FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

FEBRUARY 11, 2007

>>> IT WAS WRITTEN I WAS GLAD WHEN THEY SAID TO ME LET US GO TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD.

GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME TO THE 10:45 WORSHIP SERVICE AT FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

IF YOU ARE VISITING WITH US, WE'RE SPECIALLY GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

IF YOU WILL NOTICE THE RED BOOK AT THE END OF YOUR PEW, TAKE IT AND SIGN IT, AND IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON ATTENDING THE FELLOWSHIP DINNER THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT, PLEASE SIGN IT SO WE CAN HAVE A RESERVATION.

NOW, LET'S US PREPARE OUR HEARTS AND MINDS AS WE ENTER THIS SEASON OF WORSHIP.

>>> GOOD MORNING.

BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR SERVICE TODAY, WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME ANNE WHO IS OUR SUBSTITUTE ORGANIST, SHE IS FILLING IN.

IN THE CHURCH NEW YEAR THIS IS CALL THE 6TH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.

IN THE SECULAR WORLD IT'S THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER SUPER BOWL.

I'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU TO FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH AND ASK YOU TO STAND AND SING OUR FIRST HYMN, 21, "LET THE WHOLE CREATION CRY."

[HYMN 21]

>>> YOU MAY BE SEATED.

IF THE CHILDREN WILL COME FORWARD FOR WIGGLE TIME.

CHRISTINE HAS WIGGLE TIME THIS MORNING.

>>> GOOD MORNING.

I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE THIS MORNING.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL I USED TO GO TO BIBLE SCHOOL AT THE CHURCH I BELONGED TO EVERY SUMMER.

AND WE DID SOMETHING THAT I'VE NEVER FORGOTTEN, WE WOULD ALL LINE UP OUTSIDE THE CHURCH AND WE WOULD MARCH IN.

AND EACH OF MY FRIENDS WOULD TAKE TURNS, ONE OF THEM WOULD CARRY THE AMERICAN FLAG, ONE WOULD CARRY THE CHRISTIAN FLAG WHICH IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PULPIT, YOU PROBABLY CAN'T SEE IT.

AND SOMEBODY WOULD CARRY THE BIBLE.

WE WOULD COME INTO THE CHURCH AND SAY THE PLEDGE TO THE FLAG, THE AMERICAN FLAG.

WE'D SAY THE PLEDGE TO THE CHRISTIAN FLAG AND THEN WE'D SAY A PLEDGE TO THE BIBLE.

IT GOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS:  I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE BIBLE, GOD'S HOLY WORD, A LAMP UNTO MY FEET, A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH, ITS WORD HAVE I HID IN MY HEART THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST GOD.

I LEARNED THAT WHEN I WAS PROBABLY A LOT OF YOUR AGES.

AND THAT IS A VERSE THAT COMES FROM THE BIBLE, THEY DIDN'T JUST MAKE IT UP.

THERE'S A VERSE IN THE BIBLE, PSALM 119, VERSE 11, SAYS I HAVE HID YOUR WORD IN MY HEART THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST YOU.

WELL, THAT'S A HARD VERSE TO UNDERSTAND.

AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT THIS MORNING.

THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE HEART BECAUSE WEDNESDAY IS VALENTINE'S DAY.

YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS TO HIDE SOMETHING, YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO HIDE SOMETHING?

I BET YOU HIDE THINGS ALL THE TIME, RIGHT?

WELL, IF I TOOK THIS BIBLE AND I HID IT BEHIND MY BACK, CAN YOU STILL SEE IT?

YEAH, LUKE CAN STILL SEE IT?

>> I CAN!

I CAN!

>> IF I TOOK THE BIBLE, IF I HAD A COAT ON AND HID IT UNDER MY COAT, COULD YOU SEE IT?

YES, IT WOULD BE BULKY.

>> BECAUSE THAT WOULD MAKE IT FATTER.

>> FATTER, YES, IT WOULD.

WELL, THE BIBLE VERSE SAYS HID IN YOUR HEART.

