A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

July 23, 2023
 
Prelude
Stephanie Shorden

Greeting
Rev. David Petty

*Call To Worship
Nancy Gehrung

Leader: Let us awaken our spirit to God's truth in action. Be followers of Jesus Christ. Take the path of righteousness.
People: For then we shall neither be tempted nor deceived.
Leader: This is the day the Lord has made.
People: Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

*Gathering Song
Praise the Source of Faith and Learning
v. 1-2, 4 TFWS #2004
WORDS: Thomas H. Troeger
MUSIC: Rowland H. Prichard; harm. from The English Hymnal
© 1987 Oxford University Press, Inc.
 
1. Praise the source
of faith and learning
that has sparked
and stoked the mind 
 
with a passion
for discerning
how the world
has been designed.
 
Let the sense
of wonder flowing
from the wonders we survey
keep our faith
forever growing
and renew our need to pray:
 
2. God of wisdom,
we acknowledge
that our science and our art
and the breadth
of human knowledge
only partial truth impart.
 
Far beyond our calculations
lie a depth we cannot sound
where your purpose
for creation
and the pulse
of life is found.
 
4. As two currents in a river
fight each other’s undertow
till converging
they deliver
one coherent steady flow,
 
blend, O God,
our faith and learning
till they carve
a single course,
till they join as one, returning
praise and thanks
to you, their Source.
 
Mystery Box

Prayer Song
In the Lord I’ll Be Ever Thankful
TFWS #2195
WORDS: Jacques Berthier
MUSIC: Jacques Berthier
© 1991 Les Presses de Taizé (France), admin. by GIA Publications, Inc.
 
In the Lord,
I’ll be ever thankful,
in the Lord,
I will rejoice!
 
Look to God,
do not be afraid.
Lift up your voices,
the Lord is near,
lift up your voices,
the Lord is near.
 
Pastoral, Silent and, The Lord’s Prayer
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name; Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power and the Glory forever.
Amen

Prayer Response
In the Lord I’ll Be Ever Thankful
TFWS #2195
WORDS: Jacques Berthier
MUSIC: Jacques Berthier
© 1991 Les Presses de Taizé (France), admin. by GIA Publications, Inc.
 
In the Lord,
I’ll be ever thankful,
in the Lord,
I will rejoice!
 
Look to God,
do not be afraid.
Lift up your voices,
the Lord is near,
lift up your voices,
the Lord is near.

Invitation to Offering
Nancy Gehrung

Offertory

Prayer of Thanks and Dedication
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

*Doxology
Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow
 
Praise God, from whom 
all blessings flow; 
Praise God, all creatures 
here below: Alleluia! Alleluia! 
 
Praise God, the source 
of all our gifts! 
Praise Jesus Christ, 
whose power uplifts! 
 
Praise the Spirit, 
Holy Spirit! 
Alleluia! Alleluia! 
Alleluia!

Scripture Reading
Matthew 7:13-20
Nancy Gehrung

“Enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.

Prayer for Illumination

Leader: May the words of my mouth,
People: and the meditations of all of our hearts
All: be acceptable in your sight, O Lord our rock and our redeemer.
Psalm 19:14

Message
A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

*Hymn
Be Thou My Vision
UMH #451
WORDS: Ancient Irish; trans. by Mary E. Byrne, 1905; versed by Eleanor H. Hull, 1912, alt.
Alt. © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
 
1. Be thou my vision,
O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me,
save that thou art.
 
Thou my best thought,
by day or by night,
waking or sleeping,
thy presence my light.
 
2. Be thou my wisdom,
and thou my true word;
I ever with thee
and thou with me, Lord;
 
thou and thou only,
first in my heart,
great God of heaven,
my treasure thou art.
 
3. Great God of heaven,
my victory won,
may I reach heaven’s joys,
O bright heaven’s Sun!
 
Heart of my own heart,
whatever befall,
still be my vision,
O Ruler of all.
 
*Benediction
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

Postlude
Stephanie Shorden