Christmas Eve Service Choir “O Holy Night” Announcements: ADVENT: The Bell Family CALL TO WORSHIP: O what a great darkness that sin had left us in O how we longed to once again know the light Then in an instant everything changed. On that night, lying in a manger was the brightest light that ever shone. Wrapped in swaddling clothes laid all of our hope and joy. Praise be to God that when we think of that baby in Bethlehem thousands of years ago, we see the hope of all God’s people made complete and all of God’s promises fulfilled. Let us worship our God who is worthy of every praise from generation to generation. INVOCATION *HYMN: “O Come, All Ye Faithful” # 133
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION: Lord Jesus Christ, at Your birth the angels gave glory to God in the highest heaven and offered peace on earth to all humankind. We struggle to follow the heavenly host. All too often we focus on giving glory to ourselves, trying to impress our friends, coworkers, and family. We make no move to further peace in our polarized world; we forget that You have called us to be ambassadors of reconciliation. Forgive us for these and all our sins, and strengthen us to join the angels in singing “glory be to our God forever.” Time of silent prayer. Assurance of Pardon Response – Gloria Patri # 581 * Passing of the peace Scripture: Psalm 96 Diana Donaldson Sermon text: Luke 2: 1-20 *HYMN “Angels We Have Heard on High” # 113 *Apostles Creed (next to Prayer List) Presentation of tithes and offering Offertory *Doxology *Prayer of dedication The Lord’s Prayer *HYMN ”Silent Night, Holy Night” # 119 *Benediction *Postlude Blessed Christmas Eve
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Gathering Around the Word
Choir Announcements: ADVENT: The Fisher Family CALL TO WORSHIP: Praise be to the one who has built us up in the good news, Praise be to God for the message of Jesus the Christ The mystery of salvation is found in Him Thanks be to God for what is ours through faith Let us worship the only wise God who is glorified forever through Jesus Christ INVOCATION
*HYMN: “O Little Town of Bethlehem” # 121
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION: O eternal and gracious God, all year long we pursue power, money, and influence. Yet You come to us in the weakness of the manger. All season long we covet material gifts. Yet You alone offer us the only everlasting Son, Jesus Christ, God with us. We confess to You our pride, our faithlessness, and our reluctance to accept Your grace. Through the work of the Lord Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, forgive us, heal us, correct us, and transform us. Then enable us to be still, to know Your presence, and to praise You. We pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Time of silent prayer. Assurance of Pardon Response – Gloria Patri # 581 * Passing of the peace Children’s Chat Prayer of illumination Scripture: Luke 1: 67-79 Diana Donaldson Sermon text: Malachi 4 *HYMN “While We are Waiting, Come” # 92 *Apostles Creed (next to Prayer List) Presentation of tithes and offering Offertory *Doxology *Prayer of dedication Concerns and Celebrations Prayers of the people The Lord’s Prayer *HYMN ”Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” # 119 *Benediction *Postlude Blessed Christmas Eve Morning
Christmas Eve Services
5 pm at Taylorstown 7 pm at North Buffalo
Good morning!
We're so glad you decided to join us on Christmas Eve!
Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve.
When we meet in person, we share our joys and concerns with each other. If you have prayer requests to share, you can add them to the comments on this post. When you are ready, use the prayer below to get started. It was written by Ben Luker, an apprentice at the Calvin Institute for Christian Worship.
Almighty God, giver of strength, we know that you have made a way for those who believe. We remember your faithfulness. We rejoice in your presence as we seek wisdom in the many decisions we have to make. Give us thankful hearts in troubled times, hearts sustained by your Holy Spirit.
Open our eyes to the wonders of your love in Jesus Christ and turn us from that which distracts us from the good. In your One and Only Son we pray, Amen.
Today's lesson is on Luke 1:36-45, 56.
