First Congregational Church of North Collins, Sunday, August 24, 2014

First Congregational Church of North Collins

Conservative Congregational Christian Conference

10385 Main Street, North Collins, New York 14111

337-9811 Church Office / 337-4303 Parsonage

Pastor / Teacher Derek S. Yoder

http://fccnc.blogspot.com

Sunday, August 24, 2014    

 Family Worship Service 9:30 am

Wait in Prayer                  Worship in Reverence             Depart to Serve

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

Choral Introit …………………………… Come, Let Us Join with One Accord

*Call to Worship ………………………………………………………… Psalm 33:1-22

*Chorus of Adoration & Praise #529 … Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

*Invocation

Worship Through Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs

Choral Anthem

*Hymn of the Month #662 ………  As the Hart Longs for Flowing Streams

*Hymn #131 …………………………………………  Children of the Heavenly Father

Scripture Lessons

Old Testament ………………………… Nehemiah 8:1-8 (Pew Bible p. 761-762)

New Testament ……………..………………  Mark 5:1-20 (Pew Bible p. 1558-59)

Memory Verse……………...………………………… Colossians 3:12-17 (see insert)

Fellowship of Welcome

Message

Sermon Text ……………………………………………………  Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

Sermon ……………………………………………………………………………… Derek Yoder

Ecclesiastes:  The Prequel

Solomon reflects on life under the Genesis curse

 – and points beyond it to new life in the gospel.

*Hymn of Faith #84 …………… Under the Care of My God, the Almighty

Prayer Requests and Testimonies

Pastoral Prayer

Collection of Offerings

Offertory

*Doxology …………………………… Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

*Benediction

Postlude                                                                *Congregation invited to stand

►  Get the most out of the service by asking about our special listening devices.  Pick up one in the back of see an usher for help.  If yours isn’t working property, don’t be bashful about raising your hand to ask for assistance.

Announcements

Join us this afternoon at the Doles’ for our 2^nd Sunday Night Out of the summer.  Plan to gather around 4:00 pm.  Hot dogs will be provided.

Calendar

Wednesday, August 27^th

Choir practice at the church at 6:00 pm.

Join us at the church for Bible study and prayer at 7:00 pm.  We’re making our way through the great themes of Genesis.  Join us as we finish up providence and the image of God and move on in Chapter 2 to Sabbath.  It’s a great time to join us.

Sunday, September 28^th

Please note the date change from 9/21 to 9/28 for our 3^rd Sunday Night Out of the Summer!

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Sermon Outline

August 24, 2014

Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

Ecclesiastes:  The Prequel

Solomon reflects on life under the sun of the Genesis curses

– and he points beyond it to new life in the gospel.

1.       Do you remember?  As we continue to set up our new study in Ecclesiastes, recall our questions from last week:

a.       Question #1:  What does Ecclesiastes mean?

b.      Question #2:  Who is the “Preacher” of Ecclesiastes?

c.       Question #3:  What word, perhaps more than any other, captures the mood the book?  What’s the word in Hebrew?  Which Bible character bears it as his name?

2.       As we turn to today’s study, Question #4 is about genre.  What’s a genre and why does it matter?

3.       What are some of the literary genres in the Bible?  Why didn’t God reveal his word only in law-books, say, or stories or epistles?  What’s the point?

4.       In the Bible, what is wisdom literature?  What does it seek to do?  How does it function?

5.       When Derek says wisdom literature sometimes generalizes or exaggerates to make a point, what does he mean?  Can you think of examples?

6.       Question #5 has to do with the kind of world Solomon describes in Ecclesiastes.  How did things get this way in the first place?  That is, what’s the prequel to Ecclesiastes?

7.       In what way do the “curses” of Genesis 3 demonstrate God’s grace as much as his judgment against sin?

8.       What form do the curses take against family life?

9.       What form do they take against humanity’s dominion over creation?

1.   What form do they take against life with God?

1.   As I see it, Ecclesiastes is about the observations of Solomon in a world overshadowed by God’s judgment-curses … ruptured relationships, toilsome labor, and death.  Solomon may be a son of David, but like Hevel, he’s still a son of Adam.