Responsive Reading from 2 Corinthians 5:6 -17

2 Corinthians 5

Leader: Even though we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in this human body we are away from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight — yet we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord. People: Whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to Him. Leader: We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or bad. People: Because we know the fear of the Lord, it is our duty to persuade others. Leader: In openness before God and before each other, we are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in the outward appearance rather than in the heart. People: The love of Christ is compelling, and we have reached this conclusion: if One died for all, then all died. Leader: And Christ died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised. People: From now on, then, we do not regard anyone from a human point of view. Leader: Even if we have known Christ from that human point of view, yet now we no longer know Him like that. People: Therefore if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

Hymn/Song Suggestions: “Behold, I Make All Things New” (Pote) “We Walk by Faith” (Seaborn) “If Anyone Be in Christ” “This Is a Day of New Beginnings” more on next page 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Responsive Reading

From now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone. The new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ. In doing so, he gave us the ministry of reconciliation. God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ. He did not count the people's sins against them. He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors. It is as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Hymn/Song Suggestions: “Come Now, O Prince of Peace” (W&R 157) “Who Is My Mother? Who Is My Brother?” “Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive” “In Christ There Is No East or West” “Joy in the Morning” “This Is a Day of New Beginnings”

Anthems: “If Any Man Is in Christ” (Benjamin Harlan – Hinshaw) “Behold, I Make All Things New” (Pote)

See New Congregational Song: “If Anyone Is in Christ” (congregational part)

2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10

[We have made an attempt to turn a “sermon” by Paul into statements of faith which might relate to today’s believers; this is definitely a reading “from” the passage!]

Responsive Reading from 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10

Leader: On behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. People: For our sake, God made Christ to be sin for us. Leader: Christ knew no sin, but he became sin. People: He did this so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Leader: As we work together, let us not accept the grace of God in vain. People: Now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation! Leader: As servants of God we have proven ourselves through great endurance, People: …in afflictions, hardships and calamities, Leaders: …through beatings, imprisonments and riots, People: … amid hard labor, sleepless nights and hunger. Leader: We have been able to do this by personal purity, People: …with knowledge and patience, Leader: …through kindness and holiness of spirit, People: …together with genuine love and truthful speech. Leader By the power of God we were provided with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left, in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. People: When treated as impostors, yet we are true to our calling. Leader: When thought of as unknown, yet we are well known. People: Some have considered us as dying, but see - we are very much alive. Leader: We are punished, and yet not killed. People: We are sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. Leader: We are poor, yet we are making many rich. People: We have nothing, and yet we possess everything.

Hymn/Song Suggestions: “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus” “In His Time” “This Is a Day of New Beginnings” “I Want to Know Christ” “Purer in Heart”