Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

16 February 2014

THIS MORNING'S MUSIC OF PRAISE:

368, 895, 267, 355, 839, 197.

FIRST BIBLE READING:

Deuteronomy 30: 15-20
'The two ways - life or death'

'Moses said to the people of Israel:' See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.
For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

SECOND BIBLE READING:

1 Corinthians 3: 1-9

'Divisions in the Corinthian church'

Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly - mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it.
Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?
For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another,
"I follow Apollos," are you not mere human beings?
What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul?
Only servants, through whom you came to believe - as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.
So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labour.
For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building.

GOSPEL READING:

Matthew 5: 21-37
'Jesus' radical teaching of the law'

'Jesus said:' "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, 'Raca,' is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.' But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.
And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

NOTES ON THE READINGS:

1 CORINTHIANS 3: 1-9:
Both the creation and the fostering of faith are the work of God alone.
The ministers of the congregation at Corinth had sown the word of God. However, the people had not grown and advanced beyond spiritual infancy the way they should have. They thought they were very knowledgeable because they valued and looked for human wisdom and critically drew off favourites according to their ministers' particular styles. Paul told them they were functioning according to their lower sinful natures. They needed to see themselves as God's field, God's building.

MATTHEW 5: 21-37:
While emphasising the importance of the law, the Lord moves beyond the mere external observance of commandments to the spirit of love which fulfils the law. When the Christian removes the wrongful thought (anger, dislike, hate) or feeling (lustful employment of the eye and the hand) from the inmost soul, the command of God then has free course in our willing and doing. Divorce similarly becomes a possibility when attitudes became lax.
One's language needs oaths when absolute truth is only considered to be an option. When love for the Lord fills the heart, the law serves as an avenue of peaceful, pure and truthful loving relationships between people.

Bible readings for Sunday 23rd February:
Leviticus 19: 1, 2, 9-18, 1 Corinthians 3; 10, 11, 16-23, Matthew 5: 38 – 48

Announcements:

1. This week in the Lord's Service - 16th- 23rd Feb:
This morning - AGM - (after worship)
Tuesday - 12.30 pm - Kaffeestunde
Wednesday - 4.30 pm - Confirmation class.
Saturday - 10.00 am - 11.00 am - 'Sing - along' time for those who wish to learn songs for the Sunday.
Saturday - 11.00 am to 12 noon - Choir practice.
Next Sunday - 9.30 am - Public Divine service - (Non - Communion). Guest speaker: Marcus Allport from Access Ministries. (Retiring Offering).

2. 'John the Baptist' - Sermon Series:
Pastor Lester has made available in booklet form, the complete sermon series of 'John the Baptist' -
No Greater Prophet'. If anyone would like a copy, please contact the church office in person or by email: administration@ourredeemer- geelong.org

3. 2014 Lenten Worship Services:
Notice is given of upcoming mid - week Lenten services among the Greater Geelong parishes.
Ash Wednesday 5th March - 11.00 am -
'Our Redeemer' - 7.30 pm - St John's Yarra St.
Wednesday 12th March - 11.00 am -
St Paul's Grovedale - 7.30 pm - St John's .Yarra St.
Wednesday 19th March - 11.00 am - 'Our Redeemer'
- 7.30 pm - St John's Yarra St.
Wednesday 26th March - 11.00 am -
St Paul's Grovedale - 7.30 pm - St John's Yarra St.
Wednesday 2nd April - 11.00 am - 'Our Redeemer'
- 7.30 pm - St John's Yarra St.
Wednesday 9th April - 11.00 am-
St Paul's Grovedale - 7.30 pm - St John's Yarra St.

4. 'Sharing Table' - From 2nd March:
Commencing from Sunday, 2nd March, a 'Sharing Table', will be available in the church hall for members to donate and purchase garden produce
with proceeds to Australian Lutheran World Service and left-over produce given to 'Give Where You Live'

5. Thanksgiving Worship Service:
Further notice is given of our annual service of Thanksgiving which will take place on Sunday 2nd March. Members are encouraged to bring along
garden produce and non- perishable food for both display at the church altar. Leftover produce to be made available to 'Give Where You Live' and non-
perishable food donated to Uniting Care Geelong.

4. 2014 Lenten Devotion Booklet:
Further reminder that if anyone would like a copy of RBC Ministries' Lenten booklet 'Following Jesus to the Cross', please place your name on the sheet
provided in the foyer by next Sunday .

Coming up for your diary:

Friday 14th March - 9.30 am - Worship Team.
Tuesday 29th April - 7.00 pm - Combined meeting
of Church Council, Deacons. Worship Team and
other interested members re vision for future spiritual
direction of 'Our Redeemer' congregation.