Lesson context
Church history and the great majority of scholars attribute the books of Luke and Acts to Luke, the apostle Paul’s traveling companion in the book of Acts. While on those missionary journeys, Luke — who is believed to have been the beloved physician referred to in Colossians 4 — may have interviewed people who knew Jesus personally. Among those people may have been Mary, the mother of Jesus, which could be how he could offer such detail about many encounters, even when only two people were involved. Such an encounter is recorded in our lesson for today. It is a meeting between Mary and her relative Elizabeth when each was miraculously pregnant. Elizabeth was a married woman beyond the age of childbirth, and Mary was an unmarried virgin. As the text opens, the birth of Elizabeth’s baby — the person who came to be known as John the Baptist — has been foretold (Luke 1:5-25) and the birth of Jesus to Mary has also been foretold (Luke 1:26-35). Both births were proclaimed through angelic visitations.
Acceptance of the message (verses 36-38)
Our lesson begins with the last part of a statement that the angel Gabriel makes to Mary. The angel is responding to Mary’s question about she will be a mother when she is a virgin. He replies that hers is not the only miraculous pregnancy but that her relative Elizabeth is also about to give birth. It is not certain exactly how Mary and Elizabeth are related, although most scholars believe they are probably cousins. However, the news about Elizabeth’s pregnancy would have strengthened Mary’s faith and confirmed the angel’s words about Mary’s pregnancy. The angel concludes with words that echo those of a divine visitor who spoke to Abraham about his own struggle with infertility and God’s miraculous intervention in Genesis 18: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” In Mary’s case, the angel says, “For no word from God will ever fail.” Both Mary and Elizabeth’s husband Zechariah had asked the angel how this would occur. Their questions differ, however, in that Zechariah was skeptical and wanted a sign, but Mary was simply curious. Ironically, Zechariah does receive a sign, although probably not one he had wanted. He is unable to speak until the his son is born. Following Gabriel’s response, Mary simply agrees and submits. Although it may not have been necessary for the plan to unfold, it shows that despite the peril, Mary was a willing and humble participant in what was about to happen.
Joyous meeting (verses 39-45 and 56)
Very soon after the angel’s visit, Mary leaves to visit Elizabeth. If Zechariah served as priest in the city of Hebron, Mary and Elizabeth live about 100 miles apart, which explains why Mary had not heard about Elizabeth’s pregnancy. Even if he served in another city, the two women lived at least 35 miles apart. Either way, this was no easy journey for Mary, but she probably needed first-hand confirmation of the angel’s message as well as fellowship with the only other person who could possibly understand what she was going through. She also leaves fairly quickly because it would be easier to travel during the early stages of her pregnancy. Elizabeth is probably about six months along in her pregnancy. As Mary arrives, she enters the home and greets Elizabeth. At that moment, Elizabeth’s baby not only moves but “leaped for joy,” according to Elizabeth. This foreshadows the role that John the Baptist will play later in life in pointing people to Jesus. At that moment, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and begins to speak. The Holy Spirit plays a key role in Luke’s gospel and in the book of Acts. Inspired by the Holy Spirit and without even hearing that Mary is pregnant at this point, Elizabeth cries out that Mary is blessed among women and that Mary’s child is blessed as well. Even though Jesus has not yet been born and has hardly begun to form in Mary’s womb, Elizabeth calls him her Lord. According to the lesson, for Elizabeth to say that shows her great faith that God is intervening in history through this child. It is also a divinely inspired statement of humility. Elizabeth’s statement of joy and affirmation runs from verse 42 to 45. She uses the term “blessed” three times — twice in verse 42 and once in verse 45. Even though they have been translated as the same word in English, they are actually two different words in Greek. In verse 42, the word is eulogēmenē (eὐλογημένη) and eulogēmenos (εὐλογημένος). It’s the word from which we get our English word for eulogy, which means to speak well of. So the sense in verse 42 is that people will speak well of both Mary and of the child she will bear. It is the same word that the angel Gabriel uses in verse 28 (not in today’s lesson) when he greets Mary and calls her blessed among women. However, in verse 45, the Greek word that we translate as blessed is actually makaria (μακαρία). It is a word that refers to a person who will enjoy “favorable circumstances.” Therefore when Elizabeth calls Mary blessed here, she is not simply stating that others will speak well of her. She is saying that God is using her in a wonderful way that will ultimately lead to her happiness. This is the same word that Jesus uses to refer to people who are blessed in the Beatitudes.
