My Song In The Night: Recent Episodes
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Read my sermon manuscript below or watch the YouTube video for my sermon from Sojourn Church New Albany on Jesus and the Rich Man from Mark 10:17-31.
Good morning, my name is Bobby. I’m one of the pastors here. Peace be with you. Here at Sojourn we want to reach people with the gospel, build them up as God’s church, and send them wherever God leads to be champions of truth, beauty, and goodness.
Act 1
How good is good enough?
Most people who come to church want to be good. Even if you are not like the man in today’s story, and you don’t think you need to earn your salvation or a place in God’s family, you probably want to be like Jesus. This is the essence of discipleship.
Today’s passage might be bad news for us because even when money is tight for us, we have more options, more possessions, and a bigger safety net than 99% of all people around the world throughout history. To them, we would be rich.
But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” – Mark 10:24-25
We might agree with the first apprentices of Jesus. “The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” – Mark 10:26
The disciples reacted this way because it was common then, just as it’s common today, to see prosperity as an indication of God’s pleasure. We take certain verses in the Bible, mostly from wisdom literature like Proverbs, and we say, “It promises that if you work hard and you’re smart about it, you’ll get ahead.
This is the American Dream. Work hard, be honest, pull yourself up by your bootstraps. We see someone successful and as long as they don’t flaunt it we think those are the good people. They did it right. #Blessed.
Acts 2:
The man in today’s story might have thought so, but he’s in for a rude awakening.
“Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. – Mark 10:17-18
Jesus isn’t denying his own goodness or divinity. He’s meeting this young man where he is, and making sure this man focuses on the fact that only God is good, so only God is our hope. Jesus disrupts his assumptions before he even begins to answer.
You know the commandments: “You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honour your father and mother.” Mark 10:19
Notice that Jesus is quoting the “horizontal” part of the Ten Commandments – the commands about how we treat each other. If you’re not doing that stuff, you’re not honoring God. Not really. You can’t worship God with all your heart if you don’t love people.
But Jesus subs in a prohibition against fraud in place of the 10th commandment against covetousness. Why? Because he’s talking to a rich young ruler. We know he’s rich from this passage, we know he’s young from the same story in the Gospel of Matthew, and we know he’s a ruler from the Gospel of Luke.
He’s a boss. He doesn’t need to covet his neighbor’s stuff because he can buy whatever he wants. But he needs to be honest in his business dealings.
“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. – Mark 10:20-22
Two things to keep in mind:
First, Jesus looked at him and loved him. – Mark 10:21
Everything Jesus says is because he loves him. This isn’t class warfare. This isn’t a smackdown. Jesus loves him and wants to give him a more abundant life.
Second, At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, – Mark 10:22
The English word “sad” doesn’t begin to cover it. This young man is hurting. He wants to be good. He has heard the gospel, which is that the kingdom of God is at hand. He wants to be part of it. He has done the best he could to keep the law of his people. Now, he has come to the one preaching the gospel and asks, “Am I okay? Anything else I should be doing?”
And he hears, “Yeah. One more thing.” And it turns out to be everything. It’s hard to communicate the expression of pathos in this text. Scot McKnight translates it as:
“He, growing gloomy at the word, departed, grieving …” Lk 10:22 The Second Testament, Scot McKnight
Then Jesus said it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven. Camels were the largest animals in Palestine. The eye of the needle is the smallest opening.
Forget what you heard about a supposed gate in Jerusalem called The Eye of the Needle that is just a bit too narrow for camels to squeeze through comfortably. There’s zero evidence for that – it’s one of those things someone made up a few hundred years ago because they were so focused on proving that everything in the Bible is literally true and scientifically plausible that they don’t understand symbolism and hyperbole.
Jesus purposefully used a dramatic, crazy, and even funny image to illustrate his point. After all, what Jesus seems to require is stunning:
“One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” – Mark 10:21
Acts 3:
What is Jesus saying? This was not in the Old Testament Law, and it’s not what Jesus requires of anyone else. Later some of his followers seem to remember this incident, but they miss the point.
While [Jesus] was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. – Mark 14:1-2
This is what Jesus wanted from the rich young ruler, right? I bet Jesus will side with these guys and let her have it.
“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” – Mark 14:3-9
Jesus is inaugurating a kingdom that the poor will inherit. When we remember that, his words to the rich young ruler make sense. But Jesus defends this woman from the accusation that she could have used her wealth to help the poor instead of pouring it on him.
This woman, whom John identifies as Mary of Bethany has a revelation of who Jesus is that surpasses most others. She knows the hungry will be filled, and the poor will see the king. She is demonstrating her trust in Jesus as that king.
Similarly, Peter demonstrated trust in Jesus by leaving behind his fishing net, his means of earning a living, to follow Jesus.
Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” – Mark 10:28
Act 4:
Mary of Bethany trusts Jesus. Peter trusts Jesus (imperfectly at times, but his whole lifestyle is oriented around Jesus). So what should this rich man do? Trust Jesus. Give up the thing he was clinging to and learn to rely only on Jesus. Remember this incident happened immediately after Jesus was blessing children and said,
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” – Mark 10:14-15
What demands did he put on the kids? None. Just be open and trusting like a child, eager to receive a blessing. All that stuff that the rich guy got so heartbroken about was just clutter in the way of realizing childlike dependence. And that fear (that he wouldn’t be okay without his stuff) was unnecessary.
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. – Mark 10:29-30
One of the greatest risks for followers of the Jesus movement was rejection from family and friends. Jesus is bringing us into a new family – with one Father – that shares what they have, will lovingly work to alleviate poverty, and will walk with you through persecutions and troubles in this life. A family that will share eternity with you after trouble and persecution is no more, and poverty is erased.
But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Mark 10:31
The rich young ruler wasn’t just used to being rich but being in charge. If he gave his riches to the poor, he’d be putting himself into a position of dependence on God’s family. It’s not just that he would no longer be rich. It’s that he would no longer control his own destiny.
We’ve often said that the gospel is the announcement that the kingdom of God is at hand and Jesus is king. Why is that good news? Because you and I make horrible kings and queens of our own lives. We are seldom satisfied and often afraid. Let go of your crown.
You know what we learned in Bible Fellowship recently? In 1 Corinthians 9:25, Paul writes:
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
Do you know what the winners’ crowns were made out of in the sports contests of first-century Corinth? Withered celery. They got smarter in the second century and started using pine leaves, but not in Paul’s day. The best of your trophies and accomplishments will fade like withered celery. Don’t get so attached to them that you cannot give them up because ultimately, they will not last. Trust Jesus.
Monday Challenge:
I just want you to ask yourself two questions: 1. Do I trust Jesus? 2. How do I know I trust Jesus?
He knows whether you trust him or not, so the question isn’t for him. This isn’t about proving anything to Jesus.
You may not really know until you step out in faith in some way and see how that makes you feel. Could be a big thing or a small thing. Could be related to money or possessions, or it could be something else.
Do you trust Jesus? How do you know you trust Jesus?
How can you orient your life around following Jesus, like Peter? How can you pour your sacrificial offering of worship on Jesus, like Mary?
If you don’t know, ask him. It’s a dangerous question to ask, as the rich young ruler discovered. But when you ask, Jesus looks at you and loves you. If you follow the king, you gain the kingdom. And it will be worth it.
Good morning. My name is Bobby; I’m one of the pastors here. Peace be with you. At Sojourn, our mission is to reach people with the gospel, build them up as God’s church, and send them wherever God leads.
You might have just heard Jennifer read today’s text and thought you were experiencing deja vu. Didn’t we just have the same feeding miracle in Mark 6? The numbers are a little different but it seems like Jesus is doing the same thing, like a magician in residency: you can go back night after night, and they’re always going to pull the same rabbit out of the same hat. Is that all that’s going on here?
The last time I preached I said that the purpose of the Bible is to point us to the truth, beauty, and goodness of King Jesus so we will want to become Kingdom People. How does this story do that, in a different way than the previous story where Jesus did the same thing?
One reason for this second feeding miracle might be to show us how dull the disciples were. And, if we’re honest enough in our own self-assessments, we might realize that we’re often this dull, too. We make the same mistakes and miscalculations, over and over. We fall into the same traps. We doubt God in the same ways, in spite of all God has done for us in the past.
The message here might be that Jesus is patient and kind, coming through for us in spite of our lack of faith. That’s a good message. But something deeper might be going on.
Another reason to tell this second story is to continue the theme that Jesus is rerunning the story of Israel in his life. He will become “faithful Israel,” fulfilling their end of the covenant with God. And he is God, fulfilling God’s end. There were two stories of a miraculous feeding in the wilderness during Israel’s exodus from slavery (Ex 16; Num 11). And now Jesus has performed two feeding miracles.
But there’s another reason for this second story that’s easy to miss, and may make all the difference in your life. To discover it, we must pay attention to the preceding context – what happened in the verses right before this, which Pastor Jonah preached about last week. And we have to pay attention to geography. Last week’s reading told us where Jesus was:
Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. – Mark 7:31
The Decapolis is an area east of the Jordan River (and southeast of the Sea of Galilee), with ten predominantly Gentile cities loosely linked by political alliances. Decapolis means “The Ten Cities.” Jesus and Toto are not in Kansas anymore. Jews are a minority now, and the ones who live there have adapted to gentile culture.
Once we’re aware of the geography we see other signs in the story that highlight the gentile focus of this miracle:
Verse 8 says, “Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.”
The Greek word for baskets here is spurídes. This is a gentile basket made from coiled rope or reeds. Back in chapter six when Jesus fed people, the disciples collected leftovers in Jewish baskets called kóphinoi, which looked like wicker baskets. It would be like coming from a place where everyone walked around with backpacks, and now you’re seeing leather handbags.
So we had one feeding miracle in Jewish territory and now one in Gentile territory. And this miracle occurs right after Jesus healed a man in gentile territory who could not hear or speak, and a gentile woman whose daughter was possessed. Now we have the third miracle to reinforce the theme that Jesus brings good news to Jew and gentile alike.
We can acknowledge that this is good news for us but still miss the radical nature of what Christ can do for us and in us if we don’t consider what life was like for Jesus and the family he was born into.
He’s from Nazareth, population a few hundred, an hour’s walk from Sepphoris, the district capital of Galilee. The Jewish people had been conquered by Rome just like they’d been conquered in previous centuries by the Greeks, the Medes and Persians, the Babylonians, the Assyrians, and the Egyptians. Esau McCaulley writes, “It is wrong to imagine that Mary and Joseph lived in some idyllic farm town far from the politics of the day. Joseph and Mary grew up in the shadow of the empire with the reminder of Rome’s domination just a short jaunt down the road.”
