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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Please print this guide or have it handy in digital format for use during the service.

CALL TO WORSHIP

Please join in on the bolded lines.

We can trust God.
God is like the mountain: rock solid.
God loves all people:
The poor, the disabled, the outcast, the stranger.
We can depend on God.
God feeds the hungry, heals the sick, and restores relationships.
Praise our Loving God.
Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

MUSIC: NONE BUT THEE

CCLI #6291877 | Eric J. Marshall and John Fellows © 2011
Performed by Emmaus Road Worship Team

CORPORATE PRAYER

Please join in on the bolded lines.

Gracious God, we draw near knowing that we often fall short of your call to love one another well.
We allow ourselves to be blinded by wealth and power.
We ignore those around us who suffer injustice, poverty, and rejection.
We tune out the cries of the poor and those on the edges of our communities.
Loving Father, please forgive us.
Help us to see your great generosity, hear your word of mercy, and feel your great love for all who need your redemptive grace.
Loving Father, please help us.
Strengthen us to reach out in service to those who are in need.
Make us aware of those in our own communities,
that we may see them as your precious children
and serve them in humility and joy.
Loving Father, please send us.
May we continue to grow in grace as we learn how to serve you in the name of the great Servant, even Jesus Christ. Amen.

MUSIC: BE THOU MY VISION

CCLI #4586883 | Allan Hall, Todd Smith, and Nicol Sponberg © 2005
Performed by Emmaus Road Worship Team

MUSIC: CALLED ME HIGHER

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

WORD

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Everyday Faith: The Big Sort
James 2:1-17 (NRSV)

OUR TENDENCY TO SORT
How many of us, when enjoying our favorite candy, sort out our favorite flavors and ignore or trade the others?

While this practice of sorting and evaluation is harmless when it comes to candy, the unfortunate truth is we all have a tendency to do the same thing when it comes to people. We assess, evaluate, and size people up to establish a pecking order. Throughout history, we’ve tended to sort according to things like color, wealth, language, ability, and so on. We are so good at this sorting that it only takes seconds before the evaluation is performed unconsciously.

We tend to favor those who can benefit us and ignore those who cannot. James exposes this practice as evil.

His warning shows us this truth: The Church is to demonstrate the generous, universal love of God.

NO WORK? NO FAITH
This leads right into the next passage of scripture

So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
-James 2:17 (NRSV)

Sometimes our faith is heavy on words and light on action. This is not good according to James.

Suppose you see a brother or sister that has no food or clothing and you say to them, “Stay warm and eat well” but do nothing to help. Those words may sound like a blessing, but they don’t do anything to bless.

Instead of having a faith that is heavy on words and light on action, we are to have a faith that is translated into action. That is what is going to lead us into true living and what is going to bring good into the world.

Our faith in Jesus, if functioning properly in our lives, should lead us to faith-filled action in the world.

“Our theology must fit into overalls.”
-Kenneth Grider

My hope and prayer is that our faith will translate into action; we’ll be doers of the word with a faith that is alive and brings hope, healing, and goodness into the world.

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 invest your lives in the works of faith.
May you be known for generosity and compassion.
Fulfill God’s holy law by putting love into action
as eagerly for others as you would for yourselves.

And may God be your defender and provider;
May Christ Jesus dispel all that disturbs or disables you;
and may the Holy Spirit make you rich in faith and loving and merciful in action.

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord.