Worship Service for August 21, 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)

Verse 1:
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.

Verse 2:
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.

Proclamation of Your Forgiveness

C: Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

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

Verse 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: Exodus 36:2-7

And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the Lord had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work. And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning, so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing, and said to Moses, “The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.” So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing, for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more.

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

Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 9:1-7

Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

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

Gospel Reading: Matthew 25:14-30

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

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

Children’s Message

Sermon Hymn: What Is the World To Me

Verse 1:
What is the world to me With all its vaunted pleasure
When You, and You alone, Lord Jesus, are my Treasure!
You only, dearest Lord, My soul’s Delight shall be;
You are my Peace, my Rest, What is the world to me!

Verse 3:
The world seeks after wealth And all that Mammon offers,
Yet never is content Though gold should fill it coffers.
I have a higher good, Content with it I’ll be:
My Jesus is my Wealth, What is the world to me!

Verse 4:
What is the world to me! My Jesus is my Treasure,
My Life, my Health, my Wealth, My Friend, my Love, my Pleasure,
My Joy, my Crown, my All, My Bliss eternally.
Once more, then, I declare: What is the world to me!

Sermon – Hey, Big Spender!

Prayers: Text in prayer requests to (813) 326-5255

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: Almighty God, you have named us and claimed as
your children in Holy Baptism and set us on a path to make disciples of all
nations.
C: We give thee but thine own.

P: You call us to trust your mercy and to invest
in the Gospel mission of our church and schools.
C: Whatever the gift may be.

P: You are the most generous spender of
all—giving us Christ Jesus and the gifts of salvation, new life and a glorious
crown in heaven.
C: All that we have is thine alone.

P: We offer our financial gifts for caring use
among the suffering; for gentle use among the hurting; for encouraging use
among the dispirited; for powerful use in worldwide missions; and for worship,
teaching and service within this church.
C: A trust, O Lord from thee.

P: Heavenly Father make us cheerful givers,
C: So that our finances bless many people with Christ’s love.

P: In Jesus’ name we pray.
C: Amen.

Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. 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

Words of Institution

Peace

P: The peace of the Lord be with you all.
C: And also, with you.
P: We greet each other in the peace of Christ.

Distribution

Prayer

Benediction

Silent Prayer

Lord Jesus, create in me the heart of a generous spender. Amen.

Closing Song – Joy Of The Lord

Though the tears may fall my song will rise,
my song will rise to You
Though my heart may fail my song will rise,
my song will rise to You
While there’s breath in my lungs, I will praise You Lord
In the dead of night, I’ll lift my eyes, I’ll lift my eyes to You
Though the waters rise I’ll lift my eyes, I’ll lift my eyes to You
While there’s hope in this heart, I will praise You Lord

Chorus:
The joy of the Lord is my strength. 
The joy of the Lord is my strength
In the darkness I’ll dance, in the shadows I’ll sing
The joy of the Lord is my strength

When I cannot see You with my eyes, let faith arise to You
When I cannot feel Your hand in mine, let faith arise to You
God of mercy and love, I will praise You Lord

How You shine with glory Lord of light, I feel alive with You
In Your presence now I come alive, I am alive with You
There is strength when I say “I will praise You Lord”

Chorus 2x

When sorrow comes my way, You are the shield around me
Always You remain my courage in the fight
I hear You call my name, Jesus I am coming
Walking on the waves, reaching for Your light

Chorus 2x

Offering

For Next Week:

Read 2 Corinthians 9:8–15 and answer these questions:

1. What are the connections between sowing seed, harvesting crops, and your financial support of our church?
   2. What are the results of Christian generosity? In the givers? In the receivers?
   3. Why is the “indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15) the key to all faithful and godly giving?

Upcoming Events

August 25, 7pm, Grow Watch Party
Zoom

August 28, After Worship, Youth Welcome Back BBQ
The Frosts – 26514 Pheasant Run

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

September 13, 7pm, Growth Group Bible Study
Location – TBD

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.