Order, Words, & Voices

Order, Words, & Voices 09.10.23

Order, Words, & Voices

09.10.23, Rivers, Genesis 2:4-25

Order

Pre Worship Music

Opening Song Lynn & Team

Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise

All Hail the Power of Jesus Name

Call to Worship Response/Lord’s Prayer Rick

Reading Genesis 1:4-25 Segun

Songs Lynn & Team

Morning Has Broken

Psalm 23

Message Rivers Genesis 1:4-25 Rick

Music Lynn and Team

Breathe on Me, Breath of God

Community/Peace Rick

Benediction/Closing Peace Rick

Post Worship Music

Music (slides) – Lynn and Team

Immortal invisible God only wise
In light inaccessible Hid from our eyes
Most blessed most glorious
The Ancient of Days
Almighty victorious
Thy great name we praise

To all life thou givest To both great and small
In all life thou livest The true life of all
We blossom and flourish
As leaves on the tree
And wither and perish
But naught changeth thee

Great Father of glory Pure Father of light
Thine angels adore thee All veiling their sight
All praise we would render
O help us to see
‘Tis only the splendor
Of light hideth thee

All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ name
Let angels prostrate fall
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord of all
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord of all

Let ev’ry kindred ev’ry tribe
On this terrestrial ball
To Him all majesty ascribe
And crown Him Lord of all
To Him all majesty ascribe
And crown Him Lord of all

O that with yonder sacred throng
We at His feet may fall
We’ll join the everlasting song
And crown Him Lord of all
We’ll join the everlasting song
And crown Him Lord of all

Call to Worship (Slides) – Rick

Leader: For the marvelous grace of your Creation, we pour out our thanks to You, our God.

Response: We praise you, O Lord for plants growing in earth and water, for life inhabiting lakes and seas 

Leader: We praise you, O Lord, for life creeping in soils and land, for creatures living in wetlands and waters. 

Response: We praise you for life flying above earth and sea, for animals dwelling in woods and fields.

Leader: How many and wonderful are your works, our God! In wisdom you have made them all!

Response: But we confess, O Lord, that we often choose arrogance, ignorance, comfort, and greed over caring for Your Creation. 

Leader: Your creation, O Lord, reveals who you are.

Response: You are God.

Leader: Your creation, O Lord, reveals your character and your nature.

Response: You are God.

Leader: Your creation, O Lord, reveals that you are the creator, the provider, the protector, the and the orchestrator of the heavens and the earth, you are the present and your are our God.

Response: You are God, you are love.

Leader: You, O God, are present in the garden and in the wilderness, you are with us in the times of joy and the times of pain, you are the God of harmony and the God of deliverance.

Response: O God, you are present in our striving, our failing, our seeking, and our searching. You are God.

Lord’s Prayer (Slides) – Rick

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, On Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses, while we forgive those who trespass against us. And, lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Reading Segun

The Lord God made the earth and the heavens, when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no vegetation of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no one to till the ground,

but a stream would rise from the earth and water the whole face of the ground— then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. Out of the ground the Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

A river or stream flows out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it divides and becomes four rivers.

The name of the first river is Pishon; it is the one that flows around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold, and the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there.

The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one that flows around the whole land of Cush.

The name of the third river is Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. (Genesis 2:4b-15, NRSU)

Music (Slides) Lynn and Team

Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the world

Sweet the rains new fall, sunlit from Heaven
Like the first dewfall on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God’s recreation of the new day

I sought the Lord and He answered me
And delivered me from every fear
Those who look on Him are radiant
They’ll never be ashamed
They’ll never be ashamed

This poor man cried and the Lord heard me
And saved me from my enemies
The Son of God surrounds His saints
He will deliver them
He will deliver them

Magnify the Lord with me
Come exalt His name together
Glorify the Lord with me
Come exalt His name forever

O taste and see that the Lord is good
O blessed is he who hides in Him
O fear the Lord O all you saints
He’ll give you everything
He’ll give you everything

Magnify the Lord with me
Come exalt His name together
Glorify the Lord with me
Come exalt His name forever

Let us bless the Lord
Every day and night
Never ending praise
May our incense rise

Magnify the Lord with me
Come exalt His name together
Glorify the Lord with me
Come exalt His name forever

Message (Slides) Rick

[Leave slides up for entire message]

[Slide] ‘Genesis is an origin story: a prosaic telling of how things came to be the way they are.’ (Wil Gafney, Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible, Brite Divinity School, Fort Worth, Texas)

[Slide] As things came to be, we they, as we, became. Today we begin our journey of understanding the path of ‘Becoming’, so we begin with the origin of our becoming path – Genesis 1-3, the story of the ‘Becoming’, creation, as well as the ‘Becoming’ of the relationship of God and Humans. If we begin here, looking closely, not just at what we have been taught to look at, taught to see, but instead to truly look, we will have a clearer perspective of all we are going to see all the way through Lent and the Resurrection. This is the story, the path, that Paul described when he wrote to the church at Corinth, saying, ‘for our sake God made the one who knew no sin to be sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.’ (II Cor 5:21)

[Slide] ‘The story, [of the first three chapters of Genesis], is as much about God as it is about humans for it sets up the equation that will be played out again and again in the Bible. The people disobey and God provides a new way.’ (Beth L. Tanner, Professor of Old Testament, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, New Brunswick, NJ)

[Slide] Believers divide over their interpretations of the first three chapters of Genesis. Divide, not discuss, not respectfully disagree, not consider, not research, not investigate, they divide, they separate, and in doing so, they shun the other. Sadly, in taking this path, we/they miss the first hints of God, who God is, how lovingly God relates to us and to all of creation, how God compassionately provides and cares, we miss the first evidences of God’s extravagant grace. Instead we divide – just like we divide over our interpretations of eschatology, end times. How odd is it that it is in these beginnings and endings that we choose to divide and separate. God gave us these stories of beginning and ending to bring us to epiphanical revelations in our journey of ‘Becoming the Righteousness of Christ.’

In my own early days of professional ministry, it was not uncommon to sit and voice our own individual thoughts and questions in regard to beginning and ending questions. Respect was our primary boundary, not man made dogmatic doctrines. We were not limited to what we were allowed to say and think in regard to reading passages such as Genesis 1-3. And, ironically, it was in unboundaried freedom to consider and fearlessly voice our considerations, we saw God in ways we seldom see when our heart and intellectual freedoms have been restricted and limited.

Let’s take one small section from the creation story to see what we are missing.

[Slide] “The Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living person.” (Genesis 2:7, NASV)

We commonly interpret the hebrew word ‘Adam’ as ‘man’, as in ‘male’, as in the gender of being a male human. However, it is actually a much larger word, it is humankind, or humanity. Adam was the first human. Right off, here in chapter two, in this zooming in of the creation story, we see God create Humanity, humans. But what is really significant here is the how of God’s creation of Humans. He does it from the dirt, more specifically from the dust. We do not see this in the chapter one human creation account but here it is. From the dirt, actually, or even the formed dust of the dirt.

[Slide] Dirt, the first element that we seek to rid ourselves of when we are cleaning our house. Dirt, the primarily element needed for most farmers to plant and grow their crops. Dirt, whose primarily component is formed by the decomposition of leaves and other plant material by soil microorganisms. Dirt, whose multitude of cells are capable of giving rise to several different cell types. Cells, capable of duplicating and creating other, same, cells. Dirt, upon which God first walked. Dirt the element Jesus mixed with his own saliva to heal the blind man’s sight. Dirt, the canvas upon which Jesus’ painted the gift of grace to the woman caught in the act of adultery.

Dirt, an intentional act of God in the creative process. An intentional lesson to us to recognize the immensity of God’s grace to choose us, humans, made from the dust of the dirt, to be God’s people. Dust, vacuumed up and added to our trash, yet, it is with dirt that God chose to relate.

[Slide] And then there was Eve. Who was created from Adam’s side, not from a rib but from his very being. A duplicate. Different but the same. Adam remained known as ‘Dirt’ or ‘Adam’, and the woman is not named until after both of these first humans chose to reject God as God. The woman was named ‘Eve’ by ‘Adam’ because, as he saw it, she was the mother of all things – in a time when before neither had experienced the process or journey of a mother or a father. Even before there was the reality of childbirth.

Eve, the other, was created after God saw that nothing else, no other creation, in all of creation was a suitable partner for Adam. Not a servant or a lesser human, but an equal suitable to be a protector, an encourager, a true equal partner, a companion, a giver and receiver of love, a human who would live out the human experience along side the other. Both fully invested, both mutually selfless, both fully sacrificial, both striving to be there with and for the other. God provided this partner, this ‘suitable other’ so that Adam, and Eve, would not be alone, isolated, vulnerable, and hopeless.

Get the revelation here, God had said that they would surely die if they disobeyed, when they did disobey, there was not an immediate anger motivated death. Death would come, as we know earthly death comes for us all. However, iIn the immediate, God gave them protection, even in the exile from the garden God still gave them hope.

[Slide] According to Old Testament scholar Beth Tanner, ‘the climax of the creation story is seen in verses 21-24 of chapter 3. God does not destroy Adam and Eve as the warning seemed to say. God instead makes them clothes and sends them out of the garden. There were consequences for their disobedience to God. However, God chooses not to destroy and instead to tend to the new needs of the wayward children. It is here that the way to the cross is set. God says “I will not execute my fierce anger . . . for I am God and not a mortal” (Hosea 11:9).’ (Beth L. Tanner, Professor of Old Testament, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, New Brunswick, NJ)

While I will agree that the creation narrative sets up the journey to the cross and even more so the resurrected Christ, we also must not miss the big picture perspective of God that is taking place in the midst of the creation. Detailed in verses 10-14 of chapter 2, squeezed in between God’s creation of ‘every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food as well as the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil’ and God’s placement of Adam in the garden we see another, long term earthly and physical provision of God –

[Slide] ‘ A river or stream flows out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it divides and becomes four rivers. The name of the first river is Pishon; it is the one that flows around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold, and the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there. The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one that flows around the whole land of Cush. The name of the third river is Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.’

[Slide] God provides a stream that waters the plants and produce of the garden then that stream divides into four rivers which will be the water source for what will be all of humanity for the entirety of the Bible.

Water for all humanity to come. Dirt and the connection of human to the dirt, even with all the cells and nutrients of the dirt can do little, if anything, without water. The one thing essential to the existence and to the journey of humans and dirt. Water, the provision given as God looked ahead to identify and then, proactively, provide.

[Slide] Native American tribes, bipartisan politicians and environmentalists alike, cheered recently at the proclamation of the establishment of the (Bajj Ne Wav Joe) Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni monument. Encompassing parts of the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona and other land for a total of almost 100,000 acres. Land on which native people declare that it bears their ‘ancestral footprints.’ Land that has long been home to wildlife like bison, elk, mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, and rare cactus species. This protected area encompasses plateaus, canyons, the Colorado River tributaries, making it the holder of countless culturally and spiritually significant sites for the Indigenous peoples of the Southwest. A land which was to them is holy.

One indigenous speaker, at the monument declaration, described the sacredness and holiness of the canyon, especially citing the existence of the water flowing through the canyon. Water, the crucial life giving element of creation, Given as it flows in, Granted as it is exists, and a Gift as it flows out to others and beyond.

[slide] The creation story is about our connectedness to God and God’s creation. It is the story of the creator who is identified from the beginningnas our gracious, merciful, compassionate, and extravagant provider. It is the story of us, it is the story of God, it is the story of those who traveled this path of becoming long before we ever stepped foot onto the path, it is the story of those yet to come who will walk in our footprints learning how to step out of them on their own in onto their own path to becoming. It is our connection to the dirt and flowing gift to us of water – it is our connection of God who chose to relate to dust, to us, and looked ahead to our needs as concretely and metaphorically evidenced in the unboundaried gift of water.

Music (Slides) Lynn and Team

Breathe on me breath of God
Love and life that makes me free
Breathe on me breath of God
Fan the flame within me

Teach my heart and heal my soul
Speak the mind that in Christ we know
Take me to Your sanctuary
Breathe on me

Speak to me, Voice of God
Soft and still inside my heart
Speak to me word of God,
Comfort, heal, restore with love.

Teach my heart and heal my soul
Speak the mind that in Christ we know
Take me to Your sanctuary
Breathe on me

Community (Slides) Rick

Next Sunday, ‘Who Would Ever Believe?!’, Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1-7
Next Book Discussion Luncheon, ‘Making Sense of the Bible’, Some Books available in entry was -$15, or link on web page will take you to Amazon order page (audio, or library app), luncheon will take place in October (date – TBA), ‘[I wrote this] in the hope that [you] will come to love the Bible, and that in it [you] will find [your] defining story.’

Benediction (Slides) Rick

As we leave this place may we continue on our path of becoming. A Becoming that is a gift of God, a journey fully dependent on the life and work of Jesus Christ. We are on this path by choice. We are on this path gratefully due to God’s extravagant grace through which we were, and are, welcomed to this endeavor. We are connected to the dirt of the path yet chosen by the Holy God to live in the pursuit of becoming the righteousness of God.

We walk even when we cannot see, we take from the flowing provision even when the waters appear difficult, we hope even though despair often threatens to consume us, we love because that the the true and intentional impact and outflow of our journey. We step onto the path in trust, in hope, in love.

Closing Peace Rick

Leader: May the Peace and Hope of the Lord go with you.

Response: And also with you.

Leader: Go in the Peace and Hope of the Lord.

Order, Words, & Voices 09.03.23

Order, Words, & Voices

09.03.23, Adding Good, I Peter 1:3-10

Order

Pre Worship Music

Opening Song The Joy of the Lord Lynn/Linda/Segun

All Creatures of Our God and King

Call to Worship Response/Lord’s Prayer Rick

Reading I Peter 1:3-10 Isaiah

Songs Lynn/Linda/Segun

My Faith Looks Up to Thee
Refiner’s Fire

Message I Peter 1:3-10 Rick

Music The Jesus Way Lynn/Linda/Segun

Community/Peace Rick

Benediction/Closing Peace Rick

Post Worship Music

Music (slides) – Lynn/Linda/Segun

The joy of the Lord will be my strength
I will not falter I will not faint
He is my Shepherd I am not afraid
The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord
Is my strength

The joy of the Lord will be my strength
He will uphold me all of my days
I am surrounded by mercy and grace
And the joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord
Is my strength

The joy of the Lord will be my strength
And I will not waver walking by faith
He will be strong to deliver me safe
The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord
Is my strength

All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing
O praise Him alleluia
Thou burning sun with golden beam
Thou silver moon with softer gleam
O praise Him O praise Him
Alleluia alleluia alleluia

Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sail in Heav’n along
O praise Him alleluia
Thou rising moon in praise rejoice
Ye lights of evening find a voice
O praise Him O praise Him
Alleluia alleluia alleluia

Call to Worship (Slides) – Rick

Leader: By his glory and through his honor, God has given us all that we need to live this life.

Response: By his glory and through his honor, God has given us all that we need to live a life of godliness.

Leader: God has called us to a life of faith, a faith that is not passive or dormant, but a faith that is alive and active.

Response: We are called to live out a faith that thrives on an intentional building of knowledge and an increasing understanding of God.

Leader: God has given us his promises, he has shared his divine nature, he has offered us relief from the struggles and pains of this life. We are called to live in peace and harmony.

Response: We are called to lean into this world which is fully loved by God.

Leader: It is our calling to add good to our faith, knowledge to our moral excellence, self control to our knowledge, endurance to our self control, and to endurance we are called to add godliness.

Response: To godliness we are to add affection, and to affection we are called to add love.

Leader: For it is in this effort to grow in our knowledge of God, we are then able to continue to have a faith that is active.

Response: It is in this we are fruitful reflecting the glory of God.

Leader: May we add these things, may we add to our faith, may we not forget we were cleansed of our disobedience.

Response: May the hope of Jesus be seen in our faith and our faith in our existence.

(I Peter 2:3-10)

Lord’s Prayer (Slides) ‘Join me in the prayer of Jesus’ – Rick

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, On Earth as it is in Heaven.

Reading Isaiah

By his divine power the Lord has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of the one who called us by his own honor and glory.

Through his honor and glory God has given us his precious and wonderful promises, that you may share the divine nature and escape from the world’s immorality that sinful craving produces.

This is why you must make every effort to add good to your faith; and to moral excellence, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, endurance; and to endurance, godliness; and to godliness, affection for others; and to affection for others, love.

If all these are yours and they are growing in you, they’ll keep you from becoming inactive and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Whoever lacks these things is shortsighted and blind, forgetting that they were cleansed from their past sins.Therefore, brothers and sisters, be eager to confirm your call and election. Do this and you will never ever be lost.