IF I PUT IT ON YOU, MAYBE IF I GOT A DOCTOR TO COME OPERATE ON YOU, LUKE, SEW IT IN THERE, WHAT DO YOU THINK? 

IT WON'T BE VERY GOOD TO HAVE A BOOK INSIDE YOU.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS VERSE MEANS.

WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT IF YOU READ THE BIBLE EVERY DAY, OR YOU COME TO SUNDAY SCHOOL, HEAR THE BIBLE STORIES, ONCE YOU HEAR IT SO MANY TIMES IT WILL GO FROM YOUR BRAIN TO YOUR HEART, IT WILL ALWAYS BE IN THERE.

I BET MANY OF YOU REMEMBER BIBLE STORIES YOU HEARD IN SUNDAY SCHOOL, MAYBE YOU HEARD IN CHURCH AND YOU HEARD THE PREACHER PREACH SOMETHING OR THE READER WHO WILL READ IN A MINUTE READ SOMETHING.

IF YOU HEAR IT EVERY DAY IT WILL BE LIKE MEMORY, YOU WILL KNOW IT BY HEART, MEMORY.

GOD DOESN'T MEAN TO TAKE THE BIBLE AND HAVE SOMEBODY STICK IT IN YOUR HEART, HE MEANS YOU TO READ THIS WORD EVERY DAY AND YOU WILL MEMORIZES IT AND KNOW IT BY HEART.

LET'S PRAY.

OKAY?

THANK YOU, GOD, FOR YOUR WORD, FOR THE BIBLE, HELP US TO BE ABLE TO READY EVERY DAY AND KEEP IT IN OUR HEART TO BE USED BY US FOR YOUR MINISTRY.

IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.

I HAVE A SUCKER FOR EACH OF YOU.

>>> THE SCRIPTURE READING TODAY IS PSALM 2, IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW ALONG IN THE PEW BIBLE, IT'S PAGE 465.

WHY DO THE NATIONS RAISE AND THE PEOPLE PLOT IN VAIN?

THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TAKE THEIR STAND AND THE RULERS GATHER TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS ANOINTED ONE.

LET US BREAK THEIR CHAINS.

THE ONE IN THE THRONE LAUGHS, THE LORD SCOFFS AT THEM.

THEN HE REBUTS THEM IN HIS ANGER, TERRIFIES THEM WITH HIS WRATH SAYING I HAVE INSTALLED MY KING ON ZION, MY HOLY HILL.

I WILL DECLARE THE DECREE OF THE LORD.

HE SAID YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BECOME YOUR FATHER.

ASK OF ME AND I WILL MAKE THE NATIONS YOUR INHERITANCE.

THE ENDS OF THE EARTH YOUR POSSESSIONS.

YOU WILL RULE THEM WITH AN IRON SCEPTER, YOU WILL DASH THEM IN PIECES LIKE POTTERY.

THEREFORE, LET THEM BE WARNED, SERVE THE LORD WITH FEAR, REJOICE WITH TREMBLING.

HIS WRATH CAN FLARE UP IN A MOMENT.

BLESSED ARE ALL WHO TAKE REFUGE IN HIM.

THE SECOND READING IS ROMANS 3 THROUGH 5, IN YOUR PEW BIBLE FOR BY THE GRACE GIVEN ME I SAY TO EVERY ONE OF YOU, DO NOT THINK OF YOURSELF MORE HIGHLY THAN YOU OUGHT, BUT RATHER THINK OF YOURSELF WITH SOMBER JUDGMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MEASURE OF FAITH, MEASURES OF GREAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU.

JUST AS EACH OF US HAS ONE BODY WITH MANY MEMBERS, AND THESE MEMBERS DO NOT ALL HAVE THE SAME FUNCTION, SO IN CHRIST WE WHO ARE MANY FORM ONE BODY AND EACH MEMBER BELONGS TO ALL THE OTHERS.

THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS

>> THANKS BE TO GOD.

>> IN YOUR SERVICE BULLETIN YOU HAVE A LITTLE INSERT THAT HAS A HYMN PUBLISHED ON THE BACK SIDE.

THIS WILL BE OUR HYMN OF THANKSGIVING, WE WILL BE SINGING IT TWICE.

