The Lord’s Day Worship Service

January 30, 2011 ~ New City Church | Calgary

Welcome
We are glad you have joined us today. Whether you are a Christian seeking to grow in your
relationship with Jesus Christ, or a skeptic looking for answers, or someone who is struggling to
make sense of life and are looking for a caring community, you are warmly welcome here.
We’re glad you came.

After the Service

Please stay around for some refreshments after the service and meet someone new. If we
haven’t met you before, please come say “Hello.” We’d like to make that connection.

Pastors John Ferguson & Mike Ivancic

 Reflections & Preparation for Worship 

O God, by Your power may we, together with all the saints, comprehend the breadth and length
and height and depth of the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that we may be filled
with Your fullness. Amen. ~ based on Ephesians 3:18-19

“…a healthy understanding of doubt should go hand in hand with a healthy understanding of
faith. We ourselves are called in question if we have no answer to doubt. If we constantly doubt
what we believe and always believe-yet-doubt, we will be in danger of undermining our personal
integrity, if not our stability. But if ours is an examined faith, we should be unafraid to doubt. If
doubt is eventually justified, we were believing what clearly was not worth believing. But if doubt
is answered, our faith has grown stronger still. It knows God more certainly and it can enjoy God
more deeply.”
~ Os Guinness, God in the Dark

A man with a demon possessed boy said to Jesus, “If you can do anything, have compassion
on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for the one who
believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe, help my unbelief!”
~ from the Gospel of Mark 9:22-24

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
~ Hebrews 11:1

"The only way to doubt Christianity rightly and fairly is to discern the alternate belief under each
of your doubts and then ask yourself what reasons you have for believing it. How do you know
your belief is true? It would be inconsistent to require more justification for Christian belief than
you do for your own, but that is frequently what happens. In fairness you must doubt your
doubts. My thesis is that if you come to recognize the beliefs on which your doubts about
Christianity are based, and if you seek as much proof for those beliefs as you seek from
Christians for theirs – you will discover that your doubts are not as solid as they first appeared."
~ Tim Keller, The Reason for God

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  God Calls Us To Worship 
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. ~ Psalm 150:6

The Call to Worship ~ based on Isaiah 12:2-6

Leader: Sing praises, for the Lord has done great things.
Let this be known in all the earth.
People: Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid,
For the Lord God is my strength and my song,
And He has become my salvation.

Leader: With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Unison: Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name,
Make known His deeds among the peoples
Proclaim that His name is exalted.

Leader: Sing praises to the Lord, for He has done great things.
Let this be known I all the earth.

Hymns of Praise & Worship

“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

The King of creation / O my soul, praise Him
For He is thy health and salvation
All ye who hear
Now to His temple draw near
Join me in glad adoration

Praise to the Lord who o’er all things

So wondrously reigneth
Shelters thee under His wings
Yes, so gently sustaineth / Hast thou not seen
How all thy longings have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord who doth

Prosper thy work and defend thee
Surely His goodness and mercy
Here daily attend thee
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do
If with His love He befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord

O let all that is in me adore Him
All that hath life and breath
Come now with praises before Him
Let the ‘Amen’ sound from His people again
Gladly for aye we adore Him
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 “You’re Worthy of My Praise”

I will worship with all of my heart

I will praise You with all of my strength
I will seek You all of my days
I will follow all of Your ways

I will give You all my worship

I will give You all my praise
You alone I long to worship
You alone are worthy of my praise

I will bow down, and I'll hail You as king

I will serve You, I will give You everything
I will lift up my eyes to Your throne
I will trust You, I will trust You alone

I will give You all my worship

I will give You all my praise
You alone I long to worship
You alone are worthy of my praise

 God Graciously Renews Us in Christ 

Have mercy on me, O God, in Your faithful love, in Your great tenderness wipe away my
offenses; wash me thoroughly from my guilt, purify me from my sin. ~ Psalm 51:1-2

Call to Confession ~ Jeremiah 17:9

Leader: The Lord has spoken through the prophet Jeremiah saying, “The heart is
deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the
Lord search the heart and examine the mind.”

Prayer of Confession

Leader: Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry,

too real to hide, and too deep to undo.
~ Silent confession and reflection.

Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear,
and what has become for us a consuming fire of judgment.
~ Silent confession and reflection.

Set us free from a past we cannot change;

open to us a future in which we can be changed.
~ Silent confession and reflection.

Leader: And grant us grace to grow more and more in Your likeness and image;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Unison: Amen.

