Sermon text

Genesis 1:26–27

[26] Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

[27] So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them. (ESV)

Psalm 106:36–45

[36] They served their idols,
which became a snare to them.
[37] They sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to the demons;
[38] they poured out innocent blood,
the blood of their sons and daughters,
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,
and the land was polluted with blood.
[39] Thus they became unclean by their acts,
and played the whore in their deeds.

[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. (ESV)

Call to Worship

Psalm 138:1–5

Give Thanks to the LORD

Of David.

[1] I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise;
[2] I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.
[3] On the day I called, you answered me;
my strength of soul you increased.

[4] All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD,
for they have heard the words of your mouth,
[5] and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD,
for great is the glory of the LORD. (ESV)

Prayer of Confession

Lord, we come before you broken and needy. Our hearts are heavy, and our sins are great. We have watched as the least of these have been violently oppressed and systematically selected for slaughter. Human beings, made in your image, tossed upon the altar of convenience and sacrificed to the god of self. And while we have looked on in horror, we realize that our sins are no better. You say in your Word that if we hate our brother, we are as guilty as the murderer. Blood is on our hands. We are the worst of sinners. And so, we cry out for forgiveness. Heal us. Deliver us from evil. Wash away the sin that is within us and the sins that we have put forth into the world. We are our brother’s keeper and yet we confess that we are insufficient for the task. As Christ’s blood was shed for our redemption, may we give of our lives, so that all may hear and believe that you come to bind up the brokenhearted and to set the captives free. For the joy set before us and the hope of life eternal, help us to take up our cross and follow you. It’s in Jesus’ name that we pray. Amen.

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