STAND, PLEASE.

[SINGING]

>> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING.

THAT WASN'T VERY GOOD.

GOOD MORNING!

NICE.

ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT ANYONE NEEDS TO MAKE THIS MORNING?

ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS?

MOGGIE?

>> I'M GOING TO CALL A BOARD MEETING FOR NEXT SUNDAY IN ORDER FOR ALAN DERTHICK TO PRESENT TO US THE PROPOSED NEW ENTRANCE.

THAT MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE IN HERE RIGHT AFTER THE SERVICE, ANYONE INTERESTED FEEL FREE TO JOIN THE BOARD MEETINGS AT THE MEETING, IT IS AN OPEN MEETING.

>> THANK YOU.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS?

ELDERS, THERE WILL BE AN ELDERS MEETING TOMORROW AT 5:30.

ANY OTHERS?

I SAW A HAND IN THE BACK.

>> ACTUALLY WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE AUDIO, THERE'S SOME WEIRD FEEDBACK, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HEAR YOU, THAT'S WHAT WE WERE SAYING.

>> BOARD MEETING, CONSIDERING THE RENDERING FOR THE NEW ENTRANCE NEXT SUNDAY IN THE SANCTUARY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING WORSHIP.

ELDER MEETING 5:30 TOMORROW.

ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS?

JOYS, ARE THERE ANY JOYS ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THIS MORNING?

RUBY?

>> OUR FAMILY IS JOYFUL BECAUSE LEROY GOT A REAL GOOD REPORT, HE DOES NOT HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DOCTOR FOR A YEAR.

THANK YOU.

>> ANY OTHER JOYS?

ANYONE?

CONCERNS, PEOPLE WE SHOULD BE PRAYING FOR?

>> I WANT YOU TO BE IN PRAYER FOR CAROL.

THIS WEEK CAROL LOST HER FAVORITE AUNT, JO SMITH, SHE PASSED AWAY FROM CANCER.

WE WERE TOLD HER STEPBROTHER JOHN WILLIAMS DIED SUDDENLY FROM APPARENT HEART FAILURES, JOHN WILLIAMS.

HE LEAVES JULIE, TWO BOYS, PLEASE BE IN PRAYER FOR THE WILLIAMS FAMILY AS WELL AS FOR CAROL'S STEP FAMILY.

CAROL LOST A VERY CLOSE FRIEND BETTY MCDANIEL PASSED AWAY THIS WEEK, LONG TIME EDUCATOR IN THIS COMMUNITY.

SHE WAS CAROL'S CLOSE FRIEND AND SURROGATE MOM

>> I TALKED TO SHARI WHO ASKED YOU PRAY FOR HER FATHER IN VALDOSTA, GEORGIA, HE FELL AND BROKE HIS HIP.

HE WENT THROUGH SURGERY TO REPAIR THE HIP AND WILL BE IN REHAB, BUT SHE WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR PRAYERS FOR HER FATHER.

>> ANY OTHERS?

JIM?

>> LET'S PRAY FOR REYNOLDS, THEY WENT TO THE DOCTOR IN HOUSTON AND HE WAS TOLD BY THE DOCTORS THERE WAS NOTHING MORE THAT HE COULD DO FOR HIM.

HE'S BACK HOME NOW.

>> OTHERS?

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S BOW OUR HEAD FOR A MOMENT IN SILENT REFLECTION AS WE GO TO THE LORD IN PRAYER.

LET US PRAY.

GRACIOUS GOD, WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS DAY SEARCHING.

WE COME LOOKING FOR YOUR PRESENCE.

WE COME BECAUSE WE KNOW YOU CARE, WE KNOW THAT YOU LISTEN, WE KNOW THAT YOU TRANSFORM.

HELP US TO LISTEN TO YOU.

OPEN OUR HEARTS SO THAT YOUR WISDOM MIGHT BE GRAFTED ONTO US.

OPEN OUR MINDS SO THAT WE MIGHT DESIRE TO BE NEW PEOPLE EACH AND EVERY DAY.

WE COME BECAUSE WE'RE BURDENED AND WE NEED YOU TO LIFT THOSE BURDENS.