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The Words of the Gospel ~ based on 1 John 1:8-2:1

Leader: While it is true that we have sinned, it is a greater truth that God offers
forgiveness to all who turn to the Lord Jesus Christ seeking His grace and
pardon. He is the Righteous One—our Advocate, who speaks in our defense.
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and for the sins of the world.

To all who humbly seek the mercy of God,

I say to you, that in Christ Jesus your sins are forgiven!

Songs of Response

“Majesty”

Here I am, humbled by Your majesty

Covered by Your grace so free
Here I am, knowing I’m a sinful man
Covered by the blood of the Lamb

Now I’ve found the greatest love of all is mine

Since You laid down Your life
The greatest sacrifice

chorus
Majesty, majesty
Your grace has found me just as I am
Empty handed but alive in Your hands

Here I am, humbled by the love that You give

Forgiven so that I can forgive
Here I stand knowing that I’m Your desire
Sanctified by glory and fire

Now I’ve found the greatest love of all is mine

Since You laid down Your life
The greatest sacrifice

Majesty, majesty
Your grace has found me just as I am
Empty handed but alive in Your hands

Majesty, majesty
Forever I am changed by Your love,
In the presence of Your majesty, majesty.

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 “Before the Throne of God Above”

Before the throne of God above

I have a strong, a perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is “Love”
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart,
I know that while in Heav’n He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart

When Satan tempts me to despair

And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Behold Him there! The risen Lamb

My perfect, spotless Righteousness
The great unchangeable I Am
The King of glory and of grace!
One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ, my Saviour and my God
With Christ my Saviour and my God

 God Gives Us His Words of Eternal Life 

Lord Jesus, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life! Let your word dwell in
us richly, that whatever we do, in word or deed, we may do everything in Your name, giving
thanks to the Father through You. ~ based on John 6:68, Colossians 3:16-17

Today’s Scripture Lesson: “Redemption: Blessing Every Nation On the Planet (Part 2)”
John Ferguson, Lead Pastor
Genesis 15

15:1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your
shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I
continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you
have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of
the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” 5 And he
brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number
them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to
him as righteousness.
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7 And he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land
to possess.” 8 But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” 9 He said to him,
“Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a
young pigeon.” 10 And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the
other. But he did not cut the birds in half. 11 And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram
drove them away.

12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell
upon him. 13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a
land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. 14 But I
will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great
possessions. 15 As for yourself, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old
age. 16 And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet
complete.”

17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed
between these pieces. 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I
give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, 19 the land of the Kenites,
the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the
Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.”

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.

Unison: Thanks be to God!

(notes)

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  God Feeds Us His Covenant Meal 
From the east and the west, from the north and the south, people will come
and take their places at the banquet in the Kingdom of God. ~ based on Luke 13:29

A Word About Participating in The Sacrament of The Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Supper is a special family meal that Christ gave to His Bride, the Church.
For Christians, this meal is a time to receive these signs and seals of the New
Covenant which Christ has established with them. Believers come to this Table to meet
with their Lord and Saviour by faith, to be renewed by Him and strengthened in their
callings and mission as they eat the bread and drink the wine.

Therefore, all baptized Christians who trust in Christ alone as their Lord and Saviour
and who are connected to a church that proclaims his Gospel are invited to come to the
Table.

If you are not yet a Christian, or if for whatever reason you are not prepared to share
in this meal, we would encourage you to spend this time in prayer (perhaps using one of
the prayers listed below). Consider the invitation of Jesus, “I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst…
for my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have
eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:35, 40).

We would ask that children who have not yet professed belief in the Lord Jesus also
refrain from partaking until doing so. The pastor would be delighted to speak to families
about what it means to participate in the Lord’s Supper.

The Words of Institution

“The Lord Jesus, on the night we was betrayed took bread, and when he had given
thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance
of me.’ In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new
covenant in my blood, do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as
often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he
comes.
~ 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

The Sacrament of The Lord’s Supper

Please come forward by rows to the center isle and form a semi-circle in front of the Table
to receive the bread and the wine. When finished, place your cup at the side tables and
proceed to your seat via the outer isles. If you are unable to come forward we would be
delighted to serve you at your seat.

New City Church uses wine in serving the Lord’s Supper. We would encourage you to
take of the wine since it is a symbol of joy and celebration in Scripture. However, juice is
also provided if you cannot drink wine due to health reasons or issues of conscience.

