1st Sunday after Easter: Date: April 27, 2014
– THE SERMON: Genesis 32:22-31
Theme: Clinging by Faith to a Living Savior
I. Clinging to Our Living Savior for Blessed Life
II. The Role of Affliction in our Spiritual Lives
III. What a Blessing to Know the Lord
( Pastor Theodore Barthels )
Bulletin: Read Bulletin
Sermon: Read Sermon
THE ORDER OF SERVICE: p. 5 (195:1,4)
HYMNS: 201; 196; 192:1,5-8; 205
THE EPISTLE LESSON: 1 Peter 1:22-25
Our temporal lives here on earth fade very quickly, but our spiritual lives have an eternal foundation. Our spiritual lives are built upon the word of God which endures forever. The message that endures is the message of God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our risen and everliving Savior. So let us live as those who have been born again of that incorruptible seed of the Word, which lives and abides forever.
THE GOSPEL LESSON: John 21:15-24
Peter had fallen into the sin of denying the Lord three times because he had depended upon his own strength to face this trial of faith. After His resurrection Jesus reinstated Peter into the apostolic office, both questioning and calling Peter three times to affirm his love for Jesus. Peter appealed to the Lord’s knowledge of all things to affirm his love. So Peter would feed the Lord’s sheep, and when once again called upon to sacrifice all for Jesus, Peter would glorify God in his death. And so even as Jesus called Peter, let us also hear His call “follow Me” in our lives!