:: Download the 1.10.2016 Worship Study Guide and Sermon Notes
:: Download the 1.10.2016 Bulletin
:: Download the 1.10.2016 Sermon Audio
image :: The Starry Night, Vincent van Gogh (1889, Dutch)
Preparation for Worship :: Honor, Love & Fear
“Stars cross the sky, wise men journey from pagan lands, earth receives its Savior in a cave. Let there be no one without a gift to offer, no one without gratitude as we celebrate the salvation of the world, the birthday of the human race. Now it is no longer, ‘dust you are and dust you shall return,’ but ‘you are joined to heaven and into heaven shall you be taken up’.” (Basil the Great, 4th century)
“We have none other whom we fear, save only our Lord God, who is in heaven… Honor to Caesar as Caesar, but fear only to God.” (Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs, 180 AD)
Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for Sunday January 10 include ::
:: Doxology (Thomas Ken, 1709) CHART [bandcamp track=2257784892 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: God is Love Let Heaven Adore Him (Timothy Rees, 1922) CHART [bandcamp track=381279901 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) (John Newton, 1779; Tomlin & Giglio, 2006) [bandcamp track=3958547232 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: Praise to the Lord the Almighty (Joachim Neander, 1680) CHART [bandcamp track=2701349241 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: Jesus, I my Cross Have Taken (Henry Lyte, 1825) CHART [bandcamp track=1380076138 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: Magnificat (Luke 1:46-49) CHART [bandcamp track=3475501751 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]
Call to Worship :: John 8:12
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Old Testament Reading :: Daniel 6:26
He is the living God, enduring forever; His Kingdom shall never be destroyed, and His dominion shall be to the end.
Prayer of Confession
Our gracious Father, You sent Your Son to die and rise to new life in order that death might be brought to an end and that we, too, might live a new life. Yet we often chosen death over life. In our thoughts, words, and deeds we have rebelled against You and Your intentions for us. We have broken our fellowship with You, whose love is better than life and whom to know is life itself. We have sinned against others, sometimes unintentionally and sometimes deliberately, and have diminished their lives. We have invited Your wrath, who were created to reflect Your glory. Father, forgive us our sin for Jesus’ sake. And grant that the same Spirit that raised Christ might convict and renew us, that we might walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
Words of Encouragement :: Colossians 3:1,3-4
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Sermon :: I Peter 2:13-17
13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.