Sunday, February 27, 2022 - What is our purpose?
Theme: Exploring the Seismic Questions –What is our purpose?
“Instead, desire first and foremost God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, stop worrying about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble on its own.” (Matthew 6:33-34)
Hymn God of Grace and God of Glory (In Person Only)
Welcome
Awakening to God’s Presence (In Person Only)
Hymn Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness (In Person Only)
Prayer for God’s Guidance
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 Common English Bible Translation
There are different spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; and there are different ministries and the same Lord; and there are different activities but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good. (Question: What are the gifts you believe God has given to you?)
1 Corinthians 12:8-11
A word of wisdom is given by the Spirit to the one person, a word of knowledge to another according to the same Spirit, faith to still another of the same Spirit, gifts of healing to another in the one Spirit, performance of miracles to another, prophecy to another, the ability to tell spirits apart to another, different kinds of tongues to another, and the interpretation of the tongues to another. All these things are produced by the one and same Spirit who gives what he wants to each person. (Question: What is a strength you have that helps others?)
Hymn We Are One in the Spirit (In Person Only)
1 Corinthians 12:12-18
Christ is just like the human body – a body is a unit and has many parts; and all the parts of the body are one body, even though there are many. We were all baptized by one Spirit into one body, whether Jew or Greek, or slave or free, and we all were given one Spirit to drink. Certainly the body isn’t one part buy many. If the foot says, “I’m not part of the body because I’m not a hand,” does that mean it’s not part of the body? If the ear says, “I’m not part of the body because I’m not an eye,” does that mean it’s not part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, what would happen to the hearing? And if the whole body were an ear, what would happen to the sense of smell? But as it is, God has placed each one of the parts in the body just like he wanted. (Question: How have you experienced someone else’s gifts complimenting your own gifts?)
1 Corinthians 12:19-23
If all were one and the same body part, what would happen to the body? But as it is, there are many parts but one body. So the eye can’t say to the hand, “I don’t need you,” or in turn, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” Instead, the parts of the body that we think are less honorable are the ones we honor the most. The private parts of our body that aren’t presentable are the ones that are given the most dignity. (Question: How are you an encouragement to others in their gifts?)
Hymn Come! Live in the Light! (In Person Only)
1 Corinthians 12:24-27
The parts of our body that are presentable don’t need this. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the part with less honor so that there won’t be division in the body and so the parts might have mutual concern for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part gets the glory, all the parts celebrate with it. You are the body of Christ and parts of each other. (Question: What would you say your purpose is in life?)
Reflection Together (In Person Only)
Offering Ourselves to God
During this time let us reflect upon the words from the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, in his book Being Disciples.
“For the Christian disciple, human dignity – and therefore any notion of human rights-depends upon the recognition that every person is related to God before they are related to anything or anyone else. God has defined who they are and who they can be by his own eternal purpose, which cannot be altered by any force or circumstance in this world. People may refuse their calling or remain stubbornly unaware of it; but God continues to call them and to offer them what they need to fulfill their calling.”
Hymn Take My Life (In Person Only)
Prayers 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors;
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 O for a World (In Person Only)
Hymn List
291 Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness
300 We Are One in the Spirit
307 God of Grace and God of Glory
372 O for a World
697 Take My Life
749 Come! Live in the Light!
Lent Sermon Series: How did Jesus live through…
March 6th – Scarcity vs. Abundance?
March 13th – Rejection vs. Acceptance
March 20th – Despair vs. Hope
March 27th – Frustration vs. Peace
April 3rd – Fear vs. Courage
April 10th – Domination vs. Liberation