February 23, 2010

Opening Hymns:
We Believe 231 (red hymnal)
I Will Call Upon the Lord 180 (red hymnal)

Scripture Reading:
Genesis 15:7-12, 17-18

Message Covenants
Today we are able to see the second half of the promise God gives to Abram. He is now promising Abram land. While the beginning of the scripture may seem a little gruesome there is a deep meaning behind it. We see in Jeremiah 34:18 ‘The men who have violated my covenant and have not fulfilled the terms of the covenant they made before me, I will treat like the calf they cut in two and then walked between its pieces.” Abram cutting the animals that God had asked for in half, and having God walk through them, was a covenant God was making with him. Unlike the covenant that God made with the men in Jeremiah, this was an unconditional covenant. No matter what Abram did, God would always do as he promised.

God has also made a covenant with us. He promised us His only Son to be the sacrificial lamb for our sins. I believe there is one small condition to this covenant; we must believe in Jesus and ask for the forgiveness that He promised us. God made many covenants throughout the bible. Each time he fulfilled His half of the promise. Abram may not have known why the Lord would choose to give him land and family. We might not understand why God would grant us forgiveness beyond what we deserve. But we can be thankful that our God is a just God who will fulfill the promises He has made.

Time of Prayer
*Respond: Lord hear our prayer

For the EMTs and others who work quickly to support people in emergency situations that they might have the calmness and knowledge that they need to help the people they are trying to rescue… and that they might be comforted when their best attempts do not work we pray to the Lord*
To people who need emergency care that they might be helped and brought out of any emergency situation they were in we pray to the Lord*
To our pastors that they may support their congregations and that in turn the congregations will support them and their efforts as we all seek to glorify You, we pray to the Lord*

The Lord’s Prayer

Closing Hymn
Go, my Children, With My Blessing

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, and serve the Lord
Thanks be to God