Elijah to Elisha - UnBelievable
In this transitional section of the narrative, Elijah denounces idolatrous Ahaziah and later gets carried up to heaven; Elisha takes up the prophetic mantle in the spirit of Elijah.
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What Had happened at Grace this week.
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Peace - Arrival - Luke 1
This season can seem so overwhelming. This party, that shopping, those friends; it can seem like there is so much you have to do that it is just overwhelming. Think about Mary the mother of Jesus. How overwhelming would her life be here with so much pressure? Yet in feeling all of her pressure, she sits in humility and sings a song of excitement.
Questions for the Week
A week before Christmas how do you normally feel? Excited? Anxious? Overwhelmed? Something else? Why do you feel this way?
Read Luke 1: 46-56. This is Mary’s song of praise. What themes do Mary highlight? Where do you see Jesus living out these themes in his life and ministry?
In our gospel lesson we see both Mary and Elizabeth covered in excitement as God has come to the unworthy and humble. What are some ways you can get wrapped up in this true excitement of Christmas this week?
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Uncomfortable King - Uncomfortable - Daniel 2
The king wakes up and yells for his wisest men. They run in and see a distraught and angry king. He had a terrible dream and wants to know what it means or he will kill all of his wise men. Is this what true power looks like -- that it can wake up on the wrong side of the bead and end life in whomever it chooses? Perhaps Daniel’s description of the dream will bring comfort to the king, but maybe not.
QUESTIONS TO REFLECT ON DURING THE WEEK -
Read Daniel 2:1-16. How would you feel working for someone like King Nebuchadnezzar?
Read Daniel 2:17-30? What does this tell us about God? How is He different from others who have power in the world?
Read Daniel 2:31-45. What does the King’s dream ultimately mean? How does remembering that the kingdoms of the world are temporary give you a sense of hope?
Read Colossians 2:14-15. How does Jesus disarm these powers to give you an eternal sense of hope?
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Here Am I, Send Me - The Spirit Experience - Acts 28
At the closing of the book of Acts, Luke beckons us to look back, not only looking at the successes and failures of the church but to look at them through the life of Paul. We see where challenges and struggles with eyes that will not see and ears that will not hear take place. Yet, Paul, in chains, still preaches without hindrance. He continues to say, “Here am I! Send me!” May we face the challenges with the same creed.
QUESTIONS TO REFLECT ON DURING THE WEEK - “Rough Seas”
Tell a story of a time when you tried to tell someone something important and they didn’t understand.
Read Acts 28:17-31. What does Paul do in Rome? Why do so many people not believe his message about Jesus?
Read Isaiah 6:1-13. Isaiah is a prophet called by God to speak His word to His people. What is the message Isaiah has to say to God’s people who had gone astray in the Old Testament?
Why do you think Paul quotes Isaiah at this point in Acts?
What should we do with the message Jesus gives us, in a world that often doesn’t want to hear? How does the ending of Acts give you hope?
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The Beautiful Name - The Spirit Experience - Acts 3-5
Outside the temple there was a gate called Beautiful. This gate was a sign post as to how the kingdom of God was here with the people, and that kingdom was making everything beautiful. However, outside this beautiful gate is a disabled beggar asking for change. This gate is hardly living up to the expectation of its name, but then Peter comes by and gives this beggar life and beauty in a name that is above every name.
As you read through Luke, what has been one new thing you have learned about Jesus?
What does the name of Jesus mean to you?
Read Acts 3:1-10. What does the crippled man ask for? How does Peter respond? How does Jesus work in this situation?
What do you think the name of Jesus means for the disabled man after he is healed?
Read Acts 4:1-14. How do the leaders of the temple respond to the healing? Why do you think they are so upset?
What does Peter say in response? What does it look like for you to trust in the name of Jesus only?
How can you use this story to encourage someone this week?
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What Had happened at Grace this week.
