Welcome

Invocation (stand)

Confession and Forgiveness: (stand)

P: As we gather, today, let us cleanse our hearts and our consciences by confessing our sin to God.

(Time of silence for reflection and confession)

C: Heavenly Father, we confess that we are sinful and unclean. We have sinned against you and against our neighbor in our thoughts, words, and actions.  We are truly sorry for our sins and sincerely repent of them. We ask for Your mercy. For the sake of Jesus Christ’s bitter suffering and death, please forgive us and renew us that we may walk in Your Spirit to the glory of Your holy name. Amen

P: The Lord has heard your confession. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of the Lord, in the stead and by the command of my Lord, Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen

Songs of Praise and Thanksgiving: What A Friend (sit)

Everybody has trials and temptations.
Everybody knows heartbreak, isolation.

Pre-Chorus:
But we can lay our burdens down. Lay our burdens down.

Chorus:
What a friend we have in Jesus. East to west my sins are gone.
I see grace on every horizon.
And forever and ever His heart is my home.

Everybody has fears, everybody got worries.
Everybody knows sorrow, devastation.

(Pre-Chorus)
(Chorus)

Bridge:
No more betrayal, for He is faithful.
He fills me up and my cup runneth over.
No more betrayal, for He is faithful.
How He has proven it over and over.
(Repeat)

(Chorus 2x)

And forever and ever His heart is my home.                  © All Essential Music

Old Testament Reading: Genesis 50:15-21

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

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

Epistle Reading: Romans 12:14-21

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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

Gospel Reading: Luke 6:36-42

Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

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

Sermon Song: This Is Our God

Remember those walls that we called sin and shame?
They were like prisons that we couldn’t escape.
But He came, and He died, and He rose.
Those walls are rubble now.

Remember those giants we called death and grave?
They were like mountains that stood in our way.
But He came, and He died, and He rose.
Those giants are dead now.

Chorus
This is our God, this is who He is, He loves us.
This is our God, this is what He does, He saves us.
He bore the cross, beat the grave,
let heaven and earth proclaim,
this is our God, King Jesus.

Remember that fear that took our breath away?
Faith so weak that we could barely pray.
But He heard, Every word, every whisper.

Now those altars in the wilder-ness.
Tell the story of His faithfulness.
Never once, did He fail, and He never will.

Chorus
This is our God, this is who He is, He loves us.
This is our God, this is what He does, He saves us.
He bore the cross, beat the grave,
let heaven and earth proclaim,
this is our God, King Jesus.

Bridge
Who pulled me out of that pit? He did. He did.
Who paid for all of our sins? Nobody but Jesus.
(Repeat both lines)
Who rescued me from that grave? Yahweh. Yahweh.
Who gets the glory and praise? Nobody but Jesus.
(Repeat both lines)

(Chorus)                                                                                                 © Brandon Lake Music

Sermon/Discussion: “Seeing Clearly: Mercy and Humility”

Prayers

Apostles’ Creed (stand)

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 (stand)

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 (stand)

Closing Song: Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (stand)

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