Grounded and Growing—Bearing Fruit Week 4 Patience

This is part of the worship series, 
"Grounded and Growing—Bearing Fruit”

Series Introduction | Ascension Sunday | Pentecost
Love | Joy | Peace | Patience | Generosity & Kindness | 
Faithfulness | Gentleness | Self-Control | Communion Liturgy

Also in this year-long Grounded and Growing series: 
Advent and Christmas | Epiphany | Lent and Easter

Key Theme: Patience is a steadfast hope and trust in God that enables us to endure difficult circumstances and love difficult people.

Patience is a fruit rooted in hope and trust. A patient person waits on God, trusting that God is at work in the world, that God is true to God’s word, that God will fulfill his promises. We trust that God’s plans for the world, and for our lives, are good, even when the current circumstances would suggest otherwise. Jeremiah writes of God’s faithfulness in Lamentations, inviting the follower of God to wait on the Lord, for God’s love is steadfast and never-ending. 

This trust allows us to be patient in the midst of those difficult circumstances, to endure hardship and suffering. The Greek word for patience is makrothumia, and it literally translates to “long-suffering.” We can endure; we can “suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” because we trust that God holds our future in his hands. 

Sometimes we also translate this word as “forbearance.” The one who is patient can forbear that which is distressing, difficult, or simply irritating, including people! When we lack trust and live out of anxiety and despair—in other words, when we “fret”—says the psalmist, we become quick to anger and impatient with people with whom we disagree or find tiresome. 

Both of these ideas are present in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. He instructs the people to be patient with each other, living in humility driven by a desire for unity. He prays that the church would be filled by the Spirit’s power, able to endure patiently any affliction that may come.

Service Outline

Call to Worship

Opening Song

“Ten Thousand Reasons” ^{Redman and Myrin}

Greeting

God says to his people,

“You whom I took from the ends of the earth,
and called from its farthest corners,
saying to you, ‘You are my servant,
I have chosen you and not cast you off’;
do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be afraid, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you; I will help you;
I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”
—Isaiah 41:9–10 ^NRSVUE

Grace to you and peace,
from the one who has chosen you,
who is with you,
who holds you in the palm of his hand.

Songs of Praise

“My Soul Will Wait” ^{Kauflin and Bunting}

Call to Confession

God’s mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. No matter the weight of sin we carry, no matter how easy it is for us to mess things up, no matter how often we fall, God is waiting, ready at all times to offer us forgiveness and grace. Let us turn to God now, ready to unburden our hearts, eager to receive his mercy. 

Prayer of Confession

Faithful God,
we confess to you our lack of faith.
We do not trust your guidance;
we do not like to wait;
so we impatiently try to get ahead of your plans for us,
carving out our own paths instead of trusting in you. 
In our hurry, we grow impatient with others,
speaking harshly and unfairly to those we love. 
In our desire to get ahead, we grow envious 
of those who have much, 
and bitter about those who acquire 
wealth and status through evil means. 

Forgive our impatience, God.
Forgive our lack of trust.
Forgive us for not being content with our lot.
Help us to place our lives in your hands,
and trust that you are leading us to green pastures
and still waters. 
We pray this in the name of Jesus,
the good shepherd.
Amen. 

Assurance of Pardon 

Hear the good news:

There is no God like our God,
who does not hold a record of our wrongs,
but who wipes the slate clean.
Our God does not nurse his anger,
but moves quickly to mercy,
for mercy is at the heart of who God is.

Receive the mercy of God,
and be assured of the forgiveness of your sins,
for God is faithful to his people,
from generation to generation. 
—Micah 7:18–20, adapt.

Song of Thanksgiving

“Great is Thy Faithfulness” ^Chisholm

Call to Holy Living: Psalm 37:1–9

Passing of the Peace

Prayer for Illumination

“Speak O Lord” ^{Getty and Townend}

Scripture Reading

First Reading: Lamentations 3:22–33
Second Reading: Ephesians 4:1–6

Sermon

“Bearing With One Another in Love”

Song of Response

“They’ll Know We Are Christians” ^Scholtes

Breath Prayer

[The leader invites the Spirit's presence to fill our lives (as we breathe in) so that our lives might bear good fruit (as we breathe out). This prayer can be repeated a few times.] 

Breathe In: “Holy Spirit, fill us with your presence”

Breathe Out: “that we might bear with one another in love.”

Prayers of the People

Offering, Offertory Prayer

Song of Dedication

“God, the Father of Your People” ^{Newton and Mulder}

Benediction

May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely, and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
—1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 ^NRSVUE

Doxology

Now to him who is able to keep you from falling
and to present you before his glorious presence
without fault and with great joy—
to the only God our Savior
be glory, majesty, power, and authority,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen!
—Jude 24–25 ^NIV