Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On Sunday, we will be hearing Nehemiah 2:9-20, where Nehemiah quietly inspects the damage to the city. In the previous chapter, Nehemiah hears a report of the damage to the city and is moved to speak to the king. In this section, he sees the damage with his own eyes. He does it under the cover of night. Nehemiah is examining the damage in the same way that we need to do damage assessment in our own lives. The question the Lord calls us to ask is, “what is happening in my heart or home or church that reflects a poor spiritual condition?” The second major issue in this section is opposition to the rebuilding as Sanballat and Tobiah raise their voices – they mock and ridicule. This is the hatred of the world toward the people of God. It bears witness to the fact that the church is an object of ridicule before a watching world. True churches are a threat to worldliness and the works of darkness, and darkness will always try to overcome it in some way. The more faithful a church looks, the more the world laughs.

Here is a Memory Verse for the preaching on Sunday: 2 Cor 13:5-6  which is an appeal to examine yourselves: v5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?–unless indeed you are disqualified. 6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.

On Sunday afternoon at 1:30 we will be reviewing the Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 2. What rule has God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him? A: The word of God, namely the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him.  2 Timothy 3:15-16; Ephesians 2:20; 1 John1:3-4; Luke 16:29, 31; Galatians 1:8-9.

On Sunday night Paul Carrington will be teaching the Baptist Confession on, “The Law of God.”

Prayer is at the Noah’s

The Songs we will be singing are here:

• Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
• All The Way My Savior Leads Me
• Reformation Hymn
• Ancient Words
• Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation

Christ the Lord Is Risen Today

Christ the Lord is ris’n today, Alleluia!

Sons of men and angels say:  Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high.  Alleluia!

Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth, reply:  Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King. Alleluia!

Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!

Dying once, He all doth save. Alleluia!

Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done. Alleluia!

Fought the fight, the battle won. Alleluia!

Death in vain forbids Him rise. Alleluia!

Christ has opened paradise. Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led. Alleluia!

Foll’wing our exalted Head. Alleluia!

Made like Him, like Him we rise. Alleluia!

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies. Alleluia!

All The Way My Savior Leads Me 

All the way my Savior leads me

What have I to ask beside?

Can I doubt His tender mercy

Who through life has been my Guide

Heavenly peace, divinest comfort

Here by faith in Him to dwell

For I know what e’er befall me

Jesus doeth all things well

For I know what e’er befall me

Jesus doeth all things well

All the way my Savior leads me

Cheers each winding path I tread

Gives me grace for every trial

Feeds me with the living bread

Though my weary steps may falter

And my soul a thirst may be

Gushing from the rock before me

Lo, a spring of joy I see

Gushing from the rock before me

Lo, a spring of joy I see

All the way my Savior leads me

O the fullness of His love

Perfect rest to me is promised

In my Father’s house above

When my spirit clothed immortal

Wings its flight to realms of day

This my song through endless ages

Jesus lead me all the way

This my song through endless ages

Jesus lead me all the way

Reformation Hymn

We will trust God’s Word alone,

Where His perfect will is known;

Our traditions shift like sand

While His Truth forever stands.

We will live by faith alone,

Clothed in merit not our own;

All we claim is Jesus Christ

And His finished sacrifice.

Glory be, glory be to God alone

Through the church He redeemed

     and made His own.

He has freed us, He will keep us

     till we’re safely home

Glory be, glory be to God alone!

We are saved by grace alone –

Undeserved, yet freely shown;

No accomplishment on earth

Can achieve the second birth.

We will stand on Christ alone,

The unyielding Cornerstone;

Nations rage and devils roar,

Still he reigns forevermore!

Glory be, glory be to God alone

Through the church He redeemed

     and made His own.

He has freed us, He will keep us

     till we’re safely home

Glory be, glory be to God alone!

Ancient Words

Holy words long preserved

For our walk in this world,

They resound with God’s own heart;

Oh, let the ancient words impart.

Words of life, words of hope

Give us strength, help us cope;

In this world, where e’er we roam

Ancient words will guide us home.

   Ancient words, ever true,

   Changing me, and changing you;

   We have come with open hearts,

   Oh, let the ancient words impart.

Holy words of our faith,

Handed down to this age,

Came to us through sacrifice;

Oh heed the faithful words of Christ.

Holy words long preserved

For our walk in this world,

They resound with God’s own heart;

Oh let the ancient words impart.

   Ancient words, ever true,

   Changing me, and changing you;

   We have come with open hearts,

   Oh, let the ancient words impart.

Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation

Christ is made the sure foundation,

Christ the head and cornerstone,

Chosen of the Lord and precious,

Binding all the church in one;

Holy Zion’s help forever,

And her confidence alone.

All that dedicated city,

Dearly loved of God on high,

In exultant jubilation

Pours perpetual melody;

God the One in Three adoring

In glad hymns eternally.

To this temple, where we call Thee,

Come, O Lord of hosts, today;

With Thy wonted lovingkindness

Hear Thy people as they pray;

And Thy fullest benediction

Shed within its walls alway.

Here vouchsafe to all Thy servants

What they ask of Thee to gain,

What they gain from Thee forever

With the blessed to retain,

And hereafter in Thy glory

Evermore with Thee to reign.

Laud and honor to the Father,

Laud and honor to the Son,

Laud and honor to the Spirit,

Ever Three and ever One,

One in might, and One in glory,

While unending ages run.