The Hazardous Gospel–message preached by Barbara Shafer at Advocate Condell Medical Center, January 26, 2014

Some of you may remember clerks who worked the customer service desk at our local Post Office in days gone by.  One of those clerks was Mervin.  I really liked Mervin.  I came to know a different side of him when one day, I was mailing copies of a sermon I’d given, sending them to a bunch of friends, including postage to mail it back to me.  The instructions were to let it minister to people they knew and to share the “traveling” Gospel, because I DO Love to Tell the Story.

Well, I brought my packages up to the desk and Mervin asked the usual litany of questions about packages, ““Does this parcel contain anything fragile, liquid, perishable, or potentially hazardous?”  I told him it was the Gospel.  He smiled at me and said with a chuckle, “Should we list it as potentially hazardous then?”  I laughed because I knew what he was saying as he continued, “It depends on whether someone receives it and what they do with it…as it says in the Bible.”

I learned that Mervin was a clerk by day, but at night and on weekends, he pastored a church.  It was a small but spiritually vibrant African American church in a somewhat dying neighborhood.  We became friends and I went to his church to hear him preach.

The Gospel is potentially hazardous depending on whether we receive it and what we do with it when we do receive it.  It’s hazardous to our old way of life.

That’s what our passage today talks about.  When we receive the Gospel, our response will be hazardous to our old way of life but it will be a really good thing because our new way of life will be true life.

The Gospel is hazardous in that it calls us to:

1. PERSONAL HOLINESS
2. FEAR OF GOD
3. AND LOVING OTHERS LIKE JESUS LOVED THEM

All of these things–Personal Holiness, Fear of God, and Loving Others like Jesus Loved Them– can’t be adequately done apart from the Gospel.  It is hazardous to our old way of life.

Where does it say this in our passage for today?  Well, let’s take a look:

1 Peter 1:14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

When we become followers of Jesus Christ and when His Gospel—the Good News of salvation for those who believe in Him—is embraced, we become children in the family of God.  We’re adopted out of our old life of sin, of evil desires, of ignorance to God’s ways and we are called to take on our new family name.

Just as when a child is adopted into a family and takes on the family name and becomes under the new parental authority, so we do too when we take on the name Christian.  We live under the loving guidance of our Father in heaven.  In the Christian life, we have a new knowledge of who God is.  We experience God’s Holy Spirit coming to dwell within our hearts and we learn to listen to God’s instruction.  Therefore we are no longer uninformed about what holy actions are and must learn to act accordingly.

The Gospel is hazardous to our old way of life, calling us out of that and toward personal holiness.

After I became a Christian, God began working on my personal holiness.  I had a silly habit of feeling guilty when I had not allowed 5 days mailing time for bills, even if 2 days would get it there on time.  So when I wrote out my check, I back dated it.  I didn’t think that God particularly cared about my doing that since no one was really being hurt by it.  I thought that it was just covering my embarrassment, even minus the embarr and the ment.  One day, I was writing out a check and back dated it.  God’s Holy Spirit said into my conscience, “How about you void that, tear it up, and be honest this time.”  I had no idea that God even cared about that.  But now I do and whenever I’m tempted to do that, I remember that my personal holiness is important to God because I bear His name as His child.

Yes, the Gospel can be hazardous to our old way of life, even things we don’t think He cares about.  Personal holiness extends from the truly important to the seemingly insignificant.  We all have our areas where change is necessary and the Gospel will be hazardous to those wrong things we did in ignorance.

But the Gospel is also hazardous to what we might fear. 

Many of us are afraid of something as our natural default.  Some of us are afraid of strangers or of heights or of the dark.  Some of us are afraid of the dentist or shots or something.  But that’s not what our passage is talking about.  Our passage is talking about the fear of God.

