2021-08-01

Posted on Jul 31, 2021 in Topical |

Promises of God – Promised Return of Christ

[Zechariah 14:3-4 ESV] 3 Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. 4 On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward.
 
[John 14:1-4, 27-28 ESV] 1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” … 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
 
[Matthew 28:18-20 ESV] 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Call To Worship – Isaiah 11:1-5, 10 [ESV]

1 There shall come forth a shoot
from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
2 And the Spirit of the LORD
shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge
and the fear of the LORD.
3 And his delight shall be
in the fear of the LORD.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide disputes by what his ears hear,
4 but with righteousness
he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity
for the meek of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth
with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips
he shall kill the wicked.
5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
and faithfulness the belt of his loins.
10 In that day the root of Jesse,
who shall stand
as a signal for the peoples
– of him shall the nations inquire,
and his resting place shall be glorious.

Music

2149 – Living for Jesus
2162 – Grace Alone
171 – There’s Something About That Name
2036 – Give Thanks
2025 – As the Deer


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2021-07-25

Posted on Jul 24, 2021 in Topical |

Promises of God – Promise of the Holy Spirit

[Luke 11:13 ESV] If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
 
[Luke 12:12 ESV] for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
[John 14:26 ESV] But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
 
[Acts 2:33, 38 ESV] Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. … And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Call to Worship – 850 Psalm 134

1 Come, bless the Lord,
all you servants of the Lord,
who stand by night
in the house of the Lord!

 

 

2 Lift up your hands in the holy place,
and bless the Lord!
3 May the Lord
who made heaven and earth
bless you from Zion.

Music

Above All by Michael W. Smith
378 – Amazing Grace
2220 – We Are God’s People
496 – Sweet Hour of Prayer
374 – Standing on the Promises
No video available

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2021-07-18

Posted on Jul 17, 2021 in Topical |

Promises of God – Promise of Freedom from Sin

[Acts 13:26-34 ESV] “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’ And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, “‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’
 
[Galatians 5:1 ESV] For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
 
[Revelation 1:5-8 ESV] and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Call to Worship – Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV

Since then we have a great high priest
who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus, the Son of God,
let us hold fast our confession.
For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize
with our weaknesses,
but one who in every respect
has been tempted as we are,
yet without sin.
Let us then with confidence
draw near to the throne of grace,
that we may receive mercy
and find grace to help in time of need.

Music

2022 – Great is the Lord
165 – Hallelujah! What a Savior
514 – Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus
534 – Be Still, My Soul
368 – My Hope Is Built


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2021-07-11

Posted on Jul 10, 2021 in Topical |

Promises of God – Promise of the Curse and Redemption

[Genesis 2:15-23 ESV] The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
 
[Genesis 3:10-17 ESV] And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.” And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;

Call to Worship – UMH 208 – Canticle of Zechariah (Benedictus)

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
who has come to set the chosen people free.
The Lord has raised up for us
a mighty Savior
from the house of David.
Through the holy prophets,
God promised of old
to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us;
to show mercy to our forebears
and to remember the holy covenant.
This was the oath God swore
to our father Abraham:
to set us free
from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship without fear,
holy and righteous in the Lord’s sight,
all the days of our life.
And you, child, shall be called the prophet
of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord
to prepare the way,
to give God’s people
knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those
who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet
into the way of peace.

Music

369 – Blessed Assurance
2149 – Living for Jesus
2040 – Awesome God
CCLI Song 106879 – Wonderful Merciful Savior by Selah
529 – How Firm a Foundation


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2021-07-04

Posted on Jul 3, 2021 in Topical |

Promises of God – Freedom, at All Costs

[2 Corinthians 3:16-18 ESV] But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

 

[Romans 6:16-19 ESV] Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

[Romans 8:1-6 ESV] There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Call to Worship – Psalm 100 World Messianic Bible

Shout for joy to the Lord, all you lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before his presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, he is God.
It is he who has made us, and we are his.
We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him, and bless his name.
For the LORD is good.
His loving kindness endures forever,
his faithfulness to all generations.

Music

2074 – Shout to the Lord
717 – The Battle Hymn of the Republic
696 – America the Beautiful
569 – We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations
714 – I Know Whom I Have Believed

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2021-06-27

Posted on Jun 27, 2021 in Sunday Sermons, Topical |

Do Justice

[Deuteronomy 10:12, 17-18 ESV] “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, … For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.
 
