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September 18th, 2010
Where: St. Stephen Presbyterian Church
When: Saturday, September 18th 2010 at 6:30 p.m.
Click to download printable posters to help promote this event:
- Welcome and opening prayer - Rev. Tom Evans
- Scripture Reading - Rev. Tom Evans
1O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. 3When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 5You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: 7all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, 8the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. 9O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Psalms 8 (NIV) - Creation Calls - Inspirational Video
- Congregational Sing-a-long
- Scripture Reading - Anthony Awtrey
Can you doubt that God loves us? Dispite our sin and failures, God has entrusted all of us with the care of his creation and all the creatures in it. Christ went so far as to say that if we love Him, we should be prepared to demonstrate that love in tangible ways to those who need the most. Here are His words from the Gospel of John.
15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." 16Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." 17The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
John 21:15-17 (NIV)This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Jesus says a similar thing three times here, but it is not mere repetition. Jesus asks Peter a question, Peter responds, then Jesus describes the tasks expected of him. Each iteration yields something enlightening.
Jesus asks Peter if he truly loves him, unconditionally. The greek verb Jesus used for love is agape, but Peter responds using the word for brotherly love, phileo. Jesus instructs Peter to feed his lambs. The Greek word for feed is bosko and literally means to provide nourishment. For a point of comparison, the same word is used to refer to the prodigal son feeding the hogs before his return home. The Greek word for sheep is arnia and translates to little lambs.
Jesus asks Peter again if he truly loves him, unconditionally. Peter responds again with the same word for brotherly love. Jesus instructs Peter to take care of his sheep. The Greek word for take care in this verse is poimaino and means to care as a servant tends to the needs of his master or the selfless love of a parent for a child.
Finally, Jesus asks Peter if he loves him like a brother using the Greek word phileos. Jesus seems to have lowered the bar for Peter who was either unwilling or unable to love Jesus unconditionally after denying him three times. Peter again assures Jesus again that he loves him like a brother. Jesus instructs Peter to feed his sheep.
I believe that at Pentecost, Peter finally loved Jesus unconditionally. He was transformed by the Holy Spirit; he finally grew to understand how to love Jesus and through that love, how to take care of Jesus' flock.
That same spirit is here tonight. We are here in response to God's call. Lets sing and invite the spirit to transform us and make us love more like Christ.
- Congregational Sing-a-long
- Georgia's Quartet
- Song goes here
- Scripture Reading - NEED READER AND SOMETHING HERE
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV) - Congregational Sing-a-long
- It's Beginning To Rain [voice] [chord]
- I Will Serve Thee [chord] [voice]
- Sinner Saved By Grace [voice/chord]
- Doug's Quartet
- Song goes here
- Scripture Reading - NEED READER AND SOMETHING HERE
10"What should we do then?" the crowd asked. 11John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."
Luke 3:10-11 (NIV) - Martyr's Rock
- Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
- Scripture Reading - NEED READER AND SOMETHING HERE
29And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Luke 12:29-34 (NIV) - Four Men Singing Gospel
- Bread Upon The Water
- Congregational Sing-a-long
- Closing prayer - Rev. Tom Evans (SSPC)