The Greater Blessed
Jackie married her high school sweetheart, received an offer for her dream job, bought her dream house, and became pregnant in the same year. Every conversation she had with her friends resulted in the response: “You are so blessed!” Here sister, Jasmine, did not hear the same pronouncement nearly as often. Jasmine remained single and made less than half as much money as Jackie. But Jasmine was a Christian and a member of a church, while sister Jackie was not. Which of these two women was the greater blessed? The answer to that depends on which lens you use in viewing their situations. Viewed strictly through a worldly leans, Jackie was the great blessed; but viewed through the heavenly lens of eternity, the greater blessed is Jasmine. Which lens do you use to view your own status and situation? Have you forgotten how blessed you are to believe in Christ? It’s easy to do in a world that casts God to the side and enthrones his gifts as gods themselves. But let Elizabeth’s pronouncements of blessing remind you of the true nature of blessedness. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months, which means that she left around the time Elizabeth gave birth. (Luke has already told us in 1:26) that Elizabeth was already six months pregnant when the angel visited Mary.) These three months would have undoubtedly been a time of mutual support and joy over what was happening to and through the women.
Conclusion
When it comes to belief and faith, I have often wondered whether I am more in the mold of Zechariah, with his doubts, than I am in the role of Mary, with her faith and acceptance. As I write this, there are multiple degrees in biblical studies hanging on my office wall, and I have 20 years of teaching experience at a Bible college under my belt. As a seasoned priest, Zechariah was similarly well-educated in the things of God. You would expect him to have the greater faith. But the greater faith is found with Mary. Now I genuinely believe my education is a blessing and helps my faith. Yet there are times when I wonder whether my education distracts me from having faith like Mary’s. Perhaps we trust in our learning and understanding to figure things out rather than trusting God, and in so doing violate Proverbs 3:6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Mary wasn’t as formally educated as the learned priest. Yet her belief was genuine. What Mary was asked to accept was not an easy thing, and God understood this. In encouraging Mary’s faith, the angel pointed her both backward to the story of Abraham and Sarah and forward to what was happening to Elizabeth. God may call you to a role similar to that of the angel as you point another person backward to a champion of faith forward to an example of how God is now working. The joy experienced by John the Baptist and Elizabeth resulted from Mary’s faith, at least in part. The ripple effect of this joy is also seen in passages such as Matthew 2:10 and Luke 2:10, 21-38. That ripple effect reaches us here in the twenty-first century — or at least it should!
Prayer
Lord, thank you for the example of Mary’s trusting belief. Show us how Mary’s example can inform our own faith. Help us move ever more toward belief and faith! Thank you for the encouragement of your faithful people of the past as recorded in your Word. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Questions for discussion
Benediction
Today's benediction is from the New International Version.
Next week's lesson is on Matthew 2:1-12.
Gathering Around the Word
Prelude: Choir “Great is Thy Faithfulness” Announcements: ADVENT: The Huffman Family CALL TO WORSHIP: Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed. His compassion never fails. They are new every morning! Great is His faithfulness! The Lord is my portion. The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him. Let us worship our good, faithful, and compassionate God. INVOCATION
*HYMN: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” # 88
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION: Father, we never truly understand the depth of our sin. We think our mistakes are momentary slip ups and forget that sin is at the center of who we are. We turn against You all throughout our lives. And yet when things fall apart or we go through the results of Your judgment we often question Your character instead of ours. Forgive us for thinking too lightly of our sin. Forgive us for the ways we turn against You in thought, word, and deed. And teach us to rely on Your love and mercy as the source of our forgiveness. Time of silent prayer. Assurance of Pardon Response – Gloria Patri # 581 * Passing of the peace Children’s Chat Prayer of illumination Scripture: Luke 1: 46-55 Mary Esselstyn Sermon text: Lamentations 3: 1-33 *HYMN “Away in the Manger” # 114 *Apostles Creed (next to Prayer List) Presentation of tithes and offering Offertory *Doxology *Prayer of dedication Concerns and Celebrations Prayers of the people The Lord’s Prayer *HYMN ”Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” # 611 *Benediction *Postlude Go! Have a wonderful Sunday
BIRTHDAYS Merranda Miller Young, Kaitlin Reese, Debbie Durila
Remember our food collection. And Jesus said, "You give them something to eat." Please let Betty Fisher know of anyone within the community that may be in need at this time. Thanksgiving Eve Service is this Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
Continuing Prayer List
Chuck Dicks, Frank Huffman, Tom Westfall, Sandy Stone, Sarah Wilson, Carl Weber, Jimmy Svetz, Ricci Amos, Haley Diedier Bedillion, Fred Wilkinson, Diane Anderson, Helen Provenzano, Donna West, Judy Donaldson, Marlene McFeely, Sue Gregg, Wendy Willard, Marley Smith, Kirkland Cipoletti, Ellen Morris, Dave Henderson, Ed Horne, Doris Ann Rowe, Hunter Beck, Karen Eisiminger, Tim Knabensue, Helen Bury, Glenn “Mikey” Hardin, Suzy Smith, Richard Wagner, Steven Shuba, Frank Baker, Carol Pierce, Chuck Harton, Jean and Ron Westfall, Doug Ward, Cheryl Hardway
Good morning!