I Peter 2:3-10

Music (Slides) Lynn/Linda/Segun

My faith looks up to Thee
Thou Lamb of Calvary
Saviour divine
Now hear me while I pray
Take all my guilt away
O let me from this day
Be wholly Thine

May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart
My zeal inspire
As Thou hast died for me
O may my love to Thee
Pure warm and changeless be
A living fire

Purify my heart
Let me be as gold
And precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold
Pure gold

Refiner’s fire
My heart’s one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You my Master
Ready to do Your will

Purify my heart
Cleanse me from within
And make me holy
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from my sin
Deep within

Message (Slides) Rick

It was the fictional story of a widowed puppet maker named Gepetto who had, in addition to losing his wife, also lost his only child, a son. The story, written by Carlo Collodi and first published in 1881 in a children’s magazine, with the title, The Story of the Marionette, 2 years later the story was rebranded as ‘The Story of Pinocchi ‘and published as a self standing book. The story was intentionally dark with the marionette, Pinocchio, dying in the end. Collodi was bombarded with young people entranced with the story, begging the author to bring the puppet back to life for more stories. So, Pinocchio was declared immortal, that he could never die, until, of course, he became human, to whom death is inevitable.The book, in all its translations, is considered to be the most published book ever only behind the Bible.

[Slide – leave slide up notice to remove] The book at the time was considered by most to be a warning to children to obey their parents in the centuries since the story has become a story of political protest. The thrust of the story is the tale of a puppet who desires to be alive, and then an alive puppet, who desires to be a real boy. In the story, a fairy tells the alive puppet that to become a real boy he had to “Prove yourself brave, truthful and unselfish, and someday you will be a real boy.” Then, as the alive Pinocchio makes some tragic choices, the fairy tells him “You must learn to chose between right and wrong.” Eventually, Pinocchio, makes a sacrificial act to save Geptepto’s life concluding his journey at which time he becomes a real boy.

Basically the fairy told Pinocchio that he was now alive, but to fully experience being alive, to truly be human, he needed to add bravery, honesty, unselfishness, to his life. The fairy was saying, you have life, now have real, real, life adding this.

[remove slide]

In our final look at this word ‘Good’, we are eavesdropping on a message from the Apostle Peter to the followers scattered who are in great need to some reassurance that they are not as alone. They need Peter’s comforting words that they have not been abandoned by God regardless of how bleak their lives have become. They are outsiders culturally, religiously, ethnically, and in any other word you can use to describe the fact that they do not belong. This was probably not a result of political persecution as much as an attititude toward them from those living in their communities. The believers were dismissed, treated as outcast, not allowed a place in line, unwanted and unnoticed. This feeling was infecting their minds, but even worse, it was infecting their faith community. They are at a justified state of mind & heart that we all possibly feel at one time or another.

[Slide] Peter is reminding the believers that, ‘God’s has given us everything we need for life and godliness, and in knowing God we must lean into his honor and glory. God has given us his precious and wonderful promises, so that we may share in God’s divine nature and therefore escape the human frailties inherent in our humanness and the struggles that naturally accompany it.’

This is a suffering people which Peter can understand, he too has been isolated and rejected. He too has lived life as an ‘other’, an outcast, an unacceptable. He too has lived with his own mistakes, frailties, and failures. It was Peter who understood disappointment, shame, and desperation. Peter understood that we all fail, we are all subject to situations and environments that are painful, we all struggle even in God’s presence.

[Slide] ‘The suffering of Peter’s audience is challenging their faith. In these few verses we understand something of the past, present, and future. The writer asserts that the audience had been given a new birth and a living hope. Their inheritance, their future, is currently being protected by the power of God, even if for now, in their present, they have to suffer for a little while. Their past and present trials must serve to strengthen their faith. Trials can reveal the beauty of our faith.

[Slide[ There will be a new birth. New birth, anagennesas, life bursting forth in the spring as the flowers bloom and the trees blossom or a mother delivering a child, birthing elucidates an entanglement with life and death; old and new; perishable and imperishable. The act of regeneration. The writer is emphasizing the renewing of the living hope that God has given then, and us. Renewal and regeneration are not one-time events; they are ongoing processes. Therefore, when we feel challenged by difficulties, our faith reminds us that our living hope can, and will be, renewed.’ (Jennifer T. Kaalund, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Iona College, New Rochelle, N.Y.)

In the mid eighties a book written for Christians was becoming popular. I traveled around the western US one summer, individuals, in every state I visited asked me if I had read the book. The title of the book was Why is it Taking So Long. The title was referring to faith, and how it often seems that we do not have enough to make it through the trials and struggles of life. This was the same audience as Peter’s letter, individuals feeling that they did not have enough to make it through the trials and struggles of life. Interestingly though, Peter’s response is not to read the Bible more, or to go to more Bible study groups, or to give more, or to attend church more, or to listen to more Christian music,… all good practices but, Peter tells the people that they have enough to live the life of a follower of Jesus and that they have enough to be godly. Peter tells the suffering followers of Jesus to, much like the fairy told Pinnochio – add bravery, honesty, unselfishness to your life – Peter says to the believers to add ‘Good’ to their life, to their faith. To practice good, to make good a core in their lives. Good, right, rightness, righteousness. It is a supplement to that which God has already given them. It is a challenge to begin thinking and living like Jesus, to seek to see others in the way Jesus saw everyone, to be the feet, hands, and heart of God in their day to day lives regardless of the situations, struggles, and trials.

We like to think that anything to do with our faith, and our lives of faith, happen automatically because we ‘surrender’ to Jesus, because we pray a prayer, because we carry the title ‘Christian’, we like to lean on the fact that Grace is given and not deserved. While this is true, Jesus came to show us how to live. Us – followers of Jesus, Us – those who have already trusted and still believe in God, Us – who have a third hand witness to the hope of the resurrection. Truth is that, just like Jesus, faith has an Us element. As Peter says, we have everything we need to live and to be godly, however, it is instilled and applied in our lives through our earthly choices, a choice that begins with ‘Good.’

[Slide] Peter enhances this call to live good as he says, “add good to your faith; and add moral excellence to knowledge of God; and to knowledge of God add self-control; and to self-control add endurance; and to endurance, add godliness; and to godliness add affection for others; and to affection for others, add love.” Bringing us back to Jesus’ summary of the law.

A faith that is as small a mustard seed is activated by our own ability to see and trust the God of that faith. It takes work, not to choose following Jesus, but to being a follower of Jesus.

God chose Saul to be the first King of the Israelites because he was everything the people thought they needed in a King and God would provide everything Paul needed to be that King. God gave him the ability to be a success and to nurture the people individually and corporately. However, Saul did not put in the work, he did not seek to add good to his faith. Soon he struggled with insecurity and a lack of confidence, soon he was guided by the public opinion rather than God. Soon, in the end, Saul could not even function mentally.

On the other hand, almost at birth, Jesus sought to know God, to learn about God’s creation, as well as those God created. As a child and then as an adolescent Jesus was in the temple listening to the religious leaders. Jesus navigated the religious education and training system. As an adult Jesus chose his disciples carefully as he learned through them and in the midst of the journey with them. Jesus was not hard wired with all the knowledge and understanding he would need at birth. He was fully human, like us, he had to add good to his faith. He had to seek to know, and he had to search to understand.

Every aspect of our lives is touched by the God. Every element of our lives, interactions, investigations, paths, and struggles includes God if our faith is going to be allowed to function. God is not an outsider in in our lives, God is present.

This past summer director Guillermo del Toro challenged the story of Pinocchio by changing the ending. Whereas the Disney version, in their ending of the story when Pinocchio became a real boy, he was automatically flesh and blood and no longer a wooden puppet. His outside, his situation, his environment, what he looked like, changed for the world to see. In del Toro’s version, Pinocchio remained a wooden looking puppet, for the people around him had already seen that he had become ‘real’ – they had washed him turn from his selfish ways to be sacrificial, he had become brave, honest, and unselfishness. He had become real, and this realness had been seen by those around him, long before he was pronounced ‘real’.

Peter is calling his suffering readers to let their faith carry them through. To intentionally grown in, and into, their faith that God had given them to how they lived their lives and by how they had sought to know God allowing them to trust God. This calling by Peter to the people would probably not be noticed by many, only those around to see their hope in hopeless times, their peace even in the most chaotic and fearful times imaginable, their God that was not always evident in their words but always visible in their lives.

[Slide] Peter ends this section of his letter to the suffering believers with the warning that this will not be his last mentioning of this subject of adding to faith. This possibly reveals to us our own human propensity to forget God’s gift of ‘enough’.

[Slide] “I intend to keep on reminding you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to refresh your memory, since I know that my death will come soon, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.” (II Peter 1:12-15)

Peter knew this truth, Peter wanted those who were suffering to have a grasp of this truth. Peter wants us to add to our faith so we are ready for the times ahead.

Music (Slides) Lynn/Linda/Segun

If you curse me then I will bless you
If you hurt me I will forgive
And if you hate me then I will love you
I choose the Jesus way

If you’re helpless I will defend you
And if you’re burdened I’ll share the weight
And if you’re hopeless then let me show you
There’s hope in the Jesus way

I follow Jesus I follow Jesus
He wore my sin I’ll gladly wear His name
He is the treasure He is the answer
Oh I choose the Jesus way

If you strike me I will embrace you
And if you chain me I’ll sing His praise
And if you kill me my home is heaven
For I choose the Jesus way

I follow Jesus I follow Jesus
He wore my sin I’ll gladly wear His name
He is the treasure He is the answer
Oh I choose the Jesus way

I choose surrender I choose to love
Oh God my Savior You’ll always be enough
I choose forgiveness I choose grace
I choose to worship no matter what I face

I follow Jesus I follow Jesus
He wore my sin I’ll gladly wear His name
He is the treasure He is the answer
Oh I choose the Jesus way
I choose the Jesus way

Community (Slides) Rick

Next Sunday, New Series ‘Becoming’ – Next Sunday -’River[s]’, Genesis 1:4-25
Summer Bible Study concludes this Wednesday @ 6:30pm. This week – James 4:13-17; 5:1-11, 13-16
Next Book Discussion Luncheon, ‘Making Sense of the Bible’, Some Books available in entry was -$15, or link on web page will take you to Amazon order page (audio, or library app), luncheon will take place in October (date – TBA), ‘[I wrote this] in the hope that [you] will come to love the Bible, and that in it [you] will find [your] defining story.’

Benediction (Slides) Rick

As we leave this place we walk in a world that is not perfect but nonetheless a world that God has proclaimed is good. We continue because the breath of God still inflates our lungs and because God’s life sustaining gift continues to course through our veins.

Regardless of our gender, or any other label we wear, we are all called to live lives that preach and pastor the good news of Jesus to all of creation. A call to allow Jesus to be seen in every situation every time. To forgive others and to forgive ourselves. To love God and to love others as we also love ourselves.

May we continually choose to grow in our own understanding of the resurrection hope which carries us in peace while giving us the mercy, compassion, and grace to live confidently in God who loves us and calls us to life.

Closing Peace Rick

Leader: May the Peace and Hope of the Lord go with you.

Response: And also with you.

Leader: Go in the Peace and Hope of the Lord.

Order, Words, & Voices 08.27.23

Order, Words, & Voices

08.27.23, Speaker Dianne McNarry

Order

Pre Worship Music

Opening Song Lynn/Linda/Segun

House of the Lord

Enter His Gates

Call to Worship Response/Lord’s Prayer Rick

Reading 2 Samuel 9:9-13 Musgroves

Songs Better Is One Day Lynn/Linda/Segun

Cornerstone

Message Diane McNarry (Guest) Diane

Music Love Ran Red Lynn/Linda/Segun

Community/Peace Rick

Benediction/Closing Peace Rick

Post Worship Music

Music (slides) – Lynn/Linda/Segun

We worship the God who was

We worship the God who is

We worship the God who evermore will be

He opened the prison doors

He parted the raging sea

My God He holds the victory yeah

Chorus

There’s joy in the house of the Lord

There’s joy in the house of the Lord today

And we won’t be quiet

We shout out Your praise

There’s joy in the house of the Lord

Our God is surely in this place

And we won’t be quiet

We shout out Your praise

Interlude

Oh oh oh

We shout out Your praise

Verse 2

We sing to the God who heals

We sing to the God who saves

We sing to the God who always makes a way

‘Cause He hung up on that cross

Then He rose up from that grave

My God’s still rolling stones away

Bridge

(‘Cause) We were the beggars

Now we’re royalty

We were the prisoners

Now we’re running free

We are forgiven accepted

Redeemed by His grace

Let the house of the Lord sing praise

Interlude

There is joy in this house oh yeah

There is joy there is joy

And we won’t be quiet

We’re gonna shout out Your praise

Ending

We shout out Your praise

There is joy in this house

There is joy in this house today

We shout out Your praise

I will enter His gates

With thanksgiving in my heart

I will enter His courts with praise

I will say this is the day

That the Lord has made

I will rejoice

For He has made me glad

Chorus

He has made me glad

I will rejoice for

He has made me glad

I will rejoice for

He has made me glad

Call to Worship (Slides) – Rick

Leader: We made the choice, a choice to walk away from God, a choice to abandon our seat at the table. So, God enlarged the table, God invited us to have a seat.

Response: The table is where Grace begins.

Leader: We were a motley crew of misfits, liars, thieves, doubters, sinners, shameful, hopeless and unwelcome.

Response: Mercy drew us near.

Leader: At the table we found the heroes and cowards, the prisoners and the soldiers, the young and the old, the rich and the poor.

Response: We sat next to the hungry and the thirsty, the last and the first, the paupers and the princes.

Leader: We sat amongst those who were failures and now forgiven, those who were sufferers and now dreamers, those who were in chains and were now free.

Response: We shoulders with those who had been lost but now are found.

Leader: Our painful labels by which we had been identified were removed and we were given new labels that identified us as loved.

Response: We now wear labels that identify us as forgiven, delivered, and redeemed.

Leader: When all hope seemed lost, the door opened – we were invited to the table where we sat with the rescued and transformed.

Response: We had nothing left to give as we sat down by the Savior.

Leader: Pain gave way to God’s Compassion, Hopelessness was replaced by God’s Mercy, Chaos was calmed by God’s Peace, Hatred absorbed and changed in the presence of the God who is Love.

Response: Lostness was guided home by God’s grace.

(Adapted from the writings of Ben Glover, Ben McDonald, Dave Frey)

Lord’s Prayer (Slides) ‘Join me in the prayer of Jesus’ – Rick

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, On Earth as it is in Heaven.

Reading Musgroves

Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson.

You and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat, but your master’s grandson Mephibosheth shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so your servant will do.” Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, like one of the king’s sons.

Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house became Mephibosheth’s servants.

Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he always ate at the king’s table. Now he was lame in both his feet.

2 Samuel 9:9-13

Music (Slides) Lynn/Linda/segun

How lovely is Your dwelling place

O Lord almighty

For my soul longs and even faints for You

For here my heart is satisfied

Within Your presence

I sing beneath the shadow of Your wings

Chorus

Better is one day in Your courts

Better is one day in Your house

Better is one day in Your courts

Than thousands elsewhere

(Than thousands elsewhere)

Verse 2

One thing I ask and I would seek

To see Your beauty

To find You in the place

Your glory dwells

(REPEAT)

Bridge

My heart and flesh cry out

For You the living God

Your Spirit’s water to my soul

I’ve tasted and I’ve seen

Come once again to me

I will draw near to You

I will draw near to You to You

Bridge

Better is one day better is one day

Better is one day than thousands elsewhere

Better is one day better is one day

Better is one day than thousands elsewhere

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness

I dare not trust the sweetest frame

But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name

(REPEAT)

Chorus

Christ alone cornerstone

Weak made strong in the Saviour’s love

Through the storm He is Lord

Lord of all

Verse 2

When darkness seems to hide His face

I rest on His unchanging grace

In every high and stormy gale

My anchor holds within the veil

Interlude

He is Lord Lord of all

Verse 3

When He shall come with trumpet sound

Oh may I then in Him be found

Dressed in His righteousness alone

Faultless stand before the throne

Message (Slides) Diane McNarry

No Transcript available

Music (Slides) lynn/Linda/Segun

There’s a place

Where mercy reigns and never dies

There’s a place

Where streams of grace flow deep and wide

Where all the love I’ve ever found

Comes like a flood comes flowing down

Chorus

At the cross at the cross

I surrender my life

I’m in awe of You I’m in awe of You

Where Your love ran red and my sin washed white

I owe all to You I owe all to You (Jesus)

Verse 2

There’s a place

Where sin and shame are powerless

Where my heart

Has peace with God and forgiveness

Where all the love I’ve ever found

Comes like a flood comes flowing down

Bridge

Here my hope is found

Here on holy ground

Here I bow down here I bow down

Here arms open wide

Here You saved my life

Here I bow down here I bow (down)

Community (Slides) Rick

Next Sunday, Adding Good, II Peter 1:3-10
Summer Bible Study resumes this Wednesday – James, Wednesday Nights @ 6:30pm for 4 weeks. August 9 – September 6. This week – James 3:1-12; 4:11-12; 5:12
Fall Message Series beginning September 10 – ‘Becoming’, Readings schedule now posted at gfnorman.com
Next Book Discussion Luncheon, ‘Making Sense of the Bible’, Some Books available in entry was -$15, or link on web page will take you to Amazon order page, luncheon will take place in October (date – TBA)

Benediction (Slides) Rick

Closing Peace Rick

Leader: May the Peace and Hope of the Lord go with you.