Sometimes we’ll hear people talk about putting the fear of God into someone.  But in reality it’s more like fear of the belt or the paddle.  The fear of God is something totally different.  The fear of God is a reverent awareness that God is God and we are not.  It’s a reverent awareness that God is supremely knowledgeable, even about things we think are hidden.  It’s a reverent awareness that He will judge our actions, or as it says in our passage:

1 Peter 1:17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.

We’re strangers because many people think that Christians are a bunch of kooks, believing in God.  We’re strangers among such people.  We’re different and don’t fit in anymore.  But we know something that they don’t know:

 1 Peter 1:18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

The Gospel is hazardous to our former ways of thinking because Jesus bought us and didn’t pay for us with anything we could have used on our own—enough silver or gold.  No, those only lead to the empty old ways of trusting in ourselves.  Jesus bought us with His blood.  It sounds kind of gross, but Scripture says Hebrews 9:22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

This is a NT explanation of what is found in everyone’s favorite book of the Bible, Leviticus 17:11 For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.

To rescue my life, your life, blood had to be shed…and that blood was Jesus’.  The Gospel is hazardous because we cannot go back to believing that we can save ourselves.  We must swallow our pride in believing in our own messianic abilities and instead, learn to fear God who not only judges impartially but judges through Jesus’ purchase of us.  The Gospel is hazardous in that it calls us out of our former lives of empty days and self-reliance and into a life of holiness and fear of God by believing in His Son whom He sent to purchase our souls.

About Jesus, our passage continues with a third hazard of the Gospel: its call for us to love like Jesus loved.

1 Peter 1:20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.  23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

Because God loved us and sent His Son Jesus, our response as Christians is to love others.  Not just to love people who are lovable like maybe parents or children or siblings or a spouse.  There’s a higher standard of loving even those who are our enemies.  How hard is that!  Don’t we all have people in our lives who annoy us or find really unpleasant?  In our old ways of life, loving them would have been very hard–indeed, impossible!  But the Gospel is hazardous to our old way of life.  We know that we have been bought with the highest price paid…as Scripture says, Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us….10 For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

Think about it: We were God’s enemies, but Jesus loved us so much that He ransomed us anyway in order to demolish our old ways of human selfishness and loving only the lovable.  Now, we seek God because we’ve been born again.  And we’re called to that higher standard of love.

Once you’ve been “born again”—a great and descriptive phrase that has received an unfortunate and undeserved connotation—because the idea is that once you’ve been born, there is no going back to the womb.  Once you’ve been born there is no old way anymore.  Once you’ve been born, everything is ahead of you and nothing is behind you.  The Gospel is hazardous because there is no turning back to the way we were before.

Much as many a mother who just wants to take a shower (without seeing the toddler’s hands under the door or hearing the doorknob rattling amidst cries for Mommy) wishes that for just a moment she could shove the child back inside her belly to take a shower in peace…and many a mother of a teenager wishes she could have the teenage years pass back in the womb so that we didn’t have to deal with teenage drama, the truth is there is no going back!

That’s why “born again” is such a great phrase.  It accurately depicts how the Gospel is hazardous to our old way of life.  There’s no going back and that’s a good thing!

• It’s hazardous to our old sinful ways.  We are called to be holy, obeying the Word of Truth.
• It’s hazardous to our old fears and what we trusted as wisdom.  We are called to fear God and Him alone.  That’s true wisdom!
• It’s hazardous to our old view of love.  We are called to love others as Jesus did–a high standard to be sure, but possible by the power of the Gospel.

So where does today find you?  Have you been born again? 

Have you embraced the hazardous, risky Gospel and the new way of life that represents true living?  Have you accepted God’s forgiveness offered in the blood of Christ?  Have you decided to pursue a future of holiness because the God you serve is holy?  Have you let go of fears of man and worldly wisdom and acknowledged that fear of God is the beginning of wisdom?  Have you made the decision to love as Jesus did even if you fall short from time to time?

