The Liberty of the Law (Exodus 20: 1-4, 7-9, 12-20), The Fun at the Feast (Exodus 32:1-14), and The Courage of Conversation (Exodus 33:12-23) are the themes explored in this blog which includes liturgical elements and sermon notes prepared by Kate Kroondyk. They are the last three stops on our journey through Exodus and correspond with the Nineteenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-First Sundays after Pentecost of Year A of the Revised Common Lectionary.
The Liberty of the Law: Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20
Call to Worship
Reader 1: And God spoke these words:
Reader 2: “You are my treasured people. Indeed the whole world is mine, but you are a kingdom for me.”
Pour water into the baptismal font.
Reader 1: Come let us worship the One who frees us and calls us to be priests in God’s holy kingdom!
Confession and Assurance
Reader 1: God, you brought us out of slavery to a land of freedom, overflowing in grace and mercy. But time and again, we forsake the joy of our salvation for the slavery of our sin. We confess that we sin against you, against our neighbors, against your creation, and against ourselves. Teach us to live in the freedom you have given us so that our whole lives might be an offering of worship. Amen.
Reader 2: The Lord calls us to be shaped by the grace we have received. When we could not be righteous, Christ was righteous for us. Let us be shaped more and more into the image of the one who saved us!
Let us worship God,
and only God!
Let us revel
in the mystery of God!
Let us celebrate
God’s holy name!
Let us rest in God’s goodness,
really rest, one day each week!
Let us respect those in authority,
Police officers, teachers, parents, and other leaders.
Let us love those closest to us!
Let us love those whose names we don’t know.
Let us ensure the flourishing of all.
Let us generously share!
Let us tell the truth!
Let us delight in what God has given us!
Sermon Notes
We may not be used to hearing that the 10 Commandments are an invitation to freedom, but Paul in Romans 7:7-12 calls us to hear it that way. Certainly the law was condemnation for us before Christ, but in Jesus we can now experience the full joy of the law! It is good and intended for the flourishing of our lives and communities.
Suggested Songs
“Trust and Obey/When We Walk with the Lord” Sammis, LUYH 327
“Take My Life and Let It Be” Havergal, LUYH 863, GtG 697
“Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)” Newton/Tomlin, LUYH 693
“Bring God’s Children Home (Psalm 68)” Kimbrough
“Brokenness Aside” Jordan, Leonard
The Fun at the Feast: Exodus 32:1-14
Call to Worship
Reader 1: God invited the people,
Reader 2: to manna in the desert,
to milk and honey in the Promised Land,
to the cup of salvation
to the wedding feast of Lamb.
Bread and cup are brought to the communion table.
Reader 1: Come let us worship the One who prepares a feast for us!
Confession and Assurance
Reader 1: God, you protected us from our enemies,
you brought us through the waters of baptism,
you fed us and gave us good things to drink.
Yet, we turn away from you.
We seek out idols for ourselves —
giving our money, time, and talents to things that will not satisfy.
We sit down to eat and drink,
not in remembrance of you,
but to celebrate ourselves and what we have built.
Reader 1: In your great mercy,
remember your people once again
and relent in your anger.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Silence
Reader 2: Thanks be to God that God is faithful even when we are not!
Therefore, let us flee from the worship of idols,
for the cup which we bless is the cup of our salvation
and the bread which we break is the sharing of the body of Christ.
Therefore, let us feast to remember
that our God is faithful and forgives us our sins!
Thanks be to God!
Sermon Notes
God’s commands for righteous living are still word bubbles in the air when God’s people construct for themselves an idol. In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul uses this story as a warning in connection with the celebration of communion. The Israelites sat down to eat, drink, and indulge in revelry as they celebrated their golden calf — a mere shadow of the true celebration we are invited to at the table of the Lord! Therefore, let us remember that at communion we celebrate, not the works of our hands, but the incredible goodness of our faithful God!
Suggested Songs
“We Will Feast In the House of Zion” McCracken, Moore
“Come Share the Lord” Leech, GtG 510
“Rescuer (Good News)” Hastings, Fowler, Rend Collective
“I Will Lift Up the Cup of Salvation (Psalm 116)” Kimbrough
“The Prodigal Song” Asbury, Jackson, Jackson
The Courage of Conversation: Exodus 33:12-23
Call to Worship
Reader 1: And God spoke these words:
Reader 2: “I know you by name,
my presence is with you,
and I will give you rest.”
The Christ candle is lit.
Reader 1: Come let us worship the One
whose glory is revealed to us today!
Confession and Assurance
Holy God, we confess that we fall short.
We choose our ways over your good way.
You tell us to put you first,
but we rationalize all sorts of reasons
why we don’t do that.
We choose the works of our hands
over your work of salvation.
Full of pride,
we fail to see how our works
are nothing compared to your goodness.
We choose stubbornness
over being formed by you.
We don’t want to change.
We don’t like to change.
You are right to call us stiff-necked people.
Silence
Gracious God,
you relented in your anger against us when we did not deserve it.
You did not consume us, but instead you cared for us.
Keep your presence close to us as you did with your servant Moses.
Amen.
God relents,
God forgives,
God loves.
We experience God’s glory today because we know that all of our sins are forgiven!
What a mystery!
God finds favor with us!
God calls us by name!
God gives us holy rest!
Praise the Lord!
Sermon Notes
After the turmoil of the last couple of chapters, Moses courageously enters into a conversation with God asking for more — more of God and more of God’s presence! How could Moses dare to do such a thing when God had already done so much in relenting from God’s anger? But God surprises us by showing Moses his glory anyways! In 2 Corinthians 3:12-18, Paul invites us to the same boldness as Moses so that we might see the glory of Christ with unveiled faces.
Suggested Songs
“Good Grace” Houston
“King of Glory” Dulaney
“Oh, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” Wesley, LUYH 590, GtG 610
“The Kingdom is Coming” Fluett, Fox, Kimbrough, Vice,Wardell, Zach
“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” Scriven, LUYH 897, 898, GtG 465