EVENING WORSHIP “And watch, if it goes up by the way of its own territory to Beth-shemesh,

THE TWENTY-FIFTH DAY OF JANUARY then He has done us this great evil” (I SAMUEL 6:9a).
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD TWO THOUSAND NINE
SIX O'CLOCK Scores of people think they are naturally good (innocent) so they ask the question, „Why do
bad things happen to good people?‟ The fatal flaw in the question is its presupposition that

THE LORD’S DAY

ORDER OF WORSHIP people are good (Mk. 10:18). The better question would be, „Why do good things happen to
bad people?‟ because no one deserves even the very breath he breathes.
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Do you think your definition of „good‟ and God‟s definition of „good‟ is the same? God‟s
CALL TO WORSHIP „good‟ is defined in Romans 8:28-30. Being conformed to the image of Christ (the highest
EVENING PRAYER good in this world) requires eyes affixed upon Jesus, hearts committed to obeying His word,
sacred purifiers purging the world‟s dross from your heart and opportunities for the exercise of
*PSALMS, HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS trusting steadfast heavenly goodness.
Psalter Selection No. 45 God says, “The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of
My heart doth overflow; A noble theme I sing. My tongue‟s a skillful writer‟s pen to speak evil” (Prov. 16:4). God cannot do evil and yet He superintends evil in order to bring Himself
about the King. More fair than sons of men Thy lips with grace o‟erflow, Because His bless- glory. You discover this principle made clear in the dialogue between Christ and His disciples:
ing overmore did God on Thee bestow. “„Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?‟ Jesus answered,
Thy sword gird on Thy thigh, O Thou supreme in might, and gird Thyself with majesty and „It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was in order that the works of God
with Thy splendor bright. To victory ride forth for meekness, truth, and right; and may Thy might be displayed in him‟” (Jn. 9:2f.). You remember Joseph‟s graced words to his brothers:
right hand teach to Thee the deeds of dreadful might. “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present
result, to preserve many people alive” (Gen. 50:20).
Thine arrows sharpened are, Men under Thee to bring, to pierce the heart of enemies who
fight against the King. Thy royal throne, O God, From everlasting is; A righteous scepter Pain is a powerful pulpit forcing the exercise of one‟s true faith. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed
evermore Thy kingdom‟s scepter is. -nego became relevant to their culture and affected their society because of their willingness to
suffer for their Lord to the extent that the world‟s king bowed to “the Most High God” (Dan.
Thou righteousness hast loved and wickedness abhorred; On Thee, „bove all, has God, Thy 3:13-4:3). God brings everlasting good out of apparent bad. “Jesus therefore was saying to those
God, The oil of gladness poured. Through every coming age I‟ll make Thy name to live; The
peoples therefore evermore Their praise to Thee shall give. But is God the cause of evil? God is sovereign and yet He never sins (Js. 1:13-17). God has a Jews who had believed Him, „If you abide
perfect will and a permissive will. He certainly permits what He does not commend and He
No. 580: Lead On, O King Eternal uses instruments without approving of the instrument. Present evil arises from the first evil of
in My word, then you are truly disciples
THE MINISTRY OF GOD’S WORD I SAMUEL 6
Adam and Eve. Natural worldly evils resulted from man‟s sin and the curse upon the earth of Mine; and you shall know the truth,
that followed it is symbolized by the phrase “thorns and thistles” (Gen. 3:18).

HYMN OF COMMITMENT and the truth shall make you free‟”
The proximate causes of evil are:
No. 674: I Need Thee Every Hour  Man‟s fallenness (JOHN 8:31f).
  Man‟s present choices
BENEDICTION
 A fallen world

DOXOLOGY  Satan
You are my rock and fortress for Your sake lead and guide. Free me from nets they’ve hid- The benefits accruing from evil are:
den, my stronghold You abide. I now commit my spirit into Your outstretched hand.  God‟s loving grace is made more evident to both the believing and unbelieving community via
I know You have redeemed me, LORD God of truths that stand. Amen. (PSALM31:3-5) the contrast between the darkness and the light
 The trials that evil brings result in God:
POSTLUDE Eternal Father, Strong to Save  Chastising His beloved so that they become more holy