Rome didn’t necessarily make life more difficult than previous empires had. In some ways, Caesar brought an economic prosperity that primarily benefited the rich but somewhat trickled down to lower classes because of things like increased trade and massive building projects.
But most Jews, like those in Nazareth, lived hand to mouth. And they were ruled by people who thought of them as second class. A Roman historian named Seutonius wrote an early second-century biography of Augustus, the Caesar of Jesus’s early years. Seutonius wrote this:
“Augustus thought it most important not to let the native Roman stock be tainted with foreign or servile blood, and was therefore very unwilling to create new Roman citizens or permit manumission of more than a limited number of slaves.”
A puppet king named Herod ruled Israel for Rome. When Herod died in 4 B.C. some Jewish people near Jesus’s hometown took the opportunity to revolt so Rome sent over 15,000 warriors from Syria to kill and destroy. The first-century Jewish historian Josephus wrote that the Roman general “Varus sent a part of his army presently to Galilee … and burned it.” Then Varus crucified 2000 of those who survived the initial attack.
This is the area where Jesus grew up. Some of his parent’s friends and relatives were probably killed in the carnage. If you grew up with the knowledge that a certain demographic of people do that kind of thing to your people, then when you see someone who looks like those people on the street, do you want to be buddies?
Shouldn’t Jesus tell his disciples, “Now I will rain down fire from heaven on these gentiles”?
How can he turn to his Jewish apprentices and say, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. Mark 8:2
At the very least, why doesn’t he just leave and let them fend for themselves? He’s led them outside the cities of the Decapolis to an open area with no Kroger in sight. He says,
“If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”
His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?” – Mark 8:3-4
So just abandon them. But he doesn’t.
This may be more surprising when we remember Jesus’s mother. When Mary was pregnant with Jesus her cousin Elizabeth prophesied that Mary’s baby was the Lord. Then Mary prayed a song that we call the Magnificat.
This is a song for the resistance, one of the most famous protest songs of all time, taken up everywhere from the medieval Peasant Revolt to 20th Century farm workers in Central America. Mary was Bob Dylan before Dylan was Dylan. Totalitarian governments have banned her song because it’s too revolutionary. Mary sings things about the God of her people, like:
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty. – Luke 1:52-53
And yet here is Jesus, all grown up:
“I have compassion for these people … If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way … Mark 8:2
Listen, we have to stop dunking on “Mary, Did You Know?” It’s fashionable to say, “Of course she knew; Gabriel told her.” I’ve said that. But there’s a lot Mary didn’t know. Twice, the Bible says she “pondered these things in her heart.” Just like all of us, she had to ponder the question, “Who is Jesus? What is he up to?”
Her song was an accurate reflection of what God had done for her people and what God would do through Jesus, but she had no idea that her boy wasn’t going to be a warrior who conquered by killing his enemies, but by bringing them in.
A New Testament scholar named Helen Bond writes, “The feeding miracles … give a taste of the messianic banquet to come, a magnificent future feast to which Jew and gentile alike will be invited.”
No matter what your name is, what color your skin is, how much money you’ve got, what your sex or nationality is, or even what you’ve done, Jesus welcomes you.
He even submitted to a conspiracy of leaders to kill him in the most degrading and painful way possible, recognizing that the real fight isn’t against other people but demonic powers that manipulate them. He knew the way to defeat those powers and he was willing to do it at enormous cost to himself, even when winning looked like losing:
He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. – Colossians 2:13-15
Now, here’s the good part. That thing Jesus did in the Decapolis, having compassion on people he should have at least been indifferent to, if not hostile … we get to do that too.
And we don’t just have the example of Jesus to help us do it but the power of Jesus, who has filled us with the Holy Spirit so we would bear fruit that looks like the life of Christ:
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. – Gal 5:22-23
The Holy Spirit wants to produce within you a love so stunning, so brazen, so unconventional … a love that changed the world, and can change it again.
To whom should we show compassion? Ask yourself this: is it someone who would be hungry if they had nothing to eat? In other words, is it a human being? If they need to eat, then we need to love them. We get to love them, because Jesus first loved us.
“I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. – Mark 8:2
So here’s my Monday challenge to you. I don’t know if you’ll be able to do this tomorrow but I want you to commit to planning this tomorrow – write it down if you have to – and then do it as soon as the opportunity arises:
The next time you’re somewhere: maybe in line at a grocery store or gas station, or some other public event, and you see someone who reminds you of “those people” – whoever are the kind of people that you’ve never had a great opinion of – ask God to give you compassion without condescension.
Perhaps you can help them in some way, or maybe just pray. Say, “God, I don’t even know anything about this person’s story but I’m thinking uncharitable thoughts because of how they’re speaking to someone on the phone, or how long they’re taking to check out, or the clothes they’re wearing, the music that’s coming from their car,” or whatever it is. “Help me to see them as a fellow image bearer of you.” This is just one small thing you can do. It won’t change the world, but it might begin to change you. And if you do it enough, you may start to find that your heart feels a bit lighter.
“I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. – Mark 8:2
I’ll say this once more: The Holy Spirit wants to produce within you a love so stunning, so brazen, so unconventional … a love that changed the world, and can change it again.
Certainly a love that will change your heart so that one day when you’re sitting at that great feast, and you’re looking at all kinds of people who are nothing like you, you’ll be glad you’re there.
Let’s pray.
Good morning. My name is Bobby; I’m one of the pastors here. Peace be with you. At Sojourn, our mission is to reach people with the gospel, build them up as God’s church, and send them wherever God leads us to be champions of truth, beauty, and goodness, showing with our words and deeds that […]
In this age of information overload, how do we help our people remember sermons and apply them to their lives? By Wednesday, they’ve seen tons of shows and web series, read social media posts and news articles, seen tons of Instagram pics, had many conversations, and maybe even read a book.
At Sojourn New Albany, we help people remember and dive deeper into the Sunday sermon material by hosting The Midweek Checkup, a weekly web series on our Facebook page, YouTube, and our smartphone app each Wednesday. Every week Deacon Lindsey Blair and I provide a quick overview of the sermon. We post an audio version in the Sojourn New Albany podcast, and video versions on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram (IGTV).
Check out this week’s Checkup in the embedded video below – a recap and discussion of Pastor Jonah Sage’s sermon from April 30, 2023 on Hebrews 11:17-40:
In this age of information overload, how do we help our people remember sermons and apply them to their lives? By Wednesday, they’ve seen tons of shows and web series, read social media posts and news articles, seen tons of Instagram pics, had many conversations, and maybe even read a book.
At Sojourn New Albany, we help people remember and dive deeper into the Sunday sermon material by hosting The Midweek Checkup, a weekly web series on our Facebook page, YouTube, and our smartphone app each Wednesday. Every week Deacon Lindsey Blair and I provide a quick overview of the sermon. We post an audio version in the Sojourn New Albany podcast, and video versions on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram (IGTV).
Check out this week’s Checkup in the embedded video below – a recap and discussion of Pastor Jonah Sage’s sermon from April 16, 2023:
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below).
Worship Director Justin Shaffer directs our liturgy, collaborating with our Creative Staff at Sojourn Church New Albany and our Liturgy writing team (Rebekah Carroll, Ryan Marsh, Libby Thorngate, and Lindsey Blair). This Sunday, Pastor Jonah Sage preached from Hebrews 10:26-39.
—Prelude: “By the Marks”
CALL TO WORSHIP: Liturgist
1 Keep me safe, O God,
for I have come to you for refuge.
2 I said to the Lord, “You are my Master!
Every good thing I have comes from you.”
3 The godly people in the land
are my true heroes!
I take pleasure in them!
4 Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.
I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood
or even speak the names of their gods.
5 Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.
You guard all that is mine.
6 The land you have given me is a pleasant land.
What a wonderful inheritance!
7 I will bless the Lord who guides me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I know the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
-Psalm 16:1-8 NLT
—Song 2: “Promises” Key, Leader
LAMENT: Justin
[Lament dealing with Louisville, other shootings]
Lord, in our shock and confusion, we come before you.
In our grief and despair in the midst of hate,
in our sense of helplessness in the face of violence,
we lean on you.
For the families of those who have been killed,
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers
For Juliana Farmer
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers
For James Tutt
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers
For Tommy Elliott
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers
For Deana Eckert
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers
For Joshua Barrick
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
For the shooter—help us to pray, Lord.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers
For the communities that have lost members—their anger, grief, fear—Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.
For your Church striving to be your light in darkness beyond our comprehension, Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.
For those entrusted with the healing of our bodies,
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers
For those entrusted with the safekeeping of our cities,
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers
For those entrusted with the governance of our cities
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers
In the face of hatred, may we claim love, Lord.
May we love those far off and those near.
May we love those who are strangers and those who are friends.
May we love those who we agree with and understand,
and even more so, Lord, those who we consider to be our enemies.
Kyrie Eleison. Lord, have mercy.
Heal our sin-sick souls.
Make these wounds whole, Lord
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers
—Song 3: “Abide With Me” Key, Leader
ASSURANCE & PEACE: Band Member
19 That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. 20 As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! 21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
24 One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. 25 They told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”
26 Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.
29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”
-John 20:19-29 NLT
—————————————— [SERMON] ——————————————-
—Song 4: “Eyes on the Prize” Key, Leader
NICENE CREED: Liturgist
Today’s sermon taught us that the presence of Christ empowers us to suffer well together. Let’s proclaim our belief together!
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord,
Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at
the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son
who with the Father and the Son
is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
COMMUNION: Liturgist
Every Sunday we announce and experience the mystery of faith. In the Lord’s supper, we are invited to
remember that Christ’s very presence is available to us. He surrounds us, comforts us, shelters us. Let’s turn our minds and imaginations to the night that our Lord Jesus was betrayed. He took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this is my Body, which is given for you: Do this in remembrance of me.”
Likewise, after supper, Jesus took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink this, all of you; for this is my Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you, and for many, for the forgiveness of sins: Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.”
Therefore we announce the mystery of faith together (say this with me)
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast!
Christ our Passover is sacrificed, once for all upon the Cross.
Therefore let us keep the feast!
As we begin to sing, come forward to receive communion. Our tradition is to take a piece of bread and dip it in the juice or wine – the wine will be marked by twine. If you are not a Christian, we ask you to wait and consider the Lord’s invitation for you today. This is a covenant renewal ceremony, where we remember the covenant Christ made with us by the shedding of his blood, the covenant we accepted as we were baptized into his name.