Response: And also with you.

Leader: Go in the Peace and Hope of the Lord.

Order, Words, & Voices 08.20.23

Order, Words, & Voices

08.20.23, The Source of Good, James 1:16-18

Order

Pre Worship Music

Opening Song Billy/Linda/Segun

Father of Love / Your Lovingkindness

O Give Thanks (Jernigan)

Call to Worship Response/Lord’s Prayer Rick

Reading James 1:16-18 Andrea

Songs Billy/Linda/Segun

Give Thanks

Jesus Lover of My Soul

Message The Source of Good Rick

Music Father of Love Billy/Linda/Segun

Community/Peace Rick

Benediction/Closing Peace Rick

Post Worship Music

Music (slides) – Billy/Linda/Segun

Father of love

Lord of all creation

I will bless Your name

Forever and ever

I will declare

Your grace and Your mercy

And tell of Your unfailing love

Your lovingkindness

Is good to all

Your wings of mercy

Lift me when I fall

Your lovingkindness

Meets my ev’ry need

You cleanse me from unrighteousness

And You give new life to me

O, give thanks to the Lord For He is good!

For His Lovingkindness Is Everlasting,

He’s good! (Repeat)

Let the redeemed of the Lord,

Let them say so! Say so!

Redeemed of the Lord,

Let them say so! Say so!

Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy Say so!

Call to Worship (Slides) – Rick

Leader: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his steadfast love endures forever.

Response: We give thanks to the God of gods, his steadfast love endures forever.

Leader: Give thanks to the Lord of lords, his steadfast love endures forever; God alone does great wonders.

Response: We give thanks to God who created the heavens, his steadfast love endures forever.

Leader: Give thanks to the lord who spread out the earth above the waters.

Response: We give thanks to him who gave the sun to rule over the day.

Leader: Give thanks to God who created the moon and stars to rule over the night.

Response: We give thanks for the never-ending steadfast love of the Lord.

Leader: Give thanks to the Lord who showers us with his goodness.

Response: We give thanks to the Lord for he is good.

Leader: Give thanks to the Holy one who is good

Response: We give thanks to the one who is our sustainer. His love endures forever

Lord’s Prayer (Slides) ‘Join me in the prayer of Jesus’ – Rick

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, On Earth as it is in Heaven.

Reading Andrea

Don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes from above.

These gifts come down from the Father, the creator of the heavenly lights, in whose character there is no change at all.

God chose to give us birth by his true word, and here is the result: we are like the first crop from the harvest of everything he created.

James 1:16-18

Music (Slides) Billy/Linda/Segun

Chorus

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because He’s given

Jesus Christ His Son

Verse

And now let the weak say I am strong

Let the poor say I am rich

Because of what the Lord has done for us

Ending

Give thanks

Verse

Jesus lover of my soul

Jesus I will never let You go

You’ve taken me from the miry clay

You’ve set my feet upon the rock

And now I know

Chorus

I love You I need You

Though my world may fall

I’ll never let You go

My Savior my closest Friend

I will worship You until the very end

Message (Slides) ‘The Source of Good’, Rick

The NT book of James can be a handful for the reader. Theologians and Bible teachers have long been frustrated by the writing of James the brother of Jesus finding it busy and maybe even contradictory to the letters written by the apostle Paul. From the beginning in chapter one, James seems to be scattered and confused. In only 26 verses, James covers 8 separate topics, using only 2-3 verses to present his case.

Let trials and testing make you whole and complete.
Wisdom and stability
The upside down perceptive of power and poverty
The glory or doom of temptation
Be intentional instead of impulsive
Don’t just hear but really listen, don’t stop at hearing and listening but be complete by doing
Do rather than speak

But, right there in the middle, v. 16-18, we see the power of everything that James is attempting to communicate to his audience.

“Don’t be deceived, everything good, everything perfect, comes from God the Father.”

It is a definite statement, an intentionally aggressive order said with words that do not leave us with confusion, ‘Don’t be…’, ‘Everthing that is good…’

And there it is, right in the middle of this opening, an opening that could leave us somewhat confused and dazed by a hyper presentation of 8 topics plowed though in just 26 verses.

It is as if he is saying everything he needs to say and suddenly realizes that no one is going to understand anything if they do not first understand this basic and simple truth, so he pauses just for a moment to make this foundation is set as he says…’Get this straight guys, if you don’t get grasp this you are not going to understand anything else I am saying, heck, you are not going to understand anything else my fellow apostles say to you!’

The last 2 Wednesday nights we have been grappling with Jesus’ brother James, attempting to figure out what type of guy he was. Was he a cranky old man who complained about anything and everything? Was he unable to understand the basic concept of grace and mercy? Did he talk a mile a minute and jump around from subject to subject expecting the listener, the reader, to keep up and recognize every change of subject and every abrupt transition to a new topic?

I think that James was excited to teach Jesus to his fellow Jews, and much like the apostle Paul, was eager for them to not only recognize that Jesus was the Deliverer but to also grasp what it means to live the ‘Jesus’ life.

So he sets the foundation, a foundation upon which he will build his case for living out the ‘Jesus’ life. A foundation that reveals God to us in the everyday moments of our lives and then uses that persistent and constant revelation of the ordinary to build our strength and trust in the God who is the constant in our lives regardless of what our senses tell us.

In comparison to the other instructions about life that James addresses here in chapter 1, this call to recognize God as the giver of good is the most potent and most jarring. James commands, “Do not be deceived.”

James’ command is an order to not stray or wander away from truth, safety, or virtue. It is a confrontation of their current ongoing deviation from the truth. So James commands, “Do not be deceived.” This is that forbids something that is already in progress. Literally, James says, “Stop being deceived.”

This is more than just a call to not blame God for the suffering, it is a call to recognize that everything good originates with and from God. It is the moment of peace in the midst of war, the flower that grows up in the crack of a sidewalk in the despair of poverty, it is a hearty meal in the anguish of hunger, it is the warmth of an embrace after an extended time of isolation. It is the recognition of life in a time consumed by death. It is being noticed when your voice has never been heard. It is rescue, assurance, mercy, kindness, and connection.

We frequently fail to notice God in the midst of the normal. We relegate the works of God to those things that look and feel ‘religious’, and the things that we do not equate to those categories is dismissed as acts of man. This is what James is combating, our failure to recognize that good, all good, is from God. Not just those things that fit into our correct categories but everything, everywhere that is good.

A philosophical argument raises its head every couple of years in regard to. Basically, the argument is center around the question, ‘Can humans do good if they are not led by the Holy Spirit?’ In most of these discussions the problem arises, for those who hold to ‘good only existing through the Holy Spirit’ is that there are numerous examples of good being done by people, or peoples, who do not officially fall within the specified boundaries. The solution is usually given that those individuals are just doing good because it makes them feel ‘good’. It is an argument of selfishness that totally misses the truth of God being the giver of good.

All good, wherever it comes from here on earth, is given by God. God, whose very character is good. “Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (1:17)

‘All good,’ is an emphatic statement, it is a statement of force, a classifier that will not change. God is good, God is the giver of good, God will always be, and God always is the giver of all that is good.

Author Lloyd C. Douglas lived in a boarding house during college. A retired music teacher lived on the first row, with whom he had a daily ritual. Douglas would ask, “What’s the good news today?” The old man would take his tuning fork and strike the side of his wheelchair and said, “That’s is Middle C. It was Middle C yesterday, and it will be Middle C a thousand years from now. The soprano upstairs sings off-key, and the piano across the hall is out of tune. But this is Middle C.”

God is good, that does not change. Our circumstances may not reflect that, our situation may appear as the opposite of that, our hope may have evaporated, but, the fact remains, God is good, all the time – all the time, God is good.

‘Good’, the first mention of the concept of ‘good’ was during creation when, at the end of each day God would look over the creative achievement and declare that it was ‘good’. Think of creation, the natural set up of life among the created being, micro organisms to the huge animals – it is an existence that is a struggle. There is birth and there is death, there is peace and their is fear. Soon, with the first actions of humans, this became true for us as well. Good still exists but mercy may be absent, good is present but kindness may not be seen. Good is right.

Following the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Pastor Diane White Community Presbyterian Church in Pinetop, AZ wrote, “Maybe you have heard the phrase, ‘God is good … all the time; and, all the time … God is good!’ I will often start worship services with this phrase. But is God good all the time? Is God good when 19 innocent children are gunned down as they sit in their classroom, when a Peace Officer is simply doing his duty and is killed, or when one hears the dreaded words, “There is nothing more we can do”? This is a question that I have pondered and struggled with, and one that people often ask me.

When God created humankind it was not with the thought that one day we would needlessly murder each other, or with the intention that humankind would destroy one another through thoughtless words and deeds, or with the intention that a disease would take our lives. God created humankind to have harmony with each other, with nature and with the God of gods. But, as we all know from the creation story, peace and harmony reigned until a fallen angel named Lucifer came on to the scene, breaking the peace and harmony that ruled the land. [Still we find] in scripture over and over is the fact that God is a loving God, a God who cares for you, a God who is ever present and a God who weeps alongside of you. We experience illness, accidents, and death simply because we are not puppets and we live in a fallen, messed-up world. God reaches down to us when our hearts are breaking, when the world seems to be falling apart God brings us a sense of peace and comfort. God is good in that God does not and will not abandon us in the darkest of times. God is good because nothing we can ever do will separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, God is good because God is sovereign. God is good … all the time; and, all the time … God is good!” (White Mountain Independent, June 21, 2022)

‘One response to the pastor’s writing was ‘Your all knowing God would have known this since the shooter was born. Why did your God allow this shooter to grow up and become a mass murderer?’

This was an authentic and genuine response, ‘Why?’ This is a human response, this is an honest response. Why, if God is good, why is evil permitted to persist?’

The easy answer is free choice, free will. This, however, can create more concern than comfort and peace, as well as more questions about God. This, very real and human question, which is why James interrupted himself with these three verses. He was writing to Jewish believers, folks who were facing famine, poverty, and persecution from the established religious institution, many of which were still living with the impact of the exile of their ancestors, many of which were still part of the scattered peoples of the diaspora. Many faced very real heartaches and difficulties. James was reinforcing what they knew but could not see, what they had been assured but did not feel. James was reinforcing the unchanging fact that God is Good even though it does not feel that way.

Consider this, as James is addressing sin, temptation, arrogance, impulsiveness, trials, difficulties, persecution, famine, and poverty – in the midst of these he stops long enough to set the stage to paint an accurate image of God – God is Good. It is the most important thing James wants to heard by this religious Jewish, Jesus believing, audience. God is Good. Without this truth, Jame’s readers cannot, we cannot, understand anything else truth reveals.

Pastor H.B. Charles Jr. says, “Herein is wise counsel for how to respond to tests, trials, and temptations: Look up! Don’t judge God by what you see around you. Look up! Your outlook is determined by your up-look.”

William Tyndale said, “God’s goodness is the root of all goodness; and our goodness, if we have any, springs out of his goodness.”

What if the church, in America, in our world, were to just catch on that his God was/is good? To grasp the truth that God’s gifts are good? That God’s creation and created are good? How would that change our perspective of those that we do not agree with, those we are uncomfortable with, those we do not understand? Would we continue to pull aways from these that God created or would we recognize that they too are God’s good and perfect gift? Would we have to be comfortable, would we have to understand, would we have agree with them to embrace them or would we continue to judge, to condemn, to mistreat, to hate, to reject? Would we recognize that they are the creation and gift of our God who is always good? How would that change our perspective of taking care of God’s gift of the earth that God created? How would that impact how we perceive the world around us? What if we fully understood that God’s gift of our life is good, how would that change our trust in God?

God is Good.

Music (Slides) Billy/Linda/Segun

Verse

Jesus lover of my soul

Jesus I will never let You go

You’ve taken me from the miry clay

You’ve set my feet upon the rock

And now I know

Chorus

I love You I need You

Though my world may fall

I’ll never let You go

My Savior my closest Friend

I will worship You until the very end

Community (Slides) Rick

Next Sunday, Guest Preacher – Dianne McNary, CBF Global Mission, previously, with her husband Shane, as field personal in Slovakia
Summer Bible Study – James, Wednesday Nights @ 6:30pm for 4 weeks. August 9-30. This week – James 3:1-12; 4:11-12; 5:12
Fall Message Series beginning September 10 – TBA
Next Book Discussion Luncheon, ‘Making Sense of the Bible’, Some Books available in entry was -$15, or link on web page will take you to Amazon order page, luncheon will take place in October (date – TBA)

Benediction (Slides) Rick

Closing Peace Rick

Leader: May the Peace and Hope of the Lord go with you.

Response: And also with you.

Leader: Go in the Peace and Hope of the Lord.

Order, Words, & Voices 08.13.23

Order, Words, & Voices

08.13.23, Wearing Good, II Timothy 3

Order

Pre Worship Music

Opening Song Lynn/Linda/Segun

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

He Leadeth Me

Call to Worship Response/Lord’s Prayer Rick

Reading II Timothy 3 Martha

Songs Lynn/Linda/Segun

You Are God Alone

Give me the Heart of a Servant

Message Hating Good Rick

Music How Great is Our God Lynn/Linda/Segun

Community/Peace Rick

Benediction/Closing Peace Rick

Post Worship Music

Music (slides) – Lynn/Linda/Segun

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
Praise Him in glad adoration

Praise to the Lord
Who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth
Shelters thee under His wings
Yea so gently sustaineth
Hast thou not seen
How thy desires e’er have been
Granted in what He ordaineth

Hallelujah hallelujah
Hallelujah hallelujah

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 fore’er we adore Him

He leadeth me O blessed thought
O words with heavenly comfort fraught
Whate’er I do where’er I be
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me

He leadeth me He leadeth me
By His own hand He leadeth me
His faithful follower I would be
For by His hand He leadeth me

Sometimes ‘mid scenes of deepest gloom
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom
By water’s calm o’er troubled sea
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me

He leadeth me He leadeth me
By His own hand He leadeth me
His faithful follower I would be
For by His hand He leadeth me

Call to Worship (Slides) – Rick

Leader: To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. Make known to me your ways.

Response: O Lord, make your paths known to us; teach us your ways.

Leader: Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior.

Response: To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

Leader: Good and upright is the Lord, good and upright is God’s way.

Response: God guides the humble to justice and teaches the humble his way.

Leader: To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. You are merciful toward those who keep your covenant and your decrees.

Response: God is with those who fear him and his covenant is for our instruction.

Leader: To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. Make known to me your ways.

Response: O Lord, make your paths known to us; teach us your ways.

Leader: God, may I be an avenue for your will to be done on earth.

Response: God, may we be an avenue of your will on earth.

Leader: To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

Response: To you, O Lord, we lift our praise.

Lord’s Prayer (Slides) ‘Join me in the prayer of Jesus’ – Rick

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, On Earth as it is in Heaven.

Reading Martha

Understand that the last days will be dangerous times. People will be selfish and love money. They will be the kind of people who brag and who are proud.

They will slander others, and they will be disobedient to their parents. They will be ungrateful, unholy, unloving, contrary, and critical. They will be without self-control and brutal, and they won’t love what is good.

They will be people who are disloyal, reckless, and conceited. They will love pleasure instead of loving God. They will look like they are religious but deny God’s power. Avoid people like this.

Some will slither into households and control immature women who are burdened with sins and driven by all kinds of desires. These women are always learning, but they can never arrive at an understanding of the truth.

These people oppose the truth in the same way that Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. Their minds are corrupt and their faith is counterfeit. But they won’t get very far. Their foolishness will become obvious to everyone like those others.

But you have paid attention to my teaching, conduct, purpose, faithfulness, patience, love, and endurance. You have seen me experience physical abuse and ordeals in places such as Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra.