Congregation Standing *Latecomers may be ushered into the Sanctuary.  Bringing His church back into conformity with His Son
 Warning His children
 Guiding and punishing those dearest to His soul
 Brings God glory (Ezek. 20:9, 14, 22, 33, 39)
Prayer Requests
 Enables you to comfort others (II Cor. 1:3,4)
 Purifies and reforms you into Christ‟s image
 Leads to greater temporal and eternal rewards
CHRIST CHURCH
Perhaps someone is never more evil than when he denies his evilness. Christians know from
experience that the children of the devil serve him more fully and consistently than the best of
saints serve Christ. Unsaved sinners appear more consistent in their wicked walks than saved
OF THE CAROLINAS
sinners in their saintly walks.
Those refusing to recognize their own sinful hearts are themselves cultural terrorists devastat-
ing their land. Their societal engineering is forcing entire communities to careen toward the
abyss of God‟s displeasure. Every evil requires a host and the more accommodating the host,
the greater the evil. Turn your eyes from the cosmic philosophical matter of evil in the uni-
verse to your own heart and life.
January 25th, A.D. 2009
GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO! Ten Thirty o’clock and Six o’clock
Sunday Worship times are at Ten-Thirty o’clock and Six o’clock.
Sunday School for all ages begins at Nine-Fifteen o’clock.
1824 Barnwell Street | Columbia, South Carolina 29201
803.254.5055 | www.christchurchofthecarolinas.org
 MORNING WORSHIP “Yet no one was speaking openly of Him for fear of the Jews” (JOHN 7:13). PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
THE TWENTY-FIFTH DAY OF JANUARY
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD TWO THOUSAND NINE Societal fear is most debilitating because societal censures affect speaking openly of Christ.
TEN THIRTY O'CLOCK Voices become paralyzed by the fear of possible economic or relational reprisals. Neverthe-
less, what of scripturally assured eternal consequences for not speaking openly of Jesus? Did
not Jesus Himself say, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and
ORDER OF WORSHIP sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of
His Father with the holy angels?” (Mk. 8:38).
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Early in 1934, Martin Niemoller mounted the pulpit of his church in the Berlin suburb of
Dahlem, declaring, “The calm of meditative Christianity is at an end… it is testing time…so
PRAY SILENTLY IN PREPARING FOR WORSHIP that it may be seen what manner of men we are.” In 1937, Dr. Niemoller preached his last
sermon during the days of the Third Reich. He was arrested and his trial began on February
Holy God, though my ways appear clean in my sight, You weigh my motives and have 7th, 1938, with the outcome already known. A green-uniformed official escorted God‟s servant
found me lacking because I have not committed my works to You and I have estab- from his prison cell to the courtroom without ever speaking. Loneliness marked Dr. Niemoller
lished my life-plans without You. Though my mind plans my way, You alone must di- as he was kept in solitary confinement for months. He knew nothing of his family, friends or
rect my steps. Unless the many plans of my heart are brought before the Council of the his church. He was in Dachau seven years until liberated by Allied troops.
Trinity to receive holy counsel, I shall fail. I come into Your hallowed presence seeking
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Dr. Niemoller‟s friend, said he fought to the end “for the church to be the
Your instruction, knowledge and wisdom that are more desirable than all the jewels the
church.” He said, “First, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not
world can offer. Heavenly wisdom dwells in the bosom of prudence, the discretion of a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a
self-denial and the fear of the Lord. My pride and arrogance have perverted my judg- trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
ment. Your promise is that those diligently seeking You shall surely find You. I ask not Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out for me.”
for Your treasuries, honor, position or glory – I hunger for Your wisdom. Your wisdom
established the mountains, settled the oceans, raised the hills and leveled the fields. Being quiet about matters that God commands you address is the iron yoke, the holy grail of
Your wisdom birthed the heavens, inscribed the boundaries of the earth and marked worldliness. You shall conform with one of two commonwealths: Man‟s fallen world or God‟s
out the travels of all men. Your wisdom affords rejoicing and delights in its own bene- pure heaven. God is calling you to thunder throughout all the nations as though you see Him
who is invisible.
fits. Gift me with Your instruction that I may be wise in the matters of this world and
eternity. I offer these petitions in the glory of Your name, in the grace of Your Son Readiness to speak openly of Christ determines the soul of a people. Never expect the aristoc-
and in the power of Your Spirit. Amen. racy or most gilded of a society to give voice to biblical Christianity. When Empress Eudoxia
threatened the third century preacher, John Chrysostom, for preaching the gospel, he replied to
PRELUDE her emissaries, “Go tell her that I fear nothing but sin.” The Stuarts openly persecuted the Eng-
lish Puritans, yet they never quit the field.
CALL TO WORSHIP Your Bible is the eternal standard for all involvements because “righteousness exalts a na-
tion” (Ps. 14:34). Speaking openly and often of Jesus is the Christian‟s joyful responsibility.
PRAYER OF ADORATION, INVOCATION AND ILLUMINATION The evangel is the heartbeat of those who have come to Christ because from their “innermost
being shall flow rivers of living water” (Jn. 7:38).
* PSALMS, HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS
(Children ages 3-5 are dismissed for children’s church during the last verse.) Rivers of human blood are going to flow if Christians continue to refuse to speak openly of
Christ. God‟s most severe punishment upon a people to whom He has given so much is to
No. 7: From All That Dwell below the Skies leave them to themselves by withdrawing His counsel, His hand of blessing and protection
No. 164: O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing from them. You must not challenge God to remove His restraining grace from the passions of
those around you, for men left to themselves are most furious in their bestial unhindered lusts.
An uninformed people devote themselves to their own ruination with cornerstones being torn
THE MINISTRY OF GOD’S WORD JOHN 7:1-13 Name Areas of Interest:
down and civility being forfeited until their iniquity is complete (Gen. 15:16).
 Audio Ministry
“Jeshurun grew fat and kicked” (Dt. 32:15). Spouse  Children‟s Ministry
OFFERTORY  Ladies‟ Bible Study/
 Address Discipleship
HYMN OF COMMITMENT
 Men‟s Bible Study/
No. 95: Though Troubles Assail Us SOLI DEO GLORIA! Discipleship
Email
 Pastor‟s Email Devotionals

BENEDICTION  Student Ministry
This Worship Service is a worship of God, not man. Therefore, the Order of Worship Telephone (High School and Junior High School)


DOXOLOGY is purposed to bring glory to God, not man. The saints’ participation in the worship
I am a:
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow; praise Him all creatures below: service is designed for all praise to go to God, not to preachers, musicians, artists, mis- First-Time Visitor
Children 

Alleluia, Alleluia! Praise Him above ye heav’nly host; praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. sionaries, church leaders or children. Decorum concerning dress, instrumentation and  Visitor
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! presentations will assist in disallowing performances and enhance our awareness of  Regular Attender
God’s admonition: “Let all things be done properly and in an orderly manner.” We
POSTLUDE Concerto in F, Allergro rely upon the Holy Spirit to assist us in establishing an environment that encourages
and advances our entry into the transforming presence of the living LORD Jesus Christ.

Congregation Standing *Latecomers may be ushered into the Sanctuary.