Sunday, November 14, 2021 - Abundant Living: Determining Our Worth

Theme: Abundant Living: Determining Our Worth

Hymn      Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing    (In Person Only)

Welcome

 

Prayer for Preparation

Baptism of Dennis John Sierens II                    (In Person Only)

Parents: Janna and Dennis Sierens

  Godparents: Kristina Berry and Ed Boguszewski

Presentation

Renunciations

Thanksgiving Over the Water 

Baptism

Welcome

Hymn      God of Great and God of Small        (In Person Only)  

Prayer for God’s Presence

God of Wisdom, may we be inspired this day by the teachings of Jesus to live into your transformative power. Amen.

Matthew 10:5-10                           Common English Bible Translation

Jesus sent these twelve out and commanded them, “Don’t go among the Gentiles or into a Samaritan city. Go instead to the lost sheep, the people of Israel. As you go, make this announcement: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with skin diseases, and throw out demons. You received without having to pay. Therefore, give without demanding payment. Workers deserve to be fed, so don’t gather gold or silver or copper coins for your money belts to take on your trips. Don’t take a backpack for the road or two shirts or sandals or a walking stick. (Question: How do you decide what you deserve to have or not?)

Matthew 10:11-15

Whatever city or village you go into, find somebody in it who is worthy and stay there until you go on your way. When you go into a house, say, ‘Peace!’ If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if the house isn’t worthy, take back your blessing. If anyone refuses to welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet as you leave that house or city. I assure you that it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on Judgment Day than it will be for that city. (Eccl 2:3) I tried cheering myself with wine and by embracing folly – with wisdom still guiding me – until I might see what is really worth doing in the few days that human beings have under heaven. (Question: How do you determine someone else’s worth?) 

Soloist

Matthew 10:16-20

“Look, I’m sending you as sheep among wolves. Therefore, be wise as snakes and innocent as doves. Watch out for people – because they will hand you over to councils and they will beat you in their synagogues. They will haul you in front of governors and even kings because of me so that you may give your testimony to them and to the Gentiles. Whenever they hand you over, don’t worry about how to speak or what you will say, because what you can say will be given to you at that moment. You aren’t doing the talking, but the Spirit of my Father is doing the talking through you. (Question: What centers you when things are difficult?)

Matthew 10:21-25

Brothers and sister will hand each other over to be executed. A father will turn his child in. Children will defy their parents and have them executed. Everyone will hate you on account of my name. But whoever stands firm until the end will be saved. Whenever they harass you in one city, escape to the next, because I assure that you will not go through all the cities of Israel before the Human One comes. “Disciples aren’t greater than their teacher, and slaves aren’t greater than their master. It’s enough for disciples to be like their teacher and slaves like their master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, it’s certain that they will call the members of his household by even worse names. (Phil 4:8) From now on, brothers and sisters, if anything is excellent and if anything is admirable, focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise. (Question: Who and what impacts how you understand your worth?)

Hymn    I Will Call Upon the Lord    (In Person Only)

Matthew 10:26-31

“Therefore, don’t be afraid of those people because nothing is hidden that won’t be revealed, and nothing secret that won’t be brought out into the open. What I say to you in the darkness, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, announce from the rooftops. Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body but can’t kill the soul. Instead, be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Aren’t two sparrows sold for a small coin? But not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father knowing about it already. Even the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows. (Question: How does God impact your worth?)

Hymn         This Is My Father’s World        (In Person Only)

Reflection Together (In Person Only)

Let us reflect on these Words from the Apostle’s Creed (In Person Only)

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living 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 live everlasting. Amen.

Hymn       Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying      (In Person Only)

Prayer of the People and The Lord’s Prayer

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,

And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin 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

Benediction

Closing Hymn    Come! Liv in the Light!   (In Person Only)

Hymn List

19 God of Great and God of Small

370 This Is My Father’s World

469 Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying

475 Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

621 I Will Call upon the Lord

749 Come! Live in the Light!

Sermon Series November 14th – November 21st  

Theme: Abundant Living

November 21st  – Gratitude

Advent Series November 28th – December 19th

Theme: Finding Ourselves in Jesus’ Story