The Service in PDF format is at: March 7, 2021 Service
Full Audio of service is at: Service Audio (note: No video for this service)
Third Sunday in Lent
Online Service
March 6, 2021
AS WE GATHER…The Ten Commandments still hold a central part of our society as they are engraved in our historic churches and capitol buildings. When we take an honest look at the Ten Commandments, we see that we do not quite measure up. It would be a mistake to try harder to measure up. We never can measure up to the law’s demands. What we can do is to look to Jesus. He did measure up. Today this Jesus comes to us and gives us His perfection! His body and blood were given and shed for us so that we can rest easy in Jesus’ work.
INVOCATION AND CALL TO WORSHIP
Pastor: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
People: Amen.
Confessional Address
Pastor: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
People: Amen.
Pastor: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Silence for reflection
WE CONFESS OUR SIN…
Pastor: Most merciful God,
People: We confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
…HEARING GOD’S FORGIVENESS
Pastor: Almighty God in His mercy sent His Son, Jesus, into our world to shine as a light for all people, including You. Jesus has died for your sins and is risen for your righteousness. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
OPENING HYMN: “People Need the Lord” TOSB 117
By: Greg Nelson & Phill McHugh Arr. by Henry Wiens © 1983 River Oaks Music Co. (Tree Group)/Shepherd’s Fold Music.
Every day they pass me by, I can see it in their eye;
Empty people filled with care, headed who knows where.
On they go through private pain, living fear to fear.
Laughter hides the silent cries only Jesus hears.
CHORUS
People need the Lord. People need the Lord.
At the end of broken dreams He’s the open door.
People need the Lord. People need the Lord.
When will we realize people need the Lord.
We are called to take His light
to a world where wrong seems right;
What could be too great a cost for sharing life with one who’s lost.
Through His love our hearts can feel all the grief they bear.
They must hear the words of life only we can share.
CHORUS
Pastor: Let us pray. O God, who in wisdom created us, though we would become weak and rebellious creatures, knowing that Your Son’s sacrifice of Himself on the cross would be necessary to save us,
People: keep us strong in faith, so that we preach only Christ crucified and boast only in Your strong love and mercy toward us,
Pastor: through Jesus, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
SERVICE OF THE WORD
THE EPISTLE I Corinthians 1:18-31
Reader 1: The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing,
Reader 2: but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
Reader 1: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
Reader 2: and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
Reader 1: Where is the one who is wise?
Reader 2: Where is the scribe?
Reader 1: Where is the debater of this age?
Reader 2: Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
Reader 1: For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom,
Reader 2: it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
Reader 1: For Jews demand signs
Reader 2: and Greeks seek wisdom,
Both Readers: but we preach Christ crucified,
Reader 1: a stumbling block to Jews
Reader 2: and folly to Gentiles,
Reader 1: but to those who are called,
Reader 2: both Jews and Greeks,
Both Readers: Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Reader 1: For the foolishness of God is wiser than men,
Reader 2: and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Reader 1: For consider your calling, brothers:
Reader 2: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,
Reader 1: not many were powerful,
Reader 2: not many were of noble birth.
Reader 1: But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise;
Reader 2: God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
Reader 1: God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,
Reader 2: so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
Reader 1: He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus,
Reader 2: whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Therefore, as it is written,
Both Readers: “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
SERMON “We Don’t Need Super-Heroes”
Pastor: Holy God, you are worthy of all honor and praise. You are the King of Kings, the Lord of lords. All creation worships you. All good things are from you. The greatest and richest ruler is nothing compared to who you are.
God, clothe each of us with the humility of Jesus. Give us a gentle spirit and a kind heart—things we cannot have when our pride gets in the way. Help us put others before ourselves and you above all. Give us a hunger for humility and grace.
Thank you that even when my pride wells up, you will give me another chance, and in your grace, you will humble me. Thank you for your promise to give grace to the humble.
People: Amen.
Pastor: Lord over all, we ask Your gracious answers to the prayers of those near and dear to us, (including…). Visit, relieve, console, and uplift them according to Your plans, using us where possible as part of the answer to their petitions. These and any other things You would have us ask of You, heavenly Father, grant to us for the sake of the bitter sufferings and death of You Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
People: Amen.
ALL: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, Forever and ever. Amen.
DISMISSAL