We're so glad you chose to join us today!
When we meet together on Sunday mornings, we take time to share any joys or concerns we have. If you have a prayer request, please add it to the comments on this post. When you are ready, use the Catholic prayer for healing below (source) to get started.
Lord Jesus, heal me. Heal in me whatever you see needs healing. Heal me of whatever might separate me from you. Heal my memory, heal my heart, heal my emotions, heal my spirits, heal my soul. Lay your hands upon me and Heal me through your love for me. Amen
Today's lesson is on Luke 14:1-6.
Loving God by Loving the Least
Our book opens with this story. As attendees at the memorial service for Dorthy Day (1897-1980) listened to the sermon they were reminded of the following quote from her writing: “You love God just as much as the one you love least.” This quote was her way of paraphrasing Jesus' commands in Luke 10:25-37 to love God and show love and mercy to others. The minister giving the sermon went on to describe how this quote anchored Dorothy's like and work. Demonstrations of mercy, love and justice have been the tenets of the Catholic Workers Movement, established by Dorothy and others in the 1930's. The movement consist of over 200 communities (houses) in 14 countries. Each house works to show hospitality and mercy to the most vulnerable members of their city. This work is done through their feeding of the hungry, tending to the sick, and providing stable housing for the unhoused. God desires that his people love him and love their neighbors. People can demonstrate such love toward others through acts of mercy. In doing so, God's people follow Jesus' command to “be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). This lesson's Scriptures reveals how Jesus responded to a group of people who wanted to add boundaries and limitations to acts of mercy. This lesson depicts the third occasion in Luke's Gospel that Jesus shared a meal with a Pharisee. All three interactions share a common pattern of events. First, a Pharisee invited Jesus to join the meal. Second, a tense moment between Jesus and the host led to a conversation regarding issues of religious observances. Third, Jesus used the opportunity to instruct those in attendance on issues regarding how to follow God. In doing so, Jesus taught his fellow diners to act mercifully in their dealings with other people. The issue of doing work on the Sabbath is the primary concern in this lesson. The Jewish Sabbath was established based on the day that God rested after six days of creation. As a result, people were commanded to ceased work on the Sabbath. Such requirements regarding that day were a sign of holiness between God and his people. As the ancient Israelites left Egypt, they were commanded to take certain steps to prepare for Sabbath observance. Later, as the people entered the promised land, the Law of Moses provided further descriptions regarding proper observance of the Sabbath. Defiance of these commands brought harsh consequences to the people. The Israelites understood the Sabbath was a delight and day for worship. Even psalms were to be sung on that day. By the first century AD, certain expectations regarding proper adherence of the Sabbath had been established by the Jewish religious leaders. In the time between the testaments, an oral tradition later known as Mishna, (rabbinic law) attempted to define the rules regarding proper Sabbath observance. These included nuance definitions of work, as well as complex regulations regarding what was allowed and disallowed on the Sabbath. Such intricacies made it challenging for most first century Jews to accurately interpret how they should observe the Sabbath. Jesus never disputed the importance of the Sabbath. His high regard for it can be seen in his habit of teaching in the synagogues on the Sabbath. Further, he was willing to use the day to show mercy toward suffering people. As “Lord.. of the Sabbath”, Jesus demonstrated the true intent of the Sabbath: to remind God's people of his mercy. The day was not to be a religious burden or an excuse to limit work of love and mercy.