[Psalm 10:17-18 ESV] O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.
 
[Isaiah 1:16-17 ESV] Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.
 
[Jeremiah 22:3 ESV] Thus says the LORD: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.
 
[Micah 6:8 ESV] He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
 
[Matthew 25:31-46 ESV] “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Call To Worship – Psalm 146

1 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!
2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have being.
3 Put not your trust in princes,
in mortals, in whom there is no help.
4 Their breath departs, they return to the earth;
on that very day their plans perish.
5 Happy are those whose help is in the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord, their God,
6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
7 who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
8 the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the sojourners,
and upholds the widow and the orphan;
but the Lord brings the way of the wicked to ruin.
10 The Lord will reign for ever, your God, O Zion,
from generation to generation.
Praise the Lord!

Music

2002 – I Will Call Upon the Lord
2242 – Walk with Me
2128 – Come and Find the Quiet Place
2024 – From the Rising of the Sun

Benediction

O Lord, open my eyes that I may see the needs of others;
open my ears that I may hear their cries;
open my heart so that they need not be without succor;
let me not be afraid to defend the weak because of the anger of the strong,
nor afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich.
Show me where love and hope and faith are needed,
and use me to bring them to those places.
And so open my eyes and my ears that I may this coming day be able to do some work of peace for thee.
Amen.

Biblical Justice – Work verses

[Genesis 2:15 ESV] The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
 
Exodus 20:8-9 – [Exo 20:8-11 ESV] “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
 
Proverbs 6:6-11
Proverbs 12:14
Proverbs 14:23
Ecclesiastes 3:13
Ecclesiastes 5:12
Romans 12:11
 
[Eph 4:28 ESV] Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
 
[2 Thessalonians 3:6-12 ESV] Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
 
[1 Timothy 5:3-8 ESV] Honor widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
 
[Acts 2:42-47 ESV] And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
 
[Acts 4:32-37 ESV] Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Biblical Justice – All Created Equal verses

[Genesis 1:26-27 ESV] Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
 
[1 Samuel 16:7 ESV] But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”
 
[Acts 10:34-35 ESV] So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
 
[Romans 10:11-13 ESV] For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
 
[1 Corinthians 12:13 ESV] For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–Jews or Greeks, slaves or free–and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
 
[Galatians 3:28 ESV] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

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2021-05-30

Posted on May 29, 2021 in Sunday Sermons, Topical |

Memorial Day – Guest Speaker – U.S. Navy SEAL Commander Michael H. Imhof (ret.)

[Mark 11:23 ESV] Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.
 
[John 15:11-13 ESV] These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Call to Worship – UMH 69 – For True Singing

Glorious God, source of joy and righteousness,
enable us as redeemed and forgiven children
evermore to rejoice in singing your praises.
Grant that what we sing with our lips
we may believe in our hearts,
and what we believe in our hearts
we may practice in our lives;
so that being doers of the Word
and not hearers only,
we may receive everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Music

696 – America the Beautiful
2191 – Eternal Father, Strong to Save
697 – America (My Country, ‘Tis of Thee)
698 – God of the Ages (vs. 1,2, 4)


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2021-04-04

Posted on Apr 3, 2021 in Easter, Lent 2021, Sunday Sermons, Topical |

Easter Sunday – It Is Finished … But Its Not Over

[John 3:16-18 ESV] “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
 
[John 20:19-23 ESV] On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
 
[Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV] Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Opening Prayer – 281 – Passion/Palm Sunday

Almighty God, you sent your Son,
our Savior Jesus Christ,
to suffer death on the cross.
Grant that we may share
in his obedience to your will
and in the glorious victory of his resurrection;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and ever.
Amen.

Call to Worship – Matthew 28:1-6 ESV

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn
of the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary
went to see the tomb.
And behold, there was a great earthquake,
for an angel of the Lord
descended from heaven and came
and rolled back the stone and sat on it.
His appearance was like lightning,
and his clothing white as snow.
And for fear of him the guards trembled
and became like dead men.
But the angel said to the women,
“Do not be afraid, for I know
that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.
Come, see the place where he lay.

