcooperbaptist.com/go. Father/Son Campout Save the Date for this year’s Father/Son Campout on March 13-14. For more information please visit eastcooperbaptist.com. Palmetto Christian Academy Open Enrollment has begun PCA is accepting applications for Preschool through High School for 2015-2016. Applications are available on our website at www.palmettochristianacademy.org. PCA Admissions Office: 843-881-9967 x2081. Contact: Lisa Shimakonis at
[email protected] Experience PCA Day – Shadow Day For Students in Rising Grades 6 – 12, Wednesday, March 11 or Wednesday, April 15. If interested, contact the Admissions Office at 843-881-9967x2081, Lisa Shimakonis
[email protected] Wild Game Banquet Speaker Watch or listen to the Wild Game Banquet speaker, Carey Cash, at www.eastcooperbaptist.com. Scroll down on the home page and follow the link.
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