MANY OF US HAVE SO MUCH CHAOS IN OUR LIVES.

WE NEED TO EXPERIENCE YOUR PEACE.

MANY TIMES WE'RE LOST.

WE NEED TO BE REMINDED THAT YOU HAVE FOUND US.

AND THAT WE ARE SAFE.

SOMETIMES WE ARE FILLED WITH PAIN.

WE NEED YOU TO HELP US WORK THROUGH THAT.

YOU HAVE TOLD US OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO NOT BE AFRAID.

THAT WHATEVER COMES OUR WAY YOU ARE WITH US.

SO, WHEREVER OUR LIVES LEAD US, REMIND US THAT YOU ARE WITH US.

GUIDING, COMFORTING, SHARING.

HELP US TO BE UNAFRAID TO BE YOUR PEOPLE.

EACH AND EVERY DAY.

FILL US WITH KINDNESS FOR EACH OTHER AND TOWARDS STRANGERS, FILL US WITH COMPASSION FOR EACH OTHER AND STRANGERS.

FILL US WITH MERCY FOR EACH OTHER AND STRANGERS, BECAUSE YOU REMIND US THAT EVERY ONE IS YOUR CREATION.

NO ONE IS OUTSIDE OF YOUR LOVE.

HELP US TO LIVE, SO AS WE CONTINUE TO WORSHIP, INVADE US AND TRANSFORM US INTO THE LIKENESS OF YOUR SON JESUS CHRIST WHO TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES AND TEACHES US TO PRAY BOLDLY, OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME, THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD, AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US.

AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL, FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, AND THE POWER, AND THE GLORY FOREVER.

AMEN.

NOW IS OUR TIME OF OFFERING, AS WE REFLECT IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN OUR LIVES AND ALL THAT GOD DOES FOR US AND HOW GOD IS WITH US THROUGH EVERY TRIAL, LET US IN THANKSGIVING GIVE BACK.

PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW, PRAISE HIM ALL CREATURES, HERE BELOW, PRAISE HIM ABOVE, YE HEAVENLY HOST, PRAISE FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST, AMEN.

[CHOIR SINGING] OH, SISTERS AIN'T TOO HAPPY, OH, SISTERS AIN'T TOO HAPPY, YE FOLLOWERS OF THE LAMB.

OH, SISTERS AIN'T TOO HAPPY, OH, SISTERS AIN'T TOO HAPPY, YE FOLLOWERS OF THE LAMB.

OH, SING, FOLLOWERS OF EMMANUEL, SING, FOLLOWERS OF THE LAMB.

I'M GLAD I AM A CHRISTIAN, I'M GLAD I AM A CHRISTIAN, I'M GLAD I AM A CHRISTIAN YE FOLLOWERS OF THE LAMB.

I'M GLAD, I'M GLAD I AM A CHRISTIAN, I'M GLAD, I'M GLAD YE FOLLOWERS OF THE LAMB.

SING, FOLLOWERS OF EMMANUEL, SING YE FOLLOWERS OF THE LAMB.

SING A SONG O FOLLOWERS OF EMMANUEL.

SING YE FOLLOWERS OF THE LAMB.

SING YE FOLLOWERS OF THE LAMB.

BRETHREN AIN'T TOO HAPPY, BRETHREN AIN'T TOO HAPPY, SISTERS AIN'T TOO HAPPY, SISTERS AIN'T TOO HAPPY, YE FOLLOWERS OF THE LAMB.

SING A SONG FOLLOWERS OF EMMANUEL, SING A SONG YE FOLLOWERS OF THE LAMB.

BRETHREN AIN'T TOO HAPPY, BRETHREN AIN'T TOO HAPPY, HAPPY YE FOLLOWERS OF THE LAMB!

[APPLAUSE]

>>> LET US PRAY.

FOR YOU, O, GOD, WE GIVE YOU THANKS.

FOR THE POWER OF YOUR WORD, FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE WORD OF JESUS.

WHOSE NAME WE PRAY IN.

AMEN.

IF I ASKED YOU WHO IS IN CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

WOULD YOU SAY YOU?

