Gathering Music – Patricia McDonald
Welcoming Guests and Announcements – Pastor Ross
Prelude – Siciliano ‐ Bach, Arr. Steuterman
Meditation:
He breaks the power of canceled sin, He sets the prisoner free; His blood can make the foulest clean; His blood availed for me. ~Charles Wesley
Call to Worship – Pastor Linda
Opening Hymn – O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing – Hymnal #57
Prayer of Confession – Pastor Dave
Words of Assurance – Pastor Dave
Reading from the Psalms – Pastor Ross
Prayer Concerns – Pastor Linda
Prayer Song – Kyrie ‐ Ancient Greek
Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer, Lord’s Prayer
Anthem – And Can It Be ‐ arr. Larry Mayfield
Scripture Reading – Luke 4:16‐21 – Joseph Gosha
Offering – Pastor Ross
Message – Savior 2.Ransom – Jesus Sets You Free
Closing Hymn – Lift Every Voice and Sing – Hymnal #519
Benediction – Choral Amen – Pastor Dave
Postlude – Lift Every Voice and Sing ‐ Burkhardt
Luke 4:16-21 – New Revised Standard Version
The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth
16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read,
17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.
21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
We all know what it is like to feel trapped, stuck and hopeless. Theologically, all of us are held hostage or in captivity by sin. Jesus came to set us free so that we could truly live. God desires that we know and experience the forgiven life that God intends for us. We are prisoners of the forces of evil and wickedness in the world and there is no hope for escape on our own efforts. Jesus saves us by giving his life on the cross as a ransom to set us free.