Worship Service for August 14, 2022, at 11 AM

Welcome

Invocation

Call to Worship

P: For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that we by his poverty might become rich.

C: The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

P: Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

C: And God is able to make all grace abound, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, we may abound in every good work. 

P: So that we will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way.

C: For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

P: Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Opening Hymn: “The Earth is the Lord’s” (vs 1 and 2)

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.
Redemption reminds us, O God, of your love.
By grace we are learning, as year leads to year.
We’re called to be stewards, your caretakers here.

Too often, O God, we abuse your good earth.
We fail to remember its beauty and worth.
We take from creation much more than we need,
We threaten your mission through excess and greed.

Confession and Forgiveness

P: In today’s second reading Paul describes the generosity of the Macedonian churches.

C: They gave in the midst of severe trial.

P: They gave out of extreme poverty.

C: They gave even beyond their own ability.

P: And the Macedonian churches gave themselves first to the Lord.

C: Forgive us, merciful Father, for too frequently our giving is nothing like this.

P: Instead we hoard our wealth, make excuses for our miserliness, and stubbornly refuse to give ourselves to you, to others, or to anyone else.

C: Forgive us, merciful Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

P: Hear the best news you will ever hear! “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for our sake he became poor, so that we by his poverty might become rich.” As a called and ordained servant of Christ, I announce that you are forgiven—richly, fully and eternally—in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Hymn of Praise and Thanksgiving: The Earth is the Lord’s (vs 3)

May we be good stewards of all that you give,
Extending your Gospel wherever we live.
May we be a church that renews and restores,
And lovingly cares for these gifts that are yours.

Old Testament Reading: 1 Chronicles 29:1-9

And David the king said to all the assembly, “Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the work is great, for the palace will not be for man but for the Lord God. So I have provided for the house of my God, so far as I was able, the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, besides great quantities of onyx and stones for setting, antimony, colored stones, all sorts of precious stones and marble. Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my God I give it to the house of my God: 3,000 talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and 7,000 talents of refined silver, for overlaying the walls of the house, and for all the work to be done by craftsmen, gold for the things of gold and silver for the things of silver. Who then will offer willingly, consecrating himself today to the Lord?”

Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:1-9

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.

Gospel Reading: Mark 12:41-44

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

P: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise be to You, o Christ.

Sermon Song: Goodness Of God

I love you, Lord, for your mercy never fails me.
All my days, I’ve been held in your hands.
From the moment that I wake up, Till I lay my head,
I will sing of the goodness of God.

Chorus:
All my life you have been faithful. 
All my life you have been so, so good.
With every breath that I am able,
I will sing of the goodness of God.

I love your voice.  You have led me through the fire.
In darkest night you are close like no other.
I’ve known you as a father. I’ve known you as a friend.
I have lived in the goodness of God.

Chorus:
All my life you have been faithful. 
All my life you have been so, so good.
With every breath that I am able,
I will sing of the goodness of God.

Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me.
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me.
With my life laid down, I’m surrendered now I give you everything
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me. (Repeat)

With my life laid down, I’m surrendered now I give you everything
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me.

Chorus

Sermon – Series: Money Matters
                  Week 1: “The Macedonian Model”

Prayers:

P: Heavenly Father, we pray for all those who are on our hearts. Especially…
C: Lord, please heal the sick, comfort the suffering, and in all things, draw them closer to You.

P: All things are Yours, blessed Lord, and You have given us so much to use and manage for our own good, the good of others, and to extend the mission of Your church. We trust in Your mercy and have confidence that You will give us all we need, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C: What is the world to me, with all its vaunted pleasure?

P: Create in us overflowing joy that wells up in rich generosity.
C: When You, and You alone, Lord Jesus are my treasure.

P: Empower us to delight in the privilege of sharing our financial resources.
C: You only dearest Lord, my soul’s delight shall be.

P: We give ourselves first to You, Lord, and then to our church, in keeping with your will.
C: You are my peace, my rest, what is the world to me.

P: What is the world to me, my Jesus is my treasure.
C: O God, empower us to be more like the Macedonians and less like the Corinthians.

P: My life, my wealth, my health, my love, my friend, my pleasure.
C: We have freely received, now let us freely give.

P: My joy, my crown, my all; my bliss eternally.
C: Once more then I declare, what is the world to me!

P: In Jesus’s name.
C: Amen.

Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth,

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God
the Father almighty.
From there 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 Lord’s Prayer

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 and ever.  Amen

Benediction

Silent Prayer

Lord Jesus, make our church more like the Macedonians and less like the Corinthians. And begin with me! Amen.

Closing Song: Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts.
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Amen

Offering

For Next Week:

Read 2 Corinthians 9:1–7 and answer these questions:

1. What is the difference between a “generous gift” and one “grudgingly given”? (2 Corinthians 9:5)
2. Which one defines your stewardship?
3. What comes to mind when you hear the term “cheerful giver”? (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Upcoming Events

Today, 6:30pm, NYG Youth Dinner & Discussion
Smokey Bones (8020 Citrus Park Dr, Tampa, FL 33625)
Cost: $5

August 16, 7 PM Council Meeting
The Strasheims

September 11, After the Worship Service – Youth Group
Song and Dance

We Need Your Help!
We want to show people what we, as a church, do beyond Sunday morning worship. This is where I need your help. When you are at these events, please take pictures and/or videos and send them to me so I can post them on our Social Media.

If you have pictures from past events send those to me as well. Also, if you have ideas of other stuff we should post on Social Media please let me know.

Thank you!!

In His Service,
Aaron Shuck

Note – We didn’t include Aaron’s email on this page because spammers scrape web pages for email addresses and we don’t want Aaron to be spammed. You can download the bulletin which has Aaron’s email in it or use the contact us form on the website to request Aaron’s email address.