This Sunday we continue to answer the question “Why do the wicked prosper?” In the first sermon, Pastor Peter offered an answer to how the wicked prosper. In this sermon, we’ll wonder about why God allows the wicked to prosper. We’ll also celebrate communion! You can find all the words that we’ll be using for worship below. Or, you can download a copy to print here.

PRELUDE                                                                                                   Forever                                                                                                                                 

CALL TO WORSHIP – from Psalm 18

I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,
   my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,
   my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
   so I shall be saved from my enemies.

The Lord lives! Blessed be my rock,
   and exalted be the God of my salvation,
the God who gave me vengeance
   and subdued peoples under me;
who delivered me from my enemies;
   indeed, you exalted me above my adversaries;
   you delivered me from the violent.

For this I will extol you, O Lord, among the nations,
   and sing praises to your name.
Great triumphs he gives to his king,
   and shows steadfast love to his anointed,
   to David and his descendants for ever.

*HYMN #492                               Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing  #521                                                                                                                                 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Most High and holy God, in you we find our strength. In you we find a place to stand. In you we find protection. And, in you we find deliverance. But, you bless us with your presence, not for our own purposes, but for yours. Like Jonah, part of us prefers revenge over reconciliation. Part of us prefers condemnation over mercy. We confess the ways that we fall short and seek the blessing of your Holy Spirit so that we can triumph and show steadfast love. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

HYMN #838                                                                    Now Behold the Lamb

please remain seated

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – from 2 Peter 3

But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 

The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. 

But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.

ANTHEM                                                                                            Peace Train                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Jesus Loves M

SCRIPTURE                                                                                   Ezekiel 33:8-20

If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked ones, you shall surely die’, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.

Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel, Thus you have said: ‘Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?’ Say to them, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel? And you, mortal, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not save them when they transgress; and as for the wickedness of the wicked, it shall not make them stumble when they turn from their wickedness; and the righteous shall not be able to live by their righteousness when they sin. 

Though I say to the righteous that they shall surely live, yet if they trust in their righteousness and commit iniquity, none of their righteous deeds shall be remembered; but in the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. Again, though I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die’, yet if they turn from their sin and do what is lawful and right— if the wicked restore the pledge, give back what they have taken by robbery, and walk in the statutes of life, committing no iniquity—they shall surely live, they shall not die. None of the sins that they have committed shall be remembered against them; they have done what is lawful and right, they shall surely live.

Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just’, when it is their own way that is not just. When the righteous turn from their righteousness, and commit iniquity, they shall die for it. And when the wicked turn from their wickedness, and do what is lawful and right, they shall live by it. Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, I will judge all of you according to your ways!

SERMON                Why do the wicked prosper? (Part 2)                               

*HYMN #578                                                                                            Forever                                                                                                                                 

CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

The Lord be with you.

AND ALSO WITH YOU.

Lift up your hearts.

WE LIFT THEM TO THE LORD.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

IT IS RIGHT TO GIVE OUR THANKS AND PRAISE.

O Holy God… we lift our hearts in joyful praise:

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY LORD, GOD OF POWER AND MIGHT, HEAVEN AND EARTH ARE FULL OF YOUR GLORY. HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST. BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION & THE LORD’S PRAYER

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.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin 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.

OFFERTORY                                                                                       Lean On Me                                                                

*BENEDICTION

*SENDING SONG #939                                             May the Love of the Lord