We encourage you to read and reflect on these scriptures, songs, notes, and prayers as we look forward to our time of worship together this coming Sunday.

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CALL TO WORSHIP

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Our God communes among his people.
He dwells in our midst.
Listen and hear him speak.
Our hearts long for his word.
We wait upon the Lord
so that we may renew our strength.
God is our help and our support.
His spirit moves among us
to lead us in holiness and righteousness all our days.
With joyful hearts we sing God’s praise.
With rejoicing we call upon Him.
The Lord is our hope and our salvation.

MUSIC: PRAISE THE LORD YE HEAVENS

CCLI #7026992 | Eric J. Marshall © 2011
Performed by Emmaus Road Worship Team

CORPORATE PRAYER

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Almighty and merciful God, we confess that we have erred and strayed from your ways.
We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.
We have left undone those things which we ought to have done;
and we have done those things which we ought not to have done.

O Lord, have mercy upon us.
Restore those who confess their faults,
according to your promises declared to the world in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
And grant, O merciful God, that we may live a holy, just, and humble life to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

MUSIC: TREMBLE

CCLI #7065049 | Andres Figueroa, Hank Bentley, Mariah McManus, and Mia Fieldes © 2016
Performed by Emmaus Road Worship Team

MUSIC: HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING

CCLI #4524869 | Mary Lynn Lightfoot and Robert Lowry © 2005
Performed by Emmaus Road Worship Team

WORD

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Everyday Faith: Money
James 1:9-11 (NLT)

INTRO
Money. Whether you have a lot or a little, it’s easy to obsess over money.

The Bible has some important wisdom to teach us about money. Here is just a short sampling:
-Prov. 22:7 says, “The borrower is slave to the lender…”-Malachi 3:10 tells us to “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse.”.
-Mark 12:41-44 calls us to generosity through the story of a widow who gave two small coins, which was nearly all she had.

These are important things we need to learn about money, but there is a deeper, more foundational thing to consider. What is the Christian’s relationship to money supposed to be?

James shares harsh words for those who are rich in 1:9-11, but who are these words for? What does it mean to be rich?

WEALTH CAN (AND DOES) FADE
James uses the metaphor of flowers hat bloom beautifully, but quickly wither and fall. This word picture is an echo of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah.

“The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” -Isaiah 40:8 (NLT)

Money, like flowers in a field, can be beautiful, attractive, and attention-grabbing. If we aren’t careful, though, we’ll come to believe that the flowers are all that matter! We’ll think that the most important thing is having a field of flowers. We’ll work hard to keep the flowers continually blooming.

That’s great. But, when is someone considered rich? At what point do you cross from being poor to rich? Is there is safe middle-class? How is that defined? Who decides? Wealth appears to be relative (with exception to the multi-billionaires that we can safely say are rich and the ultra poor who we can safely say don’t have enough). However, a huge portion of the population doesn’t live in those extremes. This makes it difficult to discern who falls into the category of the biblically rich.

THE RICH MINDSET
Think about rich less in terms of an account balance and more in terms of a mindset. Rich is a mindset of self-dependence.

Here’s the thing. The more money you have, the easier it is to adopt a rich mindset. In a very real sense, our mindset is connected to the balance of our accounts. 

We who are rich by global standards must fight like crazy to make sure our primary pursuit is not for more riches, but for the treasure of a transformed life and character.

A self-dependent mindset is antithetical to the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is about our connection to others, creation, and God. This is why James (and the other biblical authors) have such harsh words for the rich. Be totally self-dependent and your life will fade as quickly as the bloom of a flower.

Generosity is a good antidote to richness. You can have plenty, but when you are connected to the fact that you have plenty and are generous with what you have, it can help keep you from a rich mindset.

Christians in the USA, it isn’t inherently wrong or sinful to have plenty, but it is imperative that you fight against the mindset of richness.

So, what should the Christian’s relationship be toward money? Recognize money is part of life, but not the source of life.

TABLE

Prepare the elements of “bread” and “wine” for use as we gather around The Lord’s Table. These can be any items convenient around the home that symbolize these for you. 

CONFESSION OF THE MYSTERY OF FAITH

Christ has died.
Christ is risen. 
Christ will come again.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

As we pray together, we invite you to share your own requests and testimonies with us this week. If you have a request you can share it live in our video stream chat, or you may email us at emmausroadfc@gmail.com

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father in heaven,
        hallowed be your Name,
        your kingdom come,
        your will be done,
        on earth as in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins
        as we forgive those
        who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation, 
        and deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom, 
        and the power,
        and the glory for ever and ever.
Amen.

BENEDICTION

You are invited to hold your hands out, palm-up as we receive this benediction.

Go now, and trust in God’s mercy for your strength.
Proclaim the good news wherever God calls you,
and do not set yourselves apart from others,
but be all things to all people for the sake of the gospel.

And may God give you the strength and freedom of an eagle.
May Christ be the bread that nourishes and renews you.
And may the Holy Spirit be the rising wind beneath your wings.

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
In the name of Christ Jesus. Amen.