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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We do not gather in vain, for God is working in our hearts.
The love of Jesus Christ calls us together.
Our worship strengthens and empowers us to share the gospel.
The love of Jesus Christ shines in our lives.
Proclaim the good news with boldness.
The love of Jesus Christ is at work in the world!

MUSIC: PRAISE THE LORD, YE HEAVENS

CCLI #7026992 | Eric J. Marshall © 2014
Performed by Emmaus Road Worship Team

CONFESSIONAL PRAYER

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Almighty God,
we confess that we have taken Your commandments and turned them into rules.
We have criticized those who have fallen short,
and selfishly proclaimed ourselves righteous.
We have failed to live in the way that you have shown us;
loving You and loving our neighbors.

Forgive us for time we have foresaken your true message.
Restore our hearts to Your peace,
And may we live in service to Your Love

In the name of Christ,
who has given us the Way and leads us on, we pray. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

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

You are loved.
Love is the Way.
When you love God, you love others.
When you truly lay down your life for others,
you lay down your life for God.
Give yourself to God by serving others.
And know that in God’s love there is forgiveness,
healing, and reconciliation.

All: Thanks be to God

MUSIC: CALLED ME HIGHER

CCLI #5887880 | Leslie Jordan © 2011
Performed by Emmaus Road Worship Team

WORD

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Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 (NRSV)

LOVE OF STRENGTH
We live in a culture that values strength.

More often than not, however, the strength value is expressed as “power-over” – that to be stronger than someone you must demonstrate you can over-power them.

In a culture that values this kind of strength, gentleness is a bad word, and has come to be synonymous with “weak.”

Yet, the scriptures list gentleness as one of the fruit of the Spirit.

PAUL’S MINISTRY IN THESSALONICA
In our text, the Apostle Paul is describing his ministry to the church in Thessalonica. And we hear signs of strength.
“we proclaimed the Gospel in the face of strong opposition,”
“we are not trying to please people, but God,”
“we are not looking for praise from people…”

Then Paul surprises us. He describes his ministry as a nursing mother who cares for her children.
He saw where people were at spiritually and came alongside of them, cared for them, imparted life to them, and nurtured them into maturity, just like a good mother does.

That is the point – Gentleness (hospitality, understanding) is not the opposite of strength; it is evidence of strength.

OUR CALL TO GENTLENESS
In a world of violent, “power-over” strength, Christians have an opportunity to display the strength of gentleness and servanthood (“power-under”).

Gentleness is inner strength that is so strong, you are freed from having to display it “over” people.

Gentleness is the ability to stand up to evil by way of service to the vulnerable.

Gentleness is not weakness, gentleness is an entirely different kind of strength.
Jesus in front of Pilate. He did not argue.
Jesus on the cross. He offered forgiveness.

Perhaps the best way to resist evil these days is to speak up for and advocate for groups that are being harmed by people in power.

“There is nothing so strong as gentleness and nothing so gentle as real strength.” –St. Jerome

42 FILM
In one of the most powerful scenes of the film, 42, baseball executive Branch Rickey is talking to Jackie Robinson about the difficulties he’ll face playing in a white baseball league. He intentionally gets Jackie upset as he paints different scenarios of facing persecution on and off the field.

JACKIE:
Do you want a ballplayer who
doesn’t have the guts to fight
back? Is that what you want?

RICKEY:
I want one who has the guts not to
fight back! There are people who
will not like this. They will do
anything to get you to react. If
you echo a curse with a curse, they
will only hear yours. Follow a
blow with a blow and they will say
a Negro lost his temper; that the
Negro does not belong. Your enemy
will be out in force, but you can
not meet him on his own low ground.

We win with hitting, running and
fielding, nothing else. We win if
the world is convinced of two
things: that you are a fine
gentlemen and a great ballplayer.
Like our Savior, you must have the
guts to turn the other cheek.

Can you do it?

JACKIE:
Mr. Rickey, you give me a uniform,
you give me a number on my back,
and I’ll give you the guts.

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, with courage in our God.
Declare the message of the gospel which God has entrusted to us,
and in wholehearted love for God and for others,
share not only the message,
but your very selves.

And may God be your haven;
May Christ Jesus lead you into love – heart, soul and mind;
And may the Holy Spirit bless the work of your hands and gladden all your days.

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
Amen.