OR WOULD SOME OF YOU SAY YOUR WIFE?

OR YOUR HUSBAND?

OR YOUR MOTHER OR YOUR FATHER OR YOUR BOSS?

WHO IS IN CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE?

IT'S AN IMPORTANT QUESTION THAT THE CHURCH ASKS, WHO IS IN CHARGE OF OUR LIVES?

THE ELDERS, DEACONS, TRUSTEES, COMMITTEES, BOARD, THE CABINET?

IN SOME RARE PLACES, THE PASTOR.

WHO IS IT?

WHO IS IN CHARGE OF OUR LIVES?

USUALLY CHRIST COMES LAST WHEN WE ASK THAT QUESTION.

AND THE PROBLEM WITH CHRIST BEING LAST IS THAT IT MOST LIKELY REFLECTS WHO IS IN CHARGE OF OUR FAITH JOURNEY.

WHAT IF JESUS FOLLOWED YOU AROUND FOR A DAY?

WHAT IF JESUS CAME TO YOUR MEETINGS THAT YOU HAD AT WORK?

WOULD YOU ASK FOR HIS GUIDANCE OR WISDOM?

WOULD YOU LISTEN TO SEE WHAT JESUS WOULD HAVE TO SAY TO YOU?

FOR YOU?

THE EARLY DISCIPLES OF JESUS THOUGHT THEMSELVES INTIMATELY CONNECTED WITH CHRIST AS A BODY IS CONNECTED TO ITS HEAD, SO THE APOSTLE PAUL, LEADER OF THE ROMAN CHURCH WRITES TO THE ROMANS, AND SHARES WITH THEM WHO SHOULD BE IN CHARGE, PARTICULARLY IN THE 12TH CHAPTER OF THE TEXT OF ROMANS.

JESUS IS THE HEAD OF THE BODY, US.

THE PEOPLE OF CHRIST.

THE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE.

AND BELIEVED.

THAT JESUS, THAT HEAD MAKES THE DECISIONS.

THIS JESUS CALLED HIS FOLLOWERS TO LIVE RADICAL LIVES OF PEACE MAKING, COURAGEOUS NONVIOLENCE, LIMITLESS FORGIVENESS AND OTHER CENTERS OF LOVE.

BUT THROUGHOUT HISTORY THE INSTITUTIONAL CHURCH HAS SEVERED ITSELF FROM ITS HEAD AND IN SOME CASES HAS BECOME THE MOST VIOLENT OF RELIGIONS IN HISTORY.

IN 1095 POPE IRVING SAID TO MARCH.

THE POPE SAID CURSED BE THE PERSON WHO HOLDS BACK HIS SWORD FROM SHEDDING BLOOD.

WHEN THESE CHRISTIANS TOOK THE CITY THEY BEHEADED THE MUSLIMS.

ONE HISTORIAN, ONE OBSERVER WROTE IT WAS A JUST AND SPLENDID JUDGMENT OF GOD THAT THIS PLACE SHOULD BE FILLED WITH THE BLOOD OF UNBELIEVERS WHEN IT HAD SUFFERED SO LONG.

IN 1200 WE HAVE THE BEGINNING OF THE INQUISITION.

PRIESTS SET APART TO ROOT OUT HERESY.

ALL SYSTEMATIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS, IN THE NAME OF THE BELOVED JESUS.

TORTURE DEVICES WERE INSCRIBED WITH THE MOTTO "GLORY BE ONLY TO GOD."

IT WOULD BE NICE TO THINK THAT WE'VE PROGRESSED FROM THAT KIND OF RELIGION, FROM THOSE VIOLENT TIMES, BUT VIOLENCE OF ALL KINDS STILL GOES ON IN THE NAME OF RELIGION.

BUT NONE OF IT SOUNDS LIKE JESUS, DOES IT?

IT ISN'T.

BUT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN EVERYBODY BUT JESUS IS IN CHARGE.

THE JESUS OF THE BIBLE LIVED A SIMPLE PHILOSOPHY, IF LOVE GUIDES OUR HEARTS, RULES BECOME REDUNDANT.

