Sermons

May 9, 2021

Stewardship challenge: Jurgen Moltmann offers some helpful insight into lordship and friendship. He suggested that the friendship model is so powerful that the average Christian will fail to consider its implications. Most of us prefer to remain in a lordship relationship with Christ where we can live out our dependency in relative security with minimum risk. In this model, obedience is no longer an act of the will, but a requirement, which leads to legalism and intolerance, if anywhere at all. As friends of Jesus, the disciples no longer experience God as Lord, or even as Father. They experience him as Friend. Open friendship becomes the bond in fellowship with each other. Eric Fromm, in The Heart of Friendship, identifies four ingredients of friendship; discipline (teaching and learning; not bashing and abusing); concentration; patience; ultimate concern. “Greater love has no one than this, that a man/woman lay down his/her life for a friend.”

We had special music today at Zion when Charlie, one of our Children’s Church attendees, wrote and sung a special song for us. What a wonderful witness to our youth, following Jesus! Her video was posted earlier.

Call to Worship: Like a gentle rain, God’s love refreshes our lives. Like the springtime song of birds, God’s grace cheers our souls. Like the delicate beauty of flowers, God’s creation delights our eyes. Like the lengthening of days, God’s presence brings light into our worrisome darkness. Springtime announces itself, And all creation shouts for joy. We are touched by messages from our loving Creator, And join creation in singing praise.
Hymn: #400
Come Thou Font of Every Blessing
Joni Baker/Doris Obenshain
Prayer:
Lord of life and health, we bring ourselves body and soul before you now, to give our thanks and declare our need – and with all to sing your praises. Visit this place to hear us now and pour out your blessing upon us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Old Testament lesson: Psalms 98
The Gospel: John 15:9-17
Message: Love Like a Mother
Reference to Galatians 5:22-23
Hymn: Love Lifted Me, sung by Pastor Cindy
Pastoral Prayer and Prayer for the Sick
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our
trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen

Hymn: Grace Alone #2162 TFWS
Joni Baker/Doris Obenshain

Benediction: As Christ’s people, we claim friendship with God, no longer lordship, no longer even sons and daughters, but friendship. An Arabian Proverb says, “A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one’s heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping, and with the breath of kindness, blow the rest away.” ... See MoreSee Less

3 days ago  ·  

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