Sermon Manuscript for Lord’s Day 7/4/2021

Here is the link to download the manuscript if you are interested:

Order of Worship—John 13.31-38

Prelude

Announcements and Welcome

Call to Worship

(Lk. 7:41-50) ⁴¹ “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  ⁴² When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?”  ⁴³ Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.”  ⁴⁴ Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  ⁴⁵ You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet.  ⁴⁶ You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.  ⁴⁷ Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven– for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”  ⁴⁸ And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”  ⁴⁹ Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”  ⁵⁰ And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Let us praise him as forgiven sinners who may have loved much in this world but now Jesus is the treasure of our lives. Let our large cancelled debts bring forth large praise.

Hymn No. 149 “Praise Him! Praise Him!”

Prayer of Confession and Hope

O Father, Let us not be too at home in this world and nation because as we have just sung, “Christ is coming, over the world victorious; power and glory unto the Lord belong!” But while we are still here, let us take full advantage of our freedoms to propagate the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. We confess that we have often, I suppose out of fear, have remained silent. Free our tongues to proclaim your good news to all peoples that they might come into your eternal Kingdom through repentance and faith in your beloved Son.

We know this nation is fleeting. Soon it will be gone as will all nations. Yet, our hope is in our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation! Jesus the crucified, sound his praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows, love unbound carries them all day long. Eternal independence is only found in Jesus Christ and in him are we truly free. And this freedom is available to all who come to him by faith.

As we are about to sing to Jesus “Savior, like a Shepherd lead us, much we need thy tender care; in they pleasant pastures feed us, for our use thy folds prepare” us. Prepare us. Shepherd us, O Lord. “With thy love our beings fill” that we might love one another that all peoples might know that we are your disciples! Bring them into your fold, Lord Jesus. Call them, we pray. In Jesus Name, amen.

(Why this next song? Jesus was preparing his disciples for his departure. He gives them the command to love one another. This song says, “…for us thy folds prepare…” and we must first be “with thy love our beings fill” before we can love one another. He is the Good Shepherd who does lead us to love one another. It’s not in us but by his grace and by the Holy Spirit will he work that in us. )

Hymn No. 161 “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us”

(This next song is the means by which Jesus now prepares us with “Holy words long preserved for our walk in this world.” Our prayer is the chorus: “ancient words ever true, changing me and changing you: we have come with open hearts, oh, let the ancient words impart.”)

(Read the verse at the top before at the top of the hymnal: Hebrews 4:12)

Hymn No. 344 “Ancient Words”

Sermon John 13:31-38

Lord’s Supper (We will transition from sermon [end with some instructions for the table and I will pray] then I will call the deacons up to serve)

Benediction—Hymn No. 668 “Doxology”