Pre-service Reflection
At Ethos as good as it is to meet and greet one another, we try to save this for after the service, and begin service by looking upward to rest in God. Here are a few suggestions for how you can spend this time:
- Sit in silence to “just be.” Just be “still” to know that God is “good.” Try to still your busy mind and put it into a mode of listening. If you find “thought monkeys” that disturb your silence, jot them down, and then continue in silence. You may also use a journal to reflect on your previous spiritual experiences this week.
- Scripture Meditation. A) In your Bible, read Psalm 25:1-5 slowly, pausing between clauses. B) After a minute of silence, read it again and look for words or phrases that catch your attention. C) Read it a third time and begin to wonder: “What might God want to say to me specifically?” D) Turn the previous question into a prayer, and then write down anything God might be saying to you. E) Be still and silent, and then ask yourself and God, “What am I being called to do as a result of the word I have been given?”
Invocation – Calling Upon God
Welcome to Ethos Communion Church. Ethos exists to foster communion with the Triune God in a way that leads to spiritual peace, holistic transformation of character, communion with the visible body of Christ, and the making of disciples from all cultures and generations all to the glory of God.
“Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” – Psalm 124:8
As we begin our worship service, let us quiet our hearts and minds, and turn our attention to the One who is worthy of all our praise.
Confession of Faith – Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed, written in the fourth century by the Council of Nicaea and later expanded by the Council of Constantinople, holds immense importance for Christians as a foundational statement of faith affirming beliefs in the Trinity, the divinity of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church, and essential Christian doctrines, serving as a unifying declaration of core beliefs across Christian denominations and emphasizing unity in essential theological truths.
Let’s stand together as we recite our common faith
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only 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 of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human.
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.
Psalm of Praise – Psalm 1
Let us stand together as we praise the Lord with a responsive reading of a Psalm
(Congregation recites bolded lines)
1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
The Goodness of Jesus (C)
VERSE 1
Come you weary heart now to Jesus
Come you anxious soul now and see
There is perfect love
And comfort in your tears
Rest here in His wondrous peace
CHORUS
The goodness the goodness of Jesus
Satisfied He is all that I need
May it be come what may
That I rest all my days
In the goodness of Jesus
VERSE 2
Come find what this world cannot offer
Come and find your joy here complete
Taste the living water
Never thirst again
Rest here in His wondrous peace
CHORUS
The goodness the goodness of Jesus
Satisfied He is all that I need
May it be come what may
That I rest all my days
In the goodness of Jesus
VERSE 3
Come and find your hope now in Jesus
He is all He said He would be
Grace is overflowing
From the Saviour’s heart
Rest here in His wondrous peace
CHORUS
The goodness the goodness of Jesus
Satisfied He is all that I need
May it be come what may
That I rest all my days
In the goodness of Jesus
TAG
May it be come what may
That I rest all my days
In the goodness of Jesus
Seek Ye First (C)
VERSE 1
Seek ye first the kingdom of God
And His righteousness
And all these things
Shall be added unto you
Allelu alleluia
VERSE 2
Man shall not live by bread alone
But by ev’ry word
That proceeds
From the mouth of God
Allelu alleluia
CHORUS
Alleluia Alleluia
Alleluia Alleluia
Prayer for Illumination
You may be seated.
As we prepare to hear the word of God, let us pray for the Holy Spirit’s illumination.
Sermon – The Bread of Life (John6.35-40)
Text Outline
- Bread of life (v. 35)
- Seeing and believing? (v. 36, 40)
- Election and Eternal Security (v. 39)
Sermon Outline
- Spiritual Food (v. 35; Genesis 1-3, Matt4.4; John4.34; Ps1)
- Faith versus sense (vv. 36, 40; 2Cor5.7; Luke16.31; Col3.1-4)
- Satisfied you are all that I need (v. 39; Rom8.31-39)
Discussion Questions
- Do you long for care-free, shameless, child-like innocence? How does Jesus, the bread of life, satisfy and remove your shame, guilt, fear, weakness?