I put up with all sorts of abuse, and the Lord rescued me from it all! In fact, anyone who wants to live a holy life in Christ Jesus will be harassed.

But evil people and swindlers will grow even worse, as they deceive others while being deceived themselves. But you must continue with the things you have learned and found convincing. You know who taught you.

Since childhood you have known the holy scriptures that help you to be wise in a way that leads to salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus.

Every scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character, so that the person who belongs to God can be equipped to do everything that is good.

I Timothy 3, CEB

Music (Slides) Lynn/Linda/Segun

You are not a god created
By human hands
You are not a god dependent
On any mortal man
You are not a god in need of
Anything we can give
By Your plan
That’s just the way it is

You are God alone from before time began
You were on Your throne You are God alone
And right now in the good times and bad
You are on Your throne You are God alone

You’re the only God whose power
None can contend
You’re the only God whose name and
Praise will never end
You’re the only God who’s worthy
Of ev’rything we can give
You are God
That’s just the way it is

You are God alone from before time began
You were on Your throne You are God alone
And right now in the good times and bad
You are on Your throne You are God alone

You’re unchangeable You’re unshakable
You’re unstoppable that’s what You are
You’re unchangeable You’re unshakable
You’re unstoppable that’s what You are

You are God alone from before time began
You were on Your throne You are God alone
And right now in the good times and bad
You are on Your throne You are God alone

Give me the heart of a servant Tender and faithful and true

Fill me with love and use me, O Lord So that the world can see You.

Message (Slides) ‘Hating Good’, Rick

Opening Illustration – grocery store conversation about the state of the world, problems and different views on solutions.

Illustration – Taylor Swift Tickets, proof that they were seen and heard.

When we navigate problems and trials we often faile to recognize the difficulty judging and belittling it and then, we fail to account for God in the midst of the trial.

Around five years after his initial letter to Timothy, the pastor of the church at Ephesus, Paul is addressing the reality of the world. Whereas, we saw, in I Timothy, Paul offering advise to the young pastor, now, Paul is naming the problems that are surely to come at him from inside and outside of the church. Problems that can not only destroy faith of the members of the church, but potentially may also destroy Timothy’s faith.

[Screen Share until noted to discontinue]

[Slide] “People are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God.

[Slide] They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people. These are the kind of people who smooth-talk themselves into the homes of the unstable and insecure in their belief and take advantage of them.” (II Timothy 3:2-7, MSG)

Paul then brings it home to Timothy, naming the real problems he himself has faced inside and outside of the church doors,

[Slide] “You’ve been a good apprentice to me, a part of my teaching, my manner of life, my direction, my faith, my steadiness, all with love and patience taking on my troubles and sufferings—suffering along with me in all the grief I had to put up with. You are a witness to the truth that, more than once, God rescued me!

[Slide] Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there’s no getting around it. Unscrupulous religious con men will continue to exploit the faith. They’re as deceived as the people they lead astray. As long as they are out there, things can only get worse.” (II Timothy 3:10-13, MSG)

Paul wraps up this section by saying, “But don’t let it faze you.”

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Sound familiar? This behavior doesn’t really seem that odd, it sounds a constant in our reality, sadly, it sounds a frequent occurrence even in our own motivations and behaviors. We experience it, or hear from the experiences of others, almost everyday.

In chapter 4, Paul further defines people by saying, “For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires” (4:3). Some translations interpret this as ‘itchy ears.’ A desire to hear something new, something spectacular, something odd and conspiratorially suspicious.

Paul knew, from his own personal experience, that Timothy would soon face this heartache. Timothy had been the pastor of the Ephesus church for around five years, long enough for him to have become known, long enough for those in the community to become suspicious of this outsider, long enough for even false believers to attempt to spread lies and half truths perverting the hope of Jesus, long enough to recognize this sometimes came from inside of the church, and long enough to experience the push back on truth by those with agendas and hostility. Long enough for the hidden evils to come to the surface inside and outside.

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[Slide] Paul’s words of wisdom to Timothy is “Don’t let it faze you.” which, in all honesty seems less than helpful

Let’s start with that elephant in the room. Being told to ‘not let it faze or bother you,’ is possibly the most frustrating thing to be told when we are going through difficulties and troubles. This past week as we began our study on James (which, if you missed last Wednesday, you are still able to join us this week), we heard James telling the scattered Jewish believers to

[Slide]

“Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” (James 1:2-3) It is possible, if someone has ever said this to you, or any version of this, when you were facing problems or heartaches, you have been tempted to respond in a less than loving way. To us, it sounds cliche, heartless, and maybe even ignorant. Often, or usually, we hear this from someone who has no idea what to say and this ends up being the default to fill an awkward moment of silence.

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But for Paul, and for James, it is very different when they say these words, this was the experience of Paul and James, it was genuine, not hollow words, it was truly what enabled them to survive their own tribulations.. Paul had experienced the same trials and problems that Timothy is about to face. He knows first hand what attacks and disappointments can do to you mentally, emotionally, and even physically. Paul’s recommendations, the same as James’ words, are more academic rather than cliche – this truly worked for them, they were possibly the originators of these responses. they got it and they used this method. ‘Hang on, hang in there, don’t give up, there is a better day ahead, you can do this!”

In reality, we all know that evil, disappointment, bullies, hatefulness, arrogance, selfishness, greed, pushed through agendas, disrespect, and every other evidence of bad, the opposite of good including heartache, rejection, loss, illness, death. All of these are ready to surface at any moment.

[Slide] This week, in Doral Florida, in Miami Dade County, 32 vehicles were discovered at the bottom of a lake. The lake was surrounded by commercial stores such as WalMart and restaurants, however, prior to the building these buildings, lake had stood alone and, evidently, these cars had been dumped into the water. The police identified the cars as being older models and speculated that they were part of a huge crime ring. So, the evidence of crimes were underneath this water hidden for all the years. No one had seen the evidence of evil because no one was able to see the sunken vehicles. Ironically, it was not until a private investigator hired a couple of divers to look under the murky waters of the lake trying to solve a recent crime that the evidence of this older crime surfaced.

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Evil often is unseen, gradually unnoticed, possibly even dormant, until it isn’t. Until something, or someone, brings it to the surface, allows it to appear and reactivate. This was Hitler’s modus operandi as he would enter into new countries banking on the hidden prejudice, hatefullness, and racism of the citizens to surface when given an opportunity. Many of our modern day religious leaders and politicians depend on this strategy of creating an enemy or a crisis out of those hidden hostilities and hatreds already under to the surface. Once a target is established and identified the brutality is given the freedom to rise to the surface.

There is a reason that Paul is concerned for Timothy, a reason that Paul voices his concerns for this pastor and the church at Ephesus now around five years after his previous letter. Paul is nearing the end of his ministry, he senses that he is approaching the end of his life. Time in prisons and arrest, an increase in the attacks against him and his life of restriction have all increased, all are his new reality. Paul ws feeling the coming reality of the end of his ministry and the end of his life. And, since he loves Timothy like a son, and desires to protect and prepare Timothy for the harsh realities ahead, he writes this letter.

Probably the great concern for Paul was the existence of false teachers in Ephesus. Those who could slither into the lives of the members of the church, and divert their attention from truth to the spectacular and the farcical – and, in doing so, could create tensions between those who believed the false teaching and Timothy.

Paul is pulling Timothy back from the cliff on which Timothy had not yet approached. The words of Paul and James to us tells us stand stong in confidence even in the worst of times.

“The one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:6)

I’m not sure there are any less aggravating words because doubt, and especially self-doubt is human.

I don’t think Paul, or James, is speaking in the same language as us. By this I mean that when they speak of doubt, it is probably not what we think they mean when they speak of doubt.

[Slide]

Illustration – Roller Coaster, Dad, Doubt, Perfect Father

[End Screen Share]

This is the doubt that Paul and James are speaking of. The doubts they are pulling us back from is the doubt in God, a doubt in the work of Jesus. Paul, ahead of time, is calling to strengthen his own trust in God. This is not about doubts about yourself, or our doubts in others, it is about knowing God well enough that we can trust God. Ninety percent of the doubts we have are not doubts about God, they are doubts in our self to be used by God, to be heard by God. This also points us to a recognition that our trust in times of trouble cannot be about human leaders, religious experts, political powers, but, instead on God. We have to trust enough to have an answer that is different than our agenda or expectations.

Question: Even as we doubt ourself, do we trust God enough to also trust the outcome even when it is not the outcome we expect or want?

Music (Slides) Lynn/Linda/Segun

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

How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all will see how great
How great is our God

And 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

How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all will see how great
How great is our God

Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God

Community (Slides) Rick

Next Sunday, The Source of Good, James 1:16-18
Summer Bible Study – James, Wednesday Nights @ 6:30pm for 4 weeks. August 9-30. This week – chapter 2
Special Speaker, Dianne McNary, Sunday, August 27, CBF Global Mission, previously, with her husband Shane, as field personal in Slovakia
Fall Message Series beginning September 11 ‘Overwhelmed (Rescue to Redemption/Flood to Sacrifice)
Next Book Discussion Luncheon, ‘Making Sense of the Bible’, Some Books available in entry was -$15, or link on web page will take you to Amazon order page, luncheon will take place in October (date – TBA)

Benediction (Slides) Rick

Closing Peace Rick

Leader: May the Peace and Hope of the Lord go with you.

Response: And also with you.

Leader: Go in the Peace and Hope of the Lord.

Order, Words, & Voices 08.06.23

Order, Words, & Voices

08.06.23, Wearing Good, I Timothy 2:8-15

Order

Pre Worship Music

Opening Song Lynn/Linda/Segun

We Will Glorify

King of My Heart

Call to Worship Response/Lord’s Prayer Rick

Reading I Timothy 2:8-15 Linda

Songs Lynn/Linda/Segun

Great is thy faithfulness

This is holy ground

Message Wearing Good Rick

Music Heart of Worship Lynn/Linda/Segun

Community/Peace Rick

Benediction/Closing Peace Rick

Post Worship Music

Music (slides) – Lynn/Linda/Segun

We will glorify the King of kings
We will glorify the Lamb
We will glorify the Lord of lords
Who is the great I Am

Lord Jehovah reigns in majesty
We will bow before His throne
We will worship Him in righteousness
We will worship Him alone

He is Lord of heaven Lord of earth
He is Lord of all who live
He is Lord above the universe
All praise to Him we give

Hallelujah to the King of kings
Hallelujah to the Lamb
Hallelujah to the Lord of lords
Who is the great I Am

Let the King of my heart
Be the mountain where I run
The fountain I drink from
Oh He is my song

Let the King of my heart
Be the shadow where I hide
The ransom for my life
Oh He is my song

You are good good oh
You are good good oh
You are good good oh
You are good good oh

Let the King of my heart
Be the wind inside my sails
The anchor in the waves
Oh He is my song

Let the King of my heart
Be the fire inside my veins
The echo of my days
Oh He is my song

You are good good oh
You are good good oh
You are good good oh
You are good good oh

You’re never gonna let
Never gonna let me down
You’re never gonna let
Never gonna let me down

When the night is holding on to me
God is holding on
When the night is holding on to me
God is holding on

Call to Worship (Slides) – Rick

Leader: Praise the Lord, O my soul.

Response: I will praise the Lord all my life.

Leader: I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

Response: May I not put my trust in princes or any human beings for they cannot save.

Leader: Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob.

Response: Blessed are those whose hope is in the Lord their God.

Leader: God is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.

Response: God remains faithful forever.

Leader: God upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets prisoners free, gives sight to the blind, and lifts up those who are lowly.

Response: The Lord loves the righteous.

Leader: The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow.

Response: God frustrates the ways of the wicked.

Leader: The Lord reigns forever.

Response: Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life.

Lord’s Prayer (Slides) ‘Join me in the prayer of Jesus’ – Rick

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, On Earth as it is in Heaven.

Reading Linda

Therefore, I want men to pray everywhere by lifting up hands that are holy, without anger or argument. In the same way, I want women to enhance their appearance with clothing that is modest and sensible, not with elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, or expensive clothes.

They should make themselves attractive by doing good, which is appropriate for women who claim to honor God. A wife should learn quietly with complete submission.

I don’t allow a wife to teach or to control her husband. Instead, she should be a quiet listener.

Adam was formed first, and then Eve. Adam wasn’t deceived, but rather his wife became the one who stepped over the line because she was completely deceived.

But a wife will be brought safely through childbirth, if they both continue in faith, love, and holiness, together with self-control.

I Timothy 2:8-15, CEB

Music (Slides) Lynn/Linda/Segun

Great is Thy faithfulness
O God my Father
There is no shadow
Of turning with Thee
Thou changest not
Thy compassions they fail not
As Thou hast been
Thou forever wilt be

Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning
New mercies I see
All I have needed
Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness
Lord unto me

Summer and winter
And springtime and harvest
Sun moon and stars
In their courses above
Join with all nature
In manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness
Mercy and love

Great is Thy faithfulness
O God my Father
There is no shadow
Of turning with Thee
Thou changest not
Thy compassions they fail not
As Thou hast been
Thou forever wilt be

Pardon for sin
And a peace that endureth
Thy own dear presence
To cheer and to guide
Strength for today
And bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine
With ten thousand beside

Great is Thy faithfulness
O God my Father

There is no shadow
Of turning with Thee
Thou changest not
Thy compassions they fail not
As Thou hast been
Thou forever wilt be

We are standing on holy ground
And I know that there
Are angels all around
Let us praise Jesus now
We are standing in His presence
(On holy ground)

Message (Slides) ‘Wearing Good’, Rick

The prophet Joel prophesied, a prophecy that was referenced at Pentecost when the Spirit descended upon the apostles…

[Slide – leave screen share on until prompted to leave screen share] “It will come about after this that God will pour His My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, Your old men will have dreams, Your young men will see visions. And even on the male and female servants God will pour out His Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2:28-29/Acts 2:17-18)

Let’s meet some of those daughters who did prophesy…

[Slide] Prophetess, Judge, Military Leader/Warrior/Hero – Deborah (Judges 5:7). Delivers words from God and leadership, direction, and guidance to all Hebrews. Referred to as Lappidoth meaning torch – Fiery Woman. Leaders and Armies refused to fight in battle unless Deborah was there to lead and fight with them. [NT and OT “prophets” in the biblical sense, are a truth-teller delivering God’s message to the world — in other words, a preacher. More descriptively, a preacher who packs a punch.]

[Slide] Bible Scholar/Teacher – Huldah (2 Kings 22:11-20; 2 Chronicles 34:14-33).

When the Book of the Law was found and brought to King Josiah, he request several men to interpret, including the high priest – these men sought out the expertise of Huldah for interpretation. ‘No sooner had the messengers brought the answer from the prophetess Huldah to the king than he immediately sent for the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem and ordered them to summon the entire nation—“small and great”—to the Beit Hamikdash. Standing on a platform, the king read to the people the solemn words of the Torah from the scroll that was found in the Beit Hamikdash—the divine warning followed by the covenant that Moses and all the Jews had made with G‑d. Now the king renewed this covenant for the entire nation—“To walk in the way of G‑d, to keep His mitzvot, commandments and laws with all their heart and soul.” The whole nation solemnly accepted the renewed covenant and undertook to carry it out fully.

Under the personal leadership of the king, and with the help of the high priest Hilkiah, the nation began to clean up the land of all idolatry with its abominable customs. A spirit of repentance, holiness and purity filled the entire nation.’ (chabad.org)

[Slide] Prophet – Anna (Luke 2:36)

[Slide] Prophets – The four daughters of Philip (Acts 21:9)

[Slide] Prophets – Phoebe – who was a deacon (Romans 16:1)

[Slide] Prophets – Junia – ‘Outstanding of all apostles’ (Romans 16:7)

[Slide] Leader/Teacher of Men Priscilla – “co-worker” with Paul, taught Apollos, a “learned man, with a thorough knowledge of scripture.”- explained “the way of God more adequately” to Apollos, gender did not hinder him from learning. Usually mentioned before her husband’s in a culture that usually placed husband’s names first, suggesting Priscilla, rather than Aquila, was the leader in the marriage.

[Slide] First Preachers of Resurrection – Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9-10 and John 20:17-18), Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (Matthew 28:8-10), or Mary, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and others (Luke 24:9-10).

[Slide] Evangelist to many Samaritans who believed in Jesus after her message – Unnamed Woman at the Well (John 4:28, 39). Longest recorded theological conversation Jesus has with another person – preparation for preaching.

[Slide] “The fact that any women at all were leaders, disciples, prophets, preachers, and deacons in the midst of a patriarchal society that didn’t value women as equal contributors is proof that God’s call on women could not be deterred even by a culture that didn’t readily accept women’s gifts.”

