Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Prelude
*Hymn God of Grace and God of Glory 577
Affirmation of Faith (The Apostle’s Creed) 881
Welcome
Hymn O How He Loves You and Me
Sharing Praises & Concern
Time of Personal Prayer
Pastoral Prayer(followed by 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.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Hymn O How I Love Jesus 170
Tithes and Offering
*Doxology
*Scripture Jeremiah 1: 4 - 9
Message Even Before You Were Born, God Loved You Rock Stone
Hymn Fill My Cup, Lord 641
Holy Communion
*Response Here I Am, Lord 593
*Congregation please stand as able
This morning we are going to start at least a two part series, (maybe more) on love. More importantly we will be talking about God’s Love. We will begin the series this morning reading from Jeremiah chapter one. It is a beautiful picture that I believe was for Jeremiah but also for you and me today. Let’s take a look at our text. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;” (Jeremiah 1:4, NIV 1984) Please note what God is saying to Jeremiah, before Jeremiah was even conceived God knew him. Can you imagine how Jeremiah must have felt when he heard those words spoken to him by God? Jeremiah before you took your first breath, even before you were conceived I knew you. And then God says that there was to be a specific purpose for his life. Here is the rest of that verse: “I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (IBID) Before Jeremiah was born, before he was conceived God had a specific purpose for his life.
I am a firm believer that God has a specific plan for our lives as well. In fact I believe that what God said to Jeremiah He would say to us. The psalmist felt the same way. Here is what David had to say in Psalm 139: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your bookbefore one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:13 & 16, NIV 1984) If God knew Jeremiah before he was conceived and if God knew David before he too was born then is that not the same for you and me? I believe with all my heart that God knew me before I was conceived, I too believe that He knit me in my mother’s womb and I believe with all my heart that God has a plan for my life. I believe that God has a plan for your life.
Do you realize that in all of creation God decided that you were destined to live now? Where you are today at this appointed time God destined you for your life. He formed you in your mother’s womb and He has a divine plan for your life. You are not here by some accident, God gave you life and your life has purpose. You are loved so much that God gave you life and set out a plan for your life. If we follow the life of Jeremiah we will see that God continues to speak to him. God’s specific plan for Jeremiah was for him to become a prophet to the nations. Do you know what God’s plan is for your life? Why are you here? Does God have a plan for you or should you just wander through life in the flesh not making a difference? God spoke boldly to Jeremiah and it is a verse that many claim still today. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV 1984) God had a plan for Jeremiah’s life. It was a plan to make him prosper and my favorite part; to give him hope and a future.
My friends, God loves you so much that He gave you life. He loves you so much that He formed you in your mother’s womb and set forth a plan for your life. And that plan is to give you hope and a future. You are here for a reason. To find out what your purpose is in life begins with accepting God’s love. Once you do that He will set you on a course that will help you discover just why you are here and it will indeed give you hope and establish your future. Shalom
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH:
Worship on the Water (WoW) 8:30 a.m.
Sunday School10:00 a.m.
Sunday Morning Worship Service11:00 a.m.
Sunday Evening Worship Service 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday night Bible Study 7:00 p.m.
Tonight 6:00 p.m.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
Tues 2/12 WIRL Fellowship6:00 p.m.
Wed 2/13 Ash Wednesday Service7:00 p.m.
Thur 2/21 Missions Team Meeting4:45 p.m.
Total Collections for January $10,541.50
Average weekly Collections$ 2,635.38
We will be covering Adam Hamilton’s “The Way” during Lent. Thedevotionalbook is not required, however if you would like one they cost $6.50. Just put your payment in the offering designated for“The Way” devotional.
PRAYER REQUESTS
The Lost and Unchurched,Our Homebound: Elsie Guy, Bobbie Morrow,Joe Robertson, Corendene Rushing, Betty Weissinger,Susan Shirley, Evonne Brown, Duffy Hagler, Jack Hagler (Patty Jean & Nina’s brother), Carolyn Gunter, Eloise Medders (Minor’s sister), Jim Tierce (Dan’s brother), Frank Landry (Lin’s brother), Elvie Darden (Joe Ed’s aunt), Jewel Walters, Sara Lee, Mandy Latner, Jack & Naomi Brown, Nellie Ray, Tracy Brown, Robert, Peggy Atkinson, Charlie Smelly, Troy Turner, Linda Smelly, Darlene Hall, David Hall, JB Hall, Willie Turner, Barbara Woods, Shelby Brown,Shelly Cleckler, Charlotte Hardison, Nelda Lemley, Patty Jean Armstrong, A.C. Sellers family, Debbie Medders, Mark Davis,American Leaders, Military, Our Nation, Our Church
Macedonia United Methodist Church“The Church on the Lake”
14837 Hwy 69 N, Northport, AL 35475
205.339.6360 (Office) 205.339.6610 (Fax)
thechurchonthelakeumc.org
Pastor: Rock Stone
February 3, 2013
Bro. Rock: 205-792-3301 (Cell) E-mail:Church E-mail:
Church Office E-mail: