Worship: August 17th, 2014

On Sunday, August 17th, Pastor Tony continued his sermon series in II Corinthians: Cultivating Ambassadors for Christ. Focusing on chapter 3, in the first part of a discussing on the New Covenant, we see in God’s unfolding plan of redemption, we are blessed to minister in a time of the Holy Spirit’s widespread work.

Preaching: Rev. Tony Felich (Sermon Audio Page| Other Sermons)

Text: 2 Corinthians 3:1-18

[1] Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? [2] You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. [3] And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

[4] Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. [5] Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, [6] who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

[7] Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, [8] will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? [9] For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. [10] Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. [11] For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

[12] Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, [13] not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. [14] But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. [15] Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. [16] But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. [17] Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. [18] And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Worship Hymns:

Hymn of Adoration: # 302 Come, Christians, Join to Sing
Hymn or Spiritual Songs: # 111 This Is My Father’s World
Hymn of Response: # 470 How Vast the Benefits Divine
Dismissal Hymn: # 103 Holy God, We Praise Your Name  (4)

Additional Readings: The Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of Heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into Heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the Communion of Saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting. Amen.

 Full Liturgy for August 17th, 2014 (PDF)

Sermons from the Exposition of II Corinthians
(click on the link for the sermon page with audio) 

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