If you haven’t, then you can be born again, no going back to that old empty way of hopelessness, fear, trusting in yourself, and worrying about the future.  You can be born again to be the person God has always desired you to be: holy, godly, and loving.  You can pray something like this:

Lord God, I acknowledge you and the love you had for us in sending your Son Jesus.  I admit what you already know—that I fall short all the time of the holiness and call to love others that you would have me to show.  I admit that heaven is not inherited second-hand by the faith of others, but that it’s a gift I must receive.  I understand that heaven is not purchased by anything I can bring.  I ask that you would make me born-again by the blood of Christ, the cleansing of forgiveness and the power of your Holy Spirit.  Remind me, Lord, that there is no turning back to old evil ways.  Strengthen me to pursue the certainty of eternal life though it is hazardous to the old ways I knew.  I thank you for sending Jesus and ask that His forgiveness would cover me and help me to live a life of holiness and love.  Thank you Jesus.  Amen

Chapel Worship Guide for Sunday 9 AM, January 26, 2014

The Nemmers Family Chapel at Advocate Condell

Worship music this morning is provided courtesy of the First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville

Prelude—LeAnn Malecha

Welcome—Barbara Shafer, Christ Church Highland Park

Worship in Song 

Scripture Reading (Old Testament)  

Leviticus 11: 44 I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves about on the ground. 45 I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

Scripture Reading (New Testament)

1 Peter 1:14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

Prayer

Message:  “The Hazardous Gospel” by Barbara Shafer

The Gospel is Hazardous to our old way of life, calling us to a new life of:

1. Personal Holiness
2. Fear of God
3. And Loving Others like Jesus Loved Them

The Gospel may be hazardous to the empty things of our past, but the new life ahead—with victory in Jesus, the beauty of holiness, and eternal life with our God who loves us—will be well worth the risk we took in being born-again.

Benediction—Barbara Shafer

Chapel Worship Guide for Sunday 9 AM, January 19, 2014

The Nemmers Family Chapel at Advocate Condell

Prelude— Amazing Grace, LeAnn Malecha, First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville

Welcome—Barbara Shafer, Christ Church Highland Park

Today’s teaching leader is Nicole Collins (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and First & Santa Cruz Lutheran Parish of Joliet, Illinois)

GATHERING , WE CONFESS AND RECEIVE MERCY  

Leader: Blessed be the holy Trinity, † one God,

who spoke light into creation,

who calls us to listen and follow,

who sends us to shine like stars.

 ALL: Amen.

 Leader: Let us come before God, confessing our sin.  Silence is kept for reflection.  Holy and merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against our sisters and brothers and against you. We cherish the values of this world. We cause others to stumble. The earth is wounded by our excess. Have mercy, O God. Forgive us, renew us, and raise us up on eagles’ wings, that we may do your will with courage and delight.

 ALL: Amen

 Leader: Hear the voice from heaven: “You are my own, my beloved.” God gives power to the weary and strengthens the powerless.  Be cleansed, be healed, for in the name of † Jesus Christ, I declare to you the forgiveness of your sins and the revealing of God’s reign.

 ALL: Amen  

Worship in Song:  

Hymn #304  There is a Name I love

Hymn#344 Be Thou my Vision. 

Scripture Lessons

A Reading from Isaiah (49:1-7)  49:1 Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb he named me. 2He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. 3And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” 4But I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the Lord, and my reward with my God.” 5And now the Lord says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the sight of the Lord, and my God has become my strength— 6he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

7Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the slave of rulers, “Kings shall see and stand up, princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

A Reading from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians (1:1-9)

1Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus,5for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— 6just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— 7so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John (1:29-42)   “Glory to You, O Lord”

John 1: 29The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ 31I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.” 35The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”

 37The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. 40One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). 42He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

— “Praise to You, O Christ”

Message by Nicole Collins

Worship Response: Hymn 484 It only Takes a Spark

Affirmation of Faith (inspired by C.S. Lewis) (Please be seated)

Leader: We celebrate!

All:   The triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The incarnate Son: Jesus Christ, fully God, fully man.

The goodness and beauty of the world, created and sustained by the Word of God’s power.