LOVE WILL ALWAYS LEAD US TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

I HAVE A FRIEND WHO SHARED THIS STORY WITH ME, HE LOVES TO TELL STORIES OF JESUS AND READ STORIES OF JESUS FROM THE BIBLE TO HIS CHILDREN.

AND ONE TIME WHEN HE WAS READING A STORY, THEY WERE CONFUSED, BECAUSE JESUS IS THE HERO IN THE STORY, BUT HE'S BREAKING THE RULES.

NOW, HOW CAN A HERO BREAK THE RULES?

HIS DAUGHTERS WERE CONFUSED.

AND, SO, HE TRIED TO EXPLAIN IT THIS WAY:  "SUPPOSE YOU GOT A WONDERFUL NEW DRESS FOR A CERTAIN DAY, FOR AN UPCOMING EVENT, AND BECAUSE YOU LIKED IT SO MUCH YOU ASKED IF YOU COULD WEAR IT TO SCHOOL, GIRLS.

AND WHAT IF I SAID, OKAY, YOU CAN WEAR IT TO SCHOOL, BUT WHEN RECESS COMES ALONG YOU CAN'T GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY SPORTS BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO GET IT DIRTY."

AND THEY WERE LIKE, "OH, OKAY, OKAY."

"BUT WHAT IF WHEN SCHOOL ENDED YOU WERE BOTH WALKING HOME, AND YOU SAW ONE OF YOUR CLOSEST FRIENDS RIDING A BICYCLE AND YOUR FRIEND FALLS OFF THE BIKE, HAS A LITTLE ACCIDENT AND FALLS RIGHT INTO A BIG PUDDLE OF MUD, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?"

"WELL," DADDY, "WE WOULD GO AND HELP OUR FRIEND."

"BUT YOUR DRESS WOULD GET DIRTY," THE FATHER SAYS.

"YEAH, BUT," DADDY, "WE WOULD HELP OUR FRIEND BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU WOULD WANT US TO DO, THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, ISN'T THAT WHAT JESUS WOULD WANT US TO DO?

YOU WOULD BE PROUD OF US FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING."

AND MY FRIEND WAS PROUD BECAUSE THEY GOT IT.

THEY GOT IT.

THAT LOVE OF OTHERS SUPERSEDES EVERYTHING ELSE.

THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF JESUS' DAY FOCUSED ON OBEYING THE RULES AND OFTEN FORGOT TO PUT LOVE FIRST, AND JESUS CAME TO RECALIBRATE THE WHOLE SYSTEM.

JESUS CALLED HIS FOLLOWERS TO LIVE TO A HIGHER STANDARD, THE WAY OF LOVE INSTEAD OF THE LOVE OF LAW.

SOMETIMES THE CHURCH HAS FORGOTTEN THAT.

AND THAT IS WHY THE APOSTLE PAUL REMINDED THE ROMAN CHRISTIANS OF WHO IS IN CHARGE.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN JESUS IS IN CHARGE OF OUR LIVES?

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN JESUS, HIS LIFE AND TEACHINGS GUIDE OUR EVERYDAY EXISTENCE?

OUR PRIORITIES ARE REORDERED, OUR CONCERNS CHANGE, WE ARE NOT CONCERNED WITH BEING RIGHT, BUT RATHER DOING THE RIGHT THING.

OUR HEARTS, OUR VOICES ARE LESS ANGRY, AND SELFISH, AND UNFORGIVING, AND WE BECOME CONCERNED WITH KINDNESS AND COMPASSION AND FORGIVENESS.

TO BE A GENUINE FOLLOWER, JESUS IS TO BE FAITH‑FILLED AND ACTION‑ORIENTED.

RELIGION, AS MOST PEOPLE CONCEIVE IT TODAY, IS THE CHIEF SUBSTITUTE.

THIS IS GOOD RELIGION IN A NUTSHELL.

WE ARE TO BE ENCOURAGING AND BE HOPEFUL RATHER THAN HURTFUL WITH OUR WORDS.

LISTEN TO YOURSELF.

HOW DO YOU SPEAK TO OR ABOUT OTHERS?

