GATHERING TO PRAISE GOD Sunday, September 11, 2022
Prelude
Praise Song
Welcome
The People Gather
L: Jesus said, “Love one another, even as I have loved you.”
P: Love is more powerful than those things that divide us; it is mightier than hatred.
L: Let the love which God has been poured on you change you.
P: Help us, O Lord, to witness to you by the ways in which we live.
L: Remind us, Lord, that we are called to be your disciples.
P: As we worship this morning, we remember there is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; nor is there male and female, for we are one in Christ Jesus. Amen.
L: Let us come humbly before our God.
Hymn
The People Pray
God, through the ages, you have called to us to love justice. You led us to freedom, to hope and peace. Enter our hearts again today and lead us to your healing love that we might serve you joyfully in this world that you share with us. Teach us the ways of justice, mercy and love. AMEN.
Special Music
Children’s Moment
The People Confess Their Sin
Words of Assurance
Scripture
Micah 6:8
He has told you, human one, what is good and
what the Lord requires from you:
to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God.
Luke 19:10
The Human One[ came to seek and save the lost.”
Message A Defining Moment
Pastoral Prayer
The People Bring Their Gifts
There are baskets in the back or use your online app
The People Go into The World
Praise Song
Benediction
Organ Postlude
Some first century Christians thought Genesis 17:9-14 made it wrong to welcome uncircumcised Gentiles to the faith. But that didn’t deter Peter, Paul or James. Based on other Bible texts and Jesus’ example, the apostles said God was leading differently, sending the Holy Spirit to all who had faith in Jesus.
• These readings are a useful case study because few Christians today divide over the issue of circumcision. After the Christian Pharisees (Acts 15:5) urged requiring circumcision, we read that James quoted a Bible passage (Amos 9:11-12) that said God wished to reach all nations. On what grounds did the apostles decide it was better to follow Amos than Genesis in dealing with Gentile converts (Acts 15:7-12)? What does their example teach us about how to apply the Bible?
• Scholar N. T. Wright wrote of the Acts 15 decision: “This looks strongly like a way of saying something to the Gentile Christians out in the wider world while saying something to the Pharisees
back home: ‘It’s all right; admitting these Gentiles who have believed won’t mean a total collapse
into idolatry and immorality; it needn’t result in chaos or church/synagogue disputes.’” * How can Christians today learn from the experience of those early Christians?
Jesus said his mission was “to seek and save the lost.” Scholar William Barclay wrote, “In the New Testament ‘lost’ does not mean damned or doomed. It just means in the wrong place….A [person] is lost when [they have] wandered away from God; and is found when once again taking a rightful place as an obedient child in the…family of the Father.” * In what ways has God “found” you, and moved you to your rightful place in God’s family?
• As Jesus set out on his mission, he preached, “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!” (Mark 1:15) When Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God, he was speaking of the world as it should be.”
As we allow God’s power to work through us how will we move the
world closer to being the world as it should be? How will you help?