1 John 4: 9 | The Pastor's Workshop

liturgy

Remembering God's Generosity and Kindness

Author

Keywords

Scripture

James 1:17, 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, Romans 8:32 , Luke 6:38, Matthew 25:14-30, Ephesians 1:3 , 1 John 4:7-11

Heavenly Father, we have forgotten your generosity and kindness. Believing you hold back from us, we have held back from others and from you. Gracious God, hear our confessions, and make us mindful of...

liturgy

Jesus – Savior: Praise You. Thank

Author

Richard Herman

Keywords

Scripture

John 15:13, Philippians 2:6-7, Matthew 2:13-15, Matthew 5:44, Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:19, 2 Corinthians 9:15

Jesus – Savior: Praise You. Thank You. We’d never have done what You did We’d never give up so much for someone else who cared so little about us. … and we can’t imagine anyone doing it for us. But Yo...

Quote

Author

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Keywords

Atonement

Scripture

Romans 3:23-26, Ephesians 5:2, 1 Corinthians 5:7, 1 John 2:2, Hebrews 10:5-18, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:14-15, Hebrews 9:28, 1 John 4:10

Throughout the Old Testament this was always the idea of a sin-offering - that of a perfect victim; without offense on its own account, taking the place of the offender; the transference of the offend...

illustration

What does Propitiation mean?

Author

Jerry Bridges

Keywords

Scripture

1 John 2:2, 1 John 4:10, Romans 3:25, Hebrews 2:17, Hebrews 9:26

What does propitiation mean? A modern dictionary will say that to propitiate means “to appease” or “to placate.” I find both of these words unsatisfactory because they suggest a mere soothing or softe...

illustration

Doubt over Faith?

Author

Lesslie Newbigin

Keywords

Scripture

Mark 9:24, Romans 10:17, John 20:27, 1 John 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Proverbs 3:5-6

Have you ever noticed that the phrases in our culture favor doubt over faith? The famed missionary and theologian Lesslie Newbigin pointed this out when we speak of “Honest doubts” and “blind faith”. ...

Quote

Author

Keywords

Grace

Scripture

Matthew 9:9-13, Matthew 8:5-13, John 4:1-26, Luke 19:1-10, Luke 10:25-37, 1 John 4:7-12

It takes no grace to relate to someone who looks, thinks, and acts just like me . . . The more we love, and the more unlikely people we love, the more we resemble God — who, after all, loves ornery cr...

Quote

Author

Augustine of Hippo

Keywords

Scripture

1 John 4:1-12, 1 Peter 4:8-10, Acts 9:36-42, John 13:1-17, Luke 10:25-37, Matthew 25:35-40, Galatians 6:2

What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. Th...

Quote

Author

Eugene Peterson

Keywords

Scripture

John 1:14, Matthew 9:36, Luke 19:10, John 15:15, Mark 10:45, Philippians 2:5-7, 1 John 4:9-10

The ways Jesus goes about loving and saving the world are personal: nothing disembodied, nothing abstract, nothing impersonal. Incarnate, flesh and blood, relational, particular and local. The ways em...

illustration

Our God is Great as God is Good

Author

Gardner C. Taylor

Keywords

Scripture

Romans 5:8, Psalm 90:2, James 1:17, Psalm 145:3, 1 John 4:8

The great African-American preacher Gardner Taylor, preacher of the Concord Baptist Church in Brooklyn for over 40 years, begins one of his sermons with a paean to the God revealed to us in the 66 boo...

Quote

Author

Jess C. Scott

Keywords

Scripture

Ephesians 3:17-19, Mark 4:35-41, Ruth 1:16, Psalm 91:1-2, Romans 8:38-39, John 15:12-13, 1 John 4:18-19

"When someone loves you, the way they talk about you is different. You feel safe and comfortable."

illustration

What is a Christian?

Author

Bill Rodenberg

Keywords

Christians

Scripture

2 Thessalonians 1:3, 1 Peter 2:2, 2 Peter 3:18, Mark 5:19, Luke 14:23, Acts 1:8, Matthew 5:16, Luke 8:16, Philippians 2:15, Mark 4:1-20, Luke 8:4-8, Psalm 12:6-8, Psalm 91:1-2, Luke 8:39, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 John 5:13, 2 Corinthians 5:1, 2 Timothy 3:1-5

The word “Christian” has lost much of its meaning in our culture. It means “Christ in one.” As you communicate the Good News of Jesus Christ, this is what God expects of a Christian: He expects us to...

liturgy

The law of the Lord is indeed perfect, trustworthy, and right.

