a note from pastor russ - storage.snappages.site

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“We shine the Spotlight On Christ”

A Note from Pastor RussUnderstanding the “Sermon on the Mount”

Jesus addresses the Sermon on the Mount to his disciples, and his primary audience is therefore comprised of those who already believe the Good News. Jesus assumes they’re already practicing Christian disciplines. “When you pray,” “When you fast,” “When you give” pepper his instructions. Jesus offers directions for kingdom living, not for kingdom access. He does not say, “Do these things and you will earn the kingdom of heaven,” but, “Do these things because these reflect the ethic of the kingdom to which you belong by faith.” If, therefore, you are a disciple of Jesus by faith, Jesus shows you the heart attributes and practices and lifestyle that ought to characterize you as you walk in and for him.

But Jesus also speaks for a secondary audience, the “crowds,” who overhear his teaching, and who stand amazed at the authority with which he speaks. They already have tasted the good gifts of Jesus’ kingdom, and they will again (Matthew 4:23 and 9:35). In between, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus stresses the ethical demands of his kingdom, teaching that privileges come with responsibilities.

If you already count yourself a disciple of Jesus, then I invite you to listen as one who already stands saved by grace. Compare your own heart and actions and priorities to the kingdom ethic Jesus describes. And if you are not yet Jesus’ disciple, then I invite you to overhear as Jesus, the Son of God, exhorts you with a standard that is beyond your reach, and a grace that is beyond your merit.

In short, I invite you to life in the kingdom.

Russ

2September 5, 2021: Volume 35, Issue 36

September 5, 202110:30 AM

Prelude Sinfonia to Cantata 29 "Wir danken dir, Gott" J. S. Bach, arr. Marcel DupreDennis Bergin, organ

WelcomeReverend Dr. Russell St. John, Lead Pastor

We Prepare Our Hearts for Worship My Faith Looks Up to Thee Virginia McGuigan, flute; Carrie Smith, piano

My faith looks up to thee, thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine:Now hear me while I pray, take all my guilt away,O let me from this day be wholly thine.

While life’s dark maze I tread, and griefs around me spread,Be thou my guide; bid darkness turn to day, wipe sorrow’s tears away,Nor let me ever stray from thee aside.

*God Calls Us to Worship Matthew 20:30-34 Reverend David Barnes, Associate Pastor

Pastor: Behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out,

People: “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”Pastor: The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more,People: “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”Pastor: And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for

you?” They said to him, People: “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” Pastor: And Jesus in pity touched their eyes,People: And immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.

Worshiping Jesus, Who Teaches Us to Look Carefully!

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*Glad My Eyes and Warm My Heart! No. 398 Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies

*We Invoke His Presence

God Exposes Our Need Matthew 6:24 Reverend Dr. Russell St. John

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

We Confess Our Sin

Christ Provides for Our Need Romans 6:16-18 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.


*Open Thou My Eyes to See!Carrie Smith, piano; Matt Brantley, bass; Rod Cunningham, keyboard; Greg Wagener, drums

let my heart be all thine own, let me live to thee a - lone. Je - sus, at thy feet I fall, O be thou my all in all. O - pen thou mine eyes to see all the work thou hast for me. Thou an hon - or art to me: let me be a praise to thee.

by thy blood, O spot - less Lamb, shed so will - ing - ly for me, let thy pre-sence in me shine all my homeward way to cheer.strengthen hand and heart and nerve all thy bid - ding to ful - fil. yet I long to prove and show full al - le - giance to my King

1. Je - sus, Mas-ter whose I am, pur - chased thine a - lone to be2. Je - sus, Mas-ter I am thine; keep me faithful, keep me near;3. Je - sus, Mas-ter whom I serve, though so feebly and so ill, 4. Lord, thou needest not, I know, ser - vice such as I can bring;

Jesus, Master, Whose I Am

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We Invoke His Help Psalm 123:1 Dave Bruegger, Elder

To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!

God Calls Us to Stewardship Philippians 2:4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

We Give Our Grateful Offerings

We Prepare for God’s Word Turn Your Eyes Upon JesusTonya Zanders, Shelly Hannaford

O soul, my soul, are you weary and troubled?No night, so dark, that our eyes cannot see.There’s light, so bright, as we look to our Savior;Life more abundant and free, life more abundant and free.

Chorus: Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful faceAnd the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace.

God, our God, You are with us in darkness;Your Word, Your light, is leading us on.Our hearts can hear You, Heavenly Father,Calling us all to Your Son, calling us all to Your Son. [Chorus]

We turn our eyes to You, beholding all Your beauty, You are holy.We turn our eyes to You, beholding all Your beauty, You are holy. [Chorus]

In the light of His glory and grace. In the light of His glory and grace.We turn our eyes to You, we turn our eyes to You.

Original Words & Music: Helen H. Lemmel; Addt’l. Words & Music: Paul Baloche & Aaron Shust; ©2016 Bridge Building Music, Inc./CP Shust Tunes/Integrity Worship Music/Leadworship Songs. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission under CCLI #254738.


God Proclaims His Word Reverend Dr. Russell St. John, Lead Pastor Sermon Series “Sermon on the Mount” Scripture Text Matthew 6:22-23 | page 811 in the pew Bible Sermon Title Looking Carefully

*Since My Eyes Were Fixed on Jesus! No. 565 All for Jesus!

God Invites Us to His Table 1 Corinthians 11:23-29I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

We Feed on Christ by Faith

Bread No. 146 Break Thou the Bread of Life

Cup No. 427 Amidst Us Our Beloved Stands

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*Turning Blindness Into Sight!

*Benediction

*Postlude Reprise: Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness

& 43 œ œ1. Praise2. Praise3. Praise

thethethe

œ œ œ œOneOneone

whowhotrue

breaksbless'dlove

thethein -

œ œ œ œdark -chil -car -

nessdrennate:

WithWithChrist,

aa

who

œ œ œ œlib -

strongsuf -

er -yetfer'd

at -gen -in

ingtleour

˙light;word;place;

& œ œPraisePraiseJe -

thethesus

œ œ œ œOneOnedied

whowhoand

freesdroverose

theoutfor

œ œ œ œpris -de -man -

'ners,monsy

Turn-WithThat

ingawe

œ œ œ œblind -pierc -may

nessing

know

in -two -God

toedg'dby

˙sight.sword.grace.

& œ œ œPraisePraiseLet

thetheus

œ œ œ œOneOnesing

whowhofor

preach'dbringsjoy

thecooland

œ œ œ œ œ œgos -wa -glad -

pel,terness,

Heal -ToSee -

ingtheing

œ œ œ œev -des -what

'ryert'sour

dreadburn -God

dis -inghas

œ Œease,sand;done.

& œ œCalm -FromPraise

ingthisthe

œ œ œ œstormswellone

andcomesre -

feed -liv -

deem-

inginging

œ œ œ œthou -wa -glo -

sandsterry;

WithQuench-Praise

theingthe

œ œ œ œver -thirstOne

yin

who

breadev -

makes us'ryof

˙peace.land.one.

Words: Rusty Edwards; Music: NETTLETON; Traditional American melody; ©1987 Hope Publishing. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission under OneLicense.net A-715258.

Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness


Sermon Notes

Looking CarefullyReverend Dr. Russell St. John, Lead PastorMatthew 6:22-23 | page 811 in the pew Bible

Since your eye directs your way, focus carefully.

1. The focus of a sound eye enlightens

2. The focus of a sick eye darkens

*Congregation please riseUnless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.

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