+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening Prayer:
Heavenly Father, you have called your Church to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
Give us vigorous faith and a love that is genuine, so that all may see our works and give you the glory.
We pray through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. Amen.
__________
“Ma Yakar Chasdecha(How Precious Is Your Lovingkindness)” – Praises Of Israel
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
__________
“Merim Oti(You Lift Me” – Praises Of Israel
__________
Intercession:
Heavenly Father: Shine the Light of Christ within us into the darkness that surrounds us. We pray especially –
+that your people may generously share their means and resources –
providing food for the hungry
giving clothes to those who need them
providing shelter for the homeless
offering help to needy relatives
+ that your people may live just and godly lives –
removing all heavy yokes of oppression
refraining from finger pointing
refusing to spread vicious rumors
helping those in trouble
+ that your people may display your power and goodness –
healing the sick in body mind and spirit
delivering the oppressed from demonic influence
reaching unbelievers with the Good News of grace
teaching believers to live and love like Jesus
Heavenly Father: you are the light that makes clear our way before us, hear our prayers we ask, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
__________
“We are marching in the light of God” – Zingen in de Zomer
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Closing: (Psalm 112:4-7 (NLT)
Light shines in the darkness for the godly.
They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
They conduct their business fairly.
Such people will not be overcome by evil.
They do not fear bad news.
They confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
__________
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
[The Presentation of Christ is celebrated forty days after the birth of Jesus at Christmas. This feast is also called Candlemas because on this day Jesus was revealed in the Temple as the light of the world.]
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening Prayer:
Almighty and everliving God, we humbly pray that, as your only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple in the substance of our flesh, so we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts by Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
__________
Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.” So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord—“either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
The Prophecy of Simeon
At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,
“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”
The Prophecy of Anna
Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.
When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him.
__________
“The Light Of the World Is Jesus” – Philip Bliss
__________
Intercession:
King of Glory, you have appeared among us: shine your light in our darkness; we pray especially –
+ That believers everywhere may reject the ways of darkness and walk only in your light…
+ That all who worship you may respect one another regardless of our cultural differences….
+ That the godly lives and witness of faithful believers everywhere may lead the faithless to believe….
+ That those who serve and minister in remote places around the world may be renewed and refreshed….
+ That the elderly everywhere may be cherished and those who are sick in body, mind or spirit may be healed….
+ That our land may be healed through an outpouring of your Spirit that leads to repentance and revival….
King of Glory, we proclaim Jesus as the light of the world: hear our prayers we offer in his name and grant them – through Christ our Lord. Amen.
__________
“Shine Jesus Shine” – Graham Kendrick
__________
Closing: (Psalm 84:10-11)
A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.
He gives us grace and glory.
__________
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening Prayer:
God of salvation, the splendor of your glory dispels the darkness of earth, for in Jesus Christ we behold the nearness of your kingdom. Give us grace to readily answer his call and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
__________
When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee. He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah:
“In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River, in Galilee where so many Gentiles live,
the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.”
From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
The First Disciples
One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him.
A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
__________
“Fishers of Men” – Rhonda Vincent
Rise and follow me
I’ll make you worthy
Rise and follow me
I’ll make you fishers of men
Rise and follow me
I’ll make you worthy
Rise and follow me
I’ll make you fishers of men
Peter, John, and James
Could never be the same
After they heard him say
I’ll make you fishers of men
He said, Rise and follow me
I’ll make you worthy
Rise and follow me
I’ll make you fishers of men
Cast your nets aside
And join the battle tide
He will be your guide
To make you fishers of men
Jesus bore the cross
To gather in the lost
Oh what a mighty cost
To set us free from sin
He said, Rise and follow me
I’ll make you worthy
Rise and follow me
I’ll make you fishers of men
He said, Rise and follow me
I’ll make you worthy
Rise and follow me
I’ll make you fishers of men
__________
Intercession:
Sovereign Lord, you alone are our defense our fortress against our enemies. You have examined our hearts and know everything about us. Hear us now and help us as we come to your throne of mercy and grace. We pray especially –
+ For your guidance and strength to support us in our times of trouble, and through our daily challenges….
+ For clean hands and pure hearts that we may live quiet, godly lives that honor the glory of your name….
+For an abiding awareness of the presence of your Spirit with us everywhere and in every circumstance….
+ For faithfulness to your calling and purpose for our lives as you reveal it over time, stage by stage….
+ For harmony among your people around the world, that we may be united in thought and purpose….
+ For healing, strength and comfort for those innocents who suffer from the effects of war and violence….
Sovereign Lord, you are our defense, our fortress, and our ever-present help – refresh our hope and renew our hearts we pray, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
__________
“A Mighty Fortress is our God” – Martin Luther
__________
Closing: (Ephesians 3:20-21)
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
__________
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening Prayer:
Merciful God, you sent your Son, the spotless Lamb, to take upon himself the sin of the world. Make our lives holy, that your people may bear witness to your purpose of reconciling all things in Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
__________
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”
Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”
The First Disciples
The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.
Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them.
They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
“Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day.
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”.
Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”.
__________
“Lamb of God” – Twila Paris
__________
Intercession:
Almighty and Everlasting God: You have given us new songs to sing, hymns of praise to You. Many will see what You have done and be amazed. They will put their trust in You.
And now, Lord God, Hear our cries and help us –
+ that those who are in the pit of despair may be lifted up, their feet set on solid ground… Lord, help us.
+ that those who are weak and wobbly, may be steadied in their walk with You…. Lord, help us.
+ that all who love You, who live quiet peaceful lives, may be filled with joy…. Lord, help us.