Those of you who need gluten free communion elements will find them over here by the cross. And if you need a hands-free, single serve cup, you’ll find them in this far corner.
Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
—Song 5: “Psalm 23 (I am Not Alone)” Key, Leader
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Reader
—Song 6: “Our Great God” Key, Leader
BENEDICTION
In this age of information overload, how do we help our people remember sermons and apply them to their lives? By Wednesday, they’ve seen tons of shows and web series, read social media posts and news articles, seen tons of Instagram pics, had many conversations, and maybe even read a book.
At Sojourn New Albany, we help people remember and dive deeper into the Sunday sermon material by hosting The Midweek Checkup, a weekly web series on our Facebook page, YouTube, and our smartphone app each Wednesday. Every week Deacon Lindsey Blair and I provide a quick overview of the sermon. We post an audio version in the Sojourn New Albany podcast, and video versions on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram (IGTV).
Check out this week’s Checkup in the embedded video below – a recap and discussion of Pastor Jonah Sage’s sermon from Luke 24:9-27:
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below).
Worship Director Justin Shaffer directs our liturgy, collaborating with our Creative Staff at Sojourn Church New Albany and our Liturgy writing team (Rebekah Carroll, Ryan Marsh, Libby Thorngate, and Lindsey Blair). This Sunday, Pastor Jonah Sage preached from Luke 24:9-27 on this Easter Sunday.
—Prelude: “Doxology” into “Were You There When The Stone Was Rolled Away (band playing under CTW)”
CALL TO WORSHIP: Liturgist (band should be “vibing” under the CTW
But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.
The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”
Then they remembered that he had said this.
-Luke 24:1-8 NLT
—Song 2: “Amazing Grace verse 1 only (acapella)… into “Ancient of Days” Key, Leader
CONFESSION: Band Member
Hear the Word of the Lord:
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
-Colossians 3:1-4 NLT
Let’s Pray:
Almighty God, you have raised Jesus from the grave and crowned him Lord of all.
We confess that we have not bowed before him
or acknowledged his rule in our lives.
We have gone along with the way of the world and failed to give him glory.
Forgive us and raise us from sin,
that we may be your faithful people,
obeying the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who rules the world and is head of the church, his body. Amen.
-Worship Sourcebook
—Song 3: “In The Hours” Key, Leader
ASSURANCE & PEACE: Band Member
Hear this Wonderful News!
Death swallowed by triumphant Life!
Who got the last word, oh, Death?
Oh, Death, who’s afraid of you now?
It was sin that made death so frightening and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage, its destructive power. But now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three—sin, guilt, death—are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank God!
-1 Corinthians 15:55-57 (The Massage)
—————————————— [SERMON] ——————————————-
—Song 4: “Redeemer” Key, Leader
He is risen!
He is risen indeed!
He is risen!
He is risen indeed!
He is risen!
He is risen indeed!
NICENE CREED: Liturgist
Let’s proclaim our belief together!
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord,
Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at
the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son
who with the Father and the Son
is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
COMMUNION: Liturgist
Every Sunday we announce and experience the mystery of faith. In the Lord’s supper, we are invited to
remember that Christ’s very presence is available to us. He surrounds us, invigorates, and inspires us. Let’s turn our minds and imaginations to the night that our Lord Jesus was betrayed. He took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this is my Body, which is given for you: Do this in remembrance of me.”
Likewise, after supper, Jesus took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink this, all of you; for this is my Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you, and for many, for the forgiveness of sins: Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.”
Therefore we announce the mystery of faith together (say this with me)
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast!
Christ our Passover is sacrificed, once for all upon the Cross.
Therefore let us keep the feast!
As we begin to sing, come forward to receive communion. Our tradition is to take a piece of bread and dip it in the juice or wine – the wine will be marked by twine. If you are not a Christian, we ask you to wait and consider the Lord’s invitation for you today. This is a covenant renewal ceremony, where we remember the covenant Christ made with us by the shedding of his blood, the covenant we accepted as we were baptized into his name.
Those of you who need gluten free communion elements will find them over here by the cross. And if you need a hands-free, single serve cup, you’ll find them in this far corner.
Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
—Song 5: “Revelation Song” Key, Leader
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Reader
—Song 6: “Easter Song” Key, Leader
BENEDICTION: Liturgist
In Jerusalem, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
will spread a wonderful feast
for all the people of the world.
It will be a delicious banquet
with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat.
There he will remove the cloud of gloom,
the shadow of death that hangs over the earth.
He will swallow up death forever!
The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears.
He will remove forever all insults and mockery
against his land and people.
The Lord has spoken!
In that day the people will proclaim,
“This is our God!
We trusted in him, and he saved us!
This is the Lord, in whom we trusted.
Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!”
Go in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you
-Isaiah 25:6-9 NLT
In this age of information overload, how do we help our people remember sermons and apply them to their lives? By Wednesday, they’ve seen tons of shows and web series, read social media posts and news articles, seen tons of Instagram pics, had many conversations, and maybe even read a book.
At Sojourn New Albany, we help people remember and dive deeper into the Sunday sermon material by hosting The Midweek Checkup, a weekly web series on our Facebook page, YouTube, and our smartphone app each Wednesday. Every week Deacon Lindsey Blair and I provide a quick overview of the sermon. We post an audio version in the Sojourn New Albany podcast, and video versions on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram (IGTV).
Check out this week’s Checkup in the embedded video below – a recap and discussion of Pastor Bobby Gilles’s sermon from Hebrews 10:19-25:
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below).
Worship Director Justin Shaffer directs our liturgy, collaborating with our Creative Staff at Sojourn Church New Albany and our Liturgy writing team (Rebekah Carroll, Ryan Marsh, Libby Thorngate, and Lindsey Blair). This Sunday, Pastor Jonah Sage preached from Hebrews 10:19-25.
—Prelude: “Psalm 57″
CALL TO WORSHIP: Liturgist
Themes: Palm Sunday
21 As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.”
4 This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said,
5 “Tell the people of Jerusalem,
‘Look, your King is coming to you.
He is humble, riding on a donkey—
riding on a donkey’s colt.’”
6 The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.
8 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,
“Praise God for the Son of David!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Praise God in highest heaven!”
10 The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked.
11 And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
-Matthew 21:1-11
—Song 2: “Love As You Love”
CONFESSION/ASSURANCE: Band Member
Hear the word of the Lord:
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
2 Let all Israel repeat:
“His faithful love endures forever.”
19 Open for me the gates where the righteous enter,
and I will go in and thank the Lord.
20 These gates lead to the presence of the Lord,
and the godly enter there.
…ask God to search your heart…
21 I thank you for answering my prayer
and giving me victory!
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing,
and it is wonderful to see.
24 This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Please, Lord, please save us.
Please, Lord, please give us success.
26 Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God, shining upon us.
Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise you!
You are my God, and I will exalt you!
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
-Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 NLT
[Spoken Text]
—Song 3: “Solid Rock”
PASSING OF THE PEACE: Band Member
Let’s take a moment to greet one another in the grace and peace we have in Christ
—————————————— [SERMON] ——————————————-
—Song 4: “Hosanna”
NICENE CREED: Liturgist
Today’s sermon taught us that a life worth living is a life immersed in the people of God. Let’s proclaim our belief together!
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord,
Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at
the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son
who with the Father and the Son
is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
COMMUNION: Liturgist
Every Sunday we announce and experience the mystery of faith. In the Lord’s supper, we are invited to
remember that Christ’s very presence is available to us. He surrounds us, invigorates, and inspires us. Let’s turn our minds and imaginations to the night that our Lord Jesus was betrayed. He took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this is my Body, which is given for you: Do this in remembrance of me.”
Likewise, after supper, Jesus took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink this, all of you; for this is my Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you, and for many, for the forgiveness of sins: Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.”
Therefore we announce the mystery of faith together (say this with me)
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast!
Christ our Passover is sacrificed, once for all upon the Cross.
Therefore let us keep the feast!
As we begin to sing, come forward to receive communion. Our tradition is to take a piece of bread and dip it in the juice or wine – the wine will be marked by twine. If you are not a Christian, we ask you to wait and consider the Lord’s invitation for you today. This is a covenant renewal ceremony, where we remember the covenant Christ made with us by the shedding of his blood, the covenant we accepted as we were baptized into his name.
Those of you who need gluten free communion elements will find them over here by the cross. And if you need a hands-free, single serve cup, you’ll find them in this far corner.
Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
—Song 5: “Be Thou My Vision”
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Reader
—Song 6: “Where Your Praise Never Ends”
BENEDICTION: Liturgist
16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. 17 But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God,[e] just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. 18 Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy. [Go in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit! Peace be with you!]
-Philippians 2:5-11 NLT
In this age of information overload, how do we help our people remember sermons and apply them to their lives? By Wednesday, they’ve seen tons of shows and web series, read social media posts and news articles, seen tons of Instagram pics, had many conversations, and maybe even read a book.
At Sojourn New Albany, we help people remember and dive deeper into the Sunday sermon material by hosting The Midweek Checkup, a weekly web series on our Facebook page, YouTube, and our smartphone app each Wednesday. Every week Deacon Lindsey Blair and I provide a quick overview of the sermon. We post an audio version in the Sojourn New Albany podcast, and video versions on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram (IGTV).
Check out this week’s Checkup in the embedded video below – a recap and discussion of Pastor Bobby Gilles’s sermon from Hebrews 10:1-18:
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below).
Worship Director Justin Shaffer directs our liturgy, collaborating with our Creative Staff at Sojourn Church New Albany and our Liturgy writing team (Rebekah Carroll, Ryan Marsh, Libby Thorngate, and Lindsey Blair). This Sunday, Pastor Bobby Gilles preached from Hebrews 10:1-18.
—Prelude: “Heaven”
CALL TO WORSHIP: Liturgist
Good morning, and welcome to Sojourn! We’re so glad that you’re here to worship with us. This week and this transition into spring is such a great reminder of how much our god loves to breathe life into his creation. Let’s prepare our hearts for worship by reading Psalm 146 together – please join in on the underlined portions.
1 Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
2 I will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
3 Do not put your trust in princes,
in human beings, who cannot save.
4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.
5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.
6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
he remains faithful forever.
7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
8 the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the foreigner
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
10 The Lord reigns forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord.
–Psalm 146, NIV
Praise the Lord, indeed. He is a great big God who sees, knows, and loves each and every one of us. Let’s sing.