Luke 14: 1-6
Because Jesus was considered a rabbi by at least one member of the Pharisees, Nicodemus, the group likely deemed him to be an appropriate guest for a meal. They could discuss the law and its associated tradition and commentary. As a Pharisee, the host likely enjoyed some degree of wealth and probably held in high regard as a teacher of the law. The Pharisees who assembled for this meal treated Jesus with suspicion. They watched Jesus in order to find fault with him. In front of Jesus was a man who suffered abnormal swelling. This might have been caused by an underlying issue regarding the heart, kidney or liver. Today we would have treated this with diuretics, but no such treatment was available then. The man would have continued to suffer and would have depended on the charity of others to meet his basic needs. Jesus asked, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?' This question concerned the heart of the Law of Moses. The law was never intended to burden the people. And Jesus never abolished the Law of Moses. Instead, he wanted his audience to consider the principles of goodness and righteousness belonging to the Law of Moses. To heal on the Sabbath violated the Pharisees' strict reading of the law regarding what was acceptable on that day. God does not desire for humans to limit works of mercy, either regarding the timing or the recipient of those works. When the Pharisees remained silent, Jesus healed the man. Then he asked them, “If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” The Law of Moses required that people help lost or injured livestock of neighbors and enemies alike. An attitude of mercy, even to livestock, was at the heart of these commands. Without assistance, the stranded animal was at risk of suffering injury or facing harm from predators. Jesus expected that all of the guests at the meal would agree that showing mercy to an animal even on the Sabbath made sense. In that case, how much more legitimate was showing mercy to people on the Sabbath? Possible endangerment of a child would also be an appropriate and necessary reason for a person to act on the Sabbath. If a person showed effort to save livestock on the Sabbath, then that person would surely show more effort to save a child. Jesus could have waited until the next day to heal the man. However, the opportunity for Jesus to show mercy presented itself on the Sabbath. The Sabbath served human well-being, not the other way around. For the second time during the meal, the Pharisees were left speechless. The silence of the Pharisees did not end the meal. Instead, Jesus used their silence as an opportunity to question them and teach them. (Luke 14: 7-24, Parable of the banquet)
Conclusion
The emphasis of this story is not on the ailing man. Instead, this story at its heart is a caution against focusing on religious practices at the expense of mercy. Jesus was not trying to nullify the Pharisees' practice of observing Sabbath. Not only did the Sabbath require a pause on work, but it also provided time for people to consider how they could show mercy to others. Further, the question of whether or not the person could heal on the Sabbath was an obscure point. Most people are unable to heal another person on any day of the week. Only the one is the Lord of the Sabbath has the ability to heal on the Sabbath. Sometimes we unintentionally limit our expectations of what God ought to do. What are some traditions we hold to that perpetuated this? God's work is not limited by human expectations. We are to trust God and his timing of his work. When we exercise faith by trusting him in this way, we commit to live of mercy, following the ways of our heavenly Father. Twentieth-century Jewish scholar Abraham Joshua Herschel (1907 – 1972) describes the Sabbath as being an expression of holiness based in time. Although Christians today are not required to observe the Jewish Sabbath, we can still apply similar principles. The idea of observing specific time in order to show mercy in sustained and tangible ways. Although we may sometimes ge t tunnel vision and focus on other parts of our busy lives, we must remember to keep mercy at the forefront of our minds, regardless of the situation.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, you have shown us great mercy, just as you have shown mercy to your people throughout history. We want to be people marked by lives of mercy. Heal us from spiritual ailments that causes us to act in unloving ways. Grant us deeper awareness of the needs of our neighbors so that we might show love and mercy. Help us be merciful, just as you are merciful. In the name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.
Questions for discussion
Benediction
This week's benediction is from the New International Version.
Next week's lesson will be on John 7:14-24.
Today's guest speaker is TJ Spruill.