ARE THEY WORDS FILLED WITH KINDNESS AND LOVE AND COMPASSION?

WE ARE TO BE HELPING RATHER THAN BEING HARMFUL IN OUR ACTIONS, WE ARE TO BE CONCERNED WITH OTHER PERSONS.

HOW DO YOU TREAT THE STRANGER IN YOUR MIDST?

HOW DO YOU TREAT THE PERSON CLOSEST TO YOU?

WHO YOU KNOW VERY WELL?

AND, THIRD, TAKE A COUNTER‑CULTURAL STAND IN OUR DAILY LAND.

THE VALUES OF THE WORLD ARE ABOUT GREED, WAR, THEY MAKE OUR LIVES MORE COMPLICATED.

JESUS ADVOCATES LESS, AND TO BE SIMPLE.

THAT'S IT.

WHEN MOST PEOPLE SPEAK OF RELIGION OR BEING RELIGIOUS, THEY GET LOST IN RITUALS, LOST IN REGULATIONS THAT TAKE THE PLACE OF GOD AND THAT'S DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT MAKES YOU FEEL THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY CONNECTED TO GOD AND THE ONLY WAY TO CONNECT TO GOD IS FOR US TO LIVE WITH GOD IN OUR DAILY LIVES.

PAUL KNEW THAT A COMMUNITY WOULD BE DIVERSE, HE KNEW THAT EACH PERSON HAD HIS OR HER OWN GIFTS.

BUT WHO OR WHAT WOULD GUIDE THIS DIVERSITY, THIS GIFT?

HE KNEW THAT WITH JESUS AT ITS HEAD, THAT THAT WOULD BE A COMMUNITY EMBRACED BY ‑‑ EMBRACING AND TRANSFORMED BY THE LOVE OF GOD.

NOT OBSESSED WITH RELIGION OR BEING RELIGIOUS.

IT ALSO DESCRIBES A COMMUNITY THAT IS PASSIONATE TO USE ITS DIVERSITY, TO USE ITS DIFFERENCE TO TRANSFORM THE WORLD WITH GOD'S LOVE.

THE WORLD.

FOR OUR CHURCH, HAVING CHRIST BE THE HEAD OF OUR BODY HELPS US STAY ON TARGET WITH WHAT WE BELIEVE JESUS CALLS US TO AS A COMMUNITY.

IT CHALLENGES US TO ASK OURSELVES KEY QUESTIONS.

IS EVERYTHING WE ARE DOING FOCUSED ON, MOTIVATED ON, AND ENABLING US TO HONOR GOD?

THINK OF YOUR DAILY CONVERSATIONS, THINK OF THE THINGS YOU DO EVERY DAY.

ARE WE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET THE WORD OUT, THE MESSAGE OF JESUS AND GOD'S DESIRE TO SEE ALL PEOPLE SET FREE FROM RELIGION AND DISCOVER TRUE RELATIONSHIPS WITH GOD AND EACH OTHER?

LISTEN TO YOUR CONVERSATIONS.

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY.

ARE WE EMBRACING ALL THAT MEANS TO BE A LOVING COMMUNITY?

ARE WE EMBRACING ALL THAT IT MEANS TO BE A LOVING COMMUNITY?

LISTEN TO YOUR CONVERSATIONS.

THINK OF YOUR ACTIONS EVERY DAY.

ARE WE CHALLENGING EACH OTHER CONSISTENTLY TO BE FULLY COMMITTED CHRIST FOLLOWERS, NOT JUST LEARNING MORE, BUT PRACTICALLY APPLYING IT TO OUR DAILY LIVES AND OUR RELATIONSHIPS?

LISTEN TO YOUR DAILY CONVERSATIONS.

PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR ACTIONS EVERY DAY.

SO, IT SEEMS TO ME, THAT BIBLICALLY IT IS ACCURATE TO SAY RELIGION IS NOT THE ANSWER, BUT THAT JESUS IS.

FOR HE TEACHES US A BETTER WAY, A STRONGER WAY, A HIGHER WAY, A WAY OF LOVE, A WAY THAT WILL TRANSFORM OUR HEARTS SO THAT WE MIGHT HELP TO TRANSFORM THE WORLD IN HIS NAME.