Free To Live - God's Grace
Today we see that although we have nothing to give in exchange for our salvation, God, in his grace, sets us free through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Now we have much to give—all of the riches of God’s grace to share with others in Jesus’ name.
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Insiders - Heavenly Armor
“Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” The Lord has brought us into His unity, and now we put on His strength and His armor to not fight in flesh and blood but against all forms of evil which desire to divide.
“Paul is encouraging us, saying through Jesus, the promise of Abraham, has come true, that those who were once outsiders are now insiders; those who were lost are now found. “A plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” Ephesians 1:10 ”
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Teach us to Pray - Yours is the Kingdom, Power, and the Glory
What does this mean? This means that I should be certain that these petitions are pleasing to our Father in heaven, and are heard by Him; for He Himself has commanded us to pray in this way and has promised to hear us. Amen, amen means “yes, yes, it shall be so.”
Here is an interesting article about the ending of the Lord's Prayer
Events Coming up
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ReForm Generosity - Lion and the Mouse
There once was a mouse that wanted to be bigger because it feared everything around it. Fear and anxiety can cause us to want to be bigger than we are currently. This fear can deal a blow to our generosity because we are always afraid we will not have enough. But God will always watch over us.
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ReForm Generosity - Back on Track
God sends us signs to get us back on track. What are these signs for you that have helped get your life back on track? John the Baptist was the biggest sign to show us Jesus, who gets us back on the right track.
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ReForm Food For the Poor
We are looking at food for the poor today.
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Re:Form - ReForm our Church
In Luther's day it seemed like the church motivated with Guilt. Is our Evangelism motivated by Guilt or Good News
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Hurricane Irma Family Service - Faith in the Storm
Confidence to Face Whatever Comes Our Way
Order of Worship
9/10/2017
In Home Worship/Devotion
As you prepare for worship, spend a few moments praying quietly. Lord Jesus, thank you for your wisdom and grace. Allow me to cast off my burdens from the week and focus on you and your promises this morning. Amen.
The Opening Hymn “Come, Christians Join to Sing”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeZLDY8fJ1Y (Click on link to sing along)
Come, Christians, join to sing Alleluia! Amen!
Loud praise to Christ our King; Alleluia! Amen!
Let all, with heart and voice, Before His throne rejoice;
Praise is His gracious choice. Alleluia! Amen!
Come, lift your hearts on high, Alleluia! Amen!
Let praises fill the sky; Alleluia! Amen!
He is our Guide and Friend; To us He’ll condescend;
His love shall never end. Alleluia! Amen!
Praise yet our Christ again, Alleluia! Amen!
Life shall not end the strain; Alleluia! Amen!
On heaven’s blissful shore, His goodness we’ll adore,
Singing forevermore, “Alleluia! Amen!”
Invocation
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Amen.
The Word of the Lord Psalm 44
Come to Our Help
To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah.
1 O God, we have heard with our ears,
our fathers have told us,
what deeds you performed in their days,
in the days of old:
2 you with your own hand drove out the nations,
but them you planted;
you afflicted the peoples,
but them you set free;
3 for not by their own sword did they win the land,
nor did their own arm save them,
but your right hand and your arm,
and the light of your face,
for you delighted in them.
4 You are my King, O God;
ordain salvation for Jacob!
5 Through you we push down our foes;
through your name we tread down those who rise up against us.
6 For not in my bow do I trust,
nor can my sword save me.
7 But you have saved us from our foes
and have put to shame those who hate us.
8 In God we have boasted continually,
and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah
9 But you have rejected us and disgraced us
and have not gone out with our armies.
10 You have made us turn back from the foe,
and those who hate us have gotten spoil.
11 You have made us like sheep for slaughter
and have scattered us among the nations.
12 You have sold your people for a trifle,
demanding no high price for them.
13 You have made us the taunt of our neighbors,
the derision and scorn of those around us.
14 You have made us a byword among the nations,
a laughing stock among the peoples.
15 All day long my disgrace is before me,
and shame has covered my face
16 at the sound of the taunter and reviler,
at the sight of the enemy and the avenger.
