December 13th Worship Service
| The Order of Worship: Third Sunday of Advent |
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| Welcome |
| Prelude: People Look East - Arr. Smith |
| The Bells Call Us to Worship |
| A Word About Today's Music Selections |
| Hymn Medley: |
| Hark the Herald Angels Sing |
| How Great Our Joy |
| The First Noel |
| Call To Worship |
| Lighting The Advent Candle of Joy |
| Musical Response: One Candle Is Lit |
| Scripture Reading: Luke 15: 1-7 |
| A Message to Children |
| Pastoral Prayer and the Lord's Prayer |
| Worship in Music: Ten Thousand Joys |
| Sermon: Matthew and Luke Tell Stories of Joy |
| Benediction |
| Benediction Response |
| Postlude: Good Christians All, Rejoice! - Arr. McDonald |
Candle Lighters: Karl, Carrie, Johann, and Anders
Music Ministry Team: Kristin Petty, Dwight Huntley, Matthew Leone, Rene Vazquez
Worship Team: Sarah Haas, Marc Hayden
Technology Team: Michael Kendall, Mark Raker, Jerry Weissinger
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Key Notes from the reading & sermon:
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
During Advent we are concluding our study of the synoptic gospels (Mark, Matthew and Luke). The word “synoptic” means these three gospels share a common perspective. We have noticed the way Matthew and Luke rely heavily on the earliest gospel, Mark, to tell their stories. Matthew and Luke also include stories they share in common but do not appear in Mark. This source is referred to by Biblical scholars as “Q”. “Q” is the first letter for the German word for source. “Q” is a source that compiled the sayings of Jesus. Today’s passage in Luke is also found in Matthew 18:12-14. Whereas Matthew used the parable to highlight Jesus’ teaching on unlimited forgiveness, Luke employs the parable to counter a spirit of judgmentalism and to emphasize the joy which emanates from grace.
Questions for Reflection:
Luke adds this parable to two others. All three tell the story of the diligent search for things lost. Read all three parables (Luke 15). In a sentence, what is a takeaway from these stories that help you live as a joyful disciple?
How do you feel about the shepherd leaving the ninety-nine in the wilderness to search for the one lost sheep? What is the deeper wisdom this part of the parable suggests?
Too often comparison breeds jealousy or feelings of superiority. How does the Spirit of Christ counter this tendency?
Both Audio as well as Video Recordings are available below.
Audio Recordings
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