Your August 27, Lectionary Resources

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Lectionary Readings — 13th Sunday after Pentecost, August 27, 2023

Exodus 1:8-2:10; Psalm 124; Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 16:13-20.

Call to Worship (based on Psalm 124)

Leader: When we were trapped and overwhelmed, where would we have been if the Lord had not been on our side?

People: Our struggles and fears would have overtaken us, but God was with us!

Leader: The chaos of life tried to pull us under, but the Lord did not let us drown.

People: God's strong hand rescued us from danger, and we are free!

Leader: We were ensnared, but now we have escaped. The Lord was our helper.

People: Our rescue comes from the Lord, the Creator of all things!

All: Together we celebrate the saving power of our God, who rescues us time and again. Praise the Lord, our Protector and Savior! Amen.

Opening Prayer (based on Matthew 16:13-20)

Gracious and Loving God,

As we gather here today, we reflect on Your question to Your disciples, the question that echoes in our hearts: "Who do you say that I am?" Lord, we pause to consider who You are to us, who You have revealed Yourself to be in our lives, and who You are calling us to become.

Jesus, You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. You are our Savior and Redeemer. We thank You for the faith that You have built within us, the rock upon which our lives are founded.

We ask You, Lord, to open our hearts and minds to Your presence here with us. Help us to recognize You in the words we sing, in the prayers we offer, in the fellowship we share, and in the world around us.

Empower us, Lord, to forgive and to love, to act with justice and mercy in Your name. Teach us to live as faithful disciples, standing strong in the face of life's storms, grounded in the truth that You are with us always.

Fill this place with Your Spirit, that we might be inspired to live lives that honor You, lives that reflect the love, compassion, and grace that You have shown us. May we be faithful witnesses to Your kingdom here on earth.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our Rock and our Salvation, we pray.

Amen.

Sermon Outline (based on Romans 12:1-8)

Purpose: To guide the congregation in understanding and responding to God's call for a renewed mind and life as delineated in Romans 12:1-8. Through an exploration of the principles of personal sacrifice, transformation, unity within the body of Christ, and the diligent practice of spiritual gifts, the sermon seeks to inspire believers to live a life consecrated to God. By focusing on these principles and linking them with other biblical passages, the message aims to make these concepts more accessible and engaging. Ultimately, the sermon's purpose is to challenge and equip the congregation to live in alignment with God's will, recognizing their unique roles within the Christian community, and exercising their spiritual gifts with excellence and humility.

Title: A Renewed Mind: Responding to God's Call (Romans 12:1-8)

Introduction:

• Introduction the broader context of Romans 12.

• The need for transformation in the Christian life.

• A call to recognize and exercise spiritual gifts.

I. Presenting a Personal Sacrifice (Romans 12:1)

A. The Plea for Consecration

• Offering Bodies as a Living Sacrifice (Hebrews 13:15-16)

• Being Holy and Pleasing to God (1 Peter 1:15-16)

B. The Power of Worship

• Our Spiritual Act of Worship (John 4:23-24)

II. Pursuing a Transformed Perspective (Romans 12:2)

A. The Warning against Conformity

• Not Conforming to the World (1 John 2:15-17)

B. The Way of Transformation

• Renewing the Mind (Ephesians 4:23)

• Knowing God's Will (Colossians 1:9-10)

III. Perceiving Our Place in the Body (Romans 12:3-5)

A. The Principle of Humility

• Thinking Soberly of Ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4)

B. The Picture of Unity

• Being One Body in Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

IV. Practicing Our Particular Gifts (Romans 12:6-8)

A. The Diversity of Gifts

• Having Different Gifts According to Grace (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

B. The Duty to Serve

• Using Gifts to Serve Others (1 Peter 4:10-11)

C. The Desire for Excellence

• Faithfully Administering God's Grace (2 Timothy 2:15)

Conclusion:

• Summarizing the main points.

• A call to personal dedication and recognition of spiritual gifts.

• Challenge to apply these principles in everyday life.

• Closing prayer, inviting the congregation to respond to God's call to a renewed mind and life.

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