17 All this has come upon us,
though we have not forgotten you,
and we have not been false to your covenant.
18 Our heart has not turned back,
nor have our steps departed from your way;
19 yet you have broken us in the place of jackals
and covered us with the shadow of death.
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God
or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
21 would not God discover this?
For he knows the secrets of the heart.
22 Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.
23 Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord?
Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!
24 Why do you hide your face?
Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?
25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust;
our belly clings to the ground.
26 Rise up; come to our help!
Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!
Romans 8:28-39
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[h] for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be[i]against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.[j] 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!
The Gospel of the Lord Mark 4:30-41
30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth,32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”
33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. 34 He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
This is the Good News of the Lord. Praise to You, O Christ!
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the
virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of
God the Father Almighty.
From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church,
The communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Hymn of the Day “Come, My Soul, with Every Care” #433
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9ni22xVDHc (Click link to sing along)
Come, my soul, with ev’ry care, Jesus loves to answer prayer;
He himself bids you to pray, Therefore will not turn away.
You are coming to your King, Large petitions with you bring;
For his grace and pow’r are such None can ever ask too much.
Show me what I am to do; Ev’ry hour my strength renew.
Let me live a life of faith; Let me die your people’s death.
Instruction From God’s Word
This is taken from the Lutheran Hour. You can listen or read the sermon at this link: http://www.lutheranhour.org/sermon.asp?articleid=30095
Our Prayers of Intercession
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Almighty Jesus, you have the power to calm the storm. Be with those who are affected by Hurricane Irma. Give us your protection and strength. Remind us that you are always with us. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, You are the ultimate authority. Thank You for good government and those with authority over us. Guide them in using their authority according to Your will, and help us to be obedient. Be with those who are under corrupt authority, and give them all boldness and confidence to live in accordance with Your will. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Kind Master, grant favorable weather to all in Your care, and protect us from drought, famine, flooding and other tribulation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Gracious Father, let us receive Your good gift of Christ’s body and blood with childlike faith. Let us humbly trust that Your forgiveness is poured out for us in this meal. Let it strengthen us in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful Lord, please look with compassion upon those who are struggling with illness, grief, loneliness, and mental or spiritual malady [especially _____________]. Reassure them of Your love, which is like that of the shepherd who seeks and saves the one lost sheep. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
The 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 and ever. Amen
Closing Hymn “Beautiful Savior”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e17k9vV-q-o (Click here to sing along)
Beautiful Savior, King of creation, Son of God and Son of Man!
Truly I'd love Thee, truly I'd serve thee, Light of my soul, my Joy, my Crown.
Fair are the meadows, Fair are the woodlands, Robed in flow'rs of blooming spring;
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer; He makes our sorr'wing spirit sing.
Fair is the sunshine, Fair is the moonlight, Bright the sparkling stars on high;
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer Than all the angels in the sky.
Beautiful Savior, Lord of the nations, Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, Praise, adoration, Now and forevermore be Thine!
The Departure
Go in peace and Serve the Lord. Thanks be to God
Preparing in Faith- Let's Build Something Together
When we look out at the dangers all around us. we hear a call to prepare ourselves. But in what way should we prepare? In worldly power? Or should we prepare in Faith?
What Had happened at Grace this week.
Go Tell Peter: Kingdom Life
We all have that friend, the one who is impulsive, the one who talks before he thinks. Peter is that friend. When Peter really messes up, all things seem lost, but a heavenly messenger from inside the tomb says something profound.
Plots, Perfume, and Palms: Oh My - Kingdom Life
Do we really understand what is happening? People are yelling, “Save us from our Roman oppressors.” The religious leaders are plotting to kill Jesus to keep the Romans happy. And Mary is wasting burial perfume on someone alive.
Plots, Perfume, and Palms: Oh My
John 11 and John 12 are the scriptures today
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – Dec 15th. Starring Lauren Graham, Judy Greer, and Pete Holmes.