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Prayers for Those Not Communing

A Prayer Searching for the Truth: Jesus, You claim to be the way, the truth, and the life,
and that no one comes to the Father except by You. If what You claim is true, please guide
me and teach me. Open to me the reality of who You are. Grant that I might be undaunted
in following You as I consider the reasons for doing so. Give me an understanding of You
that is coherent, convincing, and leads to the eternal life that You promise. Amen.

A Prayer of Trust in the Lord Jesus: Jesus, I confess that I am more broken, flawed, and
sinful than I had ever before dared to admit. Yet You tell me that I am more loved than I
ever dared to hope, and that You accept all who turn to you in simple faith. I am doing that
right now. I thank You for taking the justice that my sins deserved when You died on the
Cross. I eagerly trust You for the forgiveness for my sins, and I receive from You now the
eternal life that You promise to all who come to You. Amen.

A Prayer for Those Struggling with Sin: Lord Jesus, You know the battle that rages
within my heart. Grant that in my battles with sin, I may see in You the fulfillment of all my
needs. Give me strength to turn from every false satisfaction to find my ultimate joy in You.
Enable me to lay aside the sin that clings so closely to me, and fill me with Your Spirit to run
with perseverance the race You have set before me, looking to You, the pioneer and
champion of my faith. Amen.

A Prayer for Children (who have yet to profess faith): Jesus, the Bible tells me that You
blessed kids like me. Help me to know who You are and to understand what You have done
for me. Amen.

Communion Hymns

“All I Have Is Christ”

I once was lost in darkest night

Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell-bound race

Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace

chorus
Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

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 Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose.
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You

(repeat chorus)

“My Jesus, I Love Thee”

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine

For Thee all the follies of sin I resign
My gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art Thou
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now

I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me

And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now

I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death

And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath
And say, when the death-dew lies cold on my brow
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now

In mansions of glory and endless delight

I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now

 God Receives Our Offerings 

“…lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where
thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
~ Jesus, in Matthew 6:20-21

The Presentation of our Tithes and Offerings

This collection of our tithes and offerings is for those who consider New City Church their
church family and regularly benefit from her ministry and want to invest in her mission. If
you are visiting with us, please feel no obligation to give.

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Hymn of Praise & Worship

“Be Thou My Vision”

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light

Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word

I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise

Thou my inheritance, now and always
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art

High King of heaven, my victory won

May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heav’n’s Sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all

 God Sends Us Out Into The World With His Blessing 

“God has shown you what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” ~ from Micah 6:8

Leader: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the
Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:13) .
People: Amen.

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  Community Life 

Newcomer’s Class: Beginning TODAY, New City Church will be offering a Newcomer’s class.
This 4-5 week class will introduce you to the vision and distinctives of New City Church, our
hopes and dreams, and your part to play in it all. There will also be an opportunity to explore
what membership at New City Church means with its privileges and responsibilities. All are
invited to attend this classes that will be held for 45 minutes immediately after the worship
service. Nursery will be provided.

Engaging the Culture with the Gospel: Woodgreen Presbyterian Church is sponsoring a
weekend with apologist Andy Bannister of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. Session #1:
“Ideas & Their Consequences: The Christian Worldview and Why It Matters” (Saturday, Feb.
12, 7-9pm. Session #2: “In the World but not of the World: Understanding and Engaging Our
Culture” (Sunday, Feb. 13, 5-6pm). No cost.

Reginald Bibby at Ambrose University: Bibby will be at Ambrose on Feb. 2, 7pm, speaking
on the theme of his new book: “Beyond the Gods and Back: Religion’s Demise & Rise & Why It
Matters.” Bibby is a professor of sociology at the Univ. of Lethbridge. No cost.

David Fitch will be speaking at Ambrose University, Feb. 16 & 17 at 7pm, on “The Future of
Evangelicalism.” His website is www.reclaimingthemission.com. No cost.
New City Church Online. Visit us NCC online at www.NewCityChurch.ca. Here, you can find
our sermons & sermon notes posted. You can also subscribe to our sermons via iTunes. Just
search for “New City Church Calgary” and you can find us on iTunes. We’re also on Facebook
& have a blog for those who are not on Facebook as well. All is accessible via
www.NewCityChurch.ca.

Giving Report
* NCC Giving indicates funds raised outside of New City Church

Weekly Servants at New City Church

All songs used by permission. CCLI license # 273300. Parts of the worship service are adapted from or
reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, c. 2004, CRC Publications.

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