Theme: Recognizing Divine Intervention in our Lives
I. Deliverance by the Hand of God
II. God’s Goal in Deliverance
III. Embracing God’s Deliverance through a Life of Faith
SERMON TEXT: Exodus 19:2-8a
For they had departed from Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain.
3 And Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
7 So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the LORD commanded him. 8 Then all the people answered together and said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” (NKJV)
PRAYER; THE LORD’S PRAYER
Hymn 408: Jesus Christ, My Pride and Glory
1. Jesus Christ, my Pride and Glory, He, the true and living Light,
Strengthens me with glorious might. Christ revealed in sacred story,
Whom I now as Lord confess, Teaches me true holiness.
2. Let me live to praise Thee ever, Jesus, Thou my heart’s Delight,
Thou who leadest me aright. Let me cling to Thee forever,
All the fleshly lusts deny, and the devil’s hosts defy.
3. Grant me, Lord, Thy Holy Spirit, that in all I follow Him
Lest the light of faith grow dim. Let me ever trust Thy merit,
Let Thy blessing me attend, From all evil me defend.
4. From all pain and imperfection, Gracious Lord, deliver me,
Heaven’s glory let me see. Keep me under Thy direction
That the grace Thou gavest me I may praise eternally.
Prayer:
C: Amen.
BENEDICTION;
C: Amen.
Hymn 377:10 “All Blessing, Honor, Thanks, and Praise
10. All blessings, honor, thanks, and praise
To Father, Son, and Spirit.
The God who saved me by His grace –
All glory to His merit!
O Triune God in heaven above,
Who hast revealed Thy saving love,
Thy blessed name be hallowed.
Theme: Jesus Befriending Sinners
I. Calling Sinners to Repentance
II. Accepting Sinners as His Associates
SERMON TEXT: Matthew 9:9-13
As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.
10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (NKJV)
PRAYER; THE LORD’S PRAYER
Hymn 310: 1-3, 6 Thy Table I Approach
1. Thy Table I approach, Dear Savior, hear my prayer;
Oh, let no unrepented sin Prove hurtful to me there!
2. Lo, I confess my sins And mourn their wretched bands;
A contrite heart is sure to find Forgiveness at Thy hands.
3. Thy body and Thy blood, Once slain and shed for me,
Are taken here with mouth and soul, In blest reality.
6. Oh, may I never fail To thank Thee day and night
For Thy true body and true blood, O God, my Peace and Light!
THE WORDS of INSTITUTION
Theme: Attaining True Righteousness I. The Ever Elusive Righteousness of the Law II. The Righteousness that Comes to Us from God SERMON TEXT: Romans 3:21-25a,27-28 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, … 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. (NKJV) PRAYER; THE LORD’S PRAYER Hymn 371: 1-4 Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness 1. Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness My beauty are, my glorious dress; Midst flaming worlds in these arrayed, With joy shall I lift up my head. 2. Bold shall I stand in that great Day, For who aught to my charge shall lay? Fully thro’ these absolved I am From sin and fear from guilt and shame.
3. The holy, meek, unspotted Lamb, Who from the Father’s bosom came, Who died for me, e’en me t’atone, Now for my Lord and God I own. 4. Lord, I believe Thy precious blood, Which at the mercy seat of God Forever doth for sinners plead, For me – e’en for my soul – was shed. BENEDICTION; C: Amen. Hymn 50:2 Thanks We Give and Adoration 2. Thanks we give and adoration For Thy Gospel’s joyful sound. May the fruits of Thy salvation In our hearts and lives abound; Ever faithful, Ever faithful To the Truth may we be found!
Theme: The Majesty of the Triune God Revealed in His Creation I. In His Power and Wisdom II. In His Goodness SERMON TEXT: Genesis 1:1-2:3 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day. 6 Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” 7 Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day. 9 Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 So the evening and the morning were the third day. 14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. 16 Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. 17 God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 So the evening and the morning were the fourth day. 20 Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” 21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 So the evening and the morning were the fifth day. 24 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so. 25 And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30 Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. 31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day. 2 Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. (NKJV) PRAYER; THE LORD’S PRAYER Hymn 246: 1, 3 Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty 1. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee; Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty! God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity! 3. Holy, holy, holy! Tho’ the darkness hide Thee, Tho’ the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see, Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee, Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity. BENEDICTION; C: Amen.