+ that all who love You, may joyfully follow the instructions You have written on our hearts…. Lord, help us.
+ that all who love You, may not be afraid to speak out about the Good News of Your justice…. Lord, help us.
+ that all who love You, may talk with everyone about your faithfulness and saving power…. Lord, help us.
O Lord our God, we declare that You are just and merciful. Hear our prayers and help us, we pray, through Your Son, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Amen.
__________
“Worthy Is The Lamb” – Hillsong Worship
Thank you for the cross Lord
Thank you for the price You paid
Bearing all my sin and shame
In love You came
And gave amazing grace
Thank you for this love Lord
Thank you for the nail pierced hands
Washed me in Your cleansing flow
Now all I know
Your forgiveness and embrace
Worthy is the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Crown You now with many crowns
You reign victorious
High and lifted up
Jesus Son of God
The Darling of Heaven crucified
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
__________
Closing: (1 Corinthians 1:2-3)
To you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
__________
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening: (A Collect for Epiphany)
O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
__________
Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to live as I do in freedom from these things, for I have become like you Gentiles—free from those laws.
You did not mistreat me when I first preached to you. Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News. But even though my condition tempted you to reject me, you did not despise me or turn me away. No, you took me in and cared for me as though I were an angel from God or even Christ Jesus himself. Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then? I am sure you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible. Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?
Those false teachers are so eager to win your favor, but their intentions are not good. They are trying to shut you off from me so that you will pay attention only to them. If someone is eager to do good things for you, that’s all right; but let them do it all the time, not just when I’m with you.
Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives. I wish I were with you right now so I could change my tone. But at this distance I don’t know how else to help you.
Abraham’s Two Children
Tell me, you who want to live under the law, do you know what the law actually says? The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife. The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise.
These two women serve as an illustration of God’s two covenants. The first woman, Hagar, represents Mount Sinai where people received the law that enslaved them. And now Jerusalem is just like Mount Sinai in Arabia, because she and her children live in slavery to the law. But the other woman, Sarah, represents the heavenly Jerusalem. She is the free woman, and she is our mother. As Isaiah said,
“Rejoice, O childless woman,
you who have never given birth! Break into a joyful shout,
you who have never been in labor! For the desolate woman now has more children
than the woman who lives with her husband!”
And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac. But you are now being persecuted by those who want you to keep the law, just as Ishmael, the child born by human effort, persecuted Isaac, the child born by the power of the Spirit.
But what do the Scriptures say about that? “Get rid of the slave and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” So, dear brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman; we are children of the free woman.
Freedom in Christ
So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.
Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses. For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.
But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.
You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you.
Dear brothers and sisters, if I were still preaching that you must be circumcised—as some say I do—why am I still being persecuted? If I were no longer preaching salvation through the cross of Christ, no one would be offended. I just wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves.
For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.
Living by the Spirit’s Power
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
We Harvest What We Plant
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.
Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.
Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.
Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.
Paul’s Final Advice
Notice what large letters i use as i write these closing words in my own handwriting.
Those who are trying to force you to be circumcised want to look good to others. They don’t want to be persecuted for teaching that the cross of Christ alone can save. And even those who advocate circumcision don’t keep the whole law themselves. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast about it and claim you as their disciples.
As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God.
From now on, don’t let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus.
Dear brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
__________
Reflection:
Christ has truly set us free.
Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free…. (vs 5.1)
We who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us.
For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus… what is important is faith expressing itself in love. (vs 5.5-6)
In this last portion of Paul’s letter, his emphasis is on the freedom that we have through faith in Jesus Christ. His concern is that his readers not squander the freedom that they have been given by lapsing into either legalism or license – both of which distort the Gospel of grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Note that –
Christ has set us free from:
becoming enslaved children under God’s Law
always trying to make ourselves right with God
living to satisfy our sinful human nature
living without power to carry out our good intentions
living sinful lives under the judgement of God
Christ has set us free to:
become a free child of God’s Promise
live in God’s grace through faith in Christ
live to serve one another in love
live in the power of the Holy Spirit to bear good fruit
live godly lives under the leadership of the Holy Spirit
Paul sums it all up this way –
What is important is faith expressing itself in love. (vs5.6)
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good.
At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—
especially to those in the family of faith. (vs 6.9-10)
Questions for consideration:
How has legalism (keeping religious rules) influenced the freedom your have received in Christ? Please explain.
How has license (abandoning all restraint) influenced the freedom you have received in Christ? Please explain.
When you consider how you go about your daily affairs – do you live as a child of God’s Promise. or a child of God’s Law? Please explain.
When you think of doing good for someone – who comes to mind? Please explain.
__________
Prayer: For living in God’s Grace
+ Heavenly Father: You have made peace with us through faith in your Son, Jesus Christ. In your service is perfect freedom. Defend us against all the assaults of our enemies; that we may surely trust in the power of your Spirit and not fear any adversaries within or without.
+Almighty and and everlasting God: you have safely brought us to this day. Grant we may not fall into sin, or run into any kind of danger; but that we may honor you and do what is right in your sight.
+ Gracious God: in you we live and move and have our being. Guide and govern us by your Spirit, that in all the cares and workings of our life, we may remember that we are with us.
We ask this as your children of Promise, though our Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
__________
“I Am Free” – Newsboys
__________
Closing:
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Teaching about Salt and Light
The First Disciples
They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
But the other woman, Sarah, represents the heavenly Jerusalem. She is the free woman, and she is our mother. As Isaiah said,
Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses. For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
The Peanut Gallery 