(Clicking on the text underlined in blue will take you to Youtube videos. Most are songs, except for the Sermon, “Secular Religions”)
All Prayers are from the Book of Common Worship (Westminster John Knox Press, 2018) and The Worship Sourcebook, Second Edition (Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Faith Alive Christian Resources and Baker Books, 2013)
Pray: O gracious and holy God, give us diligence to seek you, wisdom to perceive you, and patience to wait for you. Grant us, O God, a mind to meditate on you, eyes to behold you, ears to listen for your Word, a heart to love you, and a life to proclaim you, through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Sing or Listen: Traditional: When In Our Music, God is Glorified
Contemporary: Here I Am to Worship
Confess: God of grace, love, and communion, we confess that we have failed to love you with all our heart, soul, and mind; and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We ignore your commandments, stray from your way, and follow other gods. Have mercy on us. Forgive our sin and raise us to new life that we may serve you faithfully and give honor to your holy name.
Be: Sit (or stand) in silence for one minute.
Be Assured: Here these words of comfort from the Gospel of John: God did not send the Son to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Amen.
Read God’s Word: Psalm 100 (New Revised Standard Version)
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him, bless his name.
For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generation.
Read God’s Word: Romans 5:1-8 (New Revised Standard Edition)
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.
Watch the Sermon: Secular Religions
Think or Discuss: What else do we worship? What Orthodoxies (right teachings) must we accept for these secular religions? What demands do they place on us?
Do: Devote 5 minutes to pure praise of God. Put on a favorite song, dance if you want to, and remember that you are a sheep in God’s pasture.
Pray: Use this time to pray, silently, at first, and then for others who need your prayers.
Finally, pray the Lord’s Prayer. (Our Father…)
Sing or Listen: Traditional: Blessed Assurance
Contemporary: The Heart of Worship
Bless and Be Blessed: May the God of Peace and the Peace of God be with you always.