Listening to Lazarus

“Listening to Lazarus”
Luke 16:19-31
Dr. Steve Bolton

You who live in the shelter of the Most High
Who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
Will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God in whom I trust.”
For he will deliver you from the deadly pestilence;
He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
Or the arrow that flies by day,
Or the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
Or the destruction that wastes at noonday.
Those who love me, I will deliver;
I will protect those who know my name.
When they call to me, I will answer them;
I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.
With long life I will satisfy them,
And show them my salvation. – from Psalm 91

We hope you will join us today, as our guest speaker, Dr. Steve Bolton, brings the sermon titled, “Listening to Lazarus”. We will be reading from Luke 16:19-31. Our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16.

Judging Others

“Judging Others”
Romans 14:1-12
Rev. Benjamin Wines

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless his holy name.
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always accuse,
Nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
Nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
As far as the east is from the west,
So far he removes our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion for his children,
So the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul. from Psalm 103

We look forward to sharing in Worship with you, starting at 11:00AM. Today, Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the sermon, “Judging Others”. We will be reading from Romans 14:1-12 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 103:1, 8-13, 22.

Questions for Further Reflection:

In this passage, Paul calls the Roman Christians to set aside differences and build community.

  • How does God help us break down barriers?
  • Why might building community require courage?

The Greatest Commandment

“The Greatest Commandment”
Romans 13:8-14
Rev. Benjamin Wines

Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes,
And I will observe it to the end.
Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
And observe it with my whole heart.
Lead me in the path of your commandments,
For I delight in it.
Turn my heart to you decrees,
And not to selfish gain.
Turn my eyes from looking at vanities;
Give me life in your ways.
Confirm to your servant your promise,
Which is for those who fear you.
Turn away the disgrace that I dread,
For your ordinances are good.
See, I have longed for your precepts;
In your righteousness give me life. from Psalm 119:33-40

We look forward to sharing in Worship with you, starting at 11:00AM. Today, Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the sermon, “The Greatest Commandment”. We will be reading from Romans 13:8-14, and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 119:33-40.

Love and Blessings

Love and Blessings
Rev. Benjamin Wines

Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity,
And I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
Test my heart and mind.
For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
And I walk in faithfulness to you.
I wash my hands in innocence,
And go around your altar, O Lord,
Singing aloud a song of thanksgiving,
And telling all your wondrous deeds.
O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell,
And the place where your glory abides. Psalm 26:1-3, 6-8

We look forward to sharing in Worship with you, starting at 11:00AM. Pastor Benjamin Wines will bring the sermon, “Love and Blessings”, based on Romans 12:9-21. Our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 26.

Questions for Further Reflection:

Paul gives direct orders to the Roman Christians on how to treat each other.

  • Which one speaks to you, specifically?
  • What can you do in your daily life to show others you genuinely love them?

What Did Jesus Say?!

What Did Jesus Say?! ” Rev. Benjamin Wines

Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord;
Praise the name of the Lord.
Blessed be the name of the Lord
From this time on and forevermore.
From the rising of the sun to its setting
The name of the Lord is to be praised.
The Lord is high above all nations,
And his glory above the heavens.
Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high,
Who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust,
And lifts the needy from the ash heap,
To make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.
He gives the barren woman a home,
Making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord! Psalm 113

We look forward to Worshiping with you! Sunday Service starts at 11:00. We will be reading from Luke 16:1-15. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the sermon, “What Did Jesus Say?!”

Questions for Further Reflection:
This parable is not an easy one to understand.
What questions does it raise in your mind?
How should we, as Christians, wrestle with difficult teachings from Jesus?

The Splendor of God’s House

The Splendor of God’s House
Rev. Benjamin Wines

O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
Break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
With the lyre and the sound of melody.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
Make a joyful noise before the Lord.
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
The world and those who live in it.
Let the floods clap their hands;
Let the hills sing together for joy
At the presence of the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

Psalm 98:1, 4-9

We hope you will join us in Worship at 11:00AM. We will be reading from Haggai 1:15b-2:9. Rev. Benjamin Wines will share the sermon, “The Splendor of God’s House”.

Putting God First (Haggai 1:1-15a)

“Putting God First” – Rev. Benjamin Wines

Call to Worship (from Psalm 85:8-13)

Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
For he will speak peace to his people,
To his faithful,
To those who turn to him in their hearts.
Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
That his glory may dwell in our land.
Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
Righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
And righteousness will look down from the sky.
The Lord will give what is good,
And our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before him,
And will make a path for his steps.

We look forward to joining with you in Worship today. We will be reading from Haggai 1:1-15a. Rev. Benjamin Wines will share the sermon, “Putting God First”.

Questions for Further Reflection:
We often talk about having a relationship with God.
What are the hallmarks of a good relationship?
How are we meant to maintain our relationship with God?

Useless Idols

“Useless Idols” – Rev. Benjamin Wines

Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord;
Give praise, O servants of the Lord,
You that stand in the house of the Lord,
In the courts of the house of our God.
Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
Sing to his name, for he is gracious.
For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself,
Israel as his own possession.
Your name, O Lord, endures forever,
Your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages.
For the Lord will vindicate his people,
And have compassion on his servants.
The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
The work of human hands.
They have mouths, but they do not speak;
They have eyes but, they do not see;
They have ears, but they do not hear,
And there is no breath in their mouths.
Those who make them and all who trust in them
Shall become like them. Psalm 135:1-4, 13-18

We hope that you will join us for Worship at 11:00AM, either in-person or via livestream. Today, Rev. Benjamin Wines brings the message entitled, “Useless Idols”. We will be reading from Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-20.

Questions for Further Reflection:
Idolatry is one of the oldest, most insidious sins out there.
Why do people turn to idols in the first place?
What does God offer to people that idols cannot?

“Though None Go With Me”

“Though None Go With Me” – Rev. Benjamin Wines

We look forward to sharing in Worship with you, starting at 11:00AM. We will be reading from 3 John 1:1-15, and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 119:129-136. Rev. Benjamin Wines will share the sermon, “Though None Go With Me”.

Questions for Further Reflection:
This letter alludes to Christian hospitality in the face of disagreement.
How should we treat people we disagree with?
How do we cultivate hospitality in our church and in our lives?

Knowing Your “Why” in Worship

We look forward to sharing in Worship with you this morning. Our guest speaker, Mackenzie Smith, will share the sermon, “Knowing Your ‘Why’ in Worship”. We will be reading from Deuteronomy 6:1-9, 12, 23-25; and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 139:1-4, 7-12.

O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You discern my thoughts from far away.
You search out my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
O Lord, you know it completely.
Where can I go from your spirit?
Or where can I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the limits of the sea,
Even there your hand shall lead me,
And your right hand shall hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
And the light around me become night,”
Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day,
For darkness is as light to you.