(Kyndall Rae Rothaus, author and preacher)

[Slide] Jarena Lee (1783-1864) – Preacher. first African-American woman authorized to preach in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She beseeched her pastor when he finally allowed her to preach, “If the man may preach, because the Savior died for him, why not the woman, seeing he died for her also? Is he not a whole Savior, instead of half of one?” Faced opposition because of color and gender.

[Slide] Sojourner Truth (Isabella Baumfree) (1797-1883) – Preacher. became a devout Christian and co-founded Kingston Methodist Church. In 1843, she took the name Sojourner Truth to signify her calling from God to travel and preach, telling her friends: “The Spirit calls me, and I must go.” Truth also spoke prophetically on the abolition of slavery.

[Slide] Phoebe Palmer (1807-1875) – Preacher. Organized and preached at camp meetings, where approximately 25,000 people converted to Christianity. Influential in the founding of the Church of the Nazarene, The Salvation Army, The Church of God, and The Pentecostal Holiness Church.

[Slide] Antoinette Brown Blackwell (1825-1921) – Preacher. Began preaching in her Congregational church at the age of nine. Graduated from Oberlin College, but her theology degree was withheld from her for several years due to discrimination against women in ministry. Blackwell was a prolific writer and charismatic preacher. She eventually became the first woman to be ordained by a major American Protestant denomination in 1853. Preached until she was 89 years old. Blackwell was also an abolitionist and early feminist.

[Slide] Agnes White Diffee (1886-1970) – Preacher. “I tried to be excused from answering the call to the ministry because I was a woman. I would not have minded if I had been a man, but to be called a ‘woman preacher’ was more than I could bear.” Pastored First Nazarene in Little Rock for twenty years (35 years total as a preacher), her congregation grew from under 300 to over 1,000.“I urge young women to keep an ear turned to Heaven for the call of God to preach the gospel.”

[Slide] Charlotte Digges “Lottie” Moon (1840 – 1912) – Missionary/Preacher/Evangelist. Following her older sister Edmonia, who was the first single woman sent as a SBC missionary (1872) accepting a call to go to North China, Lottie, a year later, felt called to follow her sister to China. Lottie spent nearly 40 years living and working in China. As a teacher and evangelist she laid a foundation for traditionally solid support for missions among Southern Baptists

[Slide] Ann Graham Lotz (1948 to present) – Evangelist.

‘Billy Graham said his daughter is the greatest preacher he had ever heard.’

Rev Wayne Keely, pastor Faith baptist Church in Claremore, OK, 1992 – youth evangelism conference, and 1993 Evangelism conference – Ann Graham Lotz speaker. Complained that she was given 45 minutes to peak which ‘left the door opened to her preaching and teaching to men.’ Was okay with her at youth conference giving her testimony until she opened the Bible and shared scripture, got up, and led he 12-18 year olds out of the auditorium.

[Slide] Beth Moore (1957-present) – Bible Teacher & Preacher. Moore spoke to millions of evangelical Christian women in stadium-style events and even more women and me have taken part in her Bible studies where Moore delves deeply into biblical passages. ‘Speaking about Moore in 2015, SBC Leader, Thomas Rainer said, “Moore has been a stalwart for the Word of God, never compromising, and when all is said and done, the impact of Beth Moore can only be measured in eternity’s grasp.” Considered a model of a modern SBC woman for over 3 decades, evangelical power brokers, who believed only men should preach, were increasingly uncomfortable with Moore’s outsized influence. It was Moore’s criticism of the 45th president’s abusive behavior toward women and her advocacy for sexual abuse victims that turned her from a beloved icon to a pariah in the denomination she loved all her life. Because of her opposition to Trump and her outspokenness in confronting sexism and nationalism in the evangelical world, Moore is now labeled as liberal and “woke, and even as a heretic for giving a message during a Sunday morning church service. Recently, Moore officially left the SBC saying that she was still a Baptist but no longer a Souther Baptist. Church Historian Kate Bowler said “Moore’s departure is a significant loss for the Southern Baptist Convention. Moore is one of the denomination’s few stand-alone women leaders, whose platform was based on her own charisma, leadership and incredible work ethic and not to a marriage to a famed pastor. (Moore’s husband is a plumber by trade.)”’ (Religion News Service, 2021)

[Slide] The apostle Paul said,

“There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)

[Slide] The Apostle Paul said,

“If a woman who prophesies/preaches with her head unveiled she shames her head—it is one and the same thing as having her head shaved.” (Romans 11:5)

[Slide] The Apostle Paul said,

I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive apparel, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness. A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness.

But I do not allow a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a wrongdoer. But women will be preserved through childbirth—if they continue in faith, love, and sanctity, with moderation.” (I Timothy 2:9-15)

[End Screen share]

Sometimes what we see in scripture and how we interpret what we see in scripture – and then, as we attempt to interpret that scriptural understanding through our reality, leaves us confused, overwhelmed, and eventually in a state of despair and eventually dejected and hopeless. Sometimes we find ourselves at the conjuncture of hostility, love, and peace.

Sometimes we only see a portion of truth and are left in panic and isolation.

Illustration of Brian’s voice on mom’s phone.

Paul, just like many today, uses the story of Adam and Eve’s sin to justify their literal interpretation of the subjugation of women – the story of the sin of the serpent, the woman, and the man. To the woman God says, “I will make your pangs in childbirth exceedingly great; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” But to the man and the serpent, God declared a curse on both of them – we do not see the word, or a reference to the idea of, a curse on the woman. Furthermore, we eventually see that if the woman was cursed, such a curse would have been broken at the cross (Galatians 3:13). But the biggest issue is that, it was Eve who became the first one who recognizes and proclaims the work of God as she, following the birth of her son Seth, as she says, “God has given me another child instead of Abel, because Cain killed him.”

In addition to 1 Timothy, Paul, speaks in various other letters of a similar denial of women’s voices, however, here in this letter, which is addressed to Timothy, the pastor of the church at Ephesus instead of to the Church at Ephesus Paul uses the specific first person pronoun as he speaks to Timothy not the church. “I desire that women do not speak, I desire….” Elsewhere, his word is more directly attributed to God. Furthermore, when Paul did write earlier (before Timothy was the pastor of the Ephesus’ church) Paul’s instruction was for women and men to live out an illustration of Jesus and the Church through their marriage.

While I am not going to give the argument for or against women preachers, prophets, teachers, & leaders – I do encourage each of us to seek truth rather than to just accept interpretations of this, and other passages. Instructions that are easily contradicted when stacked up against other passages, reality, and the life and words of Jesus.

Basically,

[Screen share for the following 4 slides]

[Slide] When the life and words of Jesus do not match up with our literal interpretation we need to take a new look at our interpretation in light of the life and words of Jesus.
[Slide] When the other words of scripture do not match up with our literal interpretation we need to take a new look at our interpretation in light of the life and words of Jesus.
[Slide] When the struggles of those God loves and created do not match up with our literal translation we need to take a new look at our translation in light of life and words of Jesus.
[Slide] When we find that our interpretation and our efforts to understand do not give a quick answer, or, do not verify or dispute the interpretation of another, then, we trust God to give us understanding when needed, and while we wait, we continue to live by the things we do know for sure – Love God, Love Others as we love ourself.

[End Screen Share]

I have struggled with this message this week. Do I spend my time trying to influence you from a theological perspective? Do I go with the contradictions and the meaning of the Greek words? Do I recognize that we are all influenced by those to whom we have already given the power to determine our opinions and beliefs? Or, do I listen to, and support, those who have risked everything to follow the calling of God….even when that calling is risky and opens them up to ridicule and misery? God led me to go with those who have been willing to take the risks to follow God, even though following God sets them up to be the target of those they are meant to lead. To believe the proven calling on those who are told not to follow God, told not to believe they can be called, to believe that God’s call is to all of creation.

Music (Slides) Lynn/Linda/Segun

When the music fades all is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring something that’s of worth
That will bless Your heart

I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You all about You Jesus
I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You all about You Jesus

King of endless worth no one could express
How much You deserve
Though I’m weak and poor all I have is Yours
Ev’ry single breath

I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You all about You Jesus
I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You all about You Jesus

Community (Slides) Rick

Next Sunday, Hating Good, I Timothy 3
Summer Bible Study – James, Wednesday Nights @ 6:30pm for 4 weeks. August 9-30.
Next Book Discussion Luncheon, ‘Making Sense of the Bible’, Some Books available in entry was -$15, or link on web page will take you to Amazon order page, luncheon will take place in October (date – TBA)
Fall Message Series beginning September 11 ‘Overwhelmed (Rescue to Redemption/Flood to Sacrifice)

Benediction (Slides) Rick

Closing Peace Rick

Leader: May the Peace and Hope of the Lord go with you.

Response: And also with you.

Leader: Go in the Peace and Hope of the Lord.

Order, Words, & Voices

Order, Words, & Voices

07.30.23, Producing Good, Ephesians 5:6-14

Order

Pre Worship Music

Opening Song Lynn

Blessed Assurance

10,000 Reasons

Call to Worship Response/Lord’s Prayer Rick

Reading Ephesians 5:6-14 Cricklins

Songs Lynn

Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Message Producing Good Rick

Music We Are the Light of the World Lynn

Community/Peace Rick

Benediction/Closing Peace Rick

Post Worship Music

Slides Note: There is a blank title slide between each Section – except for message/sermon slides.

Music (slides) – Lynn

Blessed assurance Jesus is mine
O what a foretaste of glory divine
Heir of salvation purchase of God
Born of His Spirit washed in His blood

This is my story this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long

Perfect submission all is at rest
I in my Savior am happy and blest
Watching and waiting looking above
Filled with His goodness lost in His love

This is my story this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long

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

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

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

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

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

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

Worship Your holy name
Lord I’ll worship Your holy name
Sing like never before O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name

Call to Worship (Slides) – Rick

Leader: We have heard of God’s grace given to us through gift of Jesus Christ and communicated through the generations in the message from God’s apostles.

Response: Our eyes have been enlightened to the mystery of God’s sacrifice.

Leader: We have been given the insight of the mystery of Jesus made known to mankind and revealed to us through the Spirit.

Response: Truth revealed to us, now members of the family of God.

Leader: Partakers of the promise given to Abraham, passed on through Jacob, secured through the Son.

Response: We, the Gentiles, are now heirs of God’s promise.

Leader: We, partakers of God’s unfathomable riches, are now communicators to our world of the good news to Jesus Christ.

Response: We, the least of these, are called to enlighten our world through our lives.

Leader: The multifaceted God who created all things is also the God of multifaceted wisdom now made available to rulers and authorities through the fellowship of believers.

Response: According to the eternal purposes of God carried out in Jesus.

Leader: May we bend our knees before the Father, may we be strengthened through God’s power by God’s Spirit.

Response: May Jesus dwell in our hearts, may we be rooted and grounded in love.

Leader: May we comprehend the width, length, height and depth of the love of Christ which surpasses all knowledge. May God do through us abundantly beyond all that we can imagine.

Response: To God be the glory among the fellowship of believers and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

(Ephesians 3:1-21)

Lord’s Prayer (Slides) ‘Join me in the prayer of Jesus’ – Rick

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, On Earth as it is in Heaven.

Reading Cricklins

Nobody should deceive you with stupid ideas. God’s anger comes down on those who are disobedient because of this kind of thing. So you shouldn’t have anything to do with them.

You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord, so live your life as children of light. Light produces fruit that consists of every sort of goodness, justice, and truth.

Therefore, test everything to see what’s pleasing to the Lord, and don’t participate in the unfruitful actions of darkness. Instead, you should reveal the truth about them.

It’s embarrassing to even talk about what certain persons do in secret. But everything exposed to the light is revealed by the light. Everything that is revealed by the light is light.

Therefore, it says, Wake up, sleeper! Get up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.

Ephesians 5:6-14, CEB

Music (Slides) Lynn

Verse 1

Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now I’m found
Was blind but now I see

Verse 2

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

Chorus

My chains are gone I’ve been set free
My God my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love amazing grace

Verse 3

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

Verse 4

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth

Will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace

Message (Slides) ‘Producing Good’, Rick

Illustration – Team Building with Social Workers.

[Slide – leave it up til prompt to leave share screen] The work of the team building week showed the participants not only that they were not alone, but also that they were much more powerful and capable than they had imagined because they were not alone. This is what Paul does in this letter to the church at Ephesus – he brings the readers to a place where they recognize their strength of community, their shared truth, their hope…then after this preparation he gives the challenge to go, do, and live. He begins his letter to the believers in Ephesus by reminding them of two essential foundational truths about themselves. Two truths that are not only essential and foundation, but are also prerequisites for them to understand what he says later for them.

The first was their standing before God which made them unique among other Ephesians. They were equal members of the family of God. They, along with other Gentile followers of Jesus, and, radically, along with all Jewish followers of Jesus, were all equal status children of God. They were heirs to the covenant with God. These who previously, prior to Jesus, were outsiders to God’s covenant, were now insiders, not through birth but through Jesus.

The second was their oneness, their unity, their connection with and to each other. This was their shared experience of God’s mercy and grace. This was what held them together for encouragement, growth, support, community, and when needed, correction. In this oneness, they were able to live out their faith in a safe space which would then empower them to live it out in unsafe places.

[Leave Screen Share]

Once Paul cemented these two truths into their hearts and minds they were free to hear Paul’s initial challenges…1.understand and hold to their status before God. 2. Own their faith, do the work of owning and understanding truth, as opposed to just accepting the practices of faith of another believer.

We also saw this same template in Paul’s letter to the church at Rome. Paul begins with an understanding of truth. Making sure that the basics of their faith was concrete in their mind and hearts, and at the same time, making sure they understood that the good news of Jesus Christ was their good news as well. Making sure that they understood the truth about Jesus as well as how that truth applied to them.

So, let’s get one more important context note before we begin to look at Paul’s challenge to the believers in Ephesus. The Temple of the greek goddess the goddess of chastity, hunting, wild animals, forests, childbirth, and fertility Artemis was located in Ephesus. Last week I mentioned that Ephesus was considered to be the epicenter of the worship of Greek gods. With that, I stated that this was an advantage in the sense that it revealed a certain level of the existence of an awareness of otherness and of faith, however, it could also be a disadvantage in the sense that the existence of such a powerful and significant institutional presence can harden those same people to a real personal faith. The Temple of Artemis is considered to be one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. For the citizens of Ephesus, the fact that the temple was in their city was the defining mark of their city. It was like Disneyland in Anaheim California. This had been the most valuable asset of Ephesus for centuries .

Roughly 3 ½ centuries before Jesus, the temple was destroyed by a serial arsonist. When Alexander the Great volunteered to rebuild the temple, Ephesus delicately declined his offer saying ‘inappropriate for a god to fund the building of a temple to another god’ – because the temple belonged to Ephesus and there was a concern that the temple would no longer belong to them, instead belonging to Alexander. Regardless of their actual religious belief about Artemis, the people were tied to that building, the temple structure. The city, as well as the citizens, of Ephesus was defined by this temple – not really to the goddess Artemis.

With this in mind, let’s look at one of the main reasons that Paul is writing to the believers in Ephesus.

“But sexual immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.” (Ephesians 5:3-4)

Paul is not writing to tell them to clean up their act, he is telling them to clean up their mouths!

Paul is challenging the Jesus followers to be different than the other citizens of Ephesus. While the nonbelievers hold to a building, a temple, to define themselves, Paul is calling on the followers of Jesus to be defined by their hearts. Hearts change everything about us, man made religious practices only require a moment on our calendars and maybe a withdrawal from our assets. Hearts, however, are reflected in our lives, our responses, our caring and concern, even through our words. The impact, the produce of our lives comes from our hearts. Hearts show our core, what we really believe. What we really value. So, Paul begins with our mouths, the values that are reflected in our words.

‘Sexual immorality, impurity, greed, filthiness, foolish talk, and vulgar joking must not even be mentioned among you! Instead, let them hear you giving of thanks!’

The religion of the false gods is very shallow, Paul is calling on the Ephesian followers of Jesus to reveal depth and authenticity that is reflected through every pore of their being. Paul is calling on the believers to reflect Jesus in every aspect of their lives, including in their words. The problem is, however, words come without thought, words come from the deep place inside of us where that we attempt to hide resides. Words come from the same place that darkness, anger, revenge, jealousy, gossip, and promiscuity come from. Paul is not really addressing words, he is addressing hearts.

Remember, as we later see, the church in Ephesus is very vulnerable. Vulnerable to the false teachings from the temple of Artemis, vulnerable to their own insecurities of being, or not being, in the family of God, vulnerable to the spiritual darkness that pervades their surroundings, and the ease of slipping back into that darkness. Paul is pointing out to them the need to see and address their own frailties.