Salvation by grace received through faith in Jesus Christ, who alone, through His life, death and bodily resurrection, redeems us from sin and reconciles us unto God.

The essential unity of all believers, who together form one Church, diverse in form and expression, of which Christ is the Head.

The continuing ministry of God the Holy Spirit, who empowers the worship, service and witness of God’s people in all their activities.

The ultimate deliverance of the children of God and of all nature from the destructive consequences of the Fall. AMEN.

FOR EXTENSION OF GOD’S KINGDOM  (Inspired from Martin Luther’s prayer #49)

Leader: Saving God, thank you for setting us free from darkness, captivity, and oppression, and making us part of Christ’s body.

Help us to live harmoniously, serving and helping one another, and being your instruments to bring good news, healing, and liberty to others.

ALL: Amen

BENDICTION Scattering Proclamation

Leader:  God most high, God with us, God poured out on us,

In the name of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit

ALL:   Amen.

Chapel Worship Guide for Sunday 9 AM, January 12, 2104

The Nemmers Family Chapel at Advocate Condell

Prelude—LeAnn Malecha First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville.

Welcome—Barbara Shafer, Christ Church Highland Park

Worship in Song: 

 Like a River Glorious (Hymn 397)

I Love to Tell the Story (Hymn 302)

Prayer

Message –“Resting in Jesus” by Nathan LeMahieu (Campus Pastor, Christ Church Highland Park)   

Luke 6:1 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. 2 Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” 3 Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” 5 Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” 6 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. 7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there. 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 11 But they were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Worship Response 

The Lord has said: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6:16)

 People:  Let us turn from rebellion and seek the way of life.

 The Lord has said:  “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

People: Let us trust you, O Lord, to guide our lives.

The Lord has said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11: 28-30)

People:  Let us seek the way of humility and rest.

The Lord has said:  “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)

People:  Let us hear your voice and find rest in your Truth.

All:  Amen.

Benediction—Barbara Shafer

Chapel Worship Guide for Sunday 9 AM, January 5, 2014

The Nemmers Family Chapel at Advocate Condell

Prelude  

Today’s worship music is provided by the First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville.

Welcome—Barbara Shafer, Christ Church Highland Park

Worship in Song: 

• Hymn 392 Take Time to be Holy
• Hymn 349  May the Mind of Christ My Savior

Scripture (Old Testament)  Proverbs 1:1-7

Proverbs 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; 3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; 4 for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young– 5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance– 6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Scripture Reading (New Testament) 2 Tim. 3:14-16

2 Timothy 3:14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

Worship Response:  Hymn 338 Lord, I Want to Be a Christian

Prayer

Message:  by Bill Slater, Bill Slater Ministries, and Christ Church Lake Forest

Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God– this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is– his good, pleasing and perfect will. 

Benediction—Bill Slater

Chapel Worship Guide for Sunday 9 AM, December 29, 2013

The Nemmers Family Chapel at Advocate Condell

Prelude 

Welcome—Barbara Shafer, Christ Church Highland Park

Worship in Song: 

O Worship the King, All Glorious Above (Hymn 21) 

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (Hymn 25) 

Great is Thy Faithfulness (Hymn 37)

Scripture Reading (Old Testament) 

Genesis 14: 17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Scripture Reading (New Testament)

Hebrews 4:14-5:10

Hebrews 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are– yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

5:1 Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. 4 No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” 6 And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” 7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Prayer

Message:  “Beyond Sufficient as High Priest” by Barbara Shafer

Because Jesus is beyond sufficient as our high priest, we ought to:

1. Hold firmly to the faith we profess
2. Approach the throne of grace with confidence
3. Trust Him to give us perfect eternal security and hope and meaning in life today.

Benediction—Barbara Shafer

Chapel Worship Guide for Sunday 9 AM, December 22, 2013

The Nemmers Family Chapel at Advocate Condell

Prelude– In the Bleak Mid-winter

Today’s service is provided by the First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville.

