AUGUST 30, 2026 ORDER OF WORSHIP

 

THE FIRST WORD Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

 

Pastor: If serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.

People: As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord!

 

WELCOME Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

ANNOUNCEMENTS Liturgist

 

MINISTRY MOMENT Witness 

 

PRELUDE Betty Hudson

 

INVOCATION (Remain Seated) Liturgist

Holy and righteous God, we come before You with grateful hearts, trusting in Your unfailing love. Search us and know us, testing our hearts and revealing anything that keeps us from walking faithfully with You. Cleanse us by Your mercy, strengthen us by Your Spirit, and help us to walk with integrity as disciples of Jesus Christ. We rejoice to gather in this place, for we love Your presence and delight to worship Your holy name. May all that we do today bring glory to You. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

**CALL TO WORSHIP Liturgist

Leader: Come, all who seek to follow Jesus Christ. Come with your joys and your burdens, your questions and your hopes.

People: We come to worship the One who is the way, the truth, and the life.

 

Leader: Jesus did not promise an easy road, but He promised His presence with us every step of the way.

People: We will trust Him, even when the path is difficult.

 

Leader: Jesus calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him.

People: We choose to follow Christ above comfort, convenience, or fear.

 

Leader: What good is it to gain the whole world and yet lose your soul?

People: Our greatest treasure is found in Christ alone.

 

Leader: Though the world tells us to seek power and success, Christ calls us to humility and faithful obedience.

People: We will seek first the Kingdom of God.

 

Leader: Though the journey may include sacrifice, we know that Christ has gone before us and His victory is sure.

People: Our hope is not in this world, but in the eternal promises of God.

 

Leader: Come, let us worship the One who carried the cross, conquered the grave, and calls us to abundant life.

People: With thankful hearts and steadfast faith, let us worship the Lord!

**UMH HYMN #528 “Nearer, My God, To Thee”

Verse 1

Nearer my God to Thee 

nearer to Thee

E'en though it be 

a cross that raiseth me

Still all my song shall be 

nearer my God to Thee

Nearer my God to Thee 

nearer to Thee

 

Verse 2

Though like the wanderer 

the sun gone down

Darkness be over me 

my rest a stone

Yet in my dreams I'd be 

nearer my God to Thee

Nearer my God to Thee 

nearer to Thee

 

Verse 3

There let the way appear 

steps unto heav'n

All that Thou sendest me 

in mercy giv'n

Angels to beckon me 

nearer my God to Thee

Nearer my God to Thee 

nearer to Thee

 

Verse 4

Then with my waking thoughts

Bright with thy praise

Out of my stony griefs

Bethel I’ll raise 

so by my woes to be

Nearer my God to thee

Nearer my God to thee

Nearer to thee

 

Verse 5

Or if on joyful wing 

cleaving the sky

Sun moon and stars 

forgot upward I fly

Still all my song shall be 

nearer my God to Thee

Nearer my God to Thee 

nearer to Thee

 

OFFERING & OFFERTORY

 

**DOXOLOGY    

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him all creatures here below;

Praise Him above ye heav’nly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

 

OFFERTORY PRAYER Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

 

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Megan Cooke/Youth

Matthew 16:24-25

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 

25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

 

JOYS AND CONCERNS Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

PASTORAL PRAYER

LORD’S PRAYER

 

SCRIPTURE READING Jeremiah 15:15-21 NRSV Liturgist

15 O Lord, you know; 

remember me and visit me, 

and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors. 

In your forbearance do not take me away; 

know that on your account I suffer insult. 

 

16 Your words were found, and I ate them, 

and your words became to me a joy 

and the delight of my heart, 

for I am called by your name, 

O Lord, God of hosts. 

 

17 I did not sit in the company of merrymakers, 

nor did I rejoice; 

under the weight of your hand I sat alone, 

for you had filled me with indignation. 

 

18 Why is my pain unceasing, 

my wound incurable, 

refusing to be healed? 

Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook, 

like waters that fail. 

 

19 Therefore thus says the Lord: 

If you turn back, I will take you back, 

and you shall stand before me. 

If you utter what is precious and not what is worthless, 

you shall serve as my mouth. 

It is they who will turn to you, 

not you who will turn to them. 

 

20 And I will make you to this people 

a fortified wall of bronze; 

they will fight against you, 

but they shall not prevail over you, 

for I am with you 

to save you and deliver you, 

says the Lord. 

 

21 I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked 

and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.

 

RESPONSE TO SCRIPTURE Liturgist

Liturgist:  The Word of God for the people of God.

Congregation:  Thanks be to God.

 

SPECIAL MUSIC Betty Hudson

 

SCRIPTURE READING Matthew 16:21-28 NRSV Liturgist

21 From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and on the third day be raised. 

 

22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” 

 

23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me, for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” 

 

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 

 

25 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 

26 For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? 

 

27 “For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. 

 

28 Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

 

RESPONSE TO SCRIPTURE Liturgist

Liturgist:  The Word of God for the people of God.

Congregation:  Thanks be to God.

 

SERMON “The Dangerous Gospel” Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

 

**UMH HYMN #504 “Old Rugged Cross”

VERSE 1

On a hill far away 

stood an old rugged cross,

The emblem of suff’ring and shame;

And I love that old cross 

where the dearest and best

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

CHORUS

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

And exchange it some day for a crown.

VERSE 2

On that old rugged cross, 

so despised by the world,

Has a wondrous attraction for me;

For the dear Lamb of God 

left His glory above,

To bear it to dark Calvary.

CHORUS

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

And exchange it some day for a crown.

 

VERSE 3

In that old rugged cross, 

stained with blood so divine,

A wondrous beauty I see;

For ’twas on that old cross 

Jesus suffered and died,

To pardon and sanctify me.

CHORUS

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

And exchange it some day for a crown.

 

VERSE 4

To the old rugged cross 

I will ever be true,

Its shame and reproach gladly bear;

Then He’ll call me some day 

to my home far away,

Where His glory for ever I’ll share.

CHORUS

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

And exchange it some day for a crown.

 

FELLOWSHIP BLESSING Youth Representative

Heavenly Father, thank You for this time together and for the food You have provided. As we share this meal, remind us of the old rugged cross, where Jesus showed us the greatest love the world has ever known. Give us the courage to follow Jesus even when the road is not easy. Bless this food, our conversations, and our church family. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

**BENEDICTION Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

POSTLUDE Betty Hudson

(Please be seated as the postlude closes our service)