—Song 2: “Refuge”
CONFESSION/LAMENT: Band Member
Hear these words.
12 For our offenses are many in your sight,
and our sins testify against us.
Our offenses are ever with us,
and we acknowledge our iniquities:
13 rebellion and treachery against the Lord,
turning our backs on our God,
inciting revolt and oppression,
uttering lies our hearts have conceived.
14 So justice is driven back,
and righteousness stands at a distance;
truth has stumbled in the streets,
honesty cannot enter.
15 Truth is nowhere to be found,
and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.
The Lord looked and was displeased
that there was no justice.
–Isaiah 59: 12-15
Even after hearing and knowing the promises of Jesus, we still sometimes find ourselves in a similar state of mind like Isaiah wrote about — we sometimes feel hopeless, overwhelmed, and ashamed. Let’s take a moment and ask the Lord to remind us that the work is indeed complete.
Pause
Lord, we profess that you are good and your mercy endures forever, and we confess that we sometimes live life as if it were not true. Meet us where we are, as we are, and help us to see ourselves as you do — fully redeemed. Amen.
—Song 3: “Jesus Paid It All”
ASSURANCE OF PARDON & PASSING OF THE PEACE: Band Member
In an act of great love, Jesus paid the price for you and for me. Indeed, the work is finished. “We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Heb. 10:10)” This means that we can live life free from condemnation and filled with peace. Let’s take some time to share that peace with one another.
—————————————— [SERMON] ——————————————-
—Song 4: “God Alone ”
NICENE CREED: Liturgist
Today’s sermon taught us that because of Jesus, we aren’t grasping in the dark. We know who we are,
whose we are, and where we stand. Let’s proclaim our belief together!
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord,
Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at
the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son
who with the Father and the Son
is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
COMMUNION: Liturgist
Every Sunday we announce and experience the mystery of faith. In the Lord’s supper, we are invited to
remember that Christ’s very presence is available to us. He surrounds us, invigorates, and inspires us. Let’s turn our minds and imaginations to the night that our Lord Jesus was betrayed. He took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this is my Body, which is given for you: Do this in remembrance of me.”
Likewise, after supper, Jesus took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink this, all of you; for this is my Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you, and for many, for the forgiveness of sins: Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.”
Therefore we announce the mystery of faith together (say this with me)
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast!
Christ our Passover is sacrificed, once for all upon the Cross.
Therefore let us keep the feast!
As we begin to sing, come forward to receive communion. Our tradition is to take a piece of bread and dip it in the juice or wine – the wine will be marked by twine. If you are not a Christian, we ask you to wait and consider the Lord’s invitation for you today. This is a covenant renewal ceremony, where we remember the covenant Christ made with us by the shedding of his blood, the covenant we accepted as we were baptized into his name.
Those of you who need gluten free communion elements will find them over here by the cross. And if you need a hands-free, single serve cup, you’ll find them in this far corner.
Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
—Song 5: “The Hill”
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Reader
—Song 6: “Mighty to Save”
BENEDICTION: Liturgist
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thess. 5:23) Go in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit. Peace be with you.
In this age of information overload, how do we help our people remember sermons and apply them to their lives? By Wednesday, they’ve seen tons of shows and web series, read social media posts and news articles, seen tons of Instagram pics, had many conversations, and maybe even read a book.
At Sojourn New Albany, we help people remember and dive deeper into the Sunday sermon material by hosting The Midweek Checkup, a weekly web series on our Facebook page, YouTube, and our smartphone app each Wednesday. Every week Deacon Lindsey Blair and I provide a quick overview of the sermon. We post an audio version in the Sojourn New Albany podcast, and video versions on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram (IGTV).
Check out this week’s Checkup in the embedded video below – a recap and discussion of Pastor Jonah Sage’s sermon from Hebrews 9:16-28:
In this age of information overload, how do we help our people remember sermons and apply them to their lives? By Wednesday, they’ve seen tons of shows and web series, read social media posts and news articles, seen tons of Instagram pics, had many conversations, and maybe even read a book.
At Sojourn New Albany, we help people remember and dive deeper into the Sunday sermon material by hosting The Midweek Checkup, a weekly web series on our Facebook page, YouTube, and our smartphone app each Wednesday. Every week Deacon Lindsey Blair and I provide a quick overview of the sermon. We post an audio version in the Sojourn New Albany podcast, and video versions on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram (IGTV).
Check out this week’s Checkup in the embedded video below – a recap and discussion of Pastor Jonah Sage’s sermon from Hebrews 9:11-15:
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below).
Worship Director Justin Shaffer directs our liturgy, collaborating with our Creative Staff at Sojourn Church New Albany and our Liturgy writing team (Rebekah Carroll, Ryan Marsh, Libby Thorngate, and Lindsey Blair). This Sunday, Pastor Jonah Sage preached from Hebrews 9:11-15.
—Prelude: “Holy Ghost Power (Hillbilly Thomists)” Key, Leader
CALL TO WORSHIP: Liturgist
Themes:
1 Come, let us sing to the Lord!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come to him with thanksgiving.
Let us sing psalms of praise to him.
3 For the Lord is a great God,
a great King above all gods.
4 He holds in his hands the depths of the earth
and the mightiest mountains.
5 The sea belongs to him, for he made it.
His hands formed the dry land, too.
6 Come, let us worship and bow down.
Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,
7 for he is our God.
We are the people he watches over,
the flock under his care.
-Psalm 95:1-7 NLT
In 1-2 Sentences: “”
—Song 2: “Come Thou Fount” Key, Leader
LAMENT: Band Member
[Spoken Text]
5 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
-Romans 5:1-5 NLT
[Spoken Text]
—Song 3: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” Key, Leader
ASSURANCE & PEACE: Band Member
Hear this amazing assurance:
6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
-Romans 5:6-11 NLT
—————————————— [SERMON] ——————————————-
—Song 4: “Break Every Chain” Key, Leader
NICENE CREED: Liturgist
Today’s sermon taught us that Christ, our great high priest, is our Most Holy Place. In him, we have all we need and will one day become all he made us to be. Let’s proclaim our belief together!
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord,
Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at
the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son
who with the Father and the Son
is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
COMMUNION: Liturgist
Every Sunday we announce and experience the mystery of faith. In the Lord’s supper, we are invited to
remember that Christ’s very presence is available to us. He surrounds us, invigorates, and inspires us. Let’s turn our minds and imaginations to the night that our Lord Jesus was betrayed. He took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this is my Body, which is given for you: Do this in remembrance of me.”
Likewise, after supper, Jesus took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink this, all of you; for this is my Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you, and for many, for the forgiveness of sins: Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.”
Therefore we announce the mystery of faith together (say this with me)
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast!
Christ our Passover is sacrificed, once for all upon the Cross.
Therefore let us keep the feast!
As we begin to sing, come forward to receive communion. Our tradition is to take a piece of bread and dip it in the juice or wine – the wine will be marked by twine. If you are not a Christian, we ask you to wait and consider the Lord’s invitation for you today. This is a covenant renewal ceremony, where we remember the covenant Christ made with us by the shedding of his blood, the covenant we accepted as we were baptized into his name.
Those of you who need gluten free communion elements will find them over here by the cross. And if you need a hands-free, single serve cup, you’ll find them in this far corner.
Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
—Song 5: “Nothing but the Blood” Key, Leader
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Reader
—Song 6: “Victory in Jesus” Key, Leader
BENEDICTION: Liturgist
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. 20 He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!”
Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
21 May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.[Peace be with you!]
-Revelation 22:17, 20-21 NLT
Early Christianity was both a safe harbor and an adventurous sea for women. The first female disciples traveled with Jesus, learning from him at a time when this was frowned upon, and women’s mobility was limited.[1] Outside of the named women of Luke 8:3 – Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna — the feminine plural heterai pollai (“many others”) shows that these many other disciples were women,[2] though adult coeducation rarely occurred outside a few small Greek schools of philosophy and no records exist for female disciples of Jewish rabbis besides Jesus at this time. [3]
The open posture of Jesus toward women created an environment that bore dividends for centuries to come, enabling women to change the course of history. We’ll see this in the witness of untold numbers of nameless, forgotten women who were integral to the survival and growth of the early Church. We’ll see it in the martyrs who still inspire us to hold fast in the face of persecution. And we’ll see it in women who taught by word and example, primarily to men whose positions within the institutional Church enabled them to shape the doctrines we hold dear.
Why Early Christianity Appealed to Women
In a hierarchical culture that revolved around the authority of husbands and fathers as paterfamilias, Christianity called husbands to self-sacrificial love and service (Eph 5:25-33) and couples to reciprocity and fidelity (1 Cor 7:1-5). Church leaders condemned the rampant practice of infant exposure, which could be legally ordered by the husband.[4] The care of widows and the legitimacy of singleness as a valuable calling for women continued throughout the early centuries[5], as did leadership opportunities. For example, dozens of inscriptions from the first three centuries attest to female deacons[6] (Greek, diakonos), which was often a general designation for “minister.”[7] For all these reasons, Christianity offered women protection and gave them purpose, distinguishing the Jesus movement from the larger society.
It’s Raining (Wo)men: The Pervasiveness of Females in the Early Centuries
One of the chief arguments by pagans against Christianity in the early centuries was the predominance of women among its ranks. The Greek philosopher Celsus, writing a polemic against Christianity called True Doctrine in the latter half of the second century[8], said “… they [Christian missionaries] want and are able to convince only the foolish, dishonorable, and stupid, and only slaves, women and little children.” Assessing True Doctrine, MacDonald, Osiek, and Tulloch write, “… the attempt to denigrate early Christianity by appealing to the gender and status of its main proponents is unmistakable. In fact, women figure prominently in Celsus’s polemical critique of early Christianity ….”[9]
Likewise, the Christian apologist Marcus Minucius preserved second-century criticism from Marcus Fronto that said Christians differ from Romans by collecting “from the lowest possible dregs of society the more ignorant fools together with gullible women (readily persuaded, as is their weak sex ….”)[10] And in 370 A.D. the Emperor Valentinian ordered Pope Damasus I to prohibit missionaries from visiting pagan women.[11]
Rodney Stark has shown that men dramatically outnumbered women throughout the Roman empire, but women outnumbered men by nearly the same percentage within Christianity. The empire created its gender imbalance largely through the legal, morally accepted practice of exposure of unwanted baby girls. Yet, “The ancient sources and modern historians agree that primary conversion to Christianity was far more prevalent among females than among males.”[12]
How Nameless Women Contributed to the Growth of Christianity
Isolated incidents of mass conversion cannot explain the phenomenal growth of Christianity in the first four centuries, but an average 40% growth rate per decade from 40 to 300 A.D. can.[13] Much growth likely occurred the way it does in successful movements today: through personal conversations within open networks. Nameless, forgotten women would thus have been integral, as Christine Schenk explains: “… evangelization was conducted person-to-person, house-to-house by women who reached out to other women, children, freed persons, and slaves. Women’s quiet exercise of authority in the context of everyday domestic life is one oft-unheralded key to Christianity’s rapid expansion.”[14]
Stark points to the prevalence of intermarriage between Christian women and pagan men, given the lack of available women among the pagans and the preponderance of women within Christianity. Already in the New Testament, Paul (1 Cor 7:13-14) and Peter (1 Pet 3:1-2) had advised wives how to win their husbands to Christ, and “… neither seemed to have the slightest worry that Christians would revert to, or convert to, paganism. Moreover, pagan sources agree ….