Hymn 644: Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Theme: The Powerful Presence of the Holy Spirit I. The Advantage of the Spirit’s Presence II. The Convincing Power of the Holy Spirit SERMON TEXT: John 6:5-11 “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. (NKJV) PRAYER; THE LORD’S PRAYER Hymn 307: Draw Nigh and Take the Body of the Lord 1. Draw nigh and take the body of the Lord And drink the holy blood for you outpoured. Offered was He for greatest and for least, Himself the Victim and Himself the Priest. 2. He that His saints in this world rules and shields To all believers life eternal yields, With heav’nly bread makes them that hunger whole, Gives living waters to the thirsting soul. 3. Approach ye, then, with faithful hearts sincere And take the pledges of salvation here. O Judge of all, our only Savior Thou, In this Thy feast of love be with us now. THE WORDS of INSTITUTION
Theme: The Impact of Jesus’ Ascension I. The Spiritual Impact for Individual Believers II. The Overwhelming Impact for the Church and Its Mission SERMON TEXT: Ephesians 1:16-23 “I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” (NKJV) OFFERTORY, PRAYER; THE LORD’S PRAYER
Hymn 212:1,5-7 A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing 1. A hymn of glory let us sing; New songs thro’-out the world shall ring: Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ, by a road before untrod, Ascendeth to the throne of God. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 5. Oh, grant us thitherward to tend And with unwearied hearts ascend – Alleluia! Unto Thy kingdom’s throne, where Thou, As is our faith, art seated now – Alleluia! 6. Be Thou our Joy and strong Defense, Who art our future Recompense: – Alleluia! So shall the light that springs from Thee Be ours through all eternity – Alleluia! 7. O risen Christ, ascended Lord All praise to Thee let earth accord – Alleluia! Who art, while endless ages run, With Father and with Spirit One. – Alleluia! BENEDICTION; C: Amen. Amen. Amen. Hymn 50: 2-3 “Thanks we give and adoration” 2. Thanks we give and adoration For Thy Gospel’s joyful sound. May the fruits of Thy salvation In our hearts and lives abound; Ever faithful, Ever faithful To the Truth may we be found! 3. So whene’er the signal’s given Us from earth to call away, Borne on angels’ wings to heaven Glad the summons to obey, May we ever, May we ever, Reign with Christ in endless day!
Theme: Knowing the Unknown God I. Seeking the Unknown God II. God Calls ALL to Repent SERMON TEXT: Acts 17:22-31 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; 23 for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” (NKJV) OFFERTORY, PRAYER; THE LORD’S PRAYER Hymn 17: Oh Worship the King 1. Oh, worship the King All glorious above; Oh, gratefully sing His pow’r and His love, Our Shield and Defender, The Ancient of Days, Pavilioned in splendor And girded with praise! 2. Oh, tell of His might, Oh, sing of His grace, Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space! His chariots of wrath The deep thunder-clouds form, And dark is His path On the wings of the storm. 3. The earth, with its store Of wonders untold, Almighty, Thy pow’r Hath founded of old, Hath stablished it fast By a changeless decree, And round it hath cast, Like a mantle, the sea. 4. Thy bountiful care What tongues can recite? It breathes in the air, It shines in the light, It streams from the hills, It descends to the plain, And sweetly distills In the dew and the rain. 5. Frail children of dust And feeble as frail, In Thee do we trust Nor find Thee to fail. Thy mercies, how tender, How firm to the end, Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend! 6. O measureless Might, Ineffable Love, While angels delight To hymn Thee above, Thy humbler creation, Though feeble their lays, With true adoration Shall sing to Thy praise. BENEDICTION; C: Amen. Amen. Amen. Hymn 644: Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Theme: The Way to God the Father I. The Comfort of Putting our Trust in Jesus. II. The Way to the Father’s Presence III. The Father’s Power and Purpose in Life. SERMON TEXT: John 14:1-12 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” 8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. 12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. (NKJV) OFFERTORY, PRAYER; THE LORD’S PRAYER Hymn 355: Thou Art the Way; to Thee Alone 1. Thou art the Way; to Thee alone From sin and death we flee; And he who would the Father seek Must seek Him, Lord, by Thee. 2. Thou art the Truth; Thy Word alone True wisdom can impart; Thou only canst inform the mind And purify the heart. 3. Thou art the Life; the rending tomb Proclaims Thy conqu’ring arm; And those who put their trust in Thee Nor death nor hell shall harm. 4. Thou art the Way, the Truth, the Life; Grant us that Way to know, That Truth to keep, that Life to win, Whose joys eternal flow. BENEDICTION; C: Amen. Amen. Amen. Hymn 45:1: Now, the Hour of Worship O’er Now, the hour of worship o’er, Teaching, hearing, praying, singing, Let us gladly God adore, For His Word our praises bringing; For the rich repast He gave us Bless the Lord, who deigned to save us.