To fully understand Paul’s calling that begins with their words, we need to go back to the words Paul uses just before our passage for today. As he takes them to a state of simplicity and understanding.

[Slide] “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” (Ephesians 5:1-2, NASB)

[Slide] (Amplified) “Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]; and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.” (Ephesians 5:1-2, Amplified)

[Slide] (Living) “Follow God’s example in everything you do just as a much loved child imitates his father. Be full of love for others, following the example of Christ who loved you and gave himself to God as a sacrifice to take away your sins. And God was pleased, for Christ’s love for you was like sweet perfume to him.” (Ephesians 5:1-2, TLB)

Paul began with this simplicity and then he simply lays it out for them…

[Slide] “See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

[Slide] Therefore do not become partners with them; for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

[Slide] Do not participate in the useless words and deeds of darkness for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.

[Slide] Be careful how you walk and talk, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:6-17)

[End Screen Share]

I think Eugene Petersen sums up Paul’s words masterfully, much better than my words can, as he says. “Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. Don’t allow love to turn into lust, setting off a downhill slide into sexual promiscuity, filthy practices, or bullying greed. Though some tongues just love the taste of gossip, those who follow Jesus have better uses for language than that. Don’t talk dirty or silly. That kind of talk doesn’t fit our style. Thanksgiving is our dialect. You can be sure that using people or religion or things just for what you can get out of them—the usual variations on idolatry—will get you nowhere, and certainly nowhere near the kingdom of Christ, the kingdom of God. Don’t let yourselves get taken in by religious smooth talk. God gets furious with people who are full of religious sales talk but want nothing to do with him. Don’t even hang around people like that. You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You’re out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it. Don’t waste your time on the, on mere busywork, on the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ. Wake up from your sleep, Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light! So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.”

(Ephesians 5:1-17, MSG)

Music (Slides) Lynn

Ev’ry secret ev’ry shame
Ev’ry fear ev’ry pain
Live inside the dark
But that’s not who we are
We are children of the day

So wake up sleeper lift your head
We were meant for more than this
Fight the shadows conquer death
Make the most of the time we have left

We are the light of the world
We are the city on a hill
We are the light of the world
And we gotta we gotta we gotta
Let the light shine

We are called to spread the news
To tell the world the simple truth
Jesus came to save there’s freedom in His name
So let His love break through

We are the light of the world
We are the city on a hill
We are the light of the world
And we gotta we gotta we gotta
Let the light shine

We are the light we are the light we are the light
So let your light shine brighter
We are the light we are the light we are the light
Jesus You are the light You are the light
You are the light
We will lift You high and shine shine shine

We are the light of the world
We are the city on a hill
We are the light of the world
And we gotta we gotta we gotta
Let the light shine

Community (Slides) Rick

Next Sunday, August 6, ‘Wearing Good’, I Timothy 2:8-15
Summer Bible Study – James, Wednesday Nights @ 6:30pm for 4 weeks. August 9-30.
Next Book Discussion Luncheon, ‘Making Sense of the Bible’, Some Books available in entry was -$15, or link on web page will take you to Amazon order page, luncheon will take place in October (date – TBA)
Fall Message Series beginning September 11 ‘Overwhelmed (Rescue to Redemption/Flood to Sacrifice)

Benediction (Slides) Rick

Regardless of our gender, or any other label we wear, we are all called to serve as pastors in the midst of God’s creation just as Mary was called to pastor the men who would soon be the apostles with the good news of the resurrection.

May we continually choose to grow in our own understanding of that proven hope which carries us in peace, giving us the mercy, compassion, and grace, to live confidently in God who loves us and calls us to life which, in turn, allows love to pour out for all of creation.

Closing Peace Rick

Leader: May the Peace and Hope of the Lord go with you.

Response: And also with you.

Leader: Go in the Peace and Hope of the Lord.

Order, Words, & Voices 07.23.23

Order, Words, & Voices

07.23.23, Ephesians 2:1-10, Created to Do Good

Order

Pre Worship Music

Opening Song Lynn/Linda/Segun

Your Grace is Enough

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Call to Worship Response/Lord’s Prayer Rick

Reading Ephesians 2:1-10 Petty

Songs Lynn/Linda/Segun

Here I Am to Worship

Grace Greater than Our Sin

Message Created to Do Good Rick

Music Gratitude Lynn/Linda/Segun

Community/Peace Rick

Benediction/Closing Peace Rick

Post Worship Music

Slides Note: There is a blank title slide between each Section – except for message/sermon slides.

Music (slides) – Lynn/Linda/Segun

Great is Your faithfulness O God
You wrestle with the sinner’s restless heart
You lead us by still waters into mercy
And nothing can keep us apart

(So) remember Your people
Remember Your children
Remember Your promise O God

Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me

Great is Your love and justice God of Jacob
You use the weak to lead the strong
You lead us in the song of Your salvation
And all Your people sing along

(So) remember Your people
Remember Your children
Remember Your promise O God

Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me

Yeah Your grace is enough
Heaven reaches out to us
Your grace is enough for me
God I sing Your grace is enough
I’m covered in Your love
Your grace is enough for me for me

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’m come
And I hope by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wand’ring 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 grace Lord 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 Lord take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

Call to Worship (Slides) – Rick

Leader: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

Response: God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless before him in love.

Leader: God made us his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will.

Response: We praise God who freely bestowed his glorious grace on us.

Leader: Through Jesus we have redemption and forgiveness lavished on us.

Response: God has made known to us the mystery of his will set forth in Christ

Leader: In Christ we have obtained an inheritance, we who set our hope on Christ live for the praise of his glory.

Response: In Christ we have heard the word of truth, the good news of the resurrection.

Leader: May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation as we come to know him.

Response: May the eyes of our heart be enlightened, may we perceive the hope to which God has called us.

Leader: May we gain a glimpse of God’s immeasurable greatness and God’s merciful and compassionate power.

Response: May the evidence of our lives reflect the immersive fullness of God’s love.

(Ephesians 1:3-22)

Lord’s Prayer (Slides) ‘Join me in the prayer of Jesus’ – Rick

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, On Earth as it is in Heaven.

Reading Pettys

At one time you were a dead person because of the things you did wrong and your offenses against God. You used to live like people of this world. You followed the rule of a destructive spiritual power.

This is the spirit of disobedience to God’s will that is still at work in persons whose lives are characterized by disobedience. At one time you were like those persons.

We used to do whatever felt good and whatever we thought we wanted to do. We were children headed for punishment just like everyone else. However, God is rich in mercy.

God brought us to life with Christ while we were dead as a result of those things we did wrong. God did this because of the great love he has for us. We are saved by God’s grace!

Not only are we saved by God’s grace, but God also raised us up and seated us in the heavens with Christ Jesus.

God did this to show future generations the greatness of his grace by the goodness that God has shown us in Christ Jesus. We are saved by God’s grace because of your faith.

This salvation is God’s gift. It’s not something we possess. It’s not something we did that we can be proud of.

Instead, we are God’s accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things. God planned for these good things to be the way that we live our lives.

(Ephesians 2:1-10, CEB)

Music (Slides) Lynn/Linda/Segun

Light of the world
You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes let me see
Beauty that made
This heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You

So here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God
And You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days
Oh so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly You came
To the earth You created
All for love’s sake became poor

So here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God
And You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

And I’ll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
And I’ll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross

Grace grace God’s grace
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within
Grace grace God’s grace
Grace that is greater than all our sin

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt

Grace grace God’s grace
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within
Grace grace God’s grace
Grace that is greater than all our sin

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide
What can avail to wash it away
Look there is flowing a crimson tide
Whiter than snow you may be today

Grace grace God’s grace
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within
Grace grace God’s grace
Grace that is greater than all our sin

Marvelous infinite matchless grace
Freely bestowed on all who believe
You that are longing to see His face
Will you this moment His grace receive

Grace grace God’s grace
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within
Grace grace God’s grace
Grace that is greater than all our sin

Message (Slides) ‘Created to Do Good’, Rick

I heard a story once from a person who had recently returned from a trip to bury a favorite uncle. The story included a long and detailed description about the loved relative and many of the stories that made him such an iconic person in the lives of many people. had lived a long and productive life, with a presence that would not be forgotten by anyone who had ever met him. The funeral was described as having many endearing stories, a wonderful message, and an oppressive atmosphere of sadness and despair. The person telling me this story, as she finished describing the church building element of the story, said, “He would have hated that part, but I know he loved the graveside…” It was here that the story became interesting. Evidently, in setting up the mechanics required to set the casket over the open grave, someone had missed an essential part. The result was that as the preacher solemnly read a passage from Psalm, the casket began to slowly lower into the grave. At first this seemed very dramatic and possibly a purposeful planned element, until, the head of the casket began to sink down quicker than the feet side. Eventually, as the casket neared the bottom, the head side just fell the remainder of the distance to the dirt. The funeral home attendants and the persons from the cemetery were horrified and were shell shocked as to what to do. The pastor, undeterred by this unexpected twist as if this happened all the time, continued to read and then preach the final words of his message. Those sitting under the canopy attempted to remain as stoic as the preacher but soon, everyone began laughing. This, as told to me, was when someone in the family pronounced “Finally, a funeral that Uncle James would have loved!”

My first semester of my freshman year in college, my humanities professor walked into the first day of class, pointed to me, and asked, “What is death?” I froze for just a second as he did not seem to be a patient individual. This was my thing, I was a person of faith, a faith of eternal life – but, in this moment, I could not think of a single thing. Finally I responded with, “Death is the end of life.” He gave no response and instead moved his pointed finger to another person and asked the same question. His quick move to another person immediately had me labeling myself a failure because I choked and gave the wrong anwer to my first question of my collegiate career. However, as he continued to move from one person to the next, asking the same question, I recognized that he was asking the entire class, one person at a time, this same question. You would think that those asked later would have time to formulate a better answer, but we are all frozen when the finger was pointed at us. Being the first, however, gave me more time to second guess my answer. “The End of Life”, ‘stupid answer, stupid Rick’ I thought to myself. ‘Even I didn’t even believe my answer!’

As the apostle Paul addressed the believers in Ephesus he began with death – ‘You were dead.’

[Slide] (Reverend Adam Hearlson says,) “The second chapter of the letter to the Ephesians begins with the strange indicative phrase, ‘you were dead.’ It’s worth sitting with this idea for a moment.

[Slide] Presumably, those who were once dead but are no longer dead would be aware of their previous death. Being dead is a reasonably significant experience (I presume. I have never died).

[Slide] The presumption of death is a bold statement from the author of Ephesians. On the whole, people don’t like being called dead, even when suggesting that they were formerly dead.

[Slide] And yet, death in all of its iterations is necessary to understand the depth of the author’s point: any consideration of grace requires, as a prerequisite, a reflection on death.” (Adam Hearlson, Pastor, Overbrook Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

[Slide] The church at Ephesus existed in a state of contradictions, a state of death and life – each of which made understanding ‘past death’ an essential element of a continued and continuing healthy faith. Geographically, the city of Ephesus was in a perfect physical setting – their location gave them access to the world and the world access to them. Economic gain, world influence, human diversity, and the freedom to think freely were all assets this city offered. Also the city was very religious, in fact, it was considered to have been the epicenter of worship of the Roman Gods – on the one side this meant a people who were faith oriented, on the other, a majority of people whose faith was centered around false gods. Actually, all the advantages of the city were also all of the disadvantages – the church was automatically vulnerable to false teachings, distracting religious practices, and unity destroying division.

[Slide] Paul, especially here in chapter 2, seeks to focus on the oneness of the church. The shared experience they have of God’s grace and mercy. It is a diverse church, a reflection of their community, including the fact that it was predominantly a church filled with Gentile followers of Jesus.

[Slide] This is what brings the concept of ‘oneness’ to the forefront of Paul’s mind. The church at Ephesus was not homogeneous because they are all Gentile Jesus followers. They were homogeneous because they were now alive through Jesus. No, they are one because they were all children of God, and, therefore, members of the family of God. And, they are not just one with the other believers in Ephesus, but they are also part of the same family as the Gentile faith communities in other cities, but they were also in the same family as the Jews, even those in Jerusalem. This is huge.

[End Screen Share]

Jews and Gentiles had long held to a need to be separate. Jewish religion had held to their history considering Gentiles to be unclean, a thought process that traced by to Abraham and then the Sinai Covenant between Moses and God. On the other hand, Gentiles had held to a prejudice of arrogance and even more, they had lived with the efforts of Politicians to keep their people, the Gentiles, distanced from the Jews. While earlier in the history of both groups these divisions had mostly been for genuine reasons, they were soon attitudes firmly held by religious and political leadership to keep control. For the average Jew and Gentile, these attitudes became racist judgments against each other which had been ancestrally ingrained. Just like today, these hateful unChristlike mindsets, were such a part of their/our thinking, were/are seldom fully recognized resulting in a failure to Love as God commands us to love..

Jews and Gentiles Jesus’ believers are one – however, this was, and is, a difficult truth for both groups, and all of humanity, to grasp regardless of the labels that separate. There is an interesting grammatical element to the letter to the church at Ephesus. When the author of the letter is talking directly, and solely, to the Gentiles he uses the pronouns ‘You and Your.’ But when he is talking about the family of God, which includes himself and the Jewish believers, the author uses the pronouns ‘We and Us.’ (this will possibly be different based on the translation of your Bible).

So, when Paul speaks about their death, he is speaking to the fact that they, the Gentiles, along with their entire ancestral lineage, did not know the one true God. Their existence apart from God, the author’s definition of death, was one of living in a state of no purpose and no hope, of deception, selfishness, hatred, chaos, and sin. The Jews, however, had not lived in that death because they had known and worshiped the one true God – they were not perfect but they knew the perfect God. Their God was the God of purpose, of hope, of truth, of selflessness, of love, of order and direction, and of obedience. So, when Paul pivots to the use of the pronoun ‘We’ he has moved from death to live, from separation to inclusion. Paul is now telling the Gentile believers in Ephesus that they, and that we, are part of the family of God.

[Slide] Get this truth, it is essential for the church at Ephesus to understand before they can hear the concerns of Paul’s heart for the believers. – The Gentiles, who were dead because they didn’t know God are now spiritually included in the family of the Abrahamic covenant. They are all family and no longer restricted from each other. In Jesus, the laws of the Torah have been fulfilled and the barriers removed and the two ethnic groups have become a new unified humanity that can, and must, live together in peace.

[Slide] “Remember that previously you, the Gentiles, were separated from Christ, excluded from the Israelites, and strangers to the covenants of the promise.

[Slide] You had no hope and were dead because you were without God in the world. But now, in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the sacrifice of Christ.

[Slide] For Jesus is our peace; Jesus made both groups into one; Jesus broke down the barrier that divided us;

[Slide] Jesus established peace everlasting. Jesus, by abolishing hostility, reconciled Jews and Gentiles into the body of God through the cross.” (Ephesians 2:11-16 NASB)

The letter to the church at Ephesus actually held two strong challenges.

[Slide] The first, much like we saw in Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, challenges the believers to understand the Good News of Jesus, especially in the key point of oneness and family. The first three chapters of the letter are all about knowing the truth of their status before God – as well as understanding the status of death they lived in before they met the God the Father of Jesus.

[Slide] The Second Urgent Challenge for the church at Ephesus was to own their faith; to fully grasp truth through their own search for Truth. This challenge had to piggyback on the first challenge because it is impossible to fully and confidently seek truth if you are insecure in God the Giver of truth. The Gentile believers were vulnerable to false teachings, lies, deceit, and conspiracies because they did not understand their status among believers – a part of their brains told them that they were second class members of the family of God.

[End Screen Share]

In challenging them to own their faith, he was encouraging them to actually do the work of seeking, learning, and understanding truth. It is our human nature to just accept what we are told without any real critique or investigation. We allow religious leaders, politicians, authors, speakers, others to tell us what to believe and not to lead us to find it for ourselves. We can only have roots that allow us to stand when and if we are the one that made the soil that is us healthy and welcoming to the roots. The greatest problem in Evangelicalism is that we have narrowed down what it means to be a follower of Jesus. We focus primarily on heaven and forget that Jesus came to teach us how to live on earth. So, when a person chooses to believe we do little else except to tell them what to believe, not to seek in order to believe.

Ultimately, the church at Ephesus would return to death. As we see in the book of Revelation, they accepted false teachings from those who sounded authoritative, they succumbed to lies by those who held power, they accepted and embraced death by the practices of their own fellow believers.