Welcome—Barbara Shafer, Christ Church Highland Park

 Worship in Song: 

 Angels We Have Heard on High

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Scripture (Old Testament)  Ezekiel 37:21’This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. 22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms….24 “‘My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees… 27 My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.'”

Worship Response: Joy to the World

Scripture Reading (New Testament) Matthew 2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'” …9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.

Prayer

Message:  “BORN King” by Barbara Shafer

There are 4 reactions to Jesus’ being BORN King.

1. We can reject Him because He is not what we expected of a King.
2. We can reject Him out of fear of what Jesus’ being BORN King means to life as we know it.
3. We can reject Him in spite of hearing the Truth, and deny He is King to save ourselves conflict with others.
4. Or we can WORSHIP Him because He was BORN King.

Benediction—Barbara Shafer

Chapel Worship Guide for Sunday 9 AM, December 15, 2013

The Nemmers Family Chapel at Advocate Condell

Welcome—Barbara Shafer, Christ Church Highland Park

Worship in Song: 

Hymn 116 Good Christian Men Rejoice

Hymn 105 What Child is This?

Scripture (Old Testament)   

Ps. 22:1-3, And David spoke the words of this song to the Lord in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;  3 My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My savior, You save me from violence.

Scripture Reading (New Testament)

Ro. 11:25-27, 25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,

“The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”27 “This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”

Prayer

Message:  by Bill Slater, Bill Slater Ministries, and Christ Church Lake Forest

Worship Response:    Hymn 102 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Benediction—Bill Slater

Chapel Worship Guide for Sunday 9AM, December 8th, 2013

The Nemmers Family Chapel at Advocate Condell

WELCOME—

COLLECT: Nicole Collins (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and First & Santa Cruz Lutheran Parish of Joliet, Illinois)

LEADER: Turn us around, Lord God Almighty, from a daily quest for personal happiness to a daily quest to be your people. We repent of our selfishness, which has not brought us joy, and ask you to intervene mightily in our lives, that your will may take precedence over our own

ALL: AMEN

WORSHIP IN SONG: HYMN 457—LEAD ON, O KING ETERNAL

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Isaiah 11:1-10

NRSV 11A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 2The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. 3His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; 4but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 5Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. 6The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. 7The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. 9They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. 10 On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

NEW TESTAMENT LESSON: Romans 15:4-13

NRSV 4For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. 5May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, 6so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name”; 10and again he says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people”; 11and again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him”; 12and again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.”

13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

LEADER: A Reading from the Holy Gospel of St. Matthew chapter 3

ALL: Glory to you, O Lord

Leader: 3In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”3This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’” 4Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.5Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 9Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11“I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 13Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

WORSHIP RESPONSE: Hymn 35—Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

PRAYER

SERMON MESSAGE: Nicole Collins

HYMN OF THE DAY: Hymn 131—All Glory, Laud and Honor

BENEDICTION—Nicole Collins

Chapel Worship Guide for Sunday 9 AM,

December 1, 2013, The Nemmers Family Chapel at Advocate Condell

Advent 1—Praise in Scripture and Song–Worship this morning led by the First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville 

Today is the first Sunday of Advent—a time when we celebrate Jesus’ first coming.  We look back today at the promise of hope which is why if you’ve ever seen an Advent wreath, today’s candle to be lit is the candle of Prophecy of Hope.  Humankind has been straying ever since the Garden of Eden when we fell from grace, so God promised to send us a Servant, a Shepherd like Himself.

Scripture (Old Testament))   Ezekiel 34:11 “‘For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.

That person who would seek all those sheep who were lost would find His first days upon this earth in the humility of a manger.  This amazing and holy Shepherd was introduced to us as the little baby Jesus whose birth we celebrate at Christmas.

Scripture Reading (New Testament) Luke 1: 26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

As we continue through this first week of Advent, let’s remember the importance of God keeping His promise—the prophecy of hope—with the first Advent as we continue to look forward to Jesus return.