2020-12-06 Restore

Posted on Dec 6, 2020 in Advent 2020, Sunday Sermons |

[Jeremiah 23:1-8 ESV] “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the LORD. Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the LORD. Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the LORD. “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’ “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when they shall no longer say, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but ‘As the LORD lives who brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ Then they shall dwell in their own land.”
 
[Isaiah 61:1-3 ESV] The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion– to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.
 
[Isaiah 42:1-7 ESV] Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

Call to Worship – UM Book of Worship #250

Merciful God,
you sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way of our salvation.
Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins,
that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Music

#213 Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates
#211 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel verses 1,3, and 4
#230 O Little Town of Bethlehem
#220 Angels from the Realms of Glory verses 1, 2, and 4
Audio


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2020-11-29 Reconciliation

Posted on Nov 29, 2020 in Advent 2020, Sunday Sermons |

[Genesis 3:14-15 ESV] 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.”
 
[Romans 5:8,10-11 ESV] but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
 
[Ephesians 2:16 ESV] and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
 
[2 Corinthians 5:18 ESV] All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
 
[Colossians 1:20 ESV] and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
 
[Luke 1:28-33 ESV] And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Call to Worship – UM Book of Worship #249

Eternal God,
in your providence you made all ages
a preparation for the kingdom of your Son.
Make ready our hearts for the brightness of your glory
and the fullness of your blessing in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Music

203 – Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
204 – Emmanuel, Emmanuel
Special Music – Mary, Did you Know?
218 – It Came Upon a Midnight Clear – verses 1, 3, 4


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2020-11-22 Hallmarks of a Christ Centered Life: Are We Living Them?

Posted on Nov 22, 2020 in Colossians 2020, Sunday Sermons |

[Col 3:12-18 ESV] Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Call to Worship – UMH 881 Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord:
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to  judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.

Music

UMH 694 v1-3
UMH 92 v1,2,5,6
UMH 131
UMH 102


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2020-11-15 What Needs to be Put to Death in Our Life

Posted on Nov 15, 2020 in Colossians 2020, Sunday Sermons |

[Col 3:1-11 ESV] If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Call to Worship – UMC Hymnal 888

AFFIRMATION FROM 1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-6

AND COLOSSIANS 1:15-20

 
Leader:
This is the good news which we have received,
in which we stand, and by which we are saved:
 
People:
Christ died for our sins, was buried,
was raised on the third day, and appeared first to the women,
then to Peter and the Twelve.
and then to many faithful witnesses.
We believe Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One of God,
the firstborn of all creation, the firstborn from the dead,
in whom all things hold together,
in whom the fullness of God was pleased to dwell
by the power of the Spirit.
Christ is the head of the body, the church,
and by the blood of the cross reconciles all things to God.
Amen.

Music

UMC  Hymnal: 364: Because He Lives
UMC  Hymnal: 368:  My Hope is Built on Nothing Less
UMC  Hymnal: 367:   He Touched Me
UMC  Hymnal: 662:   Stand Up and Bless the Lord, verses 1, 4 and 5
 


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2020-11-08 The Battle Without and the Battle Within

Posted on Nov 8, 2020 in Colossians 2020, Sunday Sermons |

[Colossians 2:16-23 ESV] Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations– “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)–according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Call to Worship

Leader:
There is one God
and there is one mediator, Christ Jesus,
who came as a ransom for all,
to whom we testify.
All:
This saying is sure
and worthy of full acceptance:
That Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners,
and was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated in the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed in throughout the world,
taken up in glory.
Great indeed is the mystery of the gospel.
Amen,

Music

UMC Hymnal: 57,  O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing. vs. 1 through 4
UMC Hymnal: 79,  Holy God, We Praise Thy Name, vs. 1, 6 and 7
UMC Hymnal: 77,  How Great Thou Art
UMC Hymnal: 451, Be Thou My Vision


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2020-11-01 Authority to Cancel the Debt

Posted on Nov 1, 2020 in Colossians 2020, Sunday Sermons |

[Col 2:9-15 ESV] For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Call to Worship – UMH #885

Leader:
Where the Spirit of the Lord is,
there is the one true church, apostolic and universal,
whose holy faith let us now declare:
All:
We believe in God the Father,
infinite in wisdom, power, and love,
whose mercy is over all his works,
and whose will is ever directed to his children’s good.
We believe in Jesus Christ,
Son of God and Son of man,
the gift of the Father’s unfailing grace,
the ground of our hope,
and the promise of our deliverance from sin and death.
We believe in the Holy Spirit
as the divine presence in our lives,
whereby we are kept in perpetual remembrance
of the truth of Christ,
and find strength and help in time of need.
We believe that this faith should manifest itself
in the service of love
as set forth in the example of our blessed Lord,
to the end
that the kingdom of God may come upon the earth.
Amen.