“Christians seldom lost out via exogenous marriages …. This was partly because many married upper-class women became Christians and then managed to convert their spouses – this was especially common in the fourth century. But it also occurred because many upper-class Christian women did marry pagans, some of whom they subsequently were able to convert.”[15]
These upper-class women were particularly important to the growth of the Church because their witness could convert whole households: husbands, children, extended family, and slaves.
Who Needs Wonder Woman? We Have Martyrs Who Beat Soldiers and Satan
The best way for a tyrant to silence opposition is to imprison and execute prominent opponents. The enemies of Christ have always targeted women. Saul dragged “women and men” off to prison (Acts 8:3), the teacher Priscilla “risked her life” with Paul (Rom 16:4), and Junia the apostolos did jail time (Rom 16:7). In 112 A.D., Pliny the Younger wrote to Emperor Trajan, asking for advice on how to punish Christians and admitting he didn’t know much about them. He had already done what seemed natural: interrogate two Christian leaders who would understand Christian doctrines, liturgy, and leadership development.[16] In his words, “I thought it the more necessary, therefore, to find out what truth there was in this by applying torture to two maidservants, who were called deaconesses. But I found nothing but a depraved and extravagant superstition ….”[17]
Not only were Christian women arrested and tortured, but a significant proportion of martyrs were female.[18] Girls (and boys) today can watch films with heroes like Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman, which is a good thing. But Christians have many real female heroes in our past, represented in this paper by Blandina, Perpetua, and Felicity.
Blandina
In 177 A.D. in Lyon, France, the Romans executed forty-eight members of the local church in the Croix-Rousse amphitheater. They singled out a teenage slave named Blandina for torture, supposing that she would quickly deny Christ. Surely, she could not stand up to torture because of her sex, low status as a slave, and petite, frail-looking body.
Again and again, the authorities tortured Blandina to say that the Christians were lawbreakers. Eusebius records, “Blandina was filled with such power that her ingenious tormentors who relieved and succeeded each other from morning till night, confessed that they were overcome …. But this blessed saint, as a noble wrestler … renewed her strength, and to repeat, ‘I am a Christian, no wickedness is carried on by us.”[19]
She returned to prison, where she encouraged her fellow sisters and brothers in chains. The next day Blandina endured repeated torture while strengthening the Christians with her faith and resolve. As soldiers bound and suspended her on a stake, her fellow sufferers began to remark that she looked like Christ upon the cross. Eusebius adds, “… they contemplated him that was crucified for them, to persuade those that believe him, that everyone who suffers for Christ, will forever enjoy communion with the living God …. Though small and weak and contemptible, but yet clothed with the mighty and invincible wrestler Christ Jesus … she overcame the enemy ….”[20]
Ultimately, torturers led her back to the arena with a 15-year-old Christian named Ponticus. Blandina mothered and encouraged the boy as soldiers executed him. After additional tortures, the authorities let loose a wild bull to trample Blandina to death. “Even the Gentiles confessed, that no woman among them had ever endured sufferings as many and great as these.”[21] The arena stands in Lyon today, a testament to pilgrims who draw strength from her resolve.
Perpetua and Felicity
In 203 A.D. authorities arrested a 22-year-old African noblewoman named Perpetua, a new mother who had recently converted to Christianity against her family’s wishes. Felicity, a pregnant slave girl, shared in her imprisonment. The earliest source of their story comes through the ancient, wildly popular document The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity, which includes diary excerpts that Perpetua wrote in prison, making her the earliest recorded Latin female prose writer.[22]
Felicity gave birth in prison while Perpetua nursed her own baby. Both women awaited their execution, refusing all pleas to renounce Christ. God had prepared Perpetua for what lay ahead by giving her four visions, including one in which she fought a ferocious Egyptian wrestler after being “transformed into a man.” Cohick and Hughes argue that the passage’s grammar suggests not a literal transformation but an idiom of the day, which meant that she would become “manly” — courageous, strong, and bold. Perpetua landed a knockout punch and stood on the head of her opponent, whom she understood to symbolize the devil.[23]
The vision prepared her for what lay ahead. On the day of execution, Romans let wild animals loose in the arena. A bull gored Perpetua, but she recovered, staggered to Felicity, and calmed her – the slave and the heiress, united in suffering for Jesus. When the beasts took too long to maul the Christians, soldiers lined them up and killed them by the sword. After Felicity’s death, we “discover that Perpetua is stronger and braver than her executioner …. a gladiator is sent to finish the job with a sword. However, he lacks the courage to do the deed until Perpetua takes over: ‘Then she herself guided the young and inexperienced gladiator’s hand to her throat. Perhaps we might say that such a great woman, who was feared by the demon within the executioner, couldn’t be killed unless she herself allowed it.’ (Pass. Perp. 6).”[24]
Later generations of Christians saw in Felicity a model of Christ as the meek and lowly suffering servant, willingly submitting to the cross. They saw Perpetua as a model of Christ the Victor, triumphing over Death. From these and other female martyrs, they drew strength to endure.
When Truth is at Stake, Who Teaches the Teachers?
Although education rates for women continued to lag far behind men, and offices like the bishopric were closed to them, many women led by example as defenders of orthodoxy, providers of the poor, and key figures in monasticism. Some also mentored and encouraged men of renown. We could highlight many, but the greatest examples may be Melania the Younger and Macrina the Younger, both of whom bore the name, character, and intelligence of their grandmothers.
Melania the Younger
Melania didn’t fall far from the family tree. Her namesake, Melania the Elder, had founded monasteries, done time in prison for defending orthodox Christology against Arianism, and nearly went back to jail for hiding orthodox monks from an Arian emperor. “The church today is orthodox rather than Arian partly due to Melania’s influence.”[25]
Although her granddaughter isn’t mentioned much today, the Greek priest Gerontius preserved her feats in the Life of Melania the Younger, written in 452-53, more than a decade after her passing.[26] During Melania’s life, not only did countless poor and hungry receive her aid, but the likes of Augustine, Jerome, Cyril of Alexandria, and the Desert Fathers esteemed her greatly.[27]
Melania was born wealthy sometime between 383-385 A.D. Noted for her intelligence and beauty, she nevertheless wanted to preserve her singleness and virginity in a life dedicated to Christ. Her parents, however, arranged her marriage to fellow Roman Pinian when she was fourteen and he was seventeen. After their first two children died in early childhood, Melania convinced Pinian to live with her as “spiritual brother and sister” in perpetual abstinence. They set about giving away their enormous fortunes, buying freedom for those in debtors’ prisons, feeding the poor, helping the sick,[28] and most of all, founding and sustaining monasteries[29] for women and men.
Leaving Italy for North Africa with husband and mother in tow (her father having passed away), Melania continued to construct monasteries while devoting herself to reading the entire Bible three to four times a year, copying the Scriptures by hand, and giving her copies to others. Her skill in interpreting Scripture grew,[30] as did her desire to live in the Holy Land.
Melania took her small family to the Mount of Olives, where, after the death of her mother and husband, she founded monasteries for men and women and a martyrium to honor Zachariah, Stephen, and others.[31] Her remaining years involved periods of intense asceticism and fervent defense of orthodoxy, such as her battles against the Nestorian heresy. Her biographer wrote, “Therefore many of the wives of senators and some of the men illustrious in learning came to our holy mother in order to investigate the orthodox faith with her. And she, who had the Holy Spirit indwelling, did not cease talking theology from dawn to dusk. She turned many who had been deceived to the orthodox faith and sustained others who doubted.”[32]
Macrina the Younger
Macrina the Younger, described as striking, forceful, and extremely devout,[33] lived in the third century in a part of present-day Turkey. Her famous younger brothers, Gregory of Nyssa and Basil the Great, formed two-thirds of the Cappadocian Fathers. They significantly contributed to our understanding of the Trinity, allowing orthodoxy to triumph at the first Council of Constantinople in 381 A.D. and giving us the form of the Nicene Creed that we know today. Without Macrina, they would not have been who they were. And Christianity would not have become what it is.
Macrina was born into a wealthy family around 327 A.D. Her father died young, as did another of Macrina’s brothers. Her mother never regained her emotional health. Macrina became the spiritual parent of the household, educating and raising her siblings while also taking care of her mother and emancipating the family slaves.[34] When Macrina’s fiancé also died young, she pledged to remain single and devoted to Jesus throughout life. She became a leader in the community, known for giving away clothing to the poor, caring for orphan girls, and creating monastic space for devotion to Christ.[35] [36] She also steered Basil away from his anticipation of secular accomplishments when he returned from his studies in Athens. She won him over to monastic life,[37] setting up a chain of events that led to him becoming Bishop of Caesarea, founder of the world’s first hospital, and a chief architect in defense of the Trinity and the full divinity of the Holy Spirit.
Gregory of Nyssa made sure history would remember Macrina’s contributions in his biography Life Of Macrina. And in a major theological work called On the Soul and the Resurrection, prompted by Basil’s death, Gregory presented Macrina as a philosopher greater than Socrates,[38] teaching him theology through a Platonic-style dialogue while she was on her own deathbed.[39] Throughout the book, Gregory calls her “My teacher.”[40]
Macrina died around 50 years old, leaving behind a religious order of women and a brother who was equipped and inspired to fight for truth at the all-important Council of Constantinople.
