Introduction

 

 

It is my great pleasure to introduce to you Lynn Foerster. Lynn has been attending Emmanuel for 25 years and has served in several critical capacities: Moms of Teens/Young Adults bible study leader, elder, and MOPS mentor mom. Lynn’s compassion, intelligence, and deep convictions are evident in the sermon this week. She has a keen eye towards others and embodies Jesus’ gospel in her invitation to self-sacrificial love. Thank you Lynn! Now let us worship together!

 

 

Call to Worship Adapted from Katherine Hawker

 

Come to hear the Word.
Come to do the Word.
Come to experience Comfort.
Come to experience Challenge.

Come to find Cost.
Come to find Joy.
Come to find Humanity.
Come to find God.
Become Love to others.
Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

 

Song – Is He Worthy? By Andrew Peterson

 

Scripture Reading – Matthew 5:46-48 (NIV)

 

46  If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47  And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48  Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

 

Prayer of Illumination

 

 

Scripture Reading – Matthew 22: 34-40 (NIV)

 

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36  “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37  Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ c This is the first and greatest commandment. 39  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ d All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

 

Song – Great Are You LORD, (Zoom Collective)

 

Scripture Reading – James 2:1-13 (NIV)

 

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2  Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3  If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4  have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5  Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6  But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7  Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? 8  If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” [a] you are doing right. 9  But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10  For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11  For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” [b] also said, “You shall not murder.” [c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 12  Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13  because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

 

Video Sermon

 

Questions for Reflection

 

I came across a quote in an article last week that read, “When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.” Do you agree or disagree with the quote? How do you balance compassion and truth telling in your life?

 

Are you aware of any favoritism in your life, either in self or others? What steps can you take to mitigate favoritism?

 

James talks about noticing others. The example James gives depicts a wealthy person and a poor person. Do you think Christians or non-Christians do a better at noticing the poor in our midst? How come?

 

Is it possible to show too much mercy?

 

Are you worried you haven’t shown enough mercy in your life? What does James mean when he says that mercy triumphs over judgment?

 

What does the phrase “Love your neighbor as yourself” mean to you? What would you be willing to give up, in order to help others? What would you NOT be willing to give up and why?

 

Which groups of people do you tend to think of as “them”? How might it feel to start thinking of “them” as “we”? Does anything become different in your feelings toward them and possibly in your actions?

 

Prayer of Offering

As you consider how you might respond to God, think of your response as an offering. What might you give away? What comfort, what security, what favoritism, what act of love? Let us pray together:

 

 

Benediction

 

May our Lord Jesus Christ grant you courage and wisdom in following His example of self-sacrificial love. Go forth in His service, as His beloved child and representative, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen