:: Download the 3.1.2015 Worship Study Guide and Sermon Notes
:: Download the 3.1.2015 Bulletin
:: Download the 3.1.2015 Sermon Audio
image :: Red Vineyard near Arles, Vincent van Gogh (1888, Dutch)
Preparation for Worship :: The Vineyard
“By the Cross we know the gravity of sin and the greatness of God’s love toward us.” (John Chrysostom, 4th century)
Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for March 1 include ::
:: Doxology (Thomas Ken, 1709) CHART [bandcamp track=2257784892 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]
:: Grace Greater Than Our Sin (Julia H. Johnston, 1911) CHART [bandcamp track=3791321372 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]
:: Calmer of My Troubled Heart (Charles Wesley, 1762) CHART [bandcamp track=787838808 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]
:: God, Be Merciful to Me / Psalm 51 (1912 Psalter) CHART [bandcamp track=4073696194 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]
:: Give Me Jesus (African-American Spiritual) CHART [bandcamp track=893825801 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]
Call to Worship :: Psalm 35:1-3,9
Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help! Say to my soul, “I am your salvation!” Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord, exulting in His salvation.
Gospel Reading :: John 16:2-4, 7-11
“They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you…I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”
Sermon :: I Kings 21:1-16
Now Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 And after this Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house, and I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money.” 3 But Naboth said to Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” 4 And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food.
5 But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, “Why is your spirit so vexed that you eat no food?” 6 And he said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money, or else, if it please you, I will give you another vineyard for it.’ And he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’” 7 And Jezebel his wife said to him, “Do you now govern Israel? Arise and eat bread and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”
8 So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and she sent the letters to the elders and the leaders who lived with Naboth in his city. 9 And she wrote in the letters, “Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth at the head of the people. 10 And set two worthless men opposite him, and let them bring a charge against him, saying, ‘You have cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.” 11 And the men of his city, the elders and the leaders who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. As it was written in the letters that she had sent to them, 12 they proclaimed a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people. 13 And the two worthless men came in and sat opposite him. And the worthless men brought a charge against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones. 14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned; he is dead.”
15 As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money, for Naboth is not alive, but dead.” 16 And as soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab arose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.
Prayer of Confession
Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:14-15)
Lord Jesus Christ, by Your steadfast love and atoning sacrifice, You took our place and proved Yourself to be the Friend of sinners. You were punished that we might be pardoned, and broken that we would be made whole. In Your resurrection You demonstrated Your power over our sin, death and out enemies. While we await Your return, we have been weak in faith and anxious in heart. In our rebellion and restlessness we have sought peace for our souls where there is none to be found. Apart from You, we find ourselves alone, tired, and worn. Forgive us, Savior! Renew our trust in You and restore to us the true rest You alone offer. Amen.
Words of Encouragement :: Romans 5:10
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life.