THE SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER May 8, 2016 Theme of the Day: Often we become obsessed with this question, What will people think? But the Bible says that s a trap. There is a better way to live. It s time to overcome our fear of rejection. WELCOME 10:45a Morning Is Broken Flute Choir INVOCATION AND CALL TO WORSHIP (Based upon Psalm 27:1 3) L: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. L: The LORD is my light and my salvation. C: Whom shall I fear? L: The LORD is the stronghold of my life. C: Of whom shall I be afraid? L: Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear. C: Though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. L: The LORD is my light and my salvation. C: Whom shall I fear? HYMN Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds 465 (stanzas 1-3) CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION P: Proverbs 29:25 says, The fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. Heavenly Father, forgive us for our propensity to fear people and love their praises more than we fear you and love your Word. C: We give in to peer pressure. P: We give in to the demands of others. C: We seldom stand up for the truth. P: We are frequently overbooked because we can t say no. C: We rarely tell anyone about Jesus. ALL: Forgive us Lord, and cleanse us from our sin. P: Jesus, the stone the builders rejected, has become the chief cornerstone. He was dead, and now is alive forevermore! The LORD has done this and it is marvelous in our eyes! In Christ s name you are washed in his cleansing blood, raised to new life and filled with the Holy Spirit. The LORD is my light and my salvation. C: Whom shall I fear? 2
RESPONSE Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds 465 (stanza 4) PRAYER OF THE DAY P: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. P: Let us pray. Father in heaven, because you long for us to live free of fear, enliven us with your truth; for the truth of your Word sets us free, increases our faith and sets our feet firmly on the new path of life; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. CHILDREN S MESSAGE CHILDREN S CHURCH 10:45a Led by Liz Collins Children age 3 through Kindergarten are excused following the Children s Message for supervised Children s Church in the conference room. They will return during the offering. EIGHTH GRADE CONFIRMATION TESTIMONIES 8:00a Austin Snider, whose confirmation verse is Luke 1:50 L.J. Chantelois, whose confirmation verse is Psalm 143:10 10:45a Celebration of our High School Graduates HYMN 10:45a Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow 805 TODAY S SCRIPTURE LESSONS REFLECT THE THEME OF OVERCOMING THE FEAR OF REJECTION FIRST LESSON ACTS 4:1-12 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to 3
question them: By what power or what name did you do this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. EPISTLE READING 1 JOHN 4:18-21 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. ANTHEM On Eagles Wings Flute Choir GOSPEL JOHN 15:18-26 If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: They hated me without reason. When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father he will testify about me. APOSTLES CREED 8:00a PAGE 159 NICENE CREED 10:45a PAGE 158 4
SERMON NOTES The Sixth Part in the Series: Stop Running Scared The Fear of Rejection (Proverbs 29:25) The fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. (Proverbs 29:25) Then Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned. I violated the LORD s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them. (1 Samuel 15:24) Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God. (John 12:42 43) How to Overcome the Fear of Rejection Put God in Place The LORD is my light. (Psalm 27:1) When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, I am the light of the world. (John 8:12) The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5) 5
Put People in Place Who are you that you fear mortal men, the sons of men, who are but grass. (Isaiah 51:12) Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10) Put Myself in the Place For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, Abba, Father. (Romans 8:15; cf. Mark 14:36; Galatians 4:6). You will know the truth and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32) For next week: read Acts 2:1 24 and answer these questions: 1. Compare the disciples before and after Pentecost. What changed them? 2. What would you have thought about the disciples, had you been in Jerusalem on that first Pentecost? 3. From Acts 2:1 24, make a list of what the Holy Spirit does and what he is like. What impresses you the most? What do you need the most? HYMN Good Christian Friends, Rejoice and Sing 475 ANNOUNCEMENTS OUR OFFERINGS Members and Guests, please sign the Who s Who in the Pew in the rack near the center aisle and pass it to the person next to you. OFFERTORY 10:45a Amazing Grace Flute Choir 6
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH L: O Lord our God, you know us better than we know ourselves. As we come before you now, we share our deep needs, for we are all lost without your grace. C: Without your grace. L: We put you in last place. C: We put people in first place. L: And we become tossed to and fro by the opinions and words of others. C: Then we lose our place in your grand design. L: Search us, O God, and know our hearts, give us true repentance. Forgive all our sins. Transform us by your Holy Spirit to live for you each day. + Additional Prayers + L: Taught by our Lord, and trusting in his promises, we are bold to pray... LORD S PRAYER The 8:00a service concludes on page 9 with the Benediction. THE CELEBRATION OF THE LORD S SUPPER 10:45a OUR COMMUNION PRACTICE The Lord s Supper is celebrated at this congregation in the confession and glad confidence that, as he says, our Lord gives into our mouths not only bread and wine but his true body and blood to eat and to drink for the forgiveness of sins and to strengthen our union with him and with one another (Matthew 26:26-28). Our Lord invites to his table those who have been baptized, repent of all sin, and set aside any refusal to forgive and love as he forgives and loves us, that they may show forth his death until he comes (1 Corinthians 11:26). Because those who eat and drink our Lord s body and blood unworthily do so to their great harm (1 Corinthians 11:28-30) and because Holy Communion is a confession of the faith which is confessed at this altar, any who are not yet instructed, in doubt, or who hold a confession differing from that of this congregation and The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and yet desire to receive the sacrament, are asked first to speak with the pastor. If you need communion delivered to you, please notify an usher or elder before the service begins. 7
Gluten free communion wafers are available by raising your index finger as Christ s body is distributed, signaling the elder that you wish to receive a prewrapped gluten free wafer. The wrapping can be placed in the box at the end of the first pew with the individual cups. Individual cups, should be held until the chalice has passed. Non-alcoholic wine is available in the tinted cups. If you have some other allergy or need, please contact the church office so special arrangements can be made. Children or adults who have not yet been confirmed are invited to come forward for a blessing. As you do so please cross yourselves by placing your arms over your chest. PREFACE/PROPER PREFACE P: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. P: Lift up your hearts. C: We lift them to the Lord. P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C: It is right to give him thanks and praise. SANCTUS (Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee) Heav nly hosts proclaim your glory, holy, holy, holy Lord. All on earth repeat the story, God of hosts, by all adored. Blest is he who comes, victorious, in the name of God the King! Our hosannas, glad and glorious, to the Lord of all we sing! WORDS OF INSTITUTION THE PEACE OF THE LORD L: The peace of the Lord be with you always. C: And also with you. Amen. AGNUS DEI (O Sons and Daughters) Jesus the sacrifice he brings, He is the Lamb, and yet our King We will rejoice and gladly sing, Have mercy on us, Have mercy on us, Have mercy, Lord. DISTRIBUTION HYMNS The Strife Is O er, the Battle Done 464 Alleluia, Alleluia! Hearts to Heaven 477 O Worship the King 804 This Joyful Eastertide 482 8
POST-COMMUNION CANTICLE (I Know that My Redeemer Lives) Oh, thank the Lord, whose goodness sure And steadfast love fore er endure! Our eyes have seen, our ears have heard And we have tasted of his Word! Glory to God the Father, Son And Holy Spirit, Three in One! Oh, thank the Lord, whose goodness sure And steadfast love fore er endure! BENEDICTION (Based upon John 20:19 21) L: On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace be with you! C: Then he said, As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. L: Christ sends us too, to live without fear and with a robust faith, in the name of our God. C: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. ALL: Amen. HYMN Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing 924 Silent Prayer: Dear Savior, empower me to put you in first place, others in their place and myself in the proper place. Then I ll be free at last! Amen. 9