Tierra Nueva

In the first of a three-part series, Andrew looks to the beginning, when God was present and put things in order.

Genesis 1 (NIV): The Beginning

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.

Mike looks to Jesus authorizing and assigning his disciples—us included—in the work prepared beforehand.

Matthew 9:35-38 (ESV): The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few

35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Matthew 10:1, 5, 7-8 (ESV): The Twelve Apostles

10 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.

5 These twelve Jesus sent out…

7 “And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

Kevin shares on life and renewal that comes with falling into Jesus’ arms.

Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Philippians 4:13 (ESV)

13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Sunday! We gather in worship that we might learn to love better, in exploring Jesus and the Centurion.

Worship: Andrew Lewis

Prayers of the People: Danielle Riley

Message: Mike Neelley

Blessing of: Kevin Riley

Matthew 8:5-13 (ESV): The Faith of a Centurion

5 When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.

Alvin examines repentance as called on by King Solomon and John the Baptist.

1 Kings 8:46-50 (ESV)

46 “If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near, 47 yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,’ 48 if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name, 49 then hear in heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause 50 and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions that they have committed against you, and grant them compassion in the sight of those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them 51 (for they are your people, and your heritage, which you brought out of Egypt, from the midst of the iron furnace).

Matthew 3:1-12 (ESV)

1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:‘

Prepare the way of the Lord;    

make his paths straight.’”

4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Kevin repents of anger, complicity, self-righteousness, and cynicism in world of broken systems.

Psalm 80 (ESV): Restore Us, O God

To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Testimony. Of Asaph, a Psalm.

1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,    

you who lead Joseph like a flock.

You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.

2     

Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,

stir up your might    

and come to save us!

3 Restore us, O God;    

let your face shine, that we may be saved!

4 O Lord God of hosts,    

how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?

Danielle examines just condemnation and unrelenting, unstoppable forgiveness—reading from Psalm 106, Eugene Peterson, and Gerard Manley Hopkins.

Psalm 106:40-46 (ESV)

40 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against his people,    

and he abhorred his heritage;

41 he gave them into the hand of the nations,    

so that those who hated them ruled over them.

42 Their enemies oppressed them,    

and they were brought into subjection under their power.

43 Many times he delivered them,    

but they were rebellious in their purposes    

and were brought low through their iniquity.

44 Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress,    

when he heard their cry.

45 For their sake he remembered his covenant,    

and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.

46 He caused them to be pitied    

by all those who held them captive.

Danielle navigates imbalances of power in our world, according to God’s justice. God himself addresses our greed, neglect, and self-interest.Ezekiel 34:7-11 (ESV)

7 “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 8 As I live, declares the Lord God, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 10 Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.

11 “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.

Begin the week, with yesterday’s service, in worship of a God that puts us to the good work in the good news.

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Colossians 3:17 (ESV)

17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Sunday! We gather in worship, saved and created for good works.

• Worship: Lucy Capron - 0:00

• Prayers: Danielle Riley - 24:27

• Announcements, Message: Mike Neelley - 26:33

• Closing Song: Beautiful Things - 49:54

• Call to Action: Kevin Riley - 54:55

• Blessing: Andrew Lewis - 56:27

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Colossians 3:17 (ESV)

17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.