Your June 2nd, Sermon & Ministry Resources

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Lectionary Readings — Second Sunday after Pentecost — June 2, 2024

1 Samuel 3:1-10; Psalm 139:1-6,13-18; 2 Corinthians 4:5-12; Mark 2:23-3:6

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Call to Worship (based on Psalm 139:1-6,13-18)

Leader: O Lord, You have searched us and known us.

People: You know when we sit down and when we rise up; You discern our thoughts from far away.

Leader: You search out our path and our lying down, and are acquainted with all our ways.

People: Even before a word is on our tongues, O Lord, You know it completely.

Leader: You hem us in, behind and before, and lay Your hand upon us.

People: Such knowledge is too wonderful for us; it is so high that we cannot attain it.

Leader: For it was You who formed our inward parts; You knit us together in our mothers’ wombs.

People: We praise You, for we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; that we know very well.

Leader: Our frames were not hidden from You when we were being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

People: Your eyes beheld our unformed substance. In Your book were written all the days that were formed for us, when none of them as yet existed.

Leader: How weighty to us are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

People: We try to count them—they are more than the sand; we come to the end—we are still with You.

Leader: Let us worship our Creator, who knows us intimately and loves us deeply.

People: With thankful hearts, we gather to praise and adore the One who formed us and sustains us. Amen.

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Opening Prayer (based on 2 Corinthians 4:5-12)

Let us pray,

Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble hearts, acknowledging Your greatness and our need for Your grace. As we reflect on Your Word from 2 Corinthians 4:5-12, we are reminded that we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as servants for His sake.

Lord, we thank You for the light of the gospel that shines in our hearts, revealing the knowledge of Your glory in the face of Jesus Christ. We recognize that we are like jars of clay, fragile and ordinary, yet carrying the extraordinary treasure of Your grace and power. It is not by our strength, but by Your surpassing power that we are sustained and enabled to serve.

In our moments of affliction, remind us that we are not crushed. When we are perplexed, give us the assurance that we are not driven to despair. In our times of persecution, help us to remember that we are never forsaken. When we feel struck down, lift us up with the knowledge that we are not destroyed. Help us to see that the hardships we face are a sharing in the suffering of Jesus, so that His life may also be revealed in us.

Lord, as we carry around in our bodies the death of Jesus, may His life be evident in our mortal bodies. Empower us to live out our faith with courage and conviction, trusting that Your life-giving power is at work within us, even in our weaknesses.

We pray for strength to endure the trials we face, for wisdom to navigate the challenges before us, and for the grace to reflect Your love and light to those around us. May our lives be a testament to Your transformative power, drawing others to the hope and salvation found in Jesus Christ.

We offer ourselves to You, Lord, as vessels for Your glory. Fill us with Your Spirit, guide us by Your truth, and use us for Your purposes. May Your light shine brightly through us, illuminating the darkness and bringing hope to a world in need.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, we pray. Amen.

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Sermon Outline: [NOTE to Paid subscribers — scroll down for the full manuscript sermon].

Sermon Outline: “Known and Loved: Embracing God's Intimate Knowledge” (Psalm 139:1-18)

Introduction:

• Introduce Psalm 139 as one of the most intimate and profound reflections on God’s relationship with humanity.

• Emphasize the themes of God’s complete knowledge of us, His constant presence, and His intricate involvement in our creation.

I. Comprehensive Knowledge (Psalm 139:1-6)

Scripture: "O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it." (Psalm 139:1-6, NRSV)

Point:

• God’s knowledge of us is all-encompassing. He knows our actions, our thoughts, our paths, and our words even before we speak them.

• This knowledge is not just factual but intimate and personal, as a loving Father knows His children.

Application:

• Reflect on the comfort and accountability that comes from knowing God is fully aware of all aspects of our lives.

• Encourage the congregation to live transparently before God, knowing they are fully known and fully loved.

II. Continual Presence (Psalm 139:7-12)

Scripture: "Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast. If I say, 'Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night,' even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you." (Psalm 139:7-12, NRSV)

Point:

• God’s presence is inescapable and constant. No matter where we go, His Spirit is there.

• This continual presence offers guidance, comfort, and reassurance that we are never alone.

Application:

• Reflect on how God’s omnipresence provides us with unwavering support and guidance.

• Encourage the congregation to cultivate an awareness of God’s presence in their daily lives, especially in times of difficulty and uncertainty.

III. Creative Power (Psalm 139:13-16)

Scripture: "For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed." (Psalm 139:13-16, NRSV)

Point:

• God’s involvement in our creation is detailed and intentional. He formed our innermost parts and knit us together with purpose and precision.

• We are fearfully and wonderfully made, each person a unique masterpiece of God’s creative power.

Application:

• Encourage the congregation to value their own lives and the lives of others as God’s precious creations.

• Reflect on the purpose and potential God has woven into each of us, and seek to live out that divine purpose.

IV. Constant Care (Psalm 139:17-18)

Scripture: "How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! I try to count them—they are more than the sand; I come to the end—I am still with you." (Psalm 139:17-18, NRSV)

Point:

• God’s thoughts toward us are vast and precious. His care for us is unending and immeasurable.

• Even when we reach the end of our understanding, God is still with us, continually caring for and thinking about us.

Application:

• Reflect on the assurance and peace that comes from knowing God’s constant care and concern for us.

• Encourage the congregation to trust in God’s loving thoughts and plans for their lives, even when they cannot see the full picture.

Conclusion:

• Recap the main points: God’s comprehensive knowledge, continual presence, creative power, and constant care.

• Emphasize the personal and relational nature of God’s love and involvement in our lives.

Closing Prayer:

• Thank God for His intimate knowledge, unwavering presence, creative power, and constant care.

• Ask for the grace to live in the light of these truths, fully trusting in His love and guidance.

Full Manuscript Sermon Below for Paid Subscribers