March 16, 2011

Opening Hymns:
Blessed Assurance 24
My Faith Looks Up to Thee 162

Scripture Reading: Romans 4: 1-5

Message: Grace Alone
We can not earn our own salvation. If we could earn our way by works what would Christ’s sacrifice be to us? What would be the point of such a selfless sacrifice? Also, we cannot shame ourselves out of salvation. Christ’s love and sacrifice washed ALL our sins away… not just the moderately bad ones… all of them. But in order to be given this gift of salvation that God has offered us, we must accept it.

Romans 3: 23-24: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” We are all sinners, each in our own way. Therefore we should not judge and look down on others because of their sins. A prayer that I learned from the book “Crucial Conversations” goes something like this: “Lord, help me forgive those who sin differently than I do.” I really enjoy that prayer. It shows us that we can be quick to point out to others what there doing wrong, and miss our wrongs in a different area in our life. That is why we must remember that all sins are forgiven. Everyone’s… We should not judge, and we cannot condemn, because the Lord offers the gift of salvation to us all.

This does not mean that our actions don’t matter. Rather, because we have received this most precious gift from God we should try to follow His lead. We can help others do this as well in a non-judging way. We can try to lead by example; we can have bible studies together so we better understand scripture. We can show others a better life than drugs, violence, and sex. Out of love we can raise our children to know good from bad. What would the Lord rather have us do than live out His message each day? We are forgiven. Every sin, and every one of us. The gift and the sacrifice have been given. Let us praise the Lord, and let us spread the good news.

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for Your gift of love. Let us go out and do good on this day to live the life you would have us live. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Closing Hymn
Grace alone B/B 77

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