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Woship Resources 2007-2008 — Year A: Passionate for Peace
Return to Year A: 2007-2008
Resource Index
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Commanded to Love
Ordinary Time (Proper 25)
Scriptures: Deuteronomy 34:1–12; Psalm 90:1–6, 13–17; I
Thessalonians 2:1–8; Matthew 22:34–46/23:33–44 IV;
Jacob 5:13–30; Doctrine and Covenants 64:2d–e
Sharing Christ’s Peace
Let the educational and community development endeavors of
the church equip people of all ages to carry the ethics of Christ’s peace
into all arenas of life. —Doctrine and Covenants 163:4c
Prelude
Gathering Hymn
“Help Us Express Your Love” HS 415
OR “O Church of God, Arise” HS 451
Welcome
Call to Worship: Doctrine and Covenants 64:2d–e
*Hymn of Praise
“Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty” HS 56
OR “My Soul, Praise the Lord” HS 61
*Prayer of Invocation
*Response
Scripture Reflection: Jacob 5:13–20
Hymn
“God Forgave My Sin in Jesus’ Name” HS 382
OR “Come Now, Sound the Call of Zion” HS 386
Focus Moment
On December 6, 1862, Charles Derry departed from Glenwood, Iowa—without
any money—on his mission to England. He trusted that seven men would keep
their promise to take care of his family.
He was lonely even though England was his homeland. One day in May, he
went by the post office. He found four Heralds waiting for him. They
were not prepaid and so he had to pay for them before he could take them.
Because he had no money, he went away homesick, longing to read the little
papers filled with church news.
He passed a pawn shop where he pawned his overcoat and with the money
went back for the Heralds. It was still too chilly to be without his
coat; however, he did not regret his choice. The little papers warmed and
cheered him.
Two missionaries, Jason Briggs and Jeremiah Jeremiah, had arrived in the
month of May. When they heard the story, they immediately produced the money
needed to reclaim Brother Derry’s coat. He was filled with gratitude.
—Adapted from Inez Smith Davis, The Story of the Church,
13 th ed.(Herald Publishing House, 1989), 469–480.
One man was willing to sacrifice to share the good news. Seven men
pledged their commitment to watch over Charles Derry’s family while he
pursued this missionary work. Two men saw need and responded to Derry’s need
for warmth.
Sermon
Based on Matthew 22:34–46
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.
Blessing and Receiving of Mission Tithes
Presider’s Moments
Closing Hymn
“Lord, Help Me to Know Your Presence” NS 31
OR “We Are One in the Spirit”
HS 466
*Sending Forth
*Postlude
Sermon Helps
Scriptures: Deuteronomy 34:1–12;
Psalm 90:1–6, 13–17; I Thessalonians 2:1–8;
Matthew 22:34–46/22:33–44 IV; Jacob 5:13–30; Doctrine and Covenants
64:2d–e
Exploring the Scriptures
The message of God’s love expressed through God’s laws comes full circle at
the end of this month, as Jesus answers the question, “Which commandment in the
law is the greatest?” (Matthew 22:36). Although the original Decalogue (the
Hebrew list of “Ten Words”) was intended as a clarion call to freedom from the
tyranny of idols, work, and unbridled passions, centuries of specific case law
grew up around the Ten Commandments. These applications were originally intended
to make the law more clear and usable, but eventually became a burden of
legalism. Throughout the Hebrew Bible and inter-testamentary period, various
teachers and prophets attempted to identify the most important commandment of
all. They sought for a simpler version to guide the people. Read Micah 6:8,
Isaiah 66:1, and Habbakuk 2:4 for some of the summaries different prophets
proposed to condense the law into a simpler, memorable form.
Jesus combined two scriptures in his answer. The first is the great
affirmation of Israel called the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4–5): “Hear, O
Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.” The
second is Leviticus 19:18: “You shall not take vengeance…against any of your
people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.” Once
again, the focus is not on binding the people, but on freeing them to love God
and others. Freedom and empowerment to love are the greatest powers and gifts we
have. The greatest change agent for our church and society is to love completely
with heart, soul, and mind.
The Great Commandment is the ethical basis for the Great Commission: one
should love one’s neighbor so much that sharing the good news of Jesus Christ
becomes an imperative to live by. The Christian faith is a witnessing faith.
Built into the foundation of our belief is the call to share with others the joy
and liberating grace of God we find through Jesus Christ. If we do not share the
gospel, we are not Christian. But it is also true that if we do not share the
gospel in a spirit of love for all people, then we are using our witness as a
weapon and not a gift. We proclaim Jesus Christ in love, with appreciation for
the differences among peoples and respect for the faith journeys they travel.
Central Ideas
1. Laws designed for freedom can also begin to bind humankind when they
become legalistic and unforgiving.
2. Love of God and of others lies at the heart of the gospel message.
3. The power of love can change our society and systems into God-centered
institutions of the kingdom.
Questions for the Speaker
1. Identify present laws that do not uphold the worth of persons. What
can be done to change them?
2. When is it appropriate to break a law in order to extend God’s love
and grace to another? Give an example.
3. A rabbi has said that he would like to change the scripture in
Leviticus: “Do not love your neighbor as yourself, but love your neighbor as
himself.” What did he mean? How would you love your neighbor as
himself or herself?
4. Share a story of witness in which the Great Commandment provides the
motivation for fulfilling the Great Commission.
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