Conclusion
Women stood at the forefront of the Jesus movement in its early centuries. Few were famous, but they spent their lives spreading the gospel to neighbors, winning and equipping husbands in the faith, raising children to know Christ, and serving the least of these. Scores of other women braved tortures that ended in death. And even in cultures that made it difficult for women to learn or teach publicly, many learned and taught by word and example, shaping monasticism, participating in theological debates with enemies of orthodoxy, and mentoring the men who became giants of the Christian faith. And thus, Christian women changed the course of history.
[1] Diane G. Chen, Luke: A New Covenant Commentary (Eugene, Ore: Cascade Books, 2017), 108.
[2] Christa L. McKirland, Discovering Biblical Equality: Biblical, Theological, Cultural, and Practical Perspectives, ed. Ronald W. Pierce and Cynthia Long Westfall, Third edition (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2021), 481.
[3] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, 2nd edition (Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP Academic, 2014), 200.
[4] Bowes, William B., “A Religion of ‘Women and Children’? A Christian Woman’s Place in the Greco-Roman World Before AD 300,” Priscilla Papers 35, no. 4, Autumn 2021 (2021): 14–15.
[5] Bowes, A Religion of Women and Children?, 16.
[6] Kevin Madigan and Carolyn Osiek, eds., Ordained Women in the Early Church: A Documentary History, 1st edition (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2011), 90–93, noted in Bowes, William B., 16.
[7] Paul refers to himself as a diakonos in 1 Cor 3:5; 2 Cor 3:6; Eph 3:7; and Col 1:23. He also applies the term to Phoebe (Rom 16:1), Apollos (1 Cor 3:5), Epaphras (Eph 6:21), Tychicus (Col 1:7), and Timothy (1 Tim 4:6).
[8] Robert Louis Wilken, The First Thousand Years: A Global History of Christianity, Illustrated edition (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 2013), 63.
[9] Carolyn Osiek, A Woman’s Place: House Churches In Earliest Christianity (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2005), 221–22.
[10] Marcus Minucius Felix, Octavius 8.4, quoted in Bowes, William B., 17
[11] Rodney Stark, “Reconstructing the Rise of Christianity: The Role of Women,” Sociology of Religion 56, no. 3 (1995): 231.
[12] Ibid., 231–33.
[13] Ibid., 229–30.
[14] Christine Schenk, Crispina and Her Sisters: Women and Authority in Early Christianity (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2017), 61, quoted in Bowes 18.
[15] Stark, “Reconstructing the Rise of Christianity,” 241–42.
[16] Bowes, A Religion of Women and Children?, 19.
[17] Henry Bettenson and Chris Maunder, eds., Documents of the Christian Church, 4th edition (Oxford ; New York: Oxford University Press, 2011), 4.
[18] Stark, “Reconstructing the Rise of Christianity,” 239.
[19] Eusebius Pamphilus, Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History: Complete and Unabridged, Updated edition (Peabody, Mass: Hendrickson Pub, 1998), 150.
[20] Ibid., 154.
[21] Pamphilus, 156.
[22] David L. Eastman, Early North African Christianity (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2021), 19–21. Eastman points out that it wasn’t so unusual for a highborn woman like Perpetua, who spoke Greek and Latin, to be literate, and that the earliest readers of the text accepted it as Perpetua’s words. Most historians look at this as her own account, and no one has raised solid arguments against it.
[23] Lynn H. Cohick and Amy Brown Hughes, Christian Women in the Patristic World: Their Influence, Authority, and Legacy in the Second through Fifth Centuries (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2017), 41–42.
[24] Eastman, Early North African Christianity, 33.
[25] Leanne M. Dzubinski and Anneke H. Stasson, Women in the Mission of the Church (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2021), 41–42.
[26] Cohick and Hughes, Christian Women in the Patristic World, 210.
[27] Brad Nassif, Bringing Jesus to the Desert, ed. Gary M. Burge (Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan, 2012), 96.
[28] Ibid., 98–99.
[29] Cohick and Hughes, Christian Women in the Patristic World, 211.
[30] Nassif, Bringing Jesus to the Desert, 100–101.
[31] Cohick and Hughes, Christian Women in the Patristic World, 215.
[32] Elizabeth Clark, Life of Melania the Younger: Introduction, Translation, and Commentary (New York: Mellon, 1984), par 54, quoted in Nassif, 103.
[33] Jonathan Hill, The History of Christian Thought, New edition (Oxford, England: Lion Books, 2003), 67.
[34] Dzubinski and Stasson, Women in the Mission of the Church, 66.
[35] Wilken, The First Thousand Years, 105.
[36] Cohick and Hughes, Christian Women in the Patristic World, 166–68.
[37] Saint Gregory of Nyssa, On the Soul and the Resurrection: St Gregory of Nyssa (Crestwood, N.Y: St Vladimirs Seminary Pr, 1993), 8.
[38] Cohick and Hughes, Christian Women in the Patristic World, 164.
[39] Some scholars point out that we cannot know if the “real” Macrina was as intelligent as Gregory made her out to be. Remember that many have made the same arguments about Jesus and Socrates. But it should surprise no one that Macrina was a genius, given that she was the sibling of Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa (and in fact, the sibling who mentored them).
[40] Gregory of Nyssa, On the Soul and the Resurrection.
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below).
Worship Director Justin Shaffer directs our liturgy, collaborating with our Creative Staff at Sojourn Church New Albany and our Liturgy writing team (Rebekah Carroll, Ryan Marsh, Libby Thorngate, and Lindsey Blair). This Sunday, Pastor Travis McGowen preached on Psalm 118:17-15, 29.
—Prelude: “We Three Kings” Key, Leader
CALL TO WORSHIP: Liturgist
60 “Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see.
For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you.
2 Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth,
but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you.
3 All nations will come to your light;
mighty kings will come to see your radiance.
4 “Look and see, for everyone is coming home!
Your sons are coming from distant lands;
your little daughters will be carried home.
5 Your eyes will shine,
and your heart will thrill with joy,
for merchants from around the world will come to you.
They will bring you the wealth of many lands.
6 Vast caravans of camels will converge on you,
the camels of Midian and Ephah.
The people of Sheba will bring gold and frankincense
and will come worshiping the Lord.
-Isaiah 60:1-6 NLT
—Song 2: “Jordan’s Stormy Banks” Key, Leader
LAMENT: Band Member
1 Give your love of justice to the king, O God,
and righteousness to the king’s son.
2 Help him judge your people in the right way;
let the poor always be treated fairly.
3 May the mountains yield prosperity for all,
and may the hills be fruitful.
4 Help him to defend the poor,
to rescue the children of the needy,
and to crush their oppressors.
5 May they fear you as long as the sun shines,
as long as the moon remains in the sky.
Yes, forever!
6 May the king’s rule be refreshing like spring rain on freshly cut grass,
like the showers that water the earth.
7 May all the godly flourish during his reign.
May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more.
11 All kings will bow before him,
and all nations will serve him.
12 He will rescue the poor when they cry to him;
he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them.
13 He feels pity for the weak and the needy,
and he will rescue them.
14 He will redeem them from oppression and violence,
for their lives are precious to him.
-Psalm 72:1-7, 11-14 NLT
—Song 3: “In The Hours” Key, Leader
ASSURANCE & PEACE: Band Member
6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.
8 Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. 9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.
10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.
-Ephesians 3:6, 8-12 NLT
—————————————— [SERMON] ——————————————-
—Song 4: “Fellowship So Deep ” Key, Leader
NICENE CREED: Liturgist
Today’s sermon taught us that ___________. Let’s join our voices and proclaim our belief together
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord,
Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at
the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son
who with the Father and the Son
is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
BAPTISMS
COMMUNION: Liturgist
Because of God’s faithfulness and goodness, we announce the mystery of faith, and we can also experience it. In the Lord’s supper, we are invited to remember that Christ’s very presence is available to us. He surrounds us, invigorates, and inspires us. Let’s turn our minds and imaginations to the night that our Lord Jesus was betrayed. He took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this is my Body, which is given for you: Do this in remembrance of me.”
Likewise, after supper, Jesus took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink this, all of you; for this is my Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you, and for many, for the forgiveness of sins: Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.”
Therefore we announce the mystery of faith together (say this with me)
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast!
Christ our Passover is sacrificed, once for all upon the Cross.
Therefore let us keep the feast!
{newly baptized believers take communion here}
Now we want to pay special attention to our new brother and sister (sisters…?). Welcome to the family, we joyfully celebrate with you as you come to the feast with us. NAME, the body of Christ was given for you, and the blood of Christ was shed for you. Take and eat in remembrance of him. NAME, the body of Christ was given for you, and the blood of Christ was shed for you. Take and eat in remembrance of him…
Now, all believers are invited to join Name and Name. Our tradition is to come forward…
As we begin to sing, come forward to receive communion. Our tradition is to take a piece of bread and dip it in the juice or wine – the wine will be marked by twine. If you are not a Christian, we ask you to wait and consider the Lord’s invitation for you today. This is a covenant renewal ceremony, where we remember the covenant Christ made with us by the shedding of his blood, the covenant we accepted as we were baptized into his name.
Those of you who need gluten free communion elements will find them over here, to my left and your right. And if you need a hands-free, single serve cup, you’ll find them in this far corner, to my right and your left.
Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
—Song 5: “Amazing Grace” Key, Leader
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Reader
—Song 6: “Doxology” Key, Leader
BENEDICTION: Liturgist
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. [Peace be with you!] – 2 Corinthians 13:14
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below).
Worship Director Justin Shaffer directs our liturgy, collaborating with our Creative Staff at Sojourn Church New Albany and our Liturgy writing team (Rebekah Carroll, Ryan Marsh, Libby Thorngate, and Lindsey Blair). This Sunday, Deacon Justin Shaffer preached on Psalm 118:1-16.
—Prelude: “Lord You’re Mighty” Key, Leader
CALL TO WORSHIP: Liturgist
Good morning, Sojourn, and HAPPY NEW YEAR! As we enter worship, we remember God’s favorite thing: redemption. There’s something about entering a new calendar year that feels so refreshing — so hopeful — it’s a wonderful time to remember that our God is good, patient, and most importantly, faithful. He sent us his son to redeem the world, and he has the power and the desire to redeem whatever is lost and broken in your life. Let’s read these words together:
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
– Psalm 91: 1-4, 14-16, NIV
Let’s sing of God’s enduring faithfulness.
—Song 2: “Yes and Amen” Key, Leader
CONFESSION: Band Member
Let’s pray these words together:
Generous God, you give us the greatest gift of all, yourself, but often we find it hard to take notice — we have not followed the light of your Word. We have not searched for the signs of your love in the world or trusted your good news to be good. We have failed to praise your son’s birth and refused his peace on earth. We have expected little and hoped for less. Forgive our doubt and for the casual way we treat your gift of love. Free us from our sin so that we may fully experience the glad story of our Savior. Amen.
