Prayer for the Gathering: Prayer for the Congregation from the Lutheran Book of Prayer
Remember, O Lord, our congregation, Your people, who are nothing without You, who need the Word of Your forgiveness, who need comfort and solace, who need healing and help, who need courage and strength, who need counsel and guidance, who need food and shelter, who need correction and admonition, who need acceptance and assurance, who need zeal and a willing mind, who need example and direction, who need charity and goodness, who need humility and honesty, who need liberty and peace, who need wisdom and insight, who need faith and hope, who need love and joy, for we are Your people gathered by Your Spirit around Word and sacraments, that we may be scattered to share Your love through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Reflection: Quote from Puritan John Owen
“Though you take but a weak and faint hold on Christ, he takes sure, strong, unconquerable hold on you.”
Call to Worship: Hebrews 6:13-20
Inheriting the Promise
[13] For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself: [14] I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply you. [15] And so, after waiting patiently, Abraham obtained the promise. [16] For people swear by something greater than themselves, and for them a confirming oath ends every dispute. [17] Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath, [18] so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. [19] We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. [20] Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner, because he has become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Worship in Song
Worship Set for 10/1/2023
Christ Our Hope in Life and Death | Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus | Yet Not I, But Through Christ in Me
The Word Preached: 1 Peter 3:1-7
Wives and Husbands
[1] In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the word, they may be won over without a word by the way their wives live [2] when they observe your pure, reverent lives. [3] Don’t let your beauty consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes, [4] but rather what is inside the heart — the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. [5] For in the past, the holy women who put their hope in God also adorned themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, [6] just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and do not fear any intimidation.
[7] Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker partner, showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
Response to the Word Preached
Response in Song: I Surrender All