Sunday, January 16, 2022 - Why is life so hard?
Theme: Exploring the Seismic Questions - Why is life so hard?
Theme: Exploring the Seismic Questions –Why is life so hard?
“Remember: In much wisdom is much aggravation; the more knowledge, the more pain.” (Ecclesiastes 1:18)
Hymn Great Is Thy Faithfulness (In Person Only)
Welcome
Awakening to God’s Presence (In Person Only)
Hymn God of Great and God of Small (In Person Only)
Prayer for God’s Guidance
Matthew 24:4-6 Common English Bible Translation
Jesus replied, “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I’m the Christ.’ They will deceive many people. You will hear about wars and reports of wars. Don’t be alarmed. These things must happen, but this isn’t the end yet. (Gen 3:14-15) The Lord God said to the snake, “Because you did this, you are the one cursed out of all the farm animals, out of all the wild animals. On your belly you will crawl, and dust you will eat every day of your life. I will put contempt between you and the woman, between your offspring and hers. They will strike your head, but you will strike at their heels.” (Question: What are the things that put you on edge?)
Matthew 24:7-8
Nations and kingdom will fight against each other, and there will be famines and earthquakes in all sorts of places. But these things are just the beginning of the sufferings associated with the end. (Gen 3:16) To the woman he said, “I will make your pregnancy very painful; in pain you will bear children. You will desire you husband, but he will rule over you.” (Question: How have you dealt with the pain that has arisen in your life?)
Hymn My Life Flows On (In Person Only)
Matthew 24:9-10
They will arrest you, abuse you, and they will kill you. All nations will hate you on account of my name. At that time many will fall away. They will betray each other and hate each other. (Gen 3:17-19) To the man he said, “Because you listened to your wife’s voice and you ate from the tree that I commanded, ‘Don’t eat from it,’ cursed is the fertile land because of you; in pain you will eat from it every day of your life. Weeds and thistles will grow for you, even as you eat the field’s plants; by the sweat of your face you will eat bread – until you return to the fertile land, since from it you were taken; you are soil, to the soil you will return.” (Question: What pain have you observed in life that seems unnecessary?)
Matthew 24:11-12
Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because disobedience will expand, the love of many will grow cold. (Phil 2:3-4) Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others. (Question: How do you react when you feel like things are falling apart in your life?)
Hymn Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling (In Person Only)
Matthew 24:13-14
But the one who endures to the end will be delivered. This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world as a testimony to all the nations. Then the end will come. (Mt 5:43-46, 48) “You have heard that it was said, “You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who harass you so that you will be acting as children of your Father who is in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both the evil and the good and sends rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love only those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? Therefore, just as your heavenly Father is complete in showing love to everyone so also you must be complete. (Question: What are the things you most struggle with handling? Who do you turn to for help?)
Reflection Together (In Person Only)
Offering Ourselves to God
During this time let us reflect upon the words from the Brief Statement of Faith
In sovereign love God created the world good and makes everyone equally in God’s image, male and female, of every race and people, to live as one community. But we rebel against God; we hid from our Creator. Ignoring God’s commandments. We violate the image of God in others and ourselves, accept lies as truth, exploit neighbor and nature, and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care. We deserve God’s condemnation. Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation.
Hymn There Is a Balm in Gilead (In Person Only)
Prayers of the People and 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors;
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom and the power
and the glory, forever. Amen
Benediction
Closing Hymn Goodness is Stronger than Evil (In Person Only)
Hymn List
19 God of Great and God of Small
39 Great Is Thy Faithfulness
418 Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling
750 Goodness Is Stronger than Evil
792 There Is a Balm in Gilead
821 My Life Flows On
Sermon Series: Exploring the Seismic Questions January 9th – February 27th
January 23rd – Why doesn’t God stop the pain?
January 20th – Who is God?
February 6th – Where is God?
February 13th – Who is Jesus?
February 20th – What is our purpose?
February 27th – What does it mean to follow Jesus?