ALL I HAVE IS CHRIST
Call to Worship: Psalm 16:1-6
The boundary lines of our lives have fallen in pleasant places by God for our good, our joy, and His glory. And although God exists outside of time and space, uncreated, and without boundary or limit, He has chosen in and through Christ to step into time and space, take on our flesh and bone, and become our sin so that we might become His righteousness, to rescue us from the power of Satan, sin and death. We are going to introduce a new song to you this morning that gives us language for celebrating who Jesus is and what He has done. We’ll teach you the chorus first…
HOLD HIM HIGH
BETTER IS ONE DAY/FACEDOWN
Sermon: 1 Timothy 6:2-10
The Psalmist says ‘The sorrows of those who run after another God shall multiply… but at the right hand of God, pleasures forevermore.’ We must run to God, who satisfies the desires of every living thing. Let’s use these next songs as prayers of confession, and prayers of petition - asking God to shape us…
I SHALL NOT WANT
BE THOU MY VISION
Benediction
Give
30 April: Tuesday Refocus
“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” - Romans 12:9-14
In a world that prides itself on radical individualism, perhaps there is nothing more counter-cultural than intentionally investing yourself into the community of faith - to know and be known. To serve and be served. In humility to count others as more significant than yourself. To contribute to the needs of the saints.
In a world that prides itself on the vilification of anyone who thinks differently, or mistreats us in any way - perhaps one of the most counter-cultural acts is to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. To cross the greater distance of relational divide. To bless and not to curse. To live peaceably with all people as far as it depends on you. Not to cancel people who have hurt us or abandon a relationship over a misunderstanding. Not to hurt people before they hurt us, but instead to seek the good of the other.
For followers of Jesus, when we love our enemies, what we are saying is ‘I know I once was an enemy of God, but because of Jesus, I have been completely forgiven. If God can forgive me of all my sins, how can I not offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me?’
Father, may these things be true of us by the indwelling and empowering work of your Spirit. In Christ’s name, amen.
Amen,
AB