BIRTHDAYS Carol Horne, Dana Wilson, Nora Beth Gill
ANNIVERSARIES John & Barb O'Hara, Dave & Susie Cummings SYMPATHY For the Lisa Hamilton family. We will surely miss you and your smile. Remember our food collection. And Jesus said, "You give them something to eat." Please let Betty Fisher know of anyone within the community that may be in need at this time. Missionary Meeting is Tuesday, September 12 at 9:30 am in the Social Hall of Church.
Continuing Prayer List
Chuck Dicks, Frank Huffman, Tom Westfall, Elaine Belcastro, Sandy Stone, Sarah Wilson, Carl Weber, Jimmy Svetz, Haley Diedier Bedillion, Fred Wilkinson, Ricci Amos, Tiffany Cipoletti, Diane Anderson, Tim Taylor, Suzy Smith, Helen Provenzano, Donna West , Judy Donaldson, Marlene McFeely, Chuck Harton,Wiley Myers, Keith McGill, Ron and Jean Westfall, Billie Wilson, Sue Gregg, Wendy Willard, Marley Smith, Kirkland Cipoletti, Ellen Morris, Mike Durila, Dave Henderson, Ed Horne, Dorothy Caffrey
Good morning!
We're so glad you chose to join us today!
When we meet in person, we share our joys and concerns with each other. If you have prayer requests to share, you can add them to the comments on this post. When you are ready, use this prayer to get started.
Heavenly Father, help us to be authentic Christians. Help us to set ourselves aside for a moment. In our lives, our thoughts and our prayers, help us to care deeply about what those around us are going through today, to think about the trauma, the pain and the grief others are experiencing and how we might lift their burden a bit through our words or actions. Help to us to think about times when our own words or actions might have added to others’ burdens or set a bad example. Forgive us, Lord, and help us to do better. Help us to live as Christians from the inside out. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.
Today's lesson is on Luke 11:37-44.
Introduction
After the creation of modern money, an inevitable invention followed: counterfeit money. For example, ancient counterfeiters minted coins made from metals that were less valuable than the authentic coins. The counterfeit coins were dipped in silver to mimic the real coins. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, fraudsters clipped the edges of authentic coins in order to extract bits of the precious metals. From those clippings, they would create a counterfeit coin. Contemporary money has undergone developments to limit counterfeiters. Many modern coins have grooved or milled edges to show that none of the valuable precious metals have been removed. These efforts, while preventing some counterfeiters, have not done away with the practice altogether. Profits await the successful counterfeiter. People sometimes “counterfeit” themselves by pretending to be someone they are not. Scandals arise when people say they believe or value one thing but act in a way that opposes that value. Jesus had no tolerance for hypocritical behavior, especially from the religious leaders of his day.
Lesson context
The Gospel of Luke, along with the book of Acts, makes up a two-volume work that describes Jesus’s life and teaching and how it continued in the early church after Jesus’s resurrection and ascension. Today’s scripture is part of a section in which Jesus teaches and heals while on his way to Jerusalem. In today’s lesson, Jesus shares a meal with a Pharisee. The Pharisees were the most pious among the Jewish religious leaders. They attempted to follow the Law of Moses faithfully. To help them do that, they established a set of traditions and rules for all aspects of life that would make it even more difficult to violate the Law. This was like a “fence” around the Law. However, their zeal for keeping these traditions sometimes kept them from seeing the purpose of the Law itself.
