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Woship Resources 2007-2008 — Year A: Passionate for Peace
Return to Year A: 2007-2008
Resource Index
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Lead a Life Worthy of God
Ordinary Time (Proper 26)
Scriptures: Joshua 3:7–17; Psalm 107:1–7, 33–37; I
Thessalonians 2:9–13; Matthew 23:1–12/23:1–9 IV;
Enos 1:5–11; Doctrine and Covenants 66:5a–g
Sharing Christ’s Peace
The ultimate responsibility for priesthood faithfulness
rests on the individual in response to the needs and expectations of the
faith community. —Doctrine and Covenants 163:6d
Setting
If possible, have someone with a bread-making machine bake bread in the
sanctuary before the service. (Or, bake bread in the kitchen.) The smell of
freshly baked bread will set the tone for Communion.
Prelude
Call to Worship
Reader 1: Let us thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful
works to humankind.
Reader 2: He turns a desert into pools of water and parched land into
springs of water.
Reader 3: And there he lets the hungry live, and they establish a town to
live in.
Reader 2: They sow fields, and plant vineyards, and get a fruitful yield.
Reader 3: By his blessing they multiply greatly.
Reader 1: Let us thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful
works to humankind.
—Psalm 107:8, 33–38, adapted
*Congregational Hymn of Praise
“Mighty God, Transforming God!” NS 38
OR “Now in This Moment” HS 58
*Invocation
*Response
Focus Moment
Share the story of The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
(North-South Books, 1996). ISBN 1-5585-8009-1
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.
Reflection
We desire to lead a life that is worthy in the sight of God. May our
giving reflect our desire, and may we share as generous disciples.
Blessing and Offering of Oblation and Mission Tithes
Offering Hymn
“Thank You for Giving Me the Morning” HS 74
OR “We Thank You, Lord, for Strength of Arm”
HS 78
Children’s Focus
Have a large bowl available with all the ingredients for bread measured
and in separate containers. Tell the children that baking bread and leading
a life worthy of God are similar. As the children name each ingredient, have
a child pour that ingredient into the big bowl. Tell them that when all the
proper ingredients are mixed together and baked, delicious bread is made.
Talk about the good aroma of baked bread as they entered the sanctuary and
how that made them feel. Did it remind them of Communion? Then have the
children name things that are part of leading a life worthy of God (telling
the truth, helping at home, being nice to their classmates, going to Sunday
school). Talk about how all those things must go into a life worthy of God.
Just as bread cannot be made without all the right ingredients, a life
worthy of God is not possible without living out the good attributes that
are taught in the scriptures.
Congregational Hymn
“Father, Who in Jesus Found Us” HS 331
OR “Beneath the Forms of Outward Rite” HS 339
Communion Challenge
Based on I Thessalonians 2:9–13
Congregational Hymn of Preparation
“Be Present at Our Table, Lord” HS 336
OR “Come, Risen Lord” HS 344
Scriptural Assurance: Enos 1:5–11
Blessing and Serving of the Bread and Wine
*Congregational Hymn
“Called by Christ to Love Each Other” SP 36
OR “Take My Life and Let It Be” HS 408
*Sending Forth
Leader: What does it mean to lead a life worthy of God?
Reader 1: It means standing up for what is right when we’d rather remain
quiet.
Reader 2: It means loving the downtrodden when we’d rather ignore them.
Reader 3: It means saying yes to God when we’d rather say no.
Reader 4: It means telling the truth when we’d rather avoid the truth.
Reader 5: It means giving when we’d rather keep everything for ourselves.
Reader 6: It means living like Christ when we’d rather live like the
world.
Leader: You are sent to reflect the life of Christ in all you do. Lead a
life worthy of God.
All: We will go and live like Christ.
*Postlude
Sermon Helps
Scriptures: Joshua 3:7–17; Psalm 107:1–7, 33–37; I
Thessalonians 2:9–13; Matthew 23:1–12/23:1–9 IV; Enos 1:5–11; Doctrine
and Covenants 66:5a–g.
Exploring the Scriptures
Bible scholars concur, for the most part, that I Thessalonians is the
earliest letter penned by the apostle Paul. Many of the attributes that made
Paul a charismatic and successful missionary are evidenced in this letter. In a
textbook example of classic parenesis (moral exhortation), Paul artfully weaves
together timely instruction for the church to receive the teachings of Christ
while at the same time taking on a very pastoral posture with the members in
Thessalonica. Paul reminds the Thessalonians of his earlier labor on their
behalf, even though as an emissary of Christ he could have demanded toil and
sweat from them. This is a significant, if subtle, point in Paul’s letter since
most members of society disdained manual labor, relegating it to only the
lowliest classes. Paul reinforces the Christlike, sacrificial nature of his toil
for them, indicating that he gave up a more noble birthright to preach and teach
the message of Christ.
He then shifts to a very personal and pastoral image, that of a father with
his children, describing the actions of the father as urging, encouraging, and
pleading. This is a powerful image of a caring, concerned father guiding his
children toward the best path, even the path of discipleship. By using this
metaphor, Paul literally calls the Thessalonians into community, as new-found
brothers and sisters in Christ. A similar call to community is included in the
sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. “Communion is a sacrament for forming genuine,
authentic, Christian community. We come together around the Communion table to
share its grace so that our eyes are opened to see our own sin and the great and
marvelous grace of the peaceable kingdom” (The Sacraments: Symbols, Meaning &
Discipleship, Andrew Bolton and Jane Gardner, eds. [Herald Publishing House,
2005], 60).
In an unusual break with the typical and stringent form of letter writing
adopted by authors of this particular time and place, Paul issues a word of
thanks in verse 13. After having expressed thankfulness in the typical fashion
in the first few verses of the letter (I Thessalonians 1), Paul now thanks God
for the faithfulness of the Thessalonians in hearing and accepting the word of
God, acknowledging that this acceptance will surely lead to good works and
transformed lives.
The theme of transformed lives is reinforced in the text of Psalm 107. The
reader is reminded of God’s favor to the Children of Israel in leading them from
slavery and their struggles as they wandered tired and hungry to a people led by
God to a chosen land. This psalm celebrates God’s providence to all of humankind
in various crises: captivity and bondage, wandering through land and over sea,
and famine. Yet God’s goodness and mercy is evident to those children who humbly
seek the will of God in their lives. The psalmist joyfully calls all readers to
lift voices in praise for God’s mighty and abundant providence, meeting the
needs of faithful children who wait upon their God.
Central Ideas
1. Disciples are called to be laborers worthy of their hire, even though
the work may seem bleak and menial. The rewards come in the knowledge of
lives transformed through Christ.
2. When we learn to rely on the word of God, as if from an encouraging
and loving parent, we find ourselves in community as family: brothers and
sisters in Christ.
3. God’s providence is great and ready to shower blessings on those who
seek God’s will and humbly walk the path of discipleship.
Questions for the Speaker
1. When have you found yourself in sacrificial labor for the sake of the
gospel?
2. When have you experienced the love of God through the nurture of
another believer?
3. What barriers prevent your congregation from experiencing community as
family, i.e., brothers and sisters? How can the Lord’s Supper be a catalyst
toward reconciliation?
4. What trials and tribulations do you recall where the providence of God
turned the tide?
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