Payette United Methodist Church
March 15, 2020
Today's Worship Service that you and your family may worship from home: CCLI license is filed at the church.
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CALL TO WORSHIP
*Calling Song “He Is Lord” UMH #177
He is Lord, He is Lord!
He is risen from the dead and he is Lord!
Ev'ry knee shall bow, ev'ry tongue confess
That Jesus Christ is Lord.

Reading from Philippians 2:9-11
Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.
That at the name of Jesus ever knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge
All: that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Unison Invocation
Lord Jesus, we bow before you, before you to whom all power is given. We will love you, O Lord. We will treasure you. Your thoughts shall be our thoughts. Help us as we learn how be part of your kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

Hymn “There’s Something About That Name” UMH #171
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus; there's just something about that name.
Master, Savior, Jesus, like the fragrance after the rain;
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, let all Heaven and earth proclaim
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away,
But there's something about that name.
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away,
But there's something about that name.

Old Testament Reading: Exodus 17:1-7
 1 From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 The people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” 3 But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?” 4 So Moses cried out to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5 The Lord said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

New Testament Reading: Romans 5:6-8 (NRSV)
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. 8 But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.

God’s Word for God’s People. Thanks be to God!

*Doxology UMH #94
Offering prayer: Heavenly Father, we are blessed by your gracious hand. We have plenty and enough to share with others. Help us to consider the needs of others as we learn to love our neighbors as ourselves. Through Jesus we pray. Amen.

Hymn “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind” UMH #358
1 Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
forgive our foolish ways;
reclothe us in our rightful mind,
in purer lives thy service find,
in deeper reverence, praise.

2 In simple trust like theirs who heard
beside the Syrian sea
the gracious calling of the Lord,
let us, like them, without a word
rise up and follow thee.

3 O Sabbath rest by Galilee,
O calm of hills above,
where Jesus knelt to share with thee
the silence of eternity,
interpreted by love!

4 Drop thy still dews of quietness,
till all our strivings cease;
take from our souls the strain and stress,
and let our ordered lives confess
the beauty of thy peace.

5 Breathe through the heats of our desire
thy coolness and thy balm;
let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small voice of calm!

Message:
“There Will Be a Test” Pastor Jim Hardenbrook
Luke 21:31-34 and 54-62

Simon Peter was the leader of the twelve men Jesus chose to be his closest companions. He was one of the first to follow Jesus and was with him for at least three years: right up to when Jesus was crucified and risen from the dead.
Jesus and Peter were tight.

On the Thursday night before what we call Good Friday (the day Jesus was executed) Jesus shared a meal with the twelve apostles. It was at that meal that Jesus instituted what we call Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper.

After they ate there was after dinner conversation. It happens at our meals too. Some of the men began to fuss with each other about who was the greatest. Yes, it was silly but so are many of our conversations. Right now American Christians are fussing with each other about being great about whether or not they are continuing to hold Sunday services. Some are bragging that they are faithful because they are going to gather for Sunday worship. “We trust that God will protect us.” Others are bragging that they are more Christ-like because they have cancelled services out of compassion for older folks (like me) who are more susceptible to the COVID-19 virus. “We love our neighbor just like Jesus commanded. Yes, we are truly his followers.”

Silly.

Jesus gave them a little talk and then his exchange took place between Peter and Jesus:
Read Luke 22:31-34

You know the “rest of the story.” Within a few hours Peter was indeed denying that he even knew Jesus: Read Luke 22:54-62

Like Jesus told him, “Simon, Satan wants to shift you (test you) like wheat.” After about 8,000 face to face hours with Jesus over a three year period it was time for a test.
Peter failed.

Throughout every day we make choices. Some are mundane (which socks to wear or what to have for lunch). Some are a little more important (where will we live or should I take that job). Some are best seen as crossroads where a decision is made that reveals our true colors.

This was a crossroads decision for Peter. While they were in the relative safety of the Upper Room Peter was confident in this commitment to Jesus. A few hours later in a different environment he sang a different song.

It seems to me that we might be facing something like that right now.
This coronavirus crisis has put us all on the spot.
Will we hoard or share?
Will we hole up or will we reach out?
Will we curse our neighbors or love them?
Will we pray or will we give in to fear?
Yes, Peter failed that particular test but when he was confronted with his failure he didn’t make excuses. He wept.

And fifty days later he stood up in that same city and proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah, the One who had conquered death and provided the way to bring forth the Kingdom of God!
3,000 people were baptized that day.

Oh, let us not be defined by our failures. Let us be the people who confess our sins, our faults, our failures and turn to Jesus, the One who not only forgives but transforms.

Let’s show this fear filled, self-centered world how joyful it is to deny ourselves and follow Jesus.

*Commitment Hymn “I Surrender All” UMH #354
All to Jesus I surrender
All to Him I freely give
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence daily live
I surrender all
I surrender all
All to Thee my blessed Saviour
I surrender all

All to Jesus I surrender
Humbly at His feet I bow
Worldly pleasures all forsaken
Take me Jesus take me now
I surrender all
I surrender all

All to Thee my blessed Saviour
I surrender all
All to Jesus I surrender
Make me Saviour wholly Thine
Let me feel the Holy Spirit
Truly know that Thou art mine
I surrender all
I surrender all

All to Thee my blessed Saviour
I surrender all
All to Jesus I surrender
Lord I give myself to Thee
Fill me with Thy love and power
Let Thy blessings fall on me
I surrender all
I surrender all
All to Thee my blessed Saviour
I surrender all
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All to Jesus I surrender
Now I feel the sacred flame
Oh the joy of full salvation
Glory glory to His name
I surrender all
I surrender all
All to Thee my blessed Saviour
I surrender all

Thank you for worshiping with us today!