ORDER OF WORSHIP

Good morning to everyone. I welcome and greet you all for the Sermon
Evaluation Service in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
To begin the Service let us Pray, Our Heavenly Father, once again we come
into your presence. As we are going to start the Sermon Evaluation Service Lord be
with us, lead us and guide us. I Pray these words in the name of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen!
For the glory of God let’s sing the Opening HYMN No. 18 page No. 37 I
request congregation to stand on their feet.
1. Down in the Valley with my
Savior I will go,
Where the flow’rs are blooming
and the sweet waters flow;
Everywhere He leads me I will
follow, follow on,
Walking in His footsteps till the
crown be won.

Follow! Follow! I will follow

Jesus!
Anywhere, everywhere, I will
follow on!
Follow! Follow! I will follow
Jesus!
Everywhere he leads me I will
follow on!

2. Down in the valley with my

Savior I will go,
Where the storms are sweeping
And the dark waters flow;
With His hand to lead me I will
never, never fear,
Danger cannot fright me if my
Lord is near.

3. Down in the valley, or upon the mountain

steep, Close beside my savior
Will my soul ever keep;
 He will lead me safely in the
path that He has trod, Up to
where they gather on the hills
of God.
Minister : In the name of The Father and The Son and Holy Spirit Amen
O Lord, open thou my lips.’
Congregation : And my mouth shall show forth Thy praise.
Minister : Make haste, O God, to deliver me.
Congregation : Make haste to help me, O Lord.
Minister : Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost :
Congregation : As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world
without
end. A - men
Let us remain standing and read responsively NEW LIFE found on page
No.197
NEW LIFE
Minister : So if you have been raised with
Christ, seek the things that are
above, where Christ is, seated at
the right hand of God.

Set your minds on things that are

above, not on things that are on
earth, for you have died, and your
life is hidden with Christ in God.

Minister
: When Christ who is your life is
revealed, then you also will be
revealed with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever

in you is earthly.

Minister : You must get rid of all such

things anger, wrath, malice, slander,
and abusive language from your
mouth.

As God’s chosen ones, holy and

beloved, clothe yourselves with
 compassion, kindness, humility,
meekness, and patience.
Minister : Bear with one another and, if
anyone has a complaint against
another, forgive each other;

Just as the Lord has forgiven you,

so you also must forgive.
Minister
: Above all, clothe yourselves with
love, which binds everything
together in perfect harmony.

And let the peace of Christ rule in

your hearts, to which indeed you
were called in the one body. And
be thankful.

Minister : Let the word of Christ dwell in you

richly; teach and admonish one
another in all wisdom; and with
gratitude in your hearts sing psalms,
hymns, and spiritual songs to God.

And whatever you do, in word or

deed, do everything in the name of
the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to
God the Father through him.
Colossians 3

Congregation : Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost : As
it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without
end.
Amen
Please be seated

Scripture Reading : Luke 15:11-32

11 Then Jesus" said, "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger
of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong
to me.' So he divided his prop-erty between them. 13A few days later the younger
son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered
his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine
took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and
hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to
feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with' the pods that the pigs
were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to him-self he
said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but
here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him,
"Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to
be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands." ' 20 So he set off and
went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled
with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21Then the
son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no
longer worthy to be called your son.' m 22 But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly,
bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and
sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and
celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is
found!' And they began to celebrate. 25 "Now his elder son was in the field; and
when he came and ap-proached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He
called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, 'Your brother
has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back
safe and sound.' 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came
out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all
these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never dis-obeyed
your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might
celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has
devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!' 31 Then
the father" said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and
has come to life; he was lost and has been found.' "
Please Stand
Minister : O Lord, have mercy upon us.
Congregation : Thanks be to God.
 Let us affirm our faith by saying apostle’s creed.

APOSTOLIC CREED

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus
Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was
buried; He descended into hell; On the third day He rose again from the dead; He
ascended into heaven, And is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
From there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy
Spirit, I believe in the Holy Catholic Church, The communion of Saints, The
forgiveness of sins, The resurrection of the body, And life everlasting. Amen.

Please be seated

Let us prepare ourselves for the Word of God while the

preparatory song is sung

Preparatory song

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For the sake of clear understanding I have divided my sermon topic the three
parables into three parts.

Let us pray: Most gracious and unconditionally loving God, who rejoices over the
salvation of one sinner, we are eager to hear your voice, may the words of my
mouth and meditation of all our hearts be pleasing to your sight our rock and
redeemer, Amen.

The theme of my sermon is: HEAVENLY LIFE: THE REWARD FOR

REPENTANCE

The passage for our meditation this morning is Luke 15:11-32

This renowned chapter (Luke.15) of the Bible is broken up by writers and

preachers, and dealt with as containing three precious distinct parables : The Lost
sheep (Luke 15:1-7), The Lost Silver coin (Luke 15: 8-10), and the Lost Son (Luke
15: 11-32). Actually, however, the whole chapter is but one parable having three
pictures. There is no break in verses. One illustration flows into the other. So when
we read, “So he told them this parable” (Luke 15:3), the singular form this parable
means that the entire chapter constitutes the particular parable. Let us deal with
them collectively for an understanding of the repetition of the same doctrine taught
under different metaphors. Concern over something lost, and joy at the recovery of
that which was lost, is the prominent note of each simile our Lord used. At the heart
of this master piece of parabolic literature, the sheep, the coin, the Son were all lost
and all worth saving. It was serious to lose a sheep, worse to lose money, and
worst of all to lose a Son. A sheep is valuable, money is more valuable, but man is
the most valuable of all.

