October 12, 2025 – 18th Sunday after Pentecost

THE GATHERING OF THE CHURCH

WELCOME AND LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY                Rev. Dr. Kim Jackson

CALL TO WORSHIP        Psalm 111:1-4, 9-10        Jerry Hobson

Leader:        Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.

People:        Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.

Leader:         Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.

People:        He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; the Lord is gracious and merciful.

Leader:         He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name.

People:        The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it[a] have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.

All:        Let us give thanks and worship the Lord!

SONG                Forever        Chris Tomlin

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)                                                          inspired by Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7, 2 Timothy 2:8-15

Faithful God, you know who we are and what we have done better than even we. You know when we have failed to live into your call. You know when we have chosen not to obey your commands. You know when we have refused to face ourselves and the suffering we cause in your world. You know and yet you forgive, you redeem, you release, you love. And then you ask us to offer that same mercy to everyone else. Help us to do so this day. And, in this quiet time, take from us our sin so we may be changed by your pardon.

                (Silent Prayer and Meditation)

ASSURANCE OF PARDON                

Leader:         And the people said,

People:        Amen.

Leader:         Friends, the wonderful news we can believe and embrace is God’s unending and overwhelming kindness. So, hold onto this truth: in Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!

People:        Thanks be to God!

THE PEACE                

Leader: May the peace of Christ be with you.

People: And also with you.

(The people may greet one another saying, Peace be with you.)

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION                

SCRIPTURE READING                Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7

These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.

Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

Leader: The word of the Lord.

People:        Thanks be to God.

SPECIAL MUSIC        In Christ Alone        Keith Getty, Stuart Townend

SCRIPTURE LESSON                2 Timothy 2:8-15

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. The saying is sure:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful—he cannot deny himself.

Remind them of this, and warn them before the Lord that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.

SERMON         “The Saying Is Sure“         Rev. Dr. Kim Jackson

RESPONSE TO THE WORD

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (unison)                                            The Westminster Confession of Faith, V.1, adopted in 1649

God, the great Creator of all things, doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by his most wise and holy providence, according to his infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of his own will, to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER                (1988 ecumenical version)

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

OFFERTORY                Heart Of Worship        Matt Redman

DOXOLOGY        Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow        Hymnal 591

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below;

Praise God above ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

THE SENDING OF THE CHURCH

SONG                Cannons        Phil Wickham

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

EXIT SONG        Your Love Never Fails