:: Download the 7.20.2014 Worship Study Guide and Sermon Notes
:: Download the 7.20.2014 Worship Bulletin
:: Download the 7.20.2014 Parent Bulletin
:: Download the 7.20.2014 Sermon Audio
image :: The Slave Ship, William Turner (1840, British)
Preparation for Worship :: Slaves & Masters
“In the long history of inspirational pabulum, ‘follow your passion’ has got to be the worst… Over and over, people love to talk about the passion that guided them to happiness. When I left high school–confused and unsure of everything–my guidance counselor assured me that it would all work out, if I could just muster the courage to follow my dreams. My Scoutmaster said to trust my gut. And my pastor advised me to listen to my heart. What a crock. Why do we do this? Why do we tell our kids—and ourselves—that following some form of desire is the key to job satisfaction? If I’ve learned anything from this show, it’s the folly of looking for a job that completely satisfies a ‘true purpose.’ In fact, the happiest people I’ve met over the last few years have not followed their passion at all—they have instead brought it with them.” (Mike Rowe, “Dirty Jobs,” Forbes magazine)
“To call Christ Lord is to fear to displease him: yet that godly fear sooner or later sets one free from lesser and unworthy fears.” (Dick Lucas)
Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for July 20
:: Come and Welcome audio
:: All I Owe audio
:: None Other Lamb audio
:: Thy Mercy My God audio
:: There Is a Fountain audio
:: Amazing Grace audio
Call to Worship :: Psalm 113:1-6
Praise the Lord; Praise the Lord, you His servants; praise the name of the Lord. Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is exalted over all the nations, His glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?
Confession of Faith :: Philippians 2:5-11
Christ Jesus, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Old Testament Reading :: Deuteronomy 15:12-18
If any of your people—Hebrew men or women—sell themselves to you and serve you six years, in the seventh year you must let them go free.And when you release them, do not send them away empty-handed. Supply them liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. Give to them as the Lord your God has blessed you. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you.That is why I give you this command today. But if your servant says to you, “I do not want to leave you,” because he loves you and your family and is well off with you, then take an awl and push it through his earlobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life. Do the same for your female servant. Do not consider it a hardship to set your servant free, because their service to you these six years has been worth twice as much as that of a hired hand. And the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.
Sermon :: Ephesians 6:5-9
5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
We Confess Our Sin Together
Lord of All, You have called us to submit to those You have placed in authority over us. We confess that we are slow to love and serve. Instead of sincerely honoring our leaders, we zealously guard our autonomy. Instead of humbly deferring to our counselors, we arrogantly defy their wisdom. Instead of graciously bearing with our governors, we refuse to grant them forgiveness. Instead of doing Your will from the heart, we people-please and fail to perceive the True Lord. So we sin against You. Forgive us we pray.You have also given us the glory and privilege of authority over others. We confess that we have abused this trust.Instead of leading others, we avoid responsibility. Instead of ruling as Your steward, we issue shrill decrees that cannot be questioned. Instead of patiently serving those under us, we pursue our own advantage and position. So we sin against You. Forgive us we pray.
Words of Encouragement :: II Corinthians 5:21
God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.