Two people (verses 37-41)
Jesus had been teaching the crowds along the way about wickedness and judgment. At this moment, a Pharisee comes up to him and invites him to eat with him. In Jesus’s time, it was a common practice to invite a teacher to a meal. It allowed the teacher to demonstrate his insight and wisdom in a more intimate setting. But sharing a meal together in Jesus’s time was also a sign of acceptance of the person with whom you ate. For this reason, when the teacher accepted the invitation, it brought a measure of honor to the host. That is also why people avoided extending dinner invitations to social outcasts. Hand-washing was one of the important rituals the Pharisees adhered to in a variety of situations, but especially before meals. In our passage for today, therefore, the Pharisee is surprised when Jesus does not wash his hands before the meal. It is clear from other passages that Jesus did not have any problems with washing itself. It seems, instead, that he did this intentionally, just to provoke a response that led to a teaching moment. When Jesus notices the Pharisee’s surprise, he talks about how the Pharisees make sure the outside of their cup and dish are clean, but they neglect the inside. It becomes clear that Jesus is not talking about literal tableware but about people, when he adds that “inside you are full of greed and wickedness.” In other words, he was saying, the Pharisees were concerned about external practices and appearances, but their attention should be on the inside — on their hearts and their minds. Jesus calls such Pharisees and people who think as they did foolish. He notes that God created human beings — both the external physical parts and our internal mental parts where character and affections are formed. We should not be concerned only about the outward part. We should be concerned about being the people God wants us to be on the inside. When that is our focus, acts of compassion and generosity will naturally flow from us.
Three woes (verses 42-44)
Next Jesus pronounces a series of “woes” upon the Pharisees and those who follow their example. The Hebrew prophets often used the term “woe” in the Old Testament to pronounce approaching pain and doom upon certain people. (See, for example, Amos 6.) The reason for the first woe is that the Pharisees paid diligent attention to relatively unimportant aspects of their faith while ignoring the most important aspects. Because the Law called for Jews to give a tithe of their goods, the Pharisees went as far as to give a tenth of herbs such as mint and rue, which often grew wild and would be difficult to estimate. However, when it came to seeking justice and loving God, they showed little concern. Such requirements should have been their greatest concern. The heart of the Law, as Jesus states elsewhere, is the command to love God (Deuteronomy 6:5 and Matthew 22:36-38) and to love others (Leviticus 19:18 and Matthew 22:39). God’s people observe the command to love God by loving others. Instead, Jesus says, the Pharisees were attempting to show their love for God with meticulous precision while completely ignoring the command to love others. What’s more, they took pride in their strict observances instead of living lives marked by mercy and justice. (Micah 6:8) That brings Jesus to the reason for his second “woe.” The Pharisees, he says, love public displays of importance. They love being seated in the most important seats of the synagogue and being greeted with respect in the marketplace. The problem, it seems, is that a major underlying reason for the Pharisees’s faith was to draw attention to themselves and not to show love for God or for others. The final “woe” is because of the example the Pharisees set for others. Because they were seen as leaders in the faith and as examples for others to follow, their misguided faith caused others to distort the faith as well. Jesus uses the analogy of people walking over an unmarked grave. Jewish people were deemed defiled and ritually unclean if they came in contact with a dead body. The Pharisees, Jesus is saying, were like unmarked graves which people walk over and thus become defiled without even knowing it. By example, they were promoting an idea that being a faithful Jew was only about adhering to ceremonial laws and not about caring for others. Those who saw them and followed their example might think they were giving pure and faithful lives. In fact, without realizing it, they were defiled by their lack of attention to the most important commandments, just as the Pharisees were.
Hypocritical behavior
Born into slavery in Edenton, North Carolina, Harriet Jacobs understood firsthand the horror of being controlled by other people. She suffered inhumane conditions as a slave. Her slave master sexually harassed her and, when she did not submit, he threatened to sell her children. Instead, she hid in a tiny crawl space under the roof of her grandmother’s house. For seven years she hid in the space so small that she could not stand up, until she managed to escape to the North, where she was united with her children and her brother. She detailed her experiences in her autobiography, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, which she wrote under the pseudonym Linda Brent. In the book, she questioned how the religious leaders of her day could ignore slavery or even use Scripture to justify it. She wondered whether they were blind or hypocrites. The Pharisees of Jesus’s day acted hypocritically. Although their public displays of observance to the Law portrayed them as devoted and faithful Jews, their actions toward others revealed hearts that cared only about themselves. They had failed to show mercy and justice. They had become prideful. They were a deadly influence on others. Hypocrisy is still an issue today. Where do hypocritical impulses arise in your heart?
