March 6, 2012

Opening Hymn:
Come Into the Holy of Holies (Red Praise Book 71)

Scripture Reading:
Exodus 20:12-17

Message:
Today we read the rest of the Ten Commandments: ‘Honor your father and mother, you shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony against your neighbor, you shall not covet.’

Jesus sums up all of the Ten Commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This I the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40).

Jesus has just switched the idea of commandments from rules to follow, to a loving way to live. Rather than not stealing, not lying, and honoring your father and mother because you have to (or because the bible says so)… Our mindset can now change into following these commandments out of love for God and our neighbors alike.  Jesus becomes our example of how to love. Now it is our turn to follow His example.

Time of Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Your son to us to show us how to love. Let us learn to love one another as Jesus has loved us. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Closing Hymn
This Is My Commandment (Red Praise Book 241)
Make Me A Servant (Red Praise Book 236)

Let us go now into the world to love and serve one another. Let our love be a witness to others of the sustaining power of our living God. Let us go to love and be loved because God first loved us.

Amen.