Opening Prayer: Almighty God, help me to remember that I am here to worship and follow Your son. Give me the strength I need to be the best disciple I can be. Amen.

Read: Luke 15:11-32
Reflect: Why does the father run to receive his younger son? Why does the father leave the banquet to speak to his older son? What has been the goal of the older son’s doing everything the father instructed? Do you identify with one of the sons? Which one?

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself.

Hymn: “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go”
O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee.
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

O Light that follow’st all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to Thee.
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in Thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that sleekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee.
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain
That morn shall tearless be.

O cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee.
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.

Closing Prayer: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 2 Cor. 1:3-4

Opening Prayer: Almighty God, help me to remember that I am here to worship and follow Your son. Give me the strength I need to be the best disciple I can be. Amen.

Read: Luke 14:12-24
Reflect: What is the significance of having a banquet for people who cannot repay you? Who are today’s invited guests? What are the modern excuses for not attending the banquet? What does it take to get into the banquet?

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself.

Hymn: “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go”
O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee.
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

O Light that follow’st all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to Thee.
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in Thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that sleekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee.
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain
That morn shall tearless be.

O cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee.
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.

Closing Prayer: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 2 Cor. 1:3-4

Opening Prayer: Almighty God, help me to remember that I am here to worship and follow Your son. Give me the strength I need to be the best disciple I can be. Amen.

Read: Matthew 18:21-35
Reflect: What is your initial response to the servant who demands that his fellow servant pay him back? Why do you think it is so natural for humans to be unforgiving? What consequences does Jesus say there will be for those who aren’t able to forgive in this life?

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself.

Hymn: “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go”
O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee.
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

O Light that follow’st all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to Thee.
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in Thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that sleekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee.
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain
That morn shall tearless be.

O cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee.
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.

Closing Prayer: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 2 Cor. 1:3-4

Opening Prayer: Almighty God, help me as I try to understand Your grace, and work to show Your grace to the people around me. Amen.

Read: Matthew 5:43-6:4
Reflect: How are Jesus’ followers supposed to treat those who don’t like them? How are Jesus’ followers supposed to give to the needy? How are these instructions different than conventional wisdom today? Why does Jesus come into conflict with conventional wisdom?

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself.

Hymn: “Jesus I Come”
Out of my bondage, sorrow and night,
Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come.
Into Thy freedom, gladness and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of my sickness into Thy health,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus I come to Thee.

Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come.
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm,
Out of Life’s storms and into Thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,
Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come.
Into the joy and light of Thy home,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of the depths of ruin untold,
Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold,
Ever Thy glorious face to behold,
Jesus I come to Thee.

Closing Prayer: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.” (Philippians 4:23)

Opening Prayer: Almighty God, help me as I try to understand Your grace, and work to show Your grace to the people around me. Amen.

Read: Matthew 5:13-16
Reflect: In what ways are Jesus’ followers salt and light? How do you think Jesus expected his followers to live as salt and light? How are Jesus’ followers doing at fulfilling Jesus’ expectations for saltiness and light?

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself.

Hymn: “Jesus I Come”
Out of my bondage, sorrow and night,
Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come.
Into Thy freedom, gladness and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of my sickness into Thy health,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus I come to Thee.

Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come.
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm,
Out of Life’s storms and into Thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,
Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come.
Into the joy and light of Thy home,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of the depths of ruin untold,
Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold,
Ever Thy glorious face to behold,
Jesus I come to Thee.

Closing Prayer: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.” (Philippians 4:23)