Theme: Following the Good Shepherd’s Lead I. Enduring Persecution II. Walking in the Paths of Righteousness III. Returning to the Good Shepherd’s Care
SERMON TEXT: 1 Peter 2:19-25 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (NKJV) OFFERTORY, PRAYER; THE LORD’S PRAYER Hymn 409: Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus 1. Let us ever walk with Jesus, Follow His example pure, Flee the world which would deceive us And to sin our souls allure. Ever in His footsteps treading, Body here, yet soul above, Full of faith and hope and love, Let us do the Father’s bidding, Faithful Lord, abide with me; Savior, lead, I follow Thee. 2. Let us suffer here with Jesus, To His image e’er conform; Heaven’s glory soon will please us, Sunshine follow on the storm. Tho’ we sow in tears of sorrow, We shall reap in heavenly joy; And the fears that now annoy Shall be laughter on the morrow. Christ, I suffer here with Thee; There, oh, share Thy joy with me! 3. Let us also die with Jesus, His death from the second death, From our soul’s destruction, frees us, Quickens us with life’s glad breath. Let us mortify, while living, Flesh and blood and die to sin; And the grave that shuts us in Shall but prove the gate to heaven. Jesus, here I die to Thee There to live eternally. 4. Let us gladly live with Jesus; Since He’s risen from the dead, Death and grave must soon release us. Jesus, Thou are now our Head, We are truly Thine own members; Where Thou livest, there live we. Take and own us constantly, Faithful Friend, as Thy dear brethren. Jesus, here I live to Thee, Also there eternally. BENEDICTION; C: Amen. Amen. Amen. Hymn 51: Now May He Who from the Dead 1. Now may He who from the dead Bro’t the Shepherd of the sheep, Jesus Christ, our King and Head, All our souls in safety keep! 2. May He teach us to fulfill What is pleasing in His sight, Perfect us in all His will, And preserve us day and night! 3. To that dear Redeemer’s praise, Who the cov’nant sealed with blood. Let our hearts and voices raise Loud thanksgivings to our God.
Theme: Resurrection Enlightenment I. The Failing of a Worldly Perspective II. Scriptural Perspective for Current Events. III. Reaching the Goal SERMON TEXT: Luke 24:13-35 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. 17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” 18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” 19 And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.” 25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. 28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them. 30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread. (NKJV)
OFFERTORY, PRAYER; THE LORD’S PRAYER Hymn 205: The Day of Resurrection 1. The day of resurrection, Earth, tell it out abroad, The Passover of gladness, The Passover of God. From death to life eternal, From this world to the sky, Our Christ hath bro’t us over With hymns of victory. 2. Our hearts be pure from evil That we may see aright The Lord in rays eternal Of resurrection light And, list’ning to His accents, May hear, so calm and plain, His own “All hail!” and, hearing, May raise the victor strain. 3. Now let the heav’ns be joyful, Let earth her song begin, Let all the world keep triumph And all that is therein. Let all things, seen and unseen, Their notes of gladness blend; For Christ the Lord hath risen, – Our joy that hath no end. BENEDICTION; C: Amen. Amen. Amen.
Hymn 207:2 Thanks to Thee, O Christ victorious! Thanks to Thee, O Christ victorious! Thanks to Thee, O Lord of Life! Death hath now no power o’er us, Thou hast conquered in the strife. Thanks because thou didst arise And hast opened Paradise! None can fully sing the glory Of the resurrection story.