Conclusion
In many ways, faults similar to those Jesus pointed out in the Pharisees can be found in people today. The Pharisees prioritized outward displays of holiness, while failing to do the important work of love, mercy, and justice. Pursuing counterfeit displays of holiness, while potentially easier than going after what God requires, leaves people as hypocrites. God wants his people to experience holiness in all aspects of their lives. Followers of Jesus must remember to honor the commands to love God, show justice, and demonstrate merciful love, above any other traditions. Only then will believers exercise a “pure” religion before God (James 1:27). A failure to do so indicates that one’s heart has not been transformed. Consider the following questions: Does your behavior lead you to love God more deeply? Does your behavior lead you to act justly or advocate for justice for others? If you can answer positively to both questions, then you are on the right track to loving God and your neighbor.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we desire to be holy people. Take away our need to impress others, and impress on us the image of your Son, Jesus Christ. Show us how we might be generous with the gifts you have given us so that we might love you and our neighbors. In the name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.
Questions for discussion
Benediction
This week's benediction is from the American Standard Version.
Next week's lesson is on Luke 14:1-6.
Today's guest speaker is Rev. Dave Mason.
Gathering Around the Word
Prelude Announcements Choir CALL TO WORSHIP Rise and greet the morning. Cast off your sleep and doubt. Arise, meet the risen Christ. Who comforts our grieving hearts, Who encourages our faltering steps, Who splinters us with laughter, Who wrinkles us with compassion, Who raises us to heaven, Who knows us as we shall be fully known. INVOCATION Rev. Mason
* HYMN “Alleluia! Sing to Jesus” # 260
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION (UNISON) Merciful Savior, although blind, we think we see. We are blind to Your presence among us in those who are poor and lonely. We have made invisible those who are in mental or emotional need. We look away from the refugee, the hungry, the homeless in the midst of overwhelming need. We convince ourselves that You came to save people just like us, and therefore, what concerns us must concern You. For our self-focus, Lord, we ask your forgiveness. For our lack of compassion and our complicity in the inequalities between peoples, forgive us. Open our eyes and our hearts to see the truth and turn us away from ourselves that we might desire and pursue your way of righteousness, justice, and peace. We thank You for Your mercy, O Christ. Amen. * Time of silent prayer *Assurance of Pardon *Response – Gloria Patri (Hymnal page 581) *Passing the Peace The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. And also, with you. CHILDREN’S CHAT Prayer for Illumination Scripture reading Psalm 116: 1-4, 12-19 Don Herschell Luke 24: 13 - 35 The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God! Sermon “Being Fully Known” *HYMN “Open My Eyes, That I May See” # 451 *Apostles Creed Presentation of our tithes and offering Offertory Doxology *Prayer of dedication Concerns and Celebrations Prayers of the People Rev. Mason The Lord’s Prayer *HYMN “Be Still, My Soul” #819 *Benediction Choir Postlude
Today's guest speaker is Rev. Renny Domske.
Prelude
ANNOUNCEMENTS Choir CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 29) Ascribe to the Lord, O mighty ones, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness. The voice of the Lord is over the waters; The God of glory thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful. The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning. The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; The Lord is enthroned as King forever. The Lord gives strength to His people; The Lord blesses His people with peace. INVOCATION
* HYMN “Rejoice, the Lord is King!” # 363
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION (UNISON) Almighty God, in raising Jesus from the grave, You shattered the power of sin and death. We confess that we remain captive to doubt and fear, bound by the ways that lead to death. We overlook the poor and the hungry and pass by those who mourn. We choose to walk in the selfish ways of this world. Forgive us, O God of Mercy, and help us to trust Your power to change our lives and make us new. Usher us into the joy of abundant life given in Jesus Christ, the risen Lord. * Time of silent prayer *Assurance of Pardon *Response – Gloria Patri (Hymnal page 581) *Passing the Peace The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. And also, with you. CHILDREN’S CHAT Prayer for Illumination Scripture reading Psalm 1 Debbie Durila Luke 24: 13 - 32 The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God! Sermon: “Hitchhiking With Jesus” *HYMN “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less” #353 *Apostles Creed Presentation of our tithes and offering Offertory *Doxology (Hymnal page 606) *Prayer of dedication Concerns and Celebrations Prayers of the People The Lord’s Prayer *HYMN “Lift High the Cross # 826 *Benediction Choir Postlude |
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