Adapted from The Worship Sourcebook
—Song 3: “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” Key, Leader
ASSURANCE & PEACE: Band Member
Hear these words of assurance:
So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’”
From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.
-John 1:14-17, NLT
Praise God! The work has been done. As a result, we are filled with joy and peace. Let’s take a moment to share that peace with one another.
—————————————— [SERMON] ——————————————-
—Song 4: “I Have to Believe” Key, Leader
NICENE CREED: Liturgist
Today’s sermon taught us that God is good and he is with us. Let’s recite the Nicene Creed together, as believers have been doing for centuries.
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord,
Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at
the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son
who with the Father and the Son
is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
COMMUNION: Liturgist
Because of God’s faithfulness and goodness, we announce the mystery of faith, and we can also experience it. In the Lord’s supper, we are invited to remember that Christ’s very presence is available to us. He surrounds us, invigorates, and inspires us. Let’s turn our minds and imaginations to the night that our Lord Jesus was betrayed. He took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this is my Body, which is given for you: Do this in remembrance of me.”
Likewise, after supper, Jesus took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink this, all of you; for this is my Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you, and for many, for the forgiveness of sins: Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.”
Therefore we announce the mystery of faith together (say this with me)
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast!
Christ our Passover is sacrificed, once for all upon the Cross.
Therefore let us keep the feast!
As we begin to sing, come forward to receive communion. Our tradition is to take a piece of bread and dip it in the juice or wine – the wine will be marked by twine. If you are not a Christian, we ask you to wait and consider the Lord’s invitation for you today. This is a covenant renewal ceremony, where we remember the covenant Christ made with us by the shedding of his blood, the covenant we accepted as we were baptized into his name.
Those of you who need gluten free communion elements will find them over here, to my left and your right. And if you need a hands-free, single serve cup, you’ll find them in this far corner, to my right and your left.
Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
—Song 5: “All Glory Be To Christ” Key, Leader
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Reader
—Song 6: “Go Tell It On The Mountain” Key, Leader
BENEDICTION: Liturgist
“Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.” Go in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit. Peace be with you!
Deut. 7:9
In this age of information overload, how do we help our people remember sermons and apply them to their lives? By Wednesday, they’ve seen tons of shows and web series, read social media posts and news articles, seen tons of Instagram pics, had many conversations, and maybe even read a book.
At Sojourn New Albany, we help people remember and dive deeper into the Sunday sermon material by hosting The Midweek Checkup, a weekly web series on our Facebook page, YouTube, and our smartphone app each Wednesday. Every week Deacon Lindsey Blair and I provide a quick overview of the sermon. We post an audio version in the Sojourn New Albany podcast, and video versions on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram (IGTV).
Check out this week’s Checkup in the embedded video below – a recap and discussion of Pastor Jonah Sage’s sermon from Hebrews 4:16a:
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below).
Worship Director Justin Shaffer directs our liturgy, collaborating with our Creative Staff at Sojourn Church New Albany and our Liturgy writing team (Rebekah Carroll, Ryan Marsh, Libby Thorngate, and Lindsey Blair). This Sunday, Pastor Jonah Sage preached on Hebrews 4:16a.
—Prelude: “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” Key, Leader
CALL TO WORSHIP: Liturgist
Candle of Love
Good morning! Peace be with You! Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent…
A song to our strong God!
a shout to the God of Jacob!
Anthems from the choir, music from the band,
sweet sounds from lute and harp,
Trumpets and trombones and horns:
it’s festival day, a feast to God!
A day decreed by God,
solemnly ordered by the God of Jacob.
He commanded Joseph to keep this day
so we’d never forget what he did in Egypt.
I hear this most gentle whisper from One
I never guessed would speak to me:
6-7 “I took the world off your shoulders,
freed you from a life of hard labor.
You called to me in your pain;
I got you out of a bad place.
I answered you from where the thunder hides,
I proved you at Meribah Fountain.
-Psalm 81:1-7 The Message
—Song 2: “We Three Kings” Key, Leader
CONFESSION/LAMENT: Band Member
Please listen, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph’s descendants like a flock.
O God, enthroned above the cherubim,
display your radiant glory
2 to Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh.
Show us your mighty power.
Come to rescue us!
3 Turn us again to yourself, O God.
Make your face shine down upon us.
Only then will we be saved.
Psalm 80:1-3 NLT
—Song 3: “Shine Into Our Night into Away In A Manger” Key, Leader
ASSURANCE & PEACE: Band Member
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
-Philippians 2:5-11
—————————————— [SERMON] ——————————————-
—Song 4: “This Is The Christ” Key, Leader
NICENE CREED: Liturgist
Today’s sermon taught us that we can pray because we are welcomed in the throne room of God. Let’s recite the Nicene Creed together, as believers have been doing for centuries.
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord,
Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at
the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son
who with the Father and the Son
is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
COMMUNION: Liturgist
Because Jesus made it possible for us to be welcomed in the throne room of God, we announce the mystery of faith, and we can also experience it. In the Lord’s supper, we are invited to remember that Christ’s very presence is available to us. He surrounds us, invigorates, and inspires us. Let’s turn our minds and imaginations to the night that our Lord Jesus was betrayed. He took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this is my Body, which is given for you: Do this in remembrance of me.”
Likewise, after supper, Jesus took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink this, all of you; for this is my Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you, and for many, for the forgiveness of sins: Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.”
Therefore we announce the mystery of faith together (say this with me)
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast!
Christ our Passover is sacrificed, once for all upon the Cross.
Therefore let us keep the feast!
As we begin to sing, come forward to receive communion. Our tradition is to take a piece of bread and dip it in the juice or wine – the wine will be marked by twine. If you are not a Christian, we ask you to wait and consider the Lord’s invitation for you today. This is a covenant renewal ceremony, where we remember the covenant Christ made with us by the shedding of his blood, the covenant we accepted as we were baptized into his name.
Those of you who need gluten free communion elements will find them over here, to my left and your right. And if you need a hands-free, single serve cup, you’ll find them in this far corner, to my right and your left.
Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
—Song 5: “The First Noel” Key, Leader
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Reader
—Song 6: “Angels We Have Heard On High” Key, Leader
BENEDICTION: Liturgist
Long live the king!
May the gold of Sheba be given to him.
May the people always pray for him
and bless him all day long.
May there be abundant grain throughout the land,
flourishing even on the hilltops.
May the fruit trees flourish like the trees of Lebanon,
and may the people thrive like grass in a field.
May the king’s name endure forever;
may it continue as long as the sun shines.
May all nations be blessed through him
and bring him praise. […in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you
-Psalm 72:15-17 NLT
In this age of information overload, how do we help our people remember sermons and apply them to their lives? By Wednesday, they’ve seen tons of shows and web series, read social media posts and news articles, seen tons of Instagram pics, had many conversations, and maybe even read a book.
At Sojourn New Albany, we help people remember and dive deeper into the Sunday sermon material by hosting The Midweek Checkup, a weekly web series on our Facebook page, YouTube, and our smartphone app each Wednesday. Every week Deacon Lindsey Blair and I provide a quick overview of the sermon. We post an audio version in the Sojourn New Albany podcast, and video versions on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram (IGTV).
Check out this week’s Checkup in the embedded video below – a recap and discussion of Pastor Jonah Sage’s sermon from Hebrews 4:15b:
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below).
Worship Director Justin Shaffer directs our liturgy, collaborating with our Creative Staff at Sojourn Church New Albany and our Liturgy writing team (Rebekah Carroll, Ryan Marsh, Libby Thorngate, and Lindsey Blair). This Sunday, Pastor Jonah Sage preached on Hebrews 4:15b.
—Prelude: “Joy To The World” Key, Leader
Band: Justin, Ryan, Steve, Miguel, Joe on bass, female vocalist?
CALL TO WORSHIP: Liturgist
Candle of Joy
Good morning! Peace be with you! Today’s the third Sunday advent…
Praise the Lord!
Let all that I am praise the Lord.
I will praise the Lord as long as I live.
I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.
Don’t put your confidence in powerful people;
there is no help for you there.
When they breathe their last, they return to the earth,
and all their plans die with them.
But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.
He made heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them.
He keeps every promise forever.
He gives justice to the oppressed
and food to the hungry.
The Lord frees the prisoners.
The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down.
The Lord loves the godly.
The Lord protects the foreigners among us.
He cares for the orphans and widows,
but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.
The Lord will reign forever.
He will be your God, O Jerusalem, throughout the generations.
Praise the Lord!
Psalm 146 NLT
Be prepared to stall in case the kids are not fully assembled
—Song 2: “Three Kids Choir Songs. Hosanna, Go Tell It, O Come Let Us Adore Him (three refrains)” Key, Leader
ASSURANCE & PEACE: Band Member
Wilderness and desert will sing joyously,
the badlands will celebrate and flower—
Like the crocus in spring, bursting into blossom,
a symphony of song and color.
Mountain glories of Lebanon—a gift.
Awesome Carmel, stunning Sharon—gifts.
God’s resplendent glory, fully on display.
God awesome, God majestic.
Energize the limp hands,
strengthen the rubbery knees.
Tell fearful souls,
“Courage! Take heart!
God is here, right here,
on his way to put things right
And redress all wrongs.
He’s on his way! He’ll save you!”
Blind eyes will be opened,
deaf ears unstopped,
Lame men and women will leap like deer,
the voiceless break into song.
Springs of water will burst out in the wilderness,
streams flow in the desert.
Hot sands will become a cool oasis,
thirsty ground a splashing fountain.
Even lowly jackals will have water to drink,
and barren grasslands flourish richly.
There will be a highway
called the Holy Road.
No one rude or rebellious
is permitted on this road.
It’s for God’s people exclusively—
impossible to get lost on this road.
Not even fools can get lost on it.
No lions on this road,
no dangerous wild animals—
Nothing and no one dangerous or threatening.
Only the redeemed will walk on it.
The people God has ransomed
will come back on this road.
They’ll sing as they make their way home to Zion,
unfading halos of joy encircling their heads,
Welcomed home with gifts of joy and gladness
as all sorrows and sighs scurry into the night.
