First Baptist Church Of Saratoga

June 8, 2025

Prelude - A Love for the Truth

Call to Worship

You, loving God, are the ground of our being and the river of life; you both steady our roots and draw them to seek the living waters.  You are everything to us.  O let our gratitude be great, let our praise be plentiful, let our worship be wonder-full!  Through Christ Jesus your ever-living Son.  Amen!

Hymn - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

Invocation and Lord's Prayer

Merciful God, creator of all that is, seen and unseen, our delight is in your word and we have a deep sense of your presence
when we allow it to fill our lives night and day.  In response to your mercy we pray these words of our Savior, Jesus: 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.  Amen.

Scripture Reading - 2 John 1-11

1 The elder,

To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:

3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

7 I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.

Joys and Concerns

Our world offers many wide avenues and beautiful boulevards to walk; But You, God invites us to walk the road of service and sacrifice.  You, Lord, seek to plant us on the banks of hope, watered by the rivers of joy and grace.  You, God, tell us if we want to be first we need to go to the end of the line.  Lord, we thank you for the joy of righteous living.  Amen,

Hymn - Fairest Lord Jesus

Sermon - Love and Truth in Harmony

For Video version, click below.

Hymn - The Lamb of God

Benediction

Let us go now surrounded by the grace, mercy, and peace of God.  Amen.

Postlude - Think About His Love