Welcome in the precious name of Jesus!
Now for something totally different!
In last week’s Gospel reading Peter makes an amazing confession of faith when he correctly identifies Jesus as God’s Son and our Messiah. Peter, however, is still struggling to know what that means for Jesus and for us as His followers. We do not always see things the same way God does! Peter’s focus was different than Jesus’.
An example would be how we see and respond to evil. Jesus talks about His approaching suffering and death in our place as God’s solution to sin and evil in our world. Peter wants none of that. Jesus says the cross “is necessary” and tells us that to follow Him we need to “deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him.” Paul’s words in Romans 12 shows what that means—how to live as a Christian in this fallen world. The bottom line is do not let fear or hatred control you. Be generous and hospitable! Do good! Overcome evil with good! It is time for something totally different!
NOTE ON OFFERINGS: Our volunteers will deposit your checks twice a month. They are not able to do so every week. Please know that your check will be deposited when they are able to come in, count the offering and go to the bank. Thank you for your continued tithes and offerings. Thank you for your continued prayers for our congregation, God’s people around the world, and our world!
Thank you to Dave Thomas for reading our Psalm.
Pray for those impacted by Hurricane Laura. Pray for those who do not have proper food and shelter or employment. Pray for healthy and honest discourse and dialog in our political process, and for fair elections this November.
Prayers also continue for Walt’s mother, Shirley, Mary’s daughter, Joni, Ann and Norm’s daughter Linda, Suma’s mother, Vasanthi Mulifil and Suma’s brother, Alwyn who is caring for their mother in India.
Call, write and connect with each other. Pray for one another.
God grant you encouragement, hope and joy through our worship together!
Pastor Bruce
“The Heart of Worship”
When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that’s of worth
That will bless Your heart
I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart
I’m coming back
To the heart of worship
And it’s all about You
All about You Jesus
I’m sorry Lord
For the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You
All about You Jesus
King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I’m weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Ev’ry single breath
I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart
I’m coming back
To the heart of worship
And it’s all about You
All about You Jesus
I’m sorry Lord
For the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You
All about You Jesus
CCLI Song No. 2296522 © 1999 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Matt Redman For use solely with the SongSelect Terms of Use. All rights Reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License No. 2503619
Psalm 26
read by David Thomas
1Give judgment for me, O Lord, for I have lived with integrity;
I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered.
2Test me, O Lord, and try me;
examine my heart and my mind.
3For Your steadfast love is before my eyes;
I have walked faithfully with You.
4I have not sat with the worthless,
nor do I consort with the deceitful.
5I have hated the company of evildoers;
I will not sit down with the wicked.
6I will wash my hands in innocence, O Lord,
that I may go in procession round Your altar,
7singing aloud a song of thanksgiving
and recounting all Your wonderful deeds.
8Lord, I love the house in which You dwell
and the place where Your glory abides.
Romans 12:9-21
Read by Pastor Bruce
9Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Matthew 16:21-28
(read by Pastor Bruce)
21From that time on, [after Peter confessed that Jesus was the Messiah,] Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” 23But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
24Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
27“For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. 28Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Summons
Words: John L. Bell & Graham Maule, copyright © 1987 Wild Goose Resource Group/ WGRG, Iona Community, Glasgow G2 3DH, Scotland. Melody: ‘Kelvingrove’, Scots traditional. Reproduced by permission. Websites: wgrg.co.uk & holycity-glasgow.co.uk