SO, ASK YOURSELVES, WHO IS IN CHARGE?

WHO IS IN CHARGE?

AND ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN SAID:  AMEN.

>> OUR HYMN OF REFLECTION IS "JUST AS I AM WITHOUT ONE PLEA."

HYMN 339.

LET US REFLECT AS WE SING THIS HYMN, WHO IS IN CHARGE OF OUR LIVES, WHO IS IN CHARGE OF OUR CHURCH.

LET US STAND AND SING.

[HYMN 339]

>> YOU MAY BE SEATED.

NOW, WE COME TO THE TIME OF CELEBRATION OF COMMUNION.

ALL PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS ARE WELCOME TO THIS TABLE, ALL WHO SEEK GOD ARE WELCOME, FOR THIS IS GOD'S TABLE, FOR GOD IS THE ONE WHO INVITES YOU.

LET US NOW OFFER OUR CONFESSIONS, LET US PRAY.

FREE US, O LORD, HELP US TO CLAIM YOU SO THAT WE MIGHT BE TRANSFORMED TO THE LIKENESS OF YOUR SON.

IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.

IN THE NAME OF CHRIST, WE ARE FORGIVEN.

LET US REMAIN SEATED AS WE SING OUR COMMUNION HYMN, NUMBER 420, "I COME WITH JOY."

[HYMN 420]

>> FOR I RECEIVE FROM THE LORD WHAT I ALSO GIVE UNTO YOU, THAT THE LORD JESUS ON THE NIGHT THAT HE WAS BETRAYED, TOOK A LOAF OF BREAD AND WHEN HE GAVE THANKS HE BROKE IT AND SAID "THIS IS MY BODY THAT IS FOR YOU, DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME."

IN THE SAME WAY HE TOOK THE CUP ALSO AFTER SUPPER, SAYING, "THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD, DO THIS AS OFTEN AS YOU DRINK IT, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME."

>> OUR FATHER, WE ARE HERE AT YOUR TABLE, FOR WHICH WE ARE DEEPLY THANKFUL.

AS WE TAKE THIS BREAD, PLEASE NOURISH OUR SPIRIT, SO WE CAN LEAVE THIS PLACE SO OTHERS CAN SEE WE ARE FILLED WITH LOVE, COMPASSION AND WHEN THEY HEAR THE CONVERSATIONS, IN THESE CONVERSATIONS IT WILL BE KNOWN AND RECOGNIZED THAT JESUS IS IN CHARGE OF THE WAY THAT WE LIVE OUR LIVES.

IN HIS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.

>> GRACIOUS GOD, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ABUNDANCE TO US.

WE DRINK THIS CUP, MAY IT BE OUR SALVATION, GUIDE US BY YOUR HOLY SPIRIT.

QUICKEN OUR CONSCIOUS SO WE LIVE EACH NEW DAY ASSURED THAT WE ARE LOVED.

HELP US TO GROW IN WITNESS AND SERVICE TO ALL.

>> WILL YOU SHARE WITH ME THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING?

LET US PRAY TOGETHER.

WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM YOUR HAND, O GOD, BREAD FROM THE EARTH TO FORTIFY OUR HEARTS AND WINE TO GLADDEN OUR SPIRITS.

MAY THESE SIGNS OF CHRIST'S PRESENCE FILL OUR LIVES WITH SUCH GRATITUDE THAT WE ARE IMPELLED TO SPREAD THE JOY WHEREVER WE GO.

AMEN.

FINAL HYMN IS HYMN NUMBER 601, "I AM THINE, O LORD."

WILL YOU PLEASE STAND FOR THE BENEDICTION?

AS WE GO FORTH IN PEACE, LET US ALL BE REMINDED THAT JESUS IS THE HEAD OF OUR LIVES, THE HEAD OF OUR CHURCH, AND THAT WE CAN TRUST IN THIS JESUS FOR HE HAS SAID TO US, "BE NOT AFRAID, BE NOT AFRAID, FOR I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO THE END."

AMEN.

[HYMN 601]