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

2 Corinthians 4:6, 1 John 1:8-9, Psalm 19:7-8, Romans 8:29

Leader: The law of the Lord is indeed perfect, trustworthy, and right. When we examine ourselves in light of God’s law, we come face to face with the darkness of our sinful condition. God’s Word sa...

liturgy

A Contemporary Lament for Violence

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 4:1-14, Matthew 5:21-22, Exodus 20:13, 1 John 3:15, Deuteronomy 5:17, Romans 12:19, Genesis 9:6, Matthew 5:4, 9, Revelation 21:4

Notes on prayer: This prayer is designed for a leader and a congregation, but it could be further divided so that the Leader/People response sections are "voice 1" and "voice 2." ...

liturgy

A Prayer to Mourn Violence

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 4:1-14, Matthew 5:21-22, Exodus 20:13, 1 John 3:15, Deuteronomy 5:17, Romans 12:19, Genesis 9:6

Notes on prayer: This lament can be used as prayers of the people, but can be adapted for other uses as well. It is designed to be responsive, but it would also work if prayed in unison. Leader: ...

illustration

Casey at the Bat

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

Keywords

Scripture

Proverbs 16:18, Proverbs 11:2, Proverbs 29:23, Proverbs 8:23, James 4:6, Proverbs 16:5, 1 John 2:16, Philippians 2:3, Jeremiah 9:23, Daniel 4:28-33

“Casey at the Bat” has got to be the most well-known sports poem in American history. The “Mudville nine” are down four to two, with one inning left with two outs. Two men wait at second and third bas...

illustration

The Significant Reminder at the Milan Cathedral

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

Keywords

Scripture

James 4:14, Habakkuk 2:14, Matthew 6:19-21, John 9:2, 1 John 2:17

Over the triple doorways of the Cathedral of Milan, there are carvings. One features a beautiful wreath of roses, accompanied by the inscription: “All that pleases is but for a moment.” Another displa...

liturgy

Holy Spirit, Grant Us Strength

Author

Laura B. Murray

Keywords

Scripture

James 4:10, Luke 22:54-62, 1 John 1:9, Joshua 1:9, Luke 9:23, Philippians 2:13 , Psalm 51:10

Father, we confess to boasting in success and security. We have denied you rather that desire you. We have cowered when we needed to be courageous. Jesus, we long to be people who follow you, no...

liturgy

As those three magi brought you gifts,

Author

Austin D. Hill

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 51:10, Isaiah 9:6, Hebrews 4:16, Romans 10:9, 1 John 1:9

As those three magi brought you gifts, we are reminded of your majesty, oh Christ. You are the savior of the world who embraced human frailty that we might receive salvation. We ask your forgiveness f...

liturgy

Jesus Christ is the light of the

Author

Austin D. Hill

Keywords

Scripture

John 8:12-20, 1 John 1:5-10, Psalm 27:, John 9:5, Matthew 4:12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:1-10, Psalm 72:2-14, Colossians 1:26-29

Jesus Christ is the light of the world. He will judge the people with righteousness and defend the cause of the poor. Jesus Christ is the light of the world. The mystery of the ages is revealed; th...

liturgy

Lord Jesus Christ, you are loving and

Author

Chip Hardwick

Keywords

Scripture

Colossians 1:15-16, Luke 9:23-24, Romans 7:18-19, 1 John 1:9, Hebrews 4:16, Psalm 51:10

Lord Jesus Christ, you are loving and merciful. Forgive us for being so captivated by Christmas that we forget that you, the little baby in the manger, grew up as the Lord over all creation. It is som...

liturgy

Our prayers of confession come close to

Author

C. Hassell Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 103:8-12, 1 John 1:9, Ephesians 4:32, Daniel 9:9, Micah 7:18, Isaiah 55:7

Our prayers of confession come close to God’s heart because God is merciful and gracious and eager to say: “I forgive you.” Let us receive God’s forgiveness with a resounding “Amen!”

Quote

Author

Martin Luther

Keywords

Scripture

1 John 3:17, Acts 4:32-35, James 2:15-17, Luke 16:19-31, Luke 10:25-37, Acts 2:44-45, Psalm 24:1, Matthew 25:14-30, 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

If our goods are not available to the community, they are stolen goods.

illustration

Who are we?

Author

Jean Bethke Elshtain

Keywords

Scripture

James 4:6, Mark 8:36, 1 John 2:17, 1 Corinthians 4:7, Jeremiah 9:23-24, Revelation 3:17

Who, then, are we, we prideful late-twentieth-century creatures? Lord knows, we no longer think of ourselves as belonging to anyone or anything. We do not belong – we own; we possess. And that, to say...

illustration

Just Ask

Author

Dave Peterson

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 7:7, Philippians 4:6, Jeremiah 33:3, 1 John 5:14, Luke 11:9-10, Mark 11:24, John 14:13-14

Steve Jobs was one of the biggest somebodies of our time. He said, "Most people never pick up the phone and ask, and that's what separates the people who do things from the people who just dr...