Sunday Worship at 9:00am Bible Class following service
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Freewill Offering
Welcome in Jesus' name!
We encourage and welcome our members, friends, and guests to join us for worship. Church is a gathering of people in the same place who praise and worship the God who saves sinners. Church is not a place where "perfect" people go - there are none! Rather, church is a gathering of imperfect people desperately in need of God's forgiveness, mercy, and grace.
Sermon documents can be found by clicking the "Sermons" picture button above, then selecting the current year and category "Sermons."
UNEXPECTED TRUTHS: THE CHURCH IS FOR ALL PEOPLE
“All are welcome!” Is that true at our church? Or is church meant only for people of the right heritage who behave the right way, “good church folk”? Is it conceivable that a stranger could walk into church unexpectedly and for some reason you would ask yourself, “What is someone like that doing here?” Or perhaps you ask that question about yourself. “There seem to be godly people here. I’m not like them. Do I really belong?” Today Jesus shows us that the Church is for all people. All of us—regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, or social status—have the same problem of sin. And we all have the same Savior. Anyone who comes to Christ’s Church and cries out “Lord, have mercy!” is welcome.
READINGS:
Isaiah 56:1,6-8 – The Lord told the world that all God-fearing people would have a place in the house of his Church. Ephesians 2:13-22 – Christ takes foreigners and strangers and builds them into a holy temple, his Church.
Matthew 15:21-28 – In the face of a test from Jesus, a Canaanite woman demonstrates great faith in God’s promise for all people.
Pentecost 13, August 23th, 2026
UNEXPECTED TRUTHS: THE SON OF MAN IS GOD
Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?” It’s the most important question in the world, and it is a question every human being must answer. The expected answer may be dead wrong. Some in Jesus’ day thought he was John the Baptist. Some thought he was the prophet Elijah who had come back from the dead. Today plenty of people believe that Jesus existed. They think that Jesus was a wise teacher or a role model for love. Both answers are expected. Both miss the main point. Jesus is a real human being, the Son of Man. He is also Lord and Savior, the Son of the living God. This unexpected truth is the core of saving faith. READINGS:
Exodus 34:5-9 – God proclaimed to Moses what he is like. The Church’s job is to proclaim to the world who Christ is and what he is like.
Romans 10:5-13 – Those who believe that Jesus is both Lord and Savior will be saved.
Matthew 16:13-20 – The truth upon which God builds his Church is Jesus, the Son of the living God.
If you would like to study these readings and learn more about them before Sunday Worship, please attend our Thursday (8:30am) Bible Class at Familiar Grounds Coffee Shop in New London. All are welcome!
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