For our better understanding I have divided my sermon into 2 subpoints.

1. Man Rejoices for Recovery

The sheep was lost and likely knew it was lost. It had a vague idea that it was
without companionship and the care of the shepherd. Seeing a gap in the hedge it
wandered from the rest and become separated from the shepherd and the other
sheep. Such a sheep represents the stupid, foolish, unthinking kind of wanderer
from God. Happily it was overtaken by the seeking shepherd and brought back to
the fold, i.e. to the community of faith God’s compassion and his search for the
erring people is expressed in this parable. The coin was lost, but being with out life,
had no consciousness or sensation of being lost. Further, its lost condition
occasioned neither discomfort or anxiety. The silver piece was lost, not because of
any inferiority in its composition or mintage. It was lost either because it was badly
handled or unconsciously dropped. We have here symbolized those lost sinners
who are largely innocent of themselves and passive in the hands of those with
whom they associate. Such are easily handled by stronger personalities. The coin
remained stationary until it was found where it had been dropped. The woman
searching for her lost coin sweeps her home until she finds it. The shepherd with
much pain and self sacrifice seeks the reckless wandering sheep and rejoices
exceedingly when he finds it.
The second point is
2. God Rejoices for Repentance
This third picture has been in many commendatory ways as the “Crown and pearl of
all parables”, as Murray a Calvinist theologian of the 20th century said. He also
said “it is the most divinely tender and most humanly touching story ever told on
earth.” There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his
father ,’”Father let me have the share of the estate that will come to me.” So the
father divided the property between them. A few days later, the younger son got
together everything he had and left for a distant country where he squandered his
money on life of debauchery.
When he had spend it all, that country experienced a severe famine and now
he began to feel the pinch. So he hired himself out to one of the local inhabitants
who put him on his farm to feed the pigs. And he would willingly have filled himself
with the husks the pigs were eating but no one would let him have them. Then he
came to scenes and said,” How many of my father’s hired men have all the food
they want and more, and here I am dying of hunger! I will leave this place and go to
my father and say : Father I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no
longer deserve to be called your son: treat me as one of your hired men...” So he
left the place and went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity.
He ran to his boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him. Then his Son said,
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you, I no longer deserve to be
called your Son. The father who was waiting for him received him with parental love
and concern. But the father said to his servants, “ Quick! Bring out the best robe
and put it on him, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the calf we
have fattened, and kill it; we will celebrate by having a feast, because this son of
mine was dead and has come back to life he was lost and found.” And they began
to celebrate.
Now the elder Son was out in the fields and on his way back, as he draw near
the house, he could hear music and dancing. Calling one of the servants he asked
what was all about. The servant told him, “your brother has come back, and your
father has killed the calf we had been fattening because he has got him back safe
and sound.” He was angry then and refused to go in, and his father came out and
began to urge him to come in; but he retorted to his father, “All these years I have
slaved for you and never once disobeyed any orders of yours, yet you never offered
me so much as a kind for me to celebrate with my friends. But, for this Son of yours,
when he come back after swallowing up your property - you kill the calf we had
been fattening.”
The father said, My Son, you are with me always, and all I have is yours. But
it was only right we should celebrate and rejoice because your brother was dead
and has come to life; he was lost and is found.”
At last in this parable the son repented for his past evil life and was saved by
his father. In the same way God waits for humans to realize what they have done
wrong and ask for forgiveness and welcomes them back when they do.
 The moral of the prodigal Son narrative is that God is willing to accept sinners
who come to him in trust and repentance.
The main lesson of the prodigal Son parable is that it does not matter how far
we stray from our heavenly father or how much we squander the gifts he provides,
he is always delighted when we turn back to him. His unconditional love is waiting
for us to return home where he greets with open arms.
Conclusion :- Salvation denotes the deliverance of human beings from evil. The
theme of salvation is dominant in Lucan parables.
“Repentence is rewarded”
“Be compassionate as your father is Compassionate.”
May God bless us all through His Holy Word.

Let us conclude this service with a Word of Prayer.

Closing prayer :- Heavenly Father, we Pray for all those who are lost and do not
know you. We pray that their eyes will be opened to your goodness Lord. May they
realise that they need a saviour and may the turn to you Father. As we reflect on
the words of (Luke 15: 11-32) we are reminded of the truths that have been shared.
We come before you with hearts full of gratitude for the message we have received
from your word today. Lord help us to continually seek the heavenly perspective, to
fix our thoughts on the eternal and not on the temporary attractions or distractions
of this world. Lord help all our student Community who are studying very hard for
the ensuing examinations. We pray for the good health of our teaching and non-
teaching staff and their families. Lord, be with us, lead us and guide us. I pray these
words in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Minister : Lord, have mercy upon us

Congregation : Lord, have mer - cy up - on us.
Christ, have mer - cy up - on us.
Lord, have mer - cy up - on us.
Let us all pray the Lord’s Prayer.
Our Father, who art in heaven; Hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will
be done on earth, as it is in heaven; Give us this day Our daily bread; And forgive
us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not
into temptation; But deliver us from evil; For Thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever and ever. A-men.
Minister : The Lord be with you.
Congregation : And with thy spirit.

Let’s receive the Benediction

The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, And the Love of God, And the Commun-
ion of the Holy Ghost, Be with you all.

Threefold Amen

A-men, A-men, A-A-men

PEACE BE WITH YOU.