CALL TO WORSHIP
- Opening Choruses
- Opening Prayer
OPENING COMMENTS
- WELCOME … and THANKS for joining us. (Any special welcome?)
- The theme this week is NOT us and them, BUT all of us.
- The selected readings for this week are … Psalm … IProphet … Epistle and Gospel.
The theme for this week is not us and them, but all of us.
The selected readings for this week are … Psalm 27:1,4-9, Isaiah 9:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 and Matthew 4:12-23.
OPENING SONGS …
1. YOU ARE HOLY (PRINCE OF PEACE) … Michael W. Smith et al …
2. OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART, LORD … Michael W. Smith et al …
3. ABOVE ALL … Michael W. Smith et al …
4. BREATHE … Michael W. Smith et al …
FIRST READING
Our call to worship presents the inclusive full range of a Christian’s experience, including the high points of faith and the low points of lament and doubt.
Psalm 27:1,4-9 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? . . . 4 One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple. 5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock. 6 Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. 7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! 8 ‘Come,’ my heart says, ‘seek his face!’ Your face, Lord, do I seek. 9 Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!
Speaking Of Life
- Title: Are You Afraid of The Dark?
- Presenter: Michelle Fleming, GCI Media Executive
SECOND READING
Isaiah 9 focuses on our release from oppression, whether it comes from within us or without, by our Wonderful Counselor, the Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:1-4 But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness — on them light has shined. 3 You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. 4 For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.
SHARING TIME
- Prayer Requests …
- Blessings …
- Intercessory Prayer …
THIRD READING
In our third reading, from the Gospels, Jesus calls Simon Peter and his brother Andrew to become fishers of people, snagging hurting hearts with the good news of God’s love and acceptance of all people.
Matthew 4:12-23 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the lake, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15 ‘Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles — 16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.’
17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’
18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake — for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.
SPECIAL MUSIC
- TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS (CHORUS) … Michael W. Smith et al …
SERMON
When Divisions Come To Church
1 Corinthians 1:10-18 (NRSV)
Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you should be in agreement and that there should be no divisions among you, but that you should be united in the same mind and the same purpose. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. 12 What I mean is that each of you says, ‘I belong to Paul’, or ‘I belong to Apollos’, or ‘I belong to Cephas’, or ‘I belong to Christ.’ 13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. 18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
That’s what the passage said …
- Is there anything that jumps out at you? What is the message for us?
- Let’s see what message(s) we can glean from the passage …
What does the passage mean?
What is the message for us?
Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you should be in agreement and that there should be no divisions (schismata – as tears in a garment) among you, but that you should be united (knit together – Barclay) in the same mind and the same purpose.
11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. 12 What I mean is that each of you says, ‘I belong to Paul’ (probably Gentiles – Barclay), or ‘I belong to Apollos’ (probably intellectuals), or ‘I belong to Cephas’ (probably Jews, legalists), or ‘I belong to Christ’ (probably some who felt Christ belonged to them only).
13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (but into the name of Christ – implying possession by and identification with – Barclay). 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. 18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (See Romans 1:16)
1 Corinthians 1:19-25 19 For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
Philippians 2:1-8
How does the passage apply to us?
- What can we take away?
- What would you say is the MAIN takeaway for you?
SONG OF RESPONSE …
- THE CHURCH’S ONE FOUNDATION … Grace Community Church
OFFERTORY SONG
- HERE I AM, LORD … John Michael Talbot
CLOSING PRAYER
BENEDICTION
- 2 Corinthians 13:13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ … the love of God … and the communion of the Holy Spirit … be with all of you.