- Like Adam and Eve, how do you rely on your senses and choose the world over God? How can we practically live out 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight”?
- Reflecting on the sovereignty of God, how does stopping to acknowledge His absolute control (as through the Sabbath) change your perspective on life’s worries or challenges? Where have you struggled to surrender fully to God’s care and provision?
- Jesus likened faith to eating—chewing, tasting, and digesting the bread of life. How does this metaphor help you understand the depth of trust and dependence we are called to have on Christ? How might this reshape your daily practices of prayer, Scripture reading, or worship?
- How do you view God’s law in light of Christ’s fulfillment of it? Does meditating on God’s law (as in Psalm 1 and Psalm 19) feel like a burden or a delight for you, and how can this practice deepen your love for God and reliance on His grace?
- What is one takeaway you will put into practice this week?
Sharing and Prayer Time
Communion Prayer
Let us give thanks to the Lord for this spiritual meal he has given to us.
Communion
- Because of the significance of the Lord’s Table, only baptized believers in the Lord Jesus Christ should partake.
- Also, if you are willingly living in sin, you should refrain.
- If you are unable to partake of the Lord’s Table today, you may still partake of Christ!
- The Lord’s Table is just an aid in your relationship with Christ. Without it, you can still go to Christ.
- There are some prayers below that you may use to guide you.
Prayer for those searching
Oh God, I am discovering that the more I have, the more I need to have, the more I am loved, the more I need to be loved, the more I achieve, the more I need to achieve. Nothing seems to satisfy me. “Nothing tastes.” Could it be, as someone once said, that “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee.” Dear God, if this is true, and if as the Bible teaches there is life and life eternal in Christ alone, please guide me to him. Open me to the reality of the one who alone can satisfy my restless heart. Give me the courage to believe that which I cannot see but can understand through your Word, sacraments and church family. Lord I want to believe, please help me in my unbelief! Amen.
Prayer of belief
Lord God, I now see that I am weaker and more flawed than I ever before believed, but in Christ, I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. Even as I have not loved you or my neighbor with all of my heart, you have shown your love for me in that while I am still sinning, Christ died for me and took upon himself the condemnation that I deserve. I now know that You owe me nothing for my efforts, but you offer acceptance, love and blessing into all eternity because of Christ’s efforts on my behalf. I therefore ask that you would enable me to turn away from trusting in my own efforts to gain your acceptance and forgiveness, and trust in the perfectly righteous efforts of Christ on my behalf in order to be accepted by you and entered into your holy family. And just as you raised Christ from the dead, so too I ask that you would give me a new life in Christ, one that will lead eventually to heaven itself. Thank you for Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit to believe in him alone for my salvation. And as You have called us to follow You in baptism and in a life of committed discipleship in Your church, grant that I may take the necessary steps to be one with Your people, and live in the fullness of Your Spirit. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication
- Jude – man who grown in wisdom, stature, favor with men and God
- Praying for Shilo and Abi on their birthdays. Prov 31 ladies
You Are My All in All (D)
VERSE 1
You are my strength
When I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all
VERSE 2
Seeking You as a precious jewel
Lord to give up I’d be a fool
You are my all in all
CHORUS
Jesus Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
Jesus Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
VERSE 3
Taking my sin
My cross my shame
Rising again I bless Your name
You are my all in all
VERSE 4
When I fall down
You pick me up
When I am dry You fill my cup
You are my all in all
CHORUS
Jesus
Lamb of God
Worthy is
Your name
You’re my Jesus
Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
CHORUS
Jesus Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
Jesus Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
TAG
Worthy is Your name
Benediction – What is the hope with which you go out?
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Cor. 13:14)
Announcements
- Tithes and offerings may be given online at EthosChurch.Co. FYI the fees are 2.15% + $0.30/donation for credit and debit card donations, and 0% + $0.30 per ACH bank transfer donation. So using your bank is preferred.
- Having looked upward during the worship service, we now want to look outward, in sharing the love of Christ we have in our hearts for one another by sharing a meal together.