2 Corinthians 9:6-15 ~ October 4, 2023
Call to Worship:
The banqueting table is prepared and God calls us to the feast.
We have come from east and west, from north and south, to sit at Christ’s table.
Here compassion, love, and grace pour out like fine wine.
Here we taste the bread of life, bread for our journey.
There are gifts of God for all the people of God.
Let us taste and see that the Lord is good!
Hymn: #299 Holy, holy, holy
Prayer of Approach and Confession:
Steadfast God,
as the seasons change, we know you to be ever-constant
and see that you are still at work in the world,
transforming hearts and situations.
You have shown us the true face of love in Jesus Christ,
reaching out with healing and hope to touch desperate lives.
We praise you for your love that works for reconciliation
among neighbours and nations in this divided world.
May we see the face of Jesus as we break bread at his table.
Renew our hope by the gift of your Spirit at work among us,
so that we can live to praise you
as one God now and always
with the whole Church that bears Jesus’ name.
Almighty God,
you love us, but we have not loved you.
You call, but we have not listened.
We walk away from neighbours in needs,
wrapped in our own concerns.
We fail to condone evil, prejudice, warfare, and greed.
God of grace,
Forgive who we have been, amend who we are and direct who we shall be
through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon:
Hear the good news! Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ – and Christ died for us; Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us. Believe the good news of the gospel. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven by God’s renewing grace.
Hymn: #671 I heard the voice of Jesus say
Scripture Readings: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.”
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Meditation: “Live Generously”
I’m sure there are many of us who have been watching the economy, and this has us stressed out and concerned. Now, more than ever, we are looking to material wealth for our comfort and support. Today, we are going to try our very best to look at scripture and see what words God might have for an anxious person during an anxious time. But before we do, I’d like to share with you a couple of stories. The first, a story of Farmer Joe!
Farmer Joe had been in an accident and decided his injuries from it were serious enough to take the trucking company (responsible for the accident) to court. In court, the trucking company’s fancy lawyer was questioning farmer Joe. “Didn’t you say, at the scene of the accident, ‘I’m fine’?” questioned the lawyer.
Farmer Joe responded, “Well I’ll tell you what happened. I had just loaded my favorite mule Bessie into the…”
“I didn’t ask for any details,” the lawyer interrupted, “just answer the question. Did you not say, at the scene of the accident, ‘I’m fine’!”
Farmer Joe said, “Well I had just got Bessie into the trailer, and I was driving down the road…”
The lawyer interrupted again and said, “Judge, I am trying to establish the fact that, at the scene of the accident, this man told the Highway Patrolman on the scene that he was just fine. Now several weeks after the accident he is trying to sue my client. I believe he is a fraud. Please tell him to simply answer the question.”
By this time the Judge was fairly interested in Farmer Joe’s answer and said to the lawyer, “I’d like to hear what he has to say about his favorite mule Bessie.”
Joe thanked the Judge and proceeded, “Well as I was saying, I had just loaded Bessie, my favorite mule, into the trailer and was driving her down the highway when this huge semi-truck and trailer ran the stop sign and smacked my truck right in the side. I was thrown into one ditch, and Bessie was thrown into the other. I was hurting really bad and didn’t want to move. However, I could hear ole Bessie moaning and groaning. I knew she was in terrible shape just by her groans. We were both in terrible shape.
Shortly after the accident a Highway Patrolman came on the scene. He could hear Bessie moaning and groaning so he went over to her. After he looked at her he took out his gun and well we know what happened then. Then the Patrolman came across the road with his gun in his hand and looked at me. He said, “Your mule was in such bad shape I had to shoot her. How are you feeling?”
It was then that I said, “I’m fine.”
How many of us are “fine” today? How many of us need God’s word during the “fine” times!
Paul writes, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
What does this verse imply about what will happen during the very good times? God promises that you are going to have all that you need. What does this verse imply about what will happen during the very bad times? God promises that you are going to have all that you need. So let me stop ever so briefly and focus on this: who gives you all that you need. God! Now, here is an interesting endnote to this verse during good times and bad when we step out when we use our resources for God. What does God promise? God promises we will abound in every good work.
Burt Reynolds starred in an old film entitled The End. In the film he decides to commit suicide by swimming out as far as he can until he is exhausted and then just go under. But after going under he is looking at the surface from the underside and decides not to go through with it. As he breaks the surface of the water he screams: “I want to live! I want to live!” He then begins to try to swim to shore, but it is a very long way off. As he begins to swim, he talks to God. He promises to obey all of the Ten Commandments and then realizes he doesn’t know what all of them are, so he promises to learn them. Then, in his panic, he says, “Lord, if you get me out of this, I will give you 80% of everything I have.” But time passes and he is still going strong, and besides he can just begin to see the shoreline. But as he continues to swim, he feels his strength holding out and says, “Lord, if you help me to get to shore alive, I will give you 10% of all my earnings.” And, finally, he struggles to the place where he sees that he is just going to be able to make it to land and says, “Well, Lord, let’s just forget about what I said before. I think I can make it from here on my own.”
