Lectionary - Ordinary 11

Lectionary - Ordinary 11 - Year A

Genesis 18:1-15 Sarah laughed at the promise of a child
Psalm 116:1-2,12-19 I will pay my vows to the Lord
Romans 5:1-8 We are justified by faith
Matthew 9:35 to 10:8 Labourer in the harvest; the twelve sent out

Suggested Hymns (From Denis Towner. TIS = Together in Song; AHB = Australian Hymn Book; SA = Sing Alleluia)

A Yr.	A: Hymns for Sunday 11, Yr.A	TIS	AHB	SA
G	A man there lived in Galilee	235	176
O	All my	560	465
G	Amazing grace (how sweet the sound)	129	56
E	And can it be that I should gain	209	138
Ps	Awake my soul, and with the sun	557	469
O	Begin my	116	32
E	Come	398	310
Ps	Come my way, my truth, my life	552	457
Ps	Draw near and take the body of the Lord	498	C597
O	Give to us laughter
G	God forgave my sin in Jesus' name
Ps	God merciful and righteous is		350
G	Guide me, O my great Redeemer	569	478
E	Hail our once-despised Jesus	373	291
O	Happy the home that welcomes you	581	495
O	I have made a covenant with my chosen
Ps	I love the Lord who heard my prayer	71
Ps	I love you Lord, and I lift my voice
O	I need you Lord, for I have seen	625
G	I the Lord of sea and sky	658
O	Immortal invisible, God only wise	143	80
E	In the cross of Christ I glory	349	265
E	Lift high the cross	351	271
G	Love divine, all loves excelling	217	148
E	Morning glory, starlit sky	174
E	O for a thousand tongues to sing	210	141
O	O God of Bethel by whose hand	564	49
E	O Love that wilt not let me go	602	525
O	O stay with us, Lord Jesus	551
E	O thou who camest from above	572	486
E	Peace with the Father, peace with Christ the Son	466	402
O	Praise the Lord, you heavens adore him	93	58
Ps	Praise to the Lord the Almighty	111	28
G	Take my life, and let it be	599	520
G	The day of resurrection	361	277
O	The God of Abraham praise	125	53
G	The kingdom is upon you			80
G	The law of Christ alone can set us free	630	544
E	We are your people, Spirit of grace	468		90
Ps	We bring the sacrifice of praise
E	We give immortal praise	118	38
G	We have a gospel to proclaim	245	189
E	When I survey the wondrous cross	342	258
Ps	Why do you love me edven when I hurt you
G	You servants of God, your Master proclaim	215	144

Other Possible Hymns
(Numbers refer to The Australian Hymn Book and Sing Alleluia .)
SA 9 At the dawning of salvation
SA 11 Blessed are the poor in spirit
10 All people that on earth do dwell
14 Now thank we all our God
85 To God be the glory, great things he has done
138 And can it be that I should gain
144 Ye servants of God
333 Lord your word abiding [last week]
387 We come unto our father's God
477 God of all power and truth and grace
555 In faith and hope and love

Sermon summary (For complete sermon click here)

Put right with God by faith

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ -- Romans 5:1

Faith is so simple. There is nothing more to it than trusting in God rather than in ourselves. Why is it that it is so often misunderstood? You can never say to God, I have a right to expect this of you because I have done that for you. God's purpose for us is to become children of God [John 1:12; Romans 8:14]. The simple trust of a little child is perhaps the purest human example of faith [Mark 10:15]; and it is an unequal relationship [Acts 17:24-25,28].

Why is it so difficult when it is so simple?
We like to think that we deserve what we get. We like to pay our way, but it is all quite pointless if we are dealing with God. There is a way to accept our place with God without feeling that we have to earn it, and that is what Paul was writing about in his letter to the Romans. To bring that message a little closer to our time I would like to share with you something of its significance in the evangelical tradition of the People called Methodists which is part of our heritage.

John and Charles Wesley's experience
I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation ... That is the great change: a person who had not been able to trust in God, despite all his belief in God's goodness and his lasting commitment to serve him, is now able to trust because he accepts what Christ has done for him. [Romans 5:1-2,8-11.] Sharing with conviction this belief in the freely given saving grace of God, Wesley's preaching changed the lives an enormous number of people.

Varieties of experience
We find similar experience of sudden change recorded in the Celtic Tradition (Presbyterian). Be ready to accept such a gift. However, experience varies, for it can be a gentle process too, as Wesley recognized. It is not how we experience the grace of God that is most important, but the objective fact of his free gift to us. May we know it!John Wesley's Journal, 24 May 1738

In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.

Order of Service - Ordinary 11 (Pentecost 3) Year A - | DB Home | RCL Resources Index | Questions and Comments |

The Gathering of the People of God

CALL TO WORSHIP
What shall I return to the LORD for all his bounty to me? -- Psalms 116:12
I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the LORD.
I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,
in the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD! -- Psalms 116:17-19

HYMN 10 All people that on earth do dwell

PRAYER OF ADORATION
CONFESSION
O God,
we confess the blindness that is not even aware of sinning;
the pride that dares not admit that it is wrong;
the selfishness that can see nothing but its own will;
the righteousness that knows no fault;
the callousness that has ceased to care;
the defiance that does not regret its own sins;
the evasion that always tries to make excuses;
the coldness of heart that is too hardened to repent.
God, we are sinners; be merciful to us.

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them...." -- John 20:21-23
By the authority of Jesus Christ I declare that God has mercy on you, pardons you and sets you free. Know that your sins are forgiven through Jesus Christ our Saviour. God strengthen you in all goodness and keep you in eternal life.
Thanks be to God.

DOXOLOGY: Hymn 85 To God be the glory, great things he has done

WELCOME AND GREETING EACH OTHER

Service of the Word

INTRODUCTION OF THEME: Justification by faith

OLD TESTAMENT Genesis 18:1-15 Sarah laughed at the promise of a child
[PSALM 116:1-2,12-19 I will pay my vows to the Lord]
EPISTLE Romans 5:1-8 We are justified by faith
GOSPEL Matthew 9:35 to 10:8 Labourer in the harvest; the twelve sent out

HYMN 477 God of all power and truth and grace

SERMON

A Methodist Hymn of the peace of God
Blessèd assurance [A popular Methodist hymn of earlier generations]

Blessèd assurance, Jesus is mine:
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God;
Born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture burst on my sight;
Angles descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Saviour am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
Frances Jane van Alstyne, 1820-1915; [Methodist Hymn Book 1933 No. 422]

HYMN 138 And can it be that I should gain

OFFERING AND DEDICATION
SHARING TIME [Notices, celebrations, requests for intercessions]
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
COLLECT FOR THE DAY

THE LORD'S PRAYER [Front of the Hymn Book]

The Sending Forth of the People of God

HYMN 555 In faith and hope and love
WORD OF MISSION
BLESSING
DISMISSAL Go in peace to love and serve the Lord:
In the name of Christ. Amen.

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