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Woship Resources 2007-2008 — Year A: Passionate for Peace
Return to Year A: 2007-2008
Resource Index
Sunday, September 14, 2008
God Delivers Us
Ordinary Time (Proper 19)
Scriptures:
Exodus 14:19–31; Psalm
114; Romans 14:1–12;
Matthew 18:21–35/18:21–34 IV; Jacob 1:7–8a; Doctrine and Covenants 39:1
Sharing Christ’s Peace
God’s nature, as revealed in Jesus Christ and affirmed by
the Holy Spirit, provides the ultimate standard by which any portion of
scripture should be interpreted and applied. —Doctrine
and Covenants 163:7b
Prelude
Welcome
Gathering Statement
Reader 1: Come, sit at the Master’s feet;
Reader 2: His lessons are plain and simple.
Reader 3: Commune with him in spirit and in heart.
Reader 1: He knows our trials;
Reader 2 He weeps with us.
Reader 3 Let his Spirit enter into our troubled hearts
Reader 1: And spread like a balm over our wounded souls.
Reader 2: Come, lay your burdens at the Master’s feet.
All: Come meet your God.
—Nancy Mottashed Cole in
Prayers and Readings for Worship,
Vol. 2, Peter Judd, ed. (Herald Publishing House, 1996), 13.
*Opening Hymn
“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” HS
170
OR “God of Grace and God of Laughter” SP 10
*Invocation and Response
Hymn
“Lay Your Hands” NS
27
OR “The Weight of Past and Fruitless Guilt” HS 118
Call to Confession
We have come here today disjointed, hurried, and inadequately prepared.
We have allowed our own preferences and priorities to stand as barriers
between ourselves and others.
We have hidden from our divinely bestowed gifts and responded reluctantly
to God’s call.
Let us offer to God in silence our prayers for forgiveness with the
complete assurance that, in our unworthiness, we each are received as
persons of tremendous worth.
—Adapted from Prayers and Readings for
Worship, Vol. 2, Peter
Judd, ed. (Herald Publishing House, 1996), 20.
Moment of Silence
Disciples’ Generous Response
Each Sunday, as part of the Disciples’ Generous Response, we ask you to
integrate the message of “share equally” between Local and World Ministries
Mission Tithes. Offertory stories are provided to keep the church in touch
with how contributions to Mission Tithes spread the peace of Jesus Christ.
Please use the stories, testimonies, and up-to-date contribution information
as part of your offertory ministry. Visit
www.CofChrist.org/offertory
to print a copy, or
contact your pastor, congregational financial officer, or worship
coordinator for a copy.
Scripture Reading: Psalm 114
Reflection
This Psalm celebrates the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. The sea
and the Jordan, the mountains and the hills, all appear as frightened
animals before the presence of the Lord. God not only delivered his
people from Egypt, but he also provided for their needs.
Today we are blessed that we can give freely that which God has
provided for us in this day. Our manna comes in many different forms and
we are willing to share with everyone. We are in the presence of the
Lord.
Blessing and Offering of Mission Tithes
Congregational Reading: “Go
Down, Moses” can be read or sung.
Leader: When Israel was in Egypt’s land,
People: Let my people go.
Leader: Oppressed so hard they could not stand
People: Let my people go.
All: Go down, Moses,
Way down in Egypt land.
Tell old Pharaoh,
“Let my people go.”
Leader: “Thus spoke the Lord,” bold Moses said,
People: Let my people go.
Leader: “If not, I’ll smite your firstborn dead,”
People: Let my people go.
All: Go down,
Moses,
Way down in Egypt land.
Tell old Pharaoh,
“Let my people go.”
—Adapted from African-American spiritual. See
http://www.homewithgod.com/heavenlymidis2/moses.html
for words and music.
Message 1: “God’s Faithful Commitment to Israel” (Exodus 14:19–31)
Hymn
“Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus” HS
201
OR “Look at This Man, Born of God” HS 230
Message 2: “Respecting the Integrity of All” (Romans 14:1–12)
*Closing Hymn
“We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet” HS
307
OR “Jesus Is the Rock”
NS 24
*Benediction
*Postlude
Sermon Helps
Scriptures: Exodus
14:19–31; Psalm 114; Romans 14:1–12; Matthew 18:21–35/18:21–34
IV; Jacob 1:7–8a; Doctrine and Covenants 39:1
Exploring the Scriptures
The dramatic story from Exodus has Moses leading his people through the
parted Red Sea and out of slavery in Egypt. There can be no doubt of God’s
faithfulness. As the people feel helpless against Pharaoh, God delivers them,
not because of their strength or cleverness, but because of God’s faithful
commitment to Israel and to Moses. God accomplishes what the people cannot do
for themselves. The crossing of the sea affirms in a desperate time Yahweh is
Israel’s savior and redeemer.
In Romans, Paul is attempting to counsel the early Christians in their
disagreement on some specific practices (vegetarians vs. meat eaters, etc.).
Rather than take sides and address the specifics, Paul holds up theological
observations. Paul asserts that all
Christians belong to God—God created them. The advent, life, death, and
resurrection of Christ has claimed them, and this relationship takes precedence
over all others. Christians belong to God first and then to one another. If
Christ welcomed all people, then Christians must respect one another. Paul
suggests a tolerance of diversity—even an active welcoming of those with
conflicting views and practices. Paul places our destiny in the hands of God,
rather than those who think they know God’s will, and delivers us from those who
have personal agendas and self-centered motives.
Both passages disclose something of the nature of God toward us. Even in our
desperate and self-centered behaviors, God is willing to engage with us,
reminding us that we cannot live meaningful lives without God’s grace. In a
sense, God demonstrates deliverance that involves moving us toward faith, even
in desperate times and times of disagreement and conflict. Those who follow
Christ experience deliverance from their sinful selves—articulated in Paul’s
call to be “in the Lord,” recognizing God’s dominion over their lives.
Central Ideas
1. God is faithful and ever mindful of our needs. God delivers Israel
(and us), not because they deserve it, but because God is faithful and keeps
the promises made to Israel’s ancestors and Moses.
2. Amidst our legalistic bickering, God’s grace through Jesus Christ
delivers us beyond the letter of the law, to uphold the universal truth that
all are welcome in the Body of Christ.
Questions for the Speaker
1. Have you ever felt “delivered” by God? From what did you need to be
delivered? Why?
2. How has God’s continuing faithfulness impacted your life?
3. Can you find parallels in your congregation with the situation Paul is
addressing in Romans? How might Paul’s words be helpful in addressing
disagreements within your congregation?
4. How does your congregation demonstrate faithfulness to one another and
to God?
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