Sneaking back to verse 6 we read, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”
Why should it be any different for us? I think we need to be like good farmers. When we are sowing our seeds by living our faith, we need to keep the harvest in mind. We have to know that God will make our efforts increase and the harvest will be huge. Paul says, “if you sow sparingly, you will reap sparingly, and if you sow generously, you will reap generously.” Every action you take will have an impact on the future. The actions we take should be actions of faithful obedience and not done out of a need to have to do something. Faith is something that is lived and not something that is bartered with such as it was in the example of the Bert Reynolds movie.
The truth is when we live our faith and sow the seeds of faith, we will always harvest way more than we sow.
But here is the problem, we understand this and we can even agree with it but scripture says one thing, and wisdom tells us something entirely different. Wisdom tells us that just because we give all that we have there is no guarantee that we will be taken care of.
So here is God’s word for all of us. God will continue to be God. God will continue to act like God. God will forever give as God is able to give and bless as only God is able to bless. We need to trust in God. We need to put our faith into God and know that the harvest we reap will be based on the seed we sow.
Be thankful for all you have been given. Be thankful for the many blessings you have been shown and give as you are able for you never know the difference you will make in someone else’s life. Amen.
Invitation of Offering:
World Communion Sunday celebrates the relationship we share with Jesus’ followers around the world. Let us share our gifts with God, so there can be an outpouring of generosity in Jesus’ name around the globe.
Doxology: #830 Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Prayer of Dedication:
Generous God, we have received so much from you in Christ and in creation. Bless the gifts we offer so that they will speak of your love for the world in all its detail and diversity. May our gifts touch the need around us in the name of Christ who makes us one. Amen.
Hymn: #555 Worship the Lord
Invitation to the Lord’s Table:
Jesus said:
I am the bread of life.
Those who come to me will never be hungry,
and those who believe in me will never be thirsty.
No one who comes to me will I drive away. John 6:35, 37.
Because there is one bread,
we who are many are one body,
for we all partake of the one bread. I Cor. 10:17.
So, whether you eat or drink,
or whatever you do,
do everything for the glory of God. I Cor. 10:31.
The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving:
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Holy God, Creator of heaven and earth,
with joy we give you thanks and praise.
Through the words of your prophets
you gave your people hope
by promising them the Redeemer.
And now we rejoice that in your Son, Jesus Christ,
the Saviour has come
and will come again in power and glory
making all things new.
How wonderful are your ways, almighty God.
How marvellous is your name, O Holy One.
You alone are God.
Therefore with apostles and prophets,
and that great cloud of witnesses
who live for you beyond all time and space,
we lift our hearts in joyful praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
We praise you, most holy God,
for sending your only Son Jesus to live among us,
full of grace and truth.
Sharing our joy and sorrow,
he healed the sick and was a friend of sinners.
Obeying you,
he took up his cross and died that we might live.
We praise you that he overcame death
and is risen to rule the world.
He is still the friend of sinners.
We trust him to overcome every power that can hurt or divide us,
and believe that when he comes in glory
we will celebrate victory with him.
Therefore, in remembrance of your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we take this bread and this cup
and give you praise and thanksgiving
as we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.
Gracious God,
pour out your Holy Spirit upon us,
and upon this bread and wine,
that we, and all who share this feast,
may be one with Christ and he with us.
Here we offer ourselves to be a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable to you.
In your mercy,
accept our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.
Fill us with the joy of eternal life,
that we may be your faithful people
until we feast with you in glory.
Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honour are yours, almighty God,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Communion:
On the night he was betrayed, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” After supper he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins; do this, as often as you drink of it, in remembrance of me.” Amen. (1 Cor. 11:23-26)
Come let us eat and drink in remembrance of Christ:
Prayer after Communion:
Loving God, Christ our Lord, Holy Spirit,
you have nourished us, body and soul, in this meal.
We have heard your love, so send us out to speak it.
We have seen your love, so send us out to show it.
We have been fed by your love, so send us out to share it.
So may we become Christ’s body, the Church,
loving and caring throughout the whole world
until that day when all creation feasts with you
in the fullness of your mercy and peace
that we savour today in the name of our Saviour
who taught us when we pray to say together:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen.
Hymn: #563 Let us talents and tongues employ
Benediction:
This week, think of yourself as an ambassador for Christ, seeking reconciliation where people are divided, carrying the peace of Christ into each encounter.
And so may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus and go with you into each new day. Amen.
Now may the LORD keep us and bless us,
May the LORD make his face to shine upon us
and be gracious unto us,
Now and for ever more, AMEN.
Choral Closing: “Go Now in Peace”
Go now in peace. Never be afraid.
God will go with you each hour of every day.
Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true.
Know He will guide you in all you do.
Go now in love, and show you believe.
Reach out to others so all the world can see.
God will be there watching from above.
Go now in peace, in faith, and in love.
Sept. 27, 2026
https://pccweb.ca/knox-goderich/files/2026/10/Repent-and-Believe.docx