The Longing That Leads to Brotherly Love
TEXT: 1 Peter 2:1–3
ONLINE WORSHIP SERVICE (4.18.2021)
CALL TO WORSHIP:
As we gather for worship this morning, I’d like to call you to worship with the words of Psalms 150…
1 Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens!
2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!
OPENING WORSHIP:
“All Creatures of Our God and King”
worship:
“The Wonderful Cross”
affirmation:
Isaiah 53:3–11
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the LORD’S will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
WORSHIP:
“Something Greater”
“Christ Our Hope In Life And Death”
Prayer:
O Lord we look forward to the day when sin and death will be destroyed! And we place all of our hope in you that you will keep your promise to make that happen!
Yet we are still in this world. And we groan, asking the question “How long, O Lord?” How long will you let the curse wreak havoc? How long will you allow people’s live to be devastated by sin? Shootings in our nation are steady in the news, protests and riots are frequent. Our political climate is polarized, divisive, and often toxic. Our nation is divided over many issues,…..transgender rights, racism, how to respond to the Corona Virus. International relationships are on edge as nations vie for first place, attempting to become more powerful.
What are we to do?
O Lord we set our eyes upon you, and we confess this world is not our home. Our hope is not here. Rather, we set our hope fully on the grace that will be brought to us when you are revealed at your coming (1 Peter 1:13)! And we remind ourselves that only your word will remain forever (1Peter 1:25)….not our nation, not our problems, and not our pain.
So, until you come again, make us agents of grace and kindness. Use us to heal wounds and gently listen. Cause us as your people to empathize with the hurting all the while holding out the light of your Word, longing for the nations to be healed by your saving power.
And as we sit now under your Word, heal us. Address the needs of your people. Fill us with confidence in you. Guide us in the pathway of your choosing.
Amen!
READ SERMON TEXT:
1 Peter 2:1-3
SERMON:
Pastor Mark Kernan
Title: “The Longing that Leads to Brotherly Love”
Main Idea: Believers will grow in brotherly love as they pursue their highest pleasure in God himself
Sermon Outline:
I. Put away those things that poison the body of Christ (1 Peter 2:1)
II. Pursue the only thing that will produce brotherly love (1 Peter 2:2–3)
CLOSING WORSHIP:
“How Firm A Foundation”