Scriptures: Isaiah 5:1–7; Psalm 80:1–2, 8–19; Hebrews 11:29—12:2;
Luke 12:49–56/12:58–65 IV; II Nephi 8:8; Doctrine and Covenants 159:7–8

Prelude

Welcome

Call to Worship: Responsive Reading

Leader: Who are you?

People: We are God’s children. We are young and old, male and female, short and tall, quiet and loud. Each of us is unique, but in this hour we are all one community in Christ.

Leader: What do you seek here?

People: We seek to encounter God, increase our understanding, and worship with each other in community.

Leader: Why have you come to this place?

People: We are here because we are loved with an everlasting love. That love calls us to this place and calls us to community.

Leader: Then let us lift our voices and worship together in this place and time.

All: Praise be to God, who calls us to be and to become the Community of Christ.

Prayer for Peace

*Hymn: “Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service” HS 17
OR “How Can Creation’s Voice Be Still” HS 300
OR “We Are People of God’s Peace” SP 6

*Prayer of Invocation

*Response

Litany: “Open My Eyes, O Lord”

Scripture: Luke 12:49–56

Hymn: “Open My Eyes, O Lord” Women only sing verse 1. HS 454

Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 159:7–8

Hymn: “Open My Eyes, O Lord” Men only sing verse 2. HS 454

Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 163:7d

Prayer for Discernment

Ask the pastor or another priesthood member to offer a prayer for the congregation, asking for blessings of insight, vision, and discernment.

Response: Keyboardist plays the last phrase of HS 454

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 11:29—12:2

Hymn: “We Would See Jesus” HS 217/218
OR “O Young and Fearless Prophet” HS 210
OR “God Is Working His Purpose Out” HS 324

“We Open Ourselves to the Spirit”

Morning Message

Hymn: “My Faith Looks Up to Thee” HS 143
OR “With Eyes of Faith” HS 122
OR “We Are Your People” SP 34
OR Ministry of Music

Scripture for Confessional Reflection: II Nephi 8:8 adapted

Disciples’ Generous Response

—Claudia Schooler in Prayers and Readings for Worship, Vol. 2, Peter Judd, ed.
(Independence, MO: Herald Publishing House, 1996), 80.

*Hymn: “We Are Living, We Are Dwelling” HS 376
OR “Called by Christ to Love Each Other” SP 36
OR “Weave” NS 51

*Prayer of Benediction

*Response

*Postlude

Scriptures: Isaiah 5:1–7; Psalm 80:1–2, 8–19; Hebrews 11:29—12:2; Luke 12:49–56/12:58–65 IV

Faith is the focus of the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, which begins with a definition of faith as the “assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” and continues with brief sketches of those whose faith testifies of God’s presence in their lives. The mention of ordinary people who are characterized as people of faith shows that faith is not simply a belief in God but a trust that God is always present in the struggle and has a purpose for those who are faithful and endure.

This passage begins with three stories about the faith of Israelite heroes and their deliverance in contrast to the unbelief and destruction of Israel’s opponents: “By faith,” believers walked through the Red Sea onto dry ground and the Egyptians drowned. “By faith,” believing Israel captured Jericho and the unbelieving inhabitants of Jericho were destroyed. “By faith,” Rahab the prostitute and her family believed in Israel’s God. She joined with Israel in trust and hoped for a future that was not yet seen while others who did not believe perished.

Six historic names are now mentioned: four judges, one king, and one prophet-priest. They would have been popular heroes of faith among the readers. All received God’s promises of divine rescue, military victory, or triumph and success because of their faith.

The writer then turns to unnamed people who were cruelly mistreated and savagely killed but because of their faith had a hope of something better to come, even resurrection. They did not receive what was promised in their lifetimes. Their suffering was not because their faith was flawed. Rather they were part of God’s unfolding purpose of faith. They show that what matters most is not that those who suffered were without deliverance, but that their steadfastness was a triumph of faith.

Therefore, these historic models of faithful witnesses are surrounding the Christian community as a “great…cloud of witnesses,” watching them as they continue the faithful race. These witnesses are like those who would have gathered in Roman times to see athletes running a marathon.

The race metaphor reveals that the race is not over but continues as the faithful of the past cheer on those of the present who face moral and ethical struggles. As modern-day runners, we too are challenged to train for the race through spiritual disciples, endure the hardships of discipleship, and always keep our eyes on a single object to complete the race faithfully—Jesus’ example. Literally, the faithful of all ages are called to “lay aside every weight” of the culture, such as consumerism, focus on self rather than others, etc. They are not to allow cultural or personal distractions to keep them from acting as Jesus’ disciples sent out into the world to bring cultural changes and establish the peaceable kingdom.

This passage concludes with the reminder of Jesus’ endurance, death, and resurrection for the world’s sake, which points to joy in endurance and continues the forward-looking nature of faith for all future “runners” in faith. It encourages readers of that time to remain faithful even in the face of their suffering and an unbelieving world. Without their continuing endurance and faithfulness, future generations will not be formed as faithful disciples and look to Jesus as the source, model, and message of faith.

3. Is Jesus Christ central to your congregation’s focus and is it bringing others to him, making disciples, and sending them out in faithful mission?