Paul challenges the believers to Embrace the truth about themselves, the truth that they are in the family of God, and to Own their own faith, not to own the faith of others, of religious leaders, of politicians, but their faith, in their God the father. Then they can walk in the guidance of God the Spirit because of the life of God the Son.

Illustration – Foster Child in Stillwater.

Paul’s call changes our motivation and security, it allows us to then be doers of God’s good.

Music (Slides) Lynn/Linda/Segun

All my words fall short
I got nothing new
How could I express
All my gratitude
I could sing these songs
As I often do
But every song must end
And You never do

So I throw up my hands
And praise You again and again
‘Cause all that I have is a hallelujah hallelujah
And I know it’s not much
But I’ve nothing else fit for a king
Except for a heart singing hallelujah
Hallelujah

I’ve got one response
I’ve got just one move
With my arms stretched wide
I will worship You

Come on my soul
Oh don’t you get shy on me
Lift up your song
‘Cause you’ve got a lion inside of those lungs
Get up and praise the Lord

Community (Slides) Rick

Next Sunday, July 30, ‘Producing Good’, Ephesians 5:6-14
Summer Bible Study – James, Wednesday Nights @ 6:30pm for 4 weeks. August 9-30.
Armageddon Summer Book Discussion lunch, Today.
Fall Message Series beginning September 11 ‘Overwhelmed (Rescue to Redemption/Flood to Sacrifice)

Benediction (Slides) Rick

Closing Peace Rick

Leader: May the Peace and Hope of the Lord go with you.

Response: And also with you.

Leader: Go in the Peace and Hope of the Lord.

Order, Words, & Voices 07.16.23

Romans 12:1-9, Holding on to Good

Order

Pre Worship Music

Opening Song Billy/Linda/Segun

Thank You Lord

Enough

Call to Worship Response/Lord’s Prayer Rick

Reading Romans 12:1-9 Renee

Songs Billy/Linda/Segun

Revelation Song

More Precious Than Silver

Message Holding on to Good Rick

Music Enough Billy/Linda/Segun

Community/Peace Rick

Benediction/Closing Peace Rick

Post Worship Music

Slides Note: There is a blank title slide between each Section – except for message/sermon slides.

Music (slides) – Billy/Linda/Segun

Thank You Lord

Verse

For all that You’ve done

I will thank You

For all that You’re going to do

For all that You’ve promised

And all that You are

Is all that has carried me through

Jesus I thank You

Pre-Chorus

And I thank You thank You Lord

(And I thank You thank You Lord)

Thank You thank You Lord

(Thank You thank You)

Chorus

Thank You for loving and setting me free

Thank You for giving Your life just for me

How I thank You Jesus I thank You

Gratefully thank You thank You

Enough

Verse 1

You’re my supply my breath of life

Still more awesome than I know

You’re my reward worth living for

Still more awesome than I know

And

Chorus

All of You is more than enough for all of me

For ev’ry thirst and ev’ry need

You satisfy me with Your love

And all I have in You is more than enough

Verse 2

You’re my sacrifice of greatest price

Still more awesome than I know

You’re my coming King You are ev’rything

Still more awesome than I know

Bridge

More than all I want more than all I need

You are more than enough for me

More than all I know more than all I can say

You are more than enough

Call to Worship (Slides) – Rick

Leader: It is holy and pleasing to God when we present our whole self as a living sacrifice alive for all to see.

Response: This is our worship.

Leader: It is holy and pleasing to God when we step out of the norms of this world and instead are transformed by the continual renewal of our minds.

Response: This is our worship.

Leader: It is holy and pleasing to God when we seek to find our place in God’s will, our place among God’s people, our place in God’s love.

Response: This is our worship.

Leader: It is holy and pleasing to God when we serve one another to build up rather than to tear down.

Response: This is our worship.

Leader: It is holy and pleasing to God when we love without pretense or condition and serve without judgment or condemnation.

Response: This is our worship.

Leader: It is holy and pleasing to God when we despise evil and instead hold to good.

Response: This is our worship.

(Romans 12:1-9)

Lord’s Prayer (Slides) ‘Join me in the prayer of Jesus’ – Rick

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, On Earth as it is in Heaven.

Reading Renee

Present your bodies as a living sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God. This is your appropriate priestly service.

Don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God’s will is—what is good and pleasing and mature.

Because of the grace that God gave me, I can say to each one of you: don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to think.

Instead, be reasonable since God has measured out a portion of faith to each one of you. We have many parts in one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function.

In the same way, though there are many of us, we are one body in Christ, and individually we belong to each other.

We have different passions that are consistent with God’s grace that has been given to us.

If your passion is prophecy, you should prophesy in proportion to your faith. If your passion is service, devote yourself to serving. If your passion is teaching, devote yourself to teaching.

If your passion is encouragement, devote yourself to encouraging. The one giving should do it with no strings attached.

The leader should lead with passion. The one showing mercy should be cheerful.

Love should be shown without pretending. Hate evil, and hold on to what is good.

(Romans 12:1-9)

Music (Slides) Billy/Linda/Segun

Revelation Song

Verse 1

Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain

Holy holy is He

Sing a new song to Him Who sits on

Heaven’s mercy seat

Chorus

Holy holy holy

Is the Lord God Almighty

Who was and is and is to come

With all creation I sing

Praise to the King of kings

You are my ev’rything

And I will adore You

Verse 2

Clothed in rainbows of living color

Flashes of lightning rolls of thunder

Blessing and honor strength and glory

And power be to You the only wise King

Verse 3

Filled with wonder awestruck wonder

At the mention of Your name

Jesus Your name is power breath and living water

Such a marv’lous mystery yeah

More Precious Than Silver

Chorus 1

Lord You are

More precious than silver

Lord You are

More costly than gold

Lord You are

More beautiful than diamonds

And nothing I desire

Compares with You

Verse

And who can weigh the value

Of knowing You

Oh who can judge the worth

Of Who You are

Lord who can count the blessing

Of loving You

Who can say just how great You are

How great You are

Chorus 2

Lord You are

More precious than silver

Lord You are

More costly than gold

Lord You are

More beautiful than diamonds

And nothing I desire

Compares with You

Nothing I desire

Compares with You

Nothing I desire compares to you

Message (Slides) ‘Holding on to Good’ Rick

Opening Illustration – Book about Jim, holding on to his impact, inviting others into the grief of Deanna’s loss

Paul, in the first 11 chapters of the letter to the church at Rome focuses on what they must hold onto, the good truth that is the hope for Jesus’ followers

[Slide] You, Me, We, Them, have all disobeyed and turned from God, we call this sin. [1-3]

[Slide] You, Me, We, Them, are not defined in the eyes of God by our disobedience/sin. [4]

[Slide] You, Me, We, Them, can do nothing to erase our disobedience/sin. [4]

[Slide] You, Me, We, Them, through God’s grace, are given forgiveness and reconciliation. [5]

[Slide] You, Me, We, Them, are called to live that grace through a life reflecting that grace. [6]

[Slide] You, Me, We, Them, are secure and inseparable from God. [8]

[Slide] You, Me, We, Them, hold forever promises for You, Me, We, Them. [9-11]

[Slide] Therefore, after 11 chapters, Paul inserts a therefore, …

[Slide] ‘So, with God’s help, here’s what I want you to do – take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as a fully alive sacrificial offering.

[Slide] Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him – this is your true worship of the almighty God, the kind of worship you are called to live out. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your politics, culture, and even your religion that you fit into it without even thinking.

[Slide] Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what God wants from you, and quickly respond to it.

[Slide] Unlike the culture around you, which is always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

[Slide] I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God.

[Slide] No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.” (Apostle Paul, Romans 12:1-3, MSG)

[End Screen Share]

Following chapter 11, Paul pivots his words to words of strong encouragement to persuade the followers of Jesus who are residing in Rome to intentionally live out their faith. Remember, the church at Rome had been a diverse group of Jewish and Gentile followers. The Roman Christian community in Rome had originally come together around twenty years prior to Paul’s letter. At that time, this group would have consisted primarily of Jewish Jesus’ followers. To their credit, the Jewish believers’ life and faith impacted many others, including many Gentiles. The result was that the church became a mixed group of Jews and Gentiles, possibly even before the apostle Paul himself had accepted God’s offer of Grace to the Gentiles – a declaration that the Gentiles, and no human, was unclean. The Roman church, in these early stages would have looked like the Jewish religion, the practices of Judaism would possibly have been elements of church life amidst the believers, there was probably an expectation that the Gentile believers incorporate these practices as well. Then, the Jews were exiled out of Rome and then spent five plus years away from Rome. During this time, the Gentiles, without their Jewish tutors, began to practice their faith apart from the Jewish ordinances and expectations. So, when the Jewish believers returned there was a natural time of tension and awkwardness as the expectations of Jewish followers were no longer the standard practices of the church, and the Gentiles faced the external and internal question, ‘Is our faith, and faith practice, real and genuine without these elements of religion which we no longer practice.’

This is why, after Paul has addressed the truth of Jesus and the good news, he pivoted to explaining how this truth plays out in our life practices. The term ‘sacrifice’ now had a new and much more intrinsic meaning and application. Worship took on a more personal and invasive practice. This is where Romans chapter twelve begins.

[Slide] “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Apostle Paul, Romans 12:1-2, NASB)

[Slide] Four encouragements that were radical to the Jewish believers and revelatory to the Gentile believers.

Living Sacrifice
Acceptable Spiritual Worship
Transformed by the renewing of your mind
Prove what the will of God is – good, acceptable, perfect

[Slide] Living Sacrifice

The image of the word ‘Sacrifice’ that would have popped in the minds of the Jewish Jesus’ followers would have probably been the visual of a killed animal, for the Gentiles would have probably had a similar image however, it would have been a sacrifice to a false God or even to demons or other deities. There would have probably have been a push from the Jewish believers toward the Gentile believers toward the practices of the Law such as animal sacrifices. The Gentil idea sacrifices would have been a norm around Rome while the Jewish believers would have been a distance from the temple in Jerusalem – interestingly, this is about three decades before the second temple would be destroyed and animal sacrifice ended by the Jews.

[Slide] ‘Paul never forgets that we are embodied creatures. Everything we think, say, or do, we do in a body. Presenting our bodies means staying aware each day that our body is the primary location in which we actually express our heart, soul, strength, and mind. If we want to know our inmost motives and values, we can look at what we do each day in our bodies. The goal is to have a body, a body of work, that is a living, breathing, daily “offering to God”.’ (Frank L. Crouch, Moravian Theological Seminary Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)

Paul’s encouragement is not to make a sacrifice, it is a call to be a sacrifice. And, it is not a call for a sacrifice of death but a sacrifice of life. ‘Be a Living Sacrifice’, a life that is unpretentious and seen, a life lived as a light and a reflection of Jesus. A life lived differently, a life caring for others, a life exhibiting mercy, grace, and compassion, a life proving love for all (within which, all of these elements will undoubtedly involve a modicum of sacrifice). A life sacrificed in its surrender of the things of this earth that are selfish and self purposed. While a traditional dead sacrifice cannot interact with the world – it cannot love, serve, rejoice, hope, be patient, etc., but, a living sacrifice can do all of these and more. A traditional dead sacrifice cannot interact with the world – cannot love, serve, rejoice, hope, be patient, etc., but a living sacrifice can do all of these and more. Alive in engagement and interaction with the world, a life where Jesus’ patterns of living are visible in relationship with God, and every relationship with others.

[Slide] Acceptable Spiritual Worship

For the Jewish believers, the concept of worship would have been directly linked to sacrifice. A sacrifice of an animal, a grain, a financial offering, a sacrifice of the time involved in a trip to the temple, a sacrifice of listening to the rabbis and prophets, a sacrifice of time off work, a religious practice of bowing, submitting, Worship would have been an institutional religious act. For the Gentiles, practices and actions of worship would have been varied depending on the God or Deity being worship, it could have been the worship of a human such as the emperor, and, probably, the elements of sacrifice would have been the same only done with a greater element of chaos and the unknown. While it would not have had quite the air of institutionalism it would have still been a man made process.

Paul moves the actions of worship from being an institutional act to being a way of being, a way of living in full relationship to God and others through the way of Jesus Christ. It is a life of service to God in the same way a devoted house servant, out of genuine desire to please their employer, would seek to not only clean the kitchen but would desire that that the cleanliness would be seen in an honoring manner when the employer first stepped into the space, not credit given to the servant, just the service to enhance life.

This is a constant life of worship through service. While our human concept of worship involves an institution, a building, a leader, music, message, listening, hearing, enduring, and then leaving – the corporate faith community gathering is meant to be a communal reminder, a re-orientation, and loving accountability which brings us back to the way of service and worship seen in the life of Jesus – it turns us back to the steps of being a follower of Jesus. True worship does not start or stop at the doors of our institutions of faith – our churches.

[Slide] Transformed by the Renewing of your Mind

It is in this element of Paul’s message, the element of transformation and renewal, that I have the greatest change of understanding. I have always considered transformation and renewal to be a passive action done to us by the Spirit. An action of the heart and mind that mystically happens when we arrive at a state of full surrender before God, when we avail ourself to the Spirit, and remove all of the elements of life that distract us from the Spirit, we are then free and willing to be renewed and to be transformed. I do still believe that this is an act of surrender but I now understand that our pursuit of truth is at least an equal part – a pursuit of a greater understanding of God, a willingness to lay down those things that have been central to our theology to allow God to show us truth.

[Slide] ‘Constructive theology’ is often a facet of theologies. It is a system which connotes an understanding of theology as a discourse that is both constructed and, at the same time, engaged in ongoing construction. This means that we are always in process. Oftentimes we have to revisit doctrines and beliefs that we have locked in on, theologies taught to us as fact, and reconsider if they are truth. Much like scientists who are always evaluating their own research and the research of others, and then doing it again later, we also bear the responsibility to truly ‘know’ what we believe and if what we believe is indeed truth. Renewal happens when we own our beliefs through investigation, when we reconsider, restudy, reverify, and reevaluate our understanding of God. When we allow the Spirit to guide us through this Renewal – then the action of Transformation takes place as we understand God better, or maybe even differently.

[Slide] Transformation and Renewal are consistent, intentional, and purposeful actions.

[Slide] MLK, speaking about our responsibility for truth and progress, stated, “Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability; it comes through the tireless efforts of those who are willing to be co-workers with God, and without this hard work, time itself becomes an ally of the forces of social and spiritual stagnation.” (Martin Luther King Jr., Why We Can’t Wait p. 74.)

[Slide] Prove what the will of God is – good, acceptable, perfect

Living as a living sacrifice, living in a state of worship, living in mind and heart renewal resulting in consistent transformation – lands us at God’s will. No longer are we stuck in our own will, or the will of an institution or politician, but instead, God’s will. In pursuing God, we prove the good, acceptable will of God for our world.

[Slide] “The western church has long enjoyed a privileged place as a cultural institution and now many mourn the loss of that privilege. Many christians grieve the loss of the church’s power and authority in western culture.

[Slide] However, the church was never meant to be a cultural institution but a counter-cultural community of forgiveness and love. This presents us with an opportunity for rejoicing!

[Slide] The church is not dying but being reborn into what is was always meant to be –

[Slide] uncorrupted by the power, money, influence, as well as the overwhelming desire of self-preservation that has distracted the church since Christianity became acceptable, and the powerful recognized the manipulative usability of the church.” (Sarah Renfro, Pulpit Fiction Contributor)

Closing Question: He Gets Us. Jesus let his hair down. Jesus invited everyone to sit at his table. Jesus practiced self care.

Let’s Pray

Music (Slides) Billy/Linda/Segun

Enough

Chorus

All of You is more than enough for all of me

For ev’ry thirst and ev’ry need

You satisfy me with Your love

And all I have in You is more than enough

Verse 1

You’re my supply my breath of life

Still more awesome than I know

You’re my reward worth living for

Still more awesome than I know

And

Verse 2

You’re my sacrifice of greatest price

Still more awesome than I know

You’re my coming King You are ev’rything

Still more awesome than I know

Bridge

More than all I want more than all I need

You are more than enough for me

More than all I know more than all I can say

You are more than enough

Community (Slides) Rick

Next Sunday, July 16, ‘Created To Do Good’, Ephesians 2:1-10
Summer Bible Study – James, Wednesday Nights @ 6:30pm for 4 weeks. August 9-30.
Armageddon Summer Book Discussion Dinner, Sunday July 23 lunch, at home of Rick and Andrea Anthony, please text to let us know you will be in attendance for food count. Amazon link on home page of gfnorman.com. One left in entry way.
Fall Message Series beginning September 11 ‘Overwhelmed (Rescue to Redemption/Flood to Sacrifice)

Benediction (Slides) Rick

Closing Peace Rick

Leader: May the Peace and Hope of the Lord go with you.

