Assurance of Pardon

This is part of the worship series, "Good News!”Introduction Lent 1 | Lent 2 | Lent 3  | Lent 4   Lent 5 | Palm Sunday | Good Friday | Easter SundayFIFTH SUNDAY IN LENTCall to WorshipThe day of the Lord is coming!The day of the Lord is near!The time is fulfilled! The reign of God is at hand!O people, repent! Believe in the gospel!Come, let us turn and follow the Lord!—Litanies and Other Prayers: For the Revised Common Lectionary, Year C. Phyllis Cole and Everett Tilson. © 1991, 1994, Abingdon Press. All rights reserved. Used by permission.God’s GreetingWorship Song“How Great Is Our God” Tomlin, Reeves, and Cash, LUYH 574, SSS 458Call to ConfessionToday is the fifth Sunday in the season of Lent, a time when Christians have traditionally reflected upon the cross of Christ. They’ve also reflected upon their own lives and repented of their sin. The whole idea of repentance presupposes that we realize we’ve done something wrong. This is something that we are often reluctant to do, especially in our current culture. We live in a time of changing values, a time in which morality is often seen as something subjective. But when we really understand that there is a moral standard to which all human beings are accountable, and that this standard has been given to us by the God who created the whole universe and made us in God’s image, and that this God is completely holy and righteous and perfect and cannot be in relationship with us when we are guilty of violating the standard to which we will be held accountable, it puts the importance of repentance into perspective.To use myself as an example, I know that I don’t live up even to the standards I have for myself, let alone the standards God has for me! I know that I haven’t always loved the Lord my God with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. And I certainly haven’t always loved my neighbor as myself. If I were to get a letter grade for my performance even on just those two things Jesus used to sum up God’s law, it would be an F. Fail. That’s why Romans 5:8 is so encouraging for me: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”God didn’t wait for me to clean up my act before he stepped in to do something about my sin problem. In fact, even before I was born or took my first breath or committed my first act of rebellion against God, he sent Jesus into the world to live the perfect life that I never could have lived and to die a sacrificial death in my place and yours. I invite you now to turn with me to God in a time of silent prayer. Let’s confess our sins to the Lord, after which we will hear some words of grace.Silent Prayer of ConfessionAssurance of PardonPeople of God, hear these words of assurance from Ephesians 2:8: “For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” The salvation that we have from the Lord is a gift. We didn’t earn it. We don’t deserve it. God just gave it to us by God’s grace. So now we become motivated to live for Christ. Even though we don’t do it perfectly, we still aspire to live for him because he gave up his life for us.Children’s MessageChildren’s Song“Lord, I Lift Your Name on High” FoundsCongregational PrayerGood News CaféA church member who had been diagnosed with cancer shared her struggles and spoke of how the gospel is precious to her.Scripture ReadingJohn 12:20–33Sermon“Good News—For All”Sermon NotesIn Jesus’ day, people were divided by ethnicity, gender, and social and economic class. The Pharisees in particular liked to keep people in their place and were disturbed at how Jesus upset the social order (John 12:19). Our culture today hasn’t overcome division either. In this passage, Jesus tells us that when he is lifted up on the cross, all will be drawn to him. In a world of division we are reminded of the universal call of the gospel. (This sermon closed with two members of our church who were born overseas reading the Scripture passage again in their first languages.)Prayer of ApplicationLord, we thank you that you have drawn us to yourself. We thank you for the one who was lifted up and crucified. And while the way in which you have worked in our lives is mysterious and while each of us has a unique story about how you have drawn us to you, we pray that in this congregation we would together show the world how we are united in Christ. We thank you for the good news of the gospel that tells us that you were lifted up for all and that all of us belong together in the body of Christ. Help us to love one another as Christ loved us. We pray that you would use even us to draw others into this family where there is life and hope and salvation. These things we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.Worship Song“Man of Sorrows—What a Name” BlissBlessingClosing Song“New Doxology” Bourgeois, MillerRevised Common LectionaryYear B: Lent—Fifth Sunday in Lent