Isaiah 35, The Message
—————————————— [SERMON] ——————————————-
—Song 3: “What Child Is This” Key, Leader
NICENE CREED:
Today’s sermon taught us that the humanity of Jesus frees us to pray honestly and wait patiently. Now let’s recite the Nicene Creed together aloud:
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord,
Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at
the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son
who with the Father and the Son
is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
COMMUNION: Liturgist
Because Jesus invites us into an enduring way of life that ends in a wedding feast, we announce the mystery of faith, and we can also experience it. In the Lord’s supper, we are invited to remember that Christ’s very presence is available to us. Let’s turn our minds and imaginations to the night that our Lord Jesus was betrayed. He took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this is my Body, which is given for you: Do this in remembrance of me.”
Likewise, after supper, Jesus took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink this, all of you; for this is my Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you, and for many, for the forgiveness of sins: Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.”
Therefore we announce the mystery of faith together (say this with me)
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast!
Christ our Passover is sacrificed, once for all upon the Cross.
Therefore let us keep the feast!
As we begin to sing, come forward to receive communion. Our tradition is to take a piece of bread and dip it in the juice or wine – the wine will be marked by twine. If you are not a Christian, we ask you to wait and consider the Lord’s invitation for you today. This is a covenant renewal ceremony, where we remember the covenant Christ made with us by the shedding of his blood, the covenant we accepted as we were baptized into his name.
Those of you who need gluten free communion elements will find them over here, to my left and your right. And if you need a hands-free, single serve cup, you’ll find them in this far corner, to my right and your left.
Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
—Song 4: ”Great Things (Mary)” Key, Leader
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Reader
—Song 5: “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” Key, Leader
BENEDICTION: Liturgist
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [Go in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you
In this age of information overload, how do we help our people remember sermons and apply them to their lives? By Wednesday, they’ve seen tons of shows and web series, read social media posts and news articles, seen tons of Instagram pics, had many conversations, and maybe even read a book.
At Sojourn New Albany, we help people remember and dive deeper into the Sunday sermon material by hosting The Midweek Checkup, a weekly web series on our Facebook page, YouTube, and our smartphone app each Wednesday. Every week Deacon Lindsey Blair and I provide a quick overview of the sermon. We post an audio version in the Sojourn New Albany podcast, and video versions on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram (IGTV).
Check out this week’s Checkup in the embedded video below – a recap and discussion of Pastor Jonah Sage’s sermon from Hebrews 4:15a:
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below).
Worship Director Justin Shaffer directs our liturgy, collaborating with our Creative Staff at Sojourn Church New Albany and our Liturgy writing team (Rebekah Carroll, Ryan Marsh, Libby Thorngate, and Lindsey Blair). This Sunday, Pastor Jonah Sage preached on Hebrews 4:15a.
—Prelude: “I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day” Key, Leader
CALL TO WORSHIP: Liturgist
Good morning! Welcome to Sojourn this second Sunday of Advent! This morning, we invite you to experience the reality of Christ’s presence even as we long for his return. Let’s read this stunningly beautiful prophesy together as Lindsey lights the candle of peace:
11 Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—
yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.
2 And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
3 He will delight in obeying the Lord.
He will not judge by appearance
nor make a decision based on hearsay.
4 He will give justice to the poor
and make fair decisions for the exploited.
The earth will shake at the force of his word,
and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.
5 He will wear righteousness like a belt
and truth like an undergarment.
6 In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together;
the leopard will lie down with the baby goat.
The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion,
and a little child will lead them all.
7 The cow will graze near the bear.
The cub and the calf will lie down together.
The lion will eat hay like a cow.
8 The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra.
Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.
9 Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,
for as the waters fill the sea,
so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord.
10 In that day the heir to David’s throne
will be a banner of salvation to all the world.
The nations will rally to him,
and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.
-Isaiah 11:1-10 NLT
Let us rally to him now! Let us lift our voices and sing!
—Song 2: “Come Thou Fount” Key, Leader
LAMENT/SUPPLICATION: Band Member
Let’s pray God’s word aloud together: (Pray each phrase followed by 6-8 seconds of silence with light music underneath)
1 Give your love of justice to the king, O God,
and righteousness to the king’s son.
2 Help him judge your people in the right way;
let the poor always be treated fairly.
3 May the mountains yield prosperity for all,
and may the hills be fruitful.
4 Help him to defend the poor,
to rescue the children of the needy,
and to crush their oppressors.
5 May they fear you as long as the sun shines,
as long as the moon remains in the sky.
Yes, forever!
6 May the king’s rule be refreshing like spring rain on freshly cut grass,
like the showers that water the earth.
7 May all the godly flourish during his reign.
May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more.
18 Praise the Lord God, the God of Israel,
who alone does such wonderful things.
19 Praise his glorious name forever!
Let the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and amen!
-Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 NLT
—Song 3: “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” Key, Leader
ASSURANCE/PEACE: Band Member
Hear the word of the Lord:
4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
5 May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. 6 Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory. 8 Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. 9 He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote:
“For this, I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing praises to your name.”
10 And in another place it is written,
“Rejoice with his people,
you Gentiles.”
11 And yet again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles.
Praise him, all you people of the earth.”
12 And in another place Isaiah said,
“The heir to David’s throne will come,
and he will rule over the Gentiles.
They will place their hope on him.”
-Romans 15:4-12 NLT
Let’s take a moment to greet one another in the grace and peace of Christ
—————————————— [SERMON] ——————————————-
—Song 4: “What a Friend Is Jesus” Key, Leader
NICENE CREED: Liturgist
Today’s sermon taught us that we pray to experience the nearness of Jesus who understands our weaknesses. And that, Christian, is the very essence of the rhythms of our Gathering on Sunday. Do you see it? Let’s recite the Nicene Creed together, as believers have been doing for millennia.
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord,
Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at
the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son
who with the Father and the Son
is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
COMMUNION: Liturgist
We experience the nearness of Jesus who understands our weaknesses, and we announce the mystery of faith. In the Lord’s supper, we are invited to remember that Christ’s very presence is available to us. He surrounds us, invigorates, and inspires us. Let’s turn our minds and imaginations to the night that our Lord Jesus was betrayed. He took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this is my Body, which is given for you: Do this in remembrance of me.”
Likewise, after supper, Jesus took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink this, all of you; for this is my Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you, and for many, for the forgiveness of sins: Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.”
Therefore we announce the mystery of faith together (say this with me)
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast!
Christ our Passover is sacrificed, once for all upon the Cross.
Therefore let us keep the feast!
As we begin to sing, come forward to receive communion. Our tradition is to take a piece of bread and dip it in the juice or wine – the wine will be marked by twine. If you are not a Christian, we ask you to wait and consider the Lord’s invitation for you today. This is a covenant renewal ceremony, where we remember the covenant Christ made with us by the shedding of his blood, the covenant we accepted as we were baptized into his name.
Those of you who need gluten free communion elements will find them over here, to my left and your right. And if you need a hands-free, single serve cup, you’ll find them in this far corner, to my right and your left.
Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
—Song 5: “O Little Town of Bethlehem” Key, Leader Let’s not repeat
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Reader
—Song 6: “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” Key, Leader
BENEDICTION: Liturgist
13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. [Go in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit! Peace be with you!] -Romans 15:13
In this age of information overload, how do we help our people remember sermons and apply them to their lives? By Wednesday, they’ve seen tons of shows and web series, read social media posts and news articles, seen tons of Instagram pics, had many conversations, and maybe even read a book. At Sojourn New Albany, […]
In this age of information overload, how do we help our people remember sermons and apply them to their lives? By Wednesday, they’ve seen tons of shows and web series, read social media posts and news articles, seen tons of Instagram pics, had many conversations, and maybe even read a book. At Sojourn New Albany, […]
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below). […]
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below). […]
In this age of information overload, how do we help our people remember sermons and apply them to their lives? By Wednesday, they’ve seen tons of shows and web series, read social media posts and news articles, seen tons of Instagram pics, had many conversations, and maybe even read a book. At Sojourn New Albany, […]
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below). […]
In this age of information overload, how do we help our people remember sermons and apply them to their lives? By Wednesday, they’ve seen tons of shows and web series, read social media posts and news articles, seen tons of Instagram pics, had many conversations, and maybe even read a book. At Sojourn New Albany, […]
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below). […]
In this age of information overload, how do we help our people remember sermons and apply them to their lives? By Wednesday, they’ve seen tons of shows and web series, read social media posts and news articles, seen tons of Instagram pics, had many conversations, and maybe even read a book. At Sojourn New Albany, […]
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below). […]
In this age of information overload, how do we help our people remember sermons and apply them to their lives? By Wednesday, they’ve seen tons of shows and web series, read social media posts and news articles, seen tons of Instagram pics, had many conversations, and maybe even read a book. At Sojourn New Albany, […]
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below). […]
In this age of information overload, how do we help our people remember sermons and apply them to their lives? By Wednesday, they’ve seen tons of shows and web series, read social media posts and news articles, seen tons of Instagram pics, had many conversations, and maybe even read a book. At Sojourn New Albany, […]
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below). […]
In this age of information overload, how do we help our people remember sermons and apply them to their lives? By Wednesday, they’ve seen tons of shows and web series, read social media posts and news articles, seen tons of Instagram pics, had many conversations, and maybe even read a book. At Sojourn New Albany, […]
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below). […]
In this age of information overload, how do we help our people remember sermons and apply them to their lives? By Wednesday, they’ve seen tons of shows and web series, read social media posts and news articles, seen tons of Instagram pics, had many conversations, and maybe even read a book. At Sojourn New Albany, […]
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below). […]
In this age of information overload, how do we help our people remember sermons and apply them to their lives? By Wednesday, they’ve seen tons of shows and web series, read social media posts and news articles, seen tons of Instagram pics, had many conversations, and maybe even read a book. At Sojourn New Albany, […]
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below). […]
In this age of information overload, how do we help our people remember sermons and apply them to their lives? By Wednesday, they’ve seen tons of shows and web series, read social media posts and news articles, seen tons of Instagram pics, had many conversations, and maybe even read a book. At Sojourn New Albany, […]
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below). […]
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below). […]
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below). […]
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below). […]
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below). […]
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below). […]
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below). […]
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below). […]
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below). […]
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below). […]
In this age of information overload, how do we help our people remember sermons and apply them to their lives? By Wednesday, they’ve seen tons of shows and web series, read social media posts and news articles, seen tons of Instagram pics, had many conversations, and maybe even read a book. At Sojourn New Albany, […]
Welcome to Sojourn’s weekly worship music set list review & service recap. You’ll not only read a list of the songs we led but also the readings and prayers from our liturgy. You can also watch the video stream of the full service from our Facebook page (see a video of our sermon alone below). […]