We ask God to make the Scripture fresh, encouraging, and convicting to us as we sit under its ministry.
From Psalm 33
Leader: O LORD, your word is right and true.
People: You are faithful in all you do.
Leader: You love righteousness and justice.
People: The earth is full of your unfailing love.
Leader: By your word, O LORD, the heavens were made.
People: By the breath of your mouth, the starry host was formed.
Leader: In creation, everything you spoke came into being, and stood firm.
People: Speak to us now, that we might be what you’ve called us to be; that we might stand firm
Leader: Send forth your Spirit and make Jesus, your true Word, present in our midst. Accomplish your purposes among us as we hear your Word, receive your grace, and heed your counsel.
People: Amen!
We reflect on the Psalm of the Day and use it to examine our hearts and minds, leading us to confession of our sin.
Gracious God, we acknowledge with the psalmist that it is your plans and purposes that endure. We know that all our plans, and the plans of the nations, must submit to the purposes of your heart, which endure through all generations. We recognize that you look down from heaven and see into our hearts. You have made our hearts for yourself, and you can weigh them, measure them, and discern their direction. We are sorry for following our wayward hearts into foolish plans; for making our wisest plans and failing to ask you to guide our steps; for setting our hearts on vain things; and and for trusting in our strength, vigor, and creativity rather than in your provision, kindness, and love. Forgive us, for the sake of Jesus, whose every purpose and plan was, and is, always and everywhere, yours; whose heart has always beat after your purposes, in pursuit of your own heart. Amen.
People of God, with the psalmist we have turned our hope away from every resource except the very heart of God. We have made him our help and our shield. We have placed our hearts’ joy once again in his holy name. And so we can be even more sure than the psalmist was that the LORD’s unfailing love is with us. For he has sent the Lord Jesus in love to capture our hearts by his grace; to put the hope of our God in our hearts once again. In Christ, your sins are forgiven, your hearts are cleansed and renewed, and you are set free to live according to his glorious purposes. Go, and follow the heart of Jesus into every good endeavor! Amen.
Ruth Pfister, Organ
Glory be to the Father
And to the Son
And to the Holy Ghost
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be
World without end. Amen! Amen!
During our current series, our New Testament lessons are selected to complement the study of the Ten Commandments.
Colossians 1:15-18
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.