Music

322 – Up from the Grave He Arose
302 – Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
327 – Crown Him with Many Crowns
334 – Sweet, Sweet Spirit
307 – Christ Is Risen


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2021-03-28

Posted on Apr 1, 2021 in Lent 2021, Sunday Sermons, Topical |

Palm Sunday – Jesus On A Mission

[Luke 19:41-44 ESV] And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
 
[Luke 19:28-40 ESV] And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.'” So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. As he was drawing near–already on the way down the Mount of Olives–the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Call To Worship – Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Music

#278 Hosanna, Loud Hosanna
#277 Tell me the Stories of Jesus
#2159 Jesus, Draw me close (2 times through)
#2241 The Spirit sends Us Forth to Serve


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2021-03-21

Posted on Apr 1, 2021 in Lent 2021, Sunday Sermons, Topical |

Do You Believe This?

[John 11:21-27 ESV] Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

Call to Worship – John 12:28-32

Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

Music

#368 My Hope is Built
#168 At the name of Jesus
#472 Near to the heart of God
# 98 To God be the Glory


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2021-03-14

Posted on Mar 13, 2021 in Lent 2021, Sunday Sermons, Topical |

He is The Great I AM

[John 8:52-59 ESV] The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
 
[John 6:31-35 ESV] Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

Call to Worship – John 10:7-11 ESV

So Jesus again said to them,
“Truly, truly, I say to you,
I am the door of the sheep.
All who came before me
are thieves and robbers,
but the sheep did not listen to them.
I am the door.
If anyone enters by me,
he will be saved and will go in
and out and find pasture.
The thief comes only to steal
and kill and destroy.
I came that they may have life
and have it abundantly.
I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down
his life for the sheep.

Music

#2022 – Great Is the Lord
#273 – Jesus’ Hands Were Kind Hands
#166 – All Praise To Thee, for Thou, O King Divine
#160 – Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart

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2021-01-10

Posted on Jan 10, 2021 in Sunday Sermons, Topical |

Resolutions?

[Colossians 4:2-6 ESV] Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison– that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
 
[James 5:13-20 ESV] Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Call to Worship – Psalm 92 vs 1-4 UMH #811

Leader:
1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
All:
2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night,
Leader:
3 to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre.
All:
4 For you, O Lord,
have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

Music

UMH #365- Grace Greater than Our Sin
UMH #352 – It’s Me, It’s Me, O Lord
TFWS #2167 – More Like You
TFWS #2032 – My Life Is in You, Lord

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2021-01-03

Posted on Jan 3, 2021 in Sunday Sermons, Topical |

A Letter to Mary’s Mother 2.0

[Matthew 2:1-12 ESV] Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
 
[Isaiah 60:1-6 ESV] Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the LORD.

Call To Worship – Psalm 72:1-8 – responsive reading #795

Leader:
1 Give the king your justice, O God,
All:
and your righteousness to the royal son!
Leader:
2 May he judge your people with righteousness,
All:
and your poor with justice!
Leader:
3 Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people,
and the hills, in righteousness!
All:
4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to the needy,
and crush the oppressor!
Leader:
5 May he live while the sun endures,
and as long as the moon,
throughout all generations!
All:
6 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
like showers that water the earth!
Leader:
7 In his days may righteousness flourish,
and peace abound,
till the moon be no more!
All:
8 May he have dominion from sea to sea,
and from the river to the ends of the earth!

Music

#254 – We Three Kings v 1-4
#245 – The First Noel
#242 – Love Came Down at Christmas
#228 – He is Born


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2020-12-27

Posted on Dec 26, 2020 in Sunday Sermons, Topical |

A Letter to Mary’s Mother

Call to Worship – Psalm 25

Leader:
1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
All:
2 O my God, in you I trust,
let me not be put to shame;
let not my enemies exult over me.
Leader:
3 Let none that wait for you be put to shame;
All:
let them be ashamed
who are clothed with treachery.
Leader:
4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
All:
teach me your paths.
Leader:
5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
All:
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.
Leader:
6 Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
All:
7 Remember not the sins of my youth,
or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O Lord.
Leader:
8 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore the Lord instructs sinners in the way,
9 and leads the humble in what is right, and teaches them their way.
All:
10 All the paths of the Lord
are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep
the Lord’s covenant and testimonies.

Music

#240 Hark the Herald Angels Sing
#251 Go Tell it on the Mountain
#219 What Child is This?
#246 Joy to the World


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2020-09-27 The Power to Resist

Posted on Sep 27, 2020 in Sunday Sermons, Topical |

Pre-recorded


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