October 1, 2017
Sermon Message by Rev. Dr. Parrish L. Bridges
"Love Has Good Manners"
Message Series: Building Blocks to Great Relationships
Theme: The Characteristics of Love
LISTEN to the SERMON MESSAGE HERE
Call to Worship
Come, one and all to meet God here. Let all who are suffering find hope in this place.
We have come that God might raise us up. Our only hope is in the Maker of heaven and earth.
Come, all who are weary and oppressed. God offers relief and enlists our mutual helpfulness.
God hears our prayers and answers us. God equips us to be helpful to one another.
Come together to sing songs of praise to God. Give thanks for God’s wondrous deeds.
God’s glory abides in this place of worship. God’s presence and help are real.
Prayer of Confession
God and Father of us all, we were created by You to live in harmony with You, with one another, with the world around us, and with ourselves. By our own choices we have so often lived in discord, confusion, and weakness. Through Your Son, Jesus Christ, You have come to us with outstretched arms of love, calling for us to live once again in harmonious relationships. We come now to receive Your never-failing love and forgiveness. (Moment of personal silent prayer). Amen.
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Bible Texts: NIV (New International Version)
Old Testament: Psalm 66: 16-20
16) Come and hear, all you who fear God;
let me tell you what he has done for me.
17) I cried out to him with my mouth;
his praise was on my tongue.
18) If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened;
19) but God has surely listened
and has heard my prayer.
20) Praise be to God,
who has not rejected my prayer
or withheld his love from me!
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Bible Texts: NIV (New International Version)
New Testament: 1 Peter 3: 13-17
Suffering for Doing
13) Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14) But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15) But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16) keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17) For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 13: 1-7
1) If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2) If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3) If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5) It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6) Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7) It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.