Music

UMH #158
UMH #711 vs 1, 2, 3, 5
UMH #712
UMH #569 vs 1, 4


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2020-10-25 Have You Received Him?

Posted on Oct 25, 2020 in Colossians 2020, Sunday Sermons |

[Col 2:1-8 ESV] For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Call To Worship – UMH 878 “Prayer Of Thanksgiving”

We praise and thank you, O God,
for you are without beginning and without end.
Through Christ, you created the whole world;
through Christ, you preserve it.
You made the day for the works of light,
and the night for the refreshment of our minds and our bodies.
Keep us now in Christ; grant us a peaceful evening,
a night free from sin; and bring us at last to eternal life.
Through Christ and in the Holy Spirit,
we offer you all glory, honor, and worship,
now and for ever.
Amen.

Music

UMH #152 I Sing Thee Almighty Power of God
UMH #528 Nearer, My God, to Thee
UMH #369 Blessed Assurance


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2020-10-18 Stand Firm On The Revealed Mystery

Posted on Oct 18, 2020 in Colossians 2020, Sunday Sermons |

[Col 1:24-29 ESV] Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Call to Worship – Col. 1:15-21

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things whether on earth, or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Music

Faith We Sing #2020 – Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpets
Faith We Sing #2074 – Shout to the Lord
Faith We Sing #2040 – Awesome God


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2020-10-11 Nothing Above The Cross of Christ

Posted on Oct 11, 2020 in Galatians 2020, Sunday Sermons |

[Gal 6:1-18 ESV] Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

Call to Worship – Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great 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.
 


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2020-10-04 Watch, Care, Reap

Posted on Oct 4, 2020 in Galatians 2020, Sunday Sermons |

[Gal 6:1-10 ESV] Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Call To Worship – UM Hymnal #814 – Psalm 95:1-6

 
Leader:
O come, let us sing to the Lord;
All:
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Leader:
Let us come into God’s presence with thanksgiving;
All:
let us make a joyful noise with songs of praise!
Leader:
For the Lord is a great God, and a great Ruler above all gods,
in whose hands are the depths of the earth and also the heights of the mountains.
All:
The sea belongs to God who made it, and the dry land, because God formed it.
Leader:
O come, let us worship and bow down,
All:
let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!


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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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2020-09-20 Temptation: Prepare For It

Posted on Sep 20, 2020 in Sunday Sermons, Topical |

Pre-recorded


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2020-09-13 Who or What Controls You?

Posted on Sep 13, 2020 in Galatians 2020, Sunday Sermons |

[Gal 5:16-26 ESV] But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Call to Worship – UM Hymnal #892

All:
Our heavenly Father, who by thy love hast made us. and through thy love hast kept us, and in thy love wouldst make us perfect: We humbly confess that we have not loved thee with all our heart and soul and mind and strength, and that we have not loved  one another as Christ hath loved us. Thy life is within our souls, but our selfishness hath  hindered thee. We have not lived by faith. We have resisted thy Spirit. We have neglected thine inspirations. Forgive what we have been; help us to amend what we are; and in thy Spirit direct what we shall be; that thou mayest come into the full glory of thy creation, in us and in all people; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
Leader:
The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the expiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
All:
Thanks be to God.


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2020-09-06 Confidence in the Holy Spirit

Posted on Sep 6, 2020 in Galatians 2020, Sunday Sermons |

[Gal 5:10-15 ESV] I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Call to Worship – UMC Book of Worship #517

God of all ages, in your sight nations rise and fall, and pass through times of peril. Now when our land is troubled, be near to judge and save. May leaders be led by your wisdom; may they search your will and see it clearly. If we have turned from your way, reverse our ways and help us to repent. Give us your light and truth, let them guide us; through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of this world, and our Savior. Amen.


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2020-08-30 Freedom Through Christ! Don’t Go Back to Bondage

Posted on Aug 30, 2020 in Galatians 2020, Sunday Sermons |

[Gal 5:1-9 ESV] For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

Call to Worship – UM Book of Worship #525

O Wisdom on High by you the meek are guided in judgment, and light rises up in darkness for the godly. Grant us, in all doubts and uncertainties the grace to ask what you would have us do, that we may be saved from all false choices, and that in your light we may see light, and in your straight path may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.


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