Response: And also with you.

Leader: Go in the Peace and Hope of the Lord.

Order, Words, & Voices 07.09.23

07.09.23, Matthew 13:3-9, 23, Good Dirt

Order

Pre Worship Music

Opening Song Open the Eyes of my Heart Lynn

Wonderful Words of Life

Call to Worship Response/Lord’s Prayer Rick

Impact Interview Samples Online

Reading Matthew 13:3-9, 23 Online – Randy

Songs Lynn

Blessed be the Name

Lord, I Give You My Heart

Message Good Dirt Rick

Music Goodness of God Lynn

Community/Peace Rick

Benediction/Closing Peace Rick

Post Worship Music

Slides Note: There is a blank title slide between each Section – except for message/sermon slides.

Music (slides) – Lynn

Open the eyes of my heart Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

To see You high and lifted up
Shining in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy holy holy

Holy holy holy
Holy holy holy
Holy holy holy
I want to see You

Sing them over again to me
Wonderful words of life
Let me more of their beauty see
Wonderful words of life
Words of life and beauty
Teach me faith and duty

Beautiful words wonderful words
Wonderful words of life
Beautiful words wonderful words
Wonderful words of life

Sweetly echo the gospel call
Wonderful words of life
Offer pardon and peace to all
Wonderful words of life
Jesus only Savior
Sanctify forever

Beautiful words wonderful words
Wonderful words of life
Beautiful words wonderful words
Wonderful words of life

Call to Worship (Slides) – Rick

Leader: You will hear, to be sure, but never understand; and you will certainly see, but never recognize what you are seeing.

Response: The senses of humanity have become calloused.

Leader: We risk becoming hesitant to listen, we suffer because we shut our eyes.

Response: We don’t see with our minds or understand with our hearts.

Leader: It is only though changed hearts and transformed lives that God may heal our callousness and renew our closed minds.

Response: Happy are those who choose to see and hear.

Leader: Many considered righteous, and many considered prophets, desire to see and understand the truth – we can choose to understand the truth.

Response: We must reject deceit.

Leader: We must choose to allow truth to be planted deeply, we must allow truth to reside at the forefront of our minds.

Response: We must choose to hold truth tightly.

Leader: Do not merely accept receive truth joyfully yet temporarily, instead, we must permit truth to sink its roots into our being.

Response: We can endure distress or abuse because of truth.

Leader: We move beyond merely hearing and truth to be our pursuit, then, the worries of life and the lies of false prophets will not choke the word from us.

Response: Only then can our lives bear fruit.

Leader: Truth planted in the lives of those who willingly hear and willingly understand, are lives that bear fruit.

Response: May our lives grow peace, hope, compassion, mercy, and love.

(Matthew 13:14-23)

Lord’s Prayer (Slides) ‘Join me in the prayer of Jesus’ – Rick

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, On Earth as it is in Heaven.

Impact Interview (Online) Rick and Lita Sample

What are the biggest struggles among Afghan refugees this year?
Tell us about the Burmese Karen congregation that you work with and how have you ministered to them.
How are you partnering with local Bay Area churches to reach refugees?
Prayer For Samples

Reading (Online) Randy

Jesus said many things to the crowd in parables:

“A farmer went out to scatter seed. As he was scattering seed, some fell on the path, and birds came and ate it.

Other seed fell on rocky ground where the soil was shallow. The seeds that fell on the rocks sprouted immediately because the soil wasn’t deep.

But when the sun came up, it scorched the plants, and they dried up because they had no roots.

Other seed fell among thorny plants. The thorny plants grew and choked the seed out.

Other seed fell on good soil and bore fruit, in one case a yield of one hundred to one, in another case a yield of sixty to one, and in another case a yield of thirty to one.

Everyone who has ears should pay attention.”

(Matthew 13:3-9)

Music (Slides) Lynn

Blessed be Your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
When I’m found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be Your name

Ev’ry blessing You pour out I’ll
Turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun’s shining down on me
When the world’s all as it should be
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there’s pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Ev’ry blessing You pour out I’ll
Turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

This is my desire
To honour You
Lord with all my heart
I worship You

All I have within me
I give You praise
All that I adore is in You

Lord I give You my heart
I give You my soul
I live for You alone

Ev’ry breath that I take
Ev’ry moment I’m awake
Lord have Your way in me

Message (Slides) ‘Good Dirt Rick

Communication is an art, there are steps and nuances, there are hurdles and complications, and there are words containing deeper meanings – all things essential to successfully mastery of the art of communication. Communication is a two way process which often includes unseen barriers and unknown filters. A process that requires much more work than just knowing the right words or phrases.

In chapter thirteen of Matthew we find Jesus taking a pause, a moment to ponder what, and to whom, he is communicating. He takes this moment to possibly evaluate the effectiveness of his own communication through teaching and preaching. It is also possible that Jesus takes this pause to teach his disciples the intricacies of communication which they will need as they begin to teach and preach on their own.

‘Leading up to this moment, some of Jesus’ listeners have fully received Jesus’ ministry through his teaching, healings, and exorcisms. But while some joined with him in doing the will of the Father, others, individuals, unrepentant cities, societal leaders, scribes, and Pharisees, have rejected Jesus’ ministry. In Matthew 13 Jesus uses seven parables to reflect on this emerging division of those to whom he has been speaking. Jesus challenges the audience to continue living on the basis of God’s will in the midst of various difficulties until God’s full purposes are accomplished.’ (Warren Carter)

In Jesus’ first parable we are introduced to the four essential players of the story.

The Farmer
The Seed
The Soil
The Evil One

Jesus explains, “Consider then the parable of the sower. Whenever people hear the word about the kingdom and don’t understand it, the evil one comes and carries off what was planted in their hearts. This is the seed that was sown on the path. As for the seed that was spread on rocky ground, this refers to people who hear the word and immediately receive it joyfully. Because they have no roots, they last for only a little while. When they experience distress or abuse because of the word, they immediately fall away. As for the seed that was spread among thorny plants, this refers to those who hear the word, but the worries of this life and the false appeal of wealth choke the word, and it bears no fruit. As for what was planted on good soil, this refers to those who hear and understand, and bear fruit and produce (Matthew 13:18-23a)

Let’s start with the Evil One.

There is some disagreement as to whether Jesus actually said ‘Evil One’ or merely ‘Evil.’ This would be significant in that it would define if this is an actual act of Satan or if it is instead the result of life and faith in a world where evil exists. While the meaning of the story is basically the same regardless, it does have some bearing on how we read and understand. Does Satan himself make appearances in our lives, or is the presence of evil in the world sufficient to distract and steal truth from us? We only see this terminology here. If it is the ‘Evil One’, in this context we can then derive that Satan is just one of a handful of forces that cause us to miss holiness and righteousness. If, however, the writer meant to merely say “Evil”, we are left to assume then that the other reasons for non-growth are basic amoral basics of life that are only become good or bad in human hands. So, ignorance, jubilation, distress, trauma of abuse, worry, the pursuit of wealth, hearing, and understanding are all realities of life that work either for or against us.

Farmer/Sower

Why would the farmer toss the seed on/in inhospitable environments? This is a context issue. Most of those who came to hear Jesus, and even most of the disciples and followers of Jesus were not wealthy, most probably lived in an insecure financial environment, if not an environment of poverty. If they had land to farm, it was doubtfully prime soil, what they had was what they could afford to purchase or just rent. Jesus’ listeners would have understood a parable that looked like their live, they would have been able to identify with such a reality of poor fields and infertile dirt. This was the reality with which Jesus himself could identify. He was not a man of wealth, nor had he grown up in a home built by wealth. Jesus understood making the most of what you had, he understood the futility of hard, rocky, and weed infested fields. Even though Jesus was not known to be a farmer he would have understood an agriculture mindset. Jesus is the metaphoric sower of the seeds of Good News and, even though he knows the worthless soil is a waste of see, Jesus, the farmer/sower still throws seed on the good and the bad soils – all soils receive a chance to grow the see, all are given the opportunity to live in the truth.

Seed

The textual explanation is that the seed is the ‘word about the kingdom’. For most of us that have been raised and taught in the American Evangelistic era, we think Jesus is just speaking of Salvation and Eternity – that the seeds are just people coming to an acceptance of Jesus. However, in Jesus’ own words, he did not come just to call us to heaven but also to the type of life that God intends us to live, a life of peace, hope, joy, mercy, compassion, and love. So, the seeds are not just a call to surrender our life but how to live that life.

Soil

This is the point of this parable, this is our call. We are the Soil. The truth of this parable is that we are not victims of our soil. Jesus has been speaking to diverse crowds filled with diverse people and responses to his messages. Some receive truth; some cannot receive truth because they do not have space for the truth, it cannot penetrate their hearts and minds; Some who excitedly receive truth do not hold to it for very long as other things grab their attention and focus; and Some have such poor soil due to trauma, turmoil, distractions, disobedience to God, disrespect, burdens, and hatred, that the nutrients have been sucked out of the soil rendering it useless to anything but the weed. The seed has no place to grow.

Here is Jesus’ message to us – ‘Fix and Renew Your Soil’.

Agricultural soil experts and researchers look for ways to fix the soil. Soil that has been destroyed by over farming or unhealthy farming practices, fields that have become ineffective in growing produce and producing crops, land that has been damaged by the varied effects of climate change are the focus of farmers and soil experts attempting to fix the land.

One of the approaches to fix the land is Regenerative Agriculture, a practice of ‘farming and ranching in harmony with nature. A long held practice of Indigenous communities to restore ecologies, fight climate change, rebuild relationships, spark economic development, and bring joy.” (Arohi Sharma, water and agriculture policy analyst at NRDC)

How do we do this, how do we regenerate the soil that is us, how do we make ourselves into soil that can not only receive the seed from God but also to allow those seeds to flourish and produce fruit? It begins by recognizing how we, or others, have damaged the soil.

If you think about Jesus’ parable, particularly the element that renders the soil ineffective we can actually focus on the sameness of the elements of the parable. Think about it, the soil that has been beaten down, hardened; the soil that is rocky, and the soil that is filled with thorns – each of these soils restrict the seed from sinking into the soil therefore, roots are are unable to dig in and and do their job of nurturing the seed through the nutrients of the soil. The hardened and beaten down soil is the result of the soil itself or damaged by the impact of others; the next soil is rocky which would have been an inherited problem, generational or the result of geology; and the third is the soil crowded with thorns, a soil that has been neglected and harmed by the winds and other factors that bring the weeds and thorns onto the soil. All of these result in the seed being unable to penetrate the soil and therefore are unable to nurture the seed.

A couple of real life examples. This past week, our State Superintendent of Schools stood before a Norman audience and proclaimed, “It’s OK to teach Oklahoma school children about the Tulsa Race Massacre, just don’t tell them it was motivated by the color of anyone’s skin.” (Ryan Walters, BNG, Mark Wingfield, July 7, 2023). Those present in the audience were quick and loud in their disapproval of the superintendent’s agenda to restrict teaching anything that will attribute of guilt on the part of our ancestors and transmitted to us.

A second example is of a governor of a state boarding our state who, upon hearing of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the practice of Affirmative Action in college admissions, used a MLK quote to affirm her own agreement with this decision. However the quote was taken out of context in an attempt to force a statement of MLK to say something it did not say.

The problem for both of these individuals was that neither really let the seeds of truth sink in and grow roots. Both were soils hardened which kept the seed from sinking into the soil. While this is admittedly speculation or judgment on my part – their soil was hardened by their agenda causing them to not let the seed of truth to sink in and grow in their own hearts. Instead, they took the seed and attempted to force it into be something that it was not, soon the seed was easily snatched up and carried away.

Why do we need to be soil that is welcoming to seeds of truth? Why it is essential to be accepting soil in order to grow in our faith? Truth can only grow, establish and transform our lives when we, the soil, let the seeds tp sink roots and fully impact us.

Truth – God does not deny anyone the chance to follow, to receive and grow the seeds of life lived in harmony with God’s will and calling. Soil holds the ability to deny the seed the ability to invest truth in our lives.

Challenge – This parable, it is a warning to us as believers and followers of Jesus. The follow up question is, ‘How often are we the ones that trample down the soil of others? How often are we the ones that place the rocks in their soil, or throw the weeds in their fields?’ How many others have we been the birds that snatch away their seeds?

Grace Aldredge, who, as a queer artist often uses her Christian faith to express her art, she understands the problem of soil destroyed by others. This can be seen in her recent writing called ‘Faith’.

“When my religion turned against me, they said my hopes and dreams were faulty. I showed them the holes inside my hands, and they claimed they couldn’t see…[God] You got me singing, “Hallelujah” And I don’t even wanna do it. I’m just trying to be free, I’m just dying for some peace. But I still havе faith. How you comfort me when they come for me.’

‘In these words, Aldredge compares the experiences of marginalization with the passion narrative, explaining to listeners how rejection by the church as an institution leaves scars, yet those who did the damage fail to understand what they have done wrong. Aldredge has survived this harm and has even attempted to level with the church by showing the “holes” in her hands to explain how harmful its behavior has been. However, in her experience, the church cannot — or possibly will not — acknowledge this pain and accept accountability for the damage to her and others. And yet, amid the struggle to be in or out of a relationship with the church, Aldredge never could let go of their relationship with Jesus. Or perhaps it was Jesus who could not let go of Grace.” (Mallory Challis, 07.06.23, BNG)

What are we doing with our soil, what are we doing to the soil of those around us who are hurting, struggling, trying to hold on to a faith in the Jesus they know?

Music (Slides) Lynn

I love You Lord
Oh Your mercy never fails me
All my days
I’ve been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
I will sing of the goodness of God

All my life You have been faithful
All my life You have been so so good
With every breath that I am able
I will sing of the goodness of God

I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
In darkest night
You are close like no other
I’ve known You as a father
I’ve known You as a friend
I have lived in the goodness of God

All my life You have been faithful
All my life You have been so so good
With every breath that I am able
I will sing of the goodness of God

Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me
Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me
With my life laid down
I’m surrendered now
I give You everything
Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me

All my life You have been faithful
All my life You have been so so good
With every breath that I am able
I will sing of the goodness of God

Community (Slides) Rick

Next Sunday, July 16, ‘Holding On To Good, Romans 12:1-9
Summer Bible Study – James, Wednesday Nights @ 6:30pm for 4 weeks. August 9-30.
Armageddon Summer Book Discussion Dinner, Sunday July 23 lunch, order and read your copy of the book soon. Amazon link on home page of gfnorman.com. One left in entry way.
Fall Message Series beginning September 11 ‘Overwhelmed (Rescue to Redemption/Flood to Sacrifice)

Benediction (Slides) Rick

Closing Peace Rick

Leader: May the Peace and Hope of the Lord go with you.

Response: And also with you.

Leader: Go in the Peace and Hope of the Lord.

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Purify my heartLet me be as goldAnd precious silverPurify my heartLet me be as goldPure gold

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Interlude

Verse 2

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Ending

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Verse 2

Bridge

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Chorus

Verse 2

Interlude

Verse 3

Chorus

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Great is Your faithfulness O GodYou wrestle with the sinner’s restless heartYou lead us by still waters into mercyAnd nothing can keep us apart

(So) remember Your peopleRemember Your childrenRemember Your promise O God

Your grace is enoughYour grace is enoughYour grace is enough for me

Great is Your love and justice God of JacobYou use the weak to lead the strongYou lead us in the song of Your salvationAnd all Your people sing along

(So) remember Your peopleRemember Your childrenRemember Your promise O God

Your grace is enoughYour grace is enoughYour grace is enough for me

Yeah Your grace is enoughHeaven reaches out to usYour grace is enough for meGod I sing Your grace is enoughI’m covered in Your loveYour grace is enough for me for me

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Lord I give You my heartI give You my soulI live for You alone

Ev’ry breath that I takeEv’ry moment I’m awakeLord have Your way in me

Share this:

Purify my heart
Let me be as gold
And precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold
Pure gold

Great is Your faithfulness O God
You wrestle with the sinner’s restless heart
You lead us by still waters into mercy
And nothing can keep us apart

(So) remember Your people
Remember Your children
Remember Your promise O God

Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me

Great is Your love and justice God of Jacob
You use the weak to lead the strong
You lead us in the song of Your salvation
And all Your people sing along

(So) remember Your people
Remember Your children
Remember Your promise O God

Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me

Yeah Your grace is enough
Heaven reaches out to us
Your grace is enough for me
God I sing Your grace is enough
I’m covered in Your love
Your grace is enough for me for me

Lord I give You my heart
I give You my soul
I live for You alone

Ev’ry breath that I take
Ev’ry moment I’m awake
Lord have Your way in me