Bethel Ontario September 14, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Mercy and the Clean Heart

The psalmist’s cry for a clean heart is a recognition of the weight of sin and the longing for restoration with God. In moments when we feel separated by our own failings, we are invited to turn to God, trusting in divine mercy to renew us and restore our spirits. This is not just a personal plea, but a communal one—asking God to create in us hearts that are open, honest, and ready to be transformed. When we acknowledge our brokenness, we make space for God’s healing and for the joy that comes with forgiveness and new beginnings. [27:50]

Psalm 51:1-12 (ESV)
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to ask God for a clean heart and a renewed spirit today? How might you open yourself to God’s mercy in that place?

Day 2: God Seeks and Welcomes the Lost

Jesus’ parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin reveal the heart of God—a heart that seeks out those who have wandered, rejoices in their return, and refuses to give up on anyone. No matter how far we stray, God’s love pursues us, and heaven celebrates when we are restored. This is a call not only to recognize our own need for grace but also to extend that same welcome and joy to others, especially those whom society has cast aside or deemed unworthy. [29:05]

Luke 15:1-10 (ESV)
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Reflection: Who in your life or community might feel lost or overlooked? How can you reach out to them with God’s welcoming love this week?

Day 3: Interceding for Others in a Divided World

Moses stood in the breach for his people, pleading with God for mercy even when they had turned away. In times of division, violence, and fear, we are called to be intercessors—lifting up our communities, our nation, and our world in prayer. This means not giving up on those who are struggling or even those with whom we disagree, but instead asking God to bring healing, unity, and compassion where there is brokenness. Our prayers can be a powerful force for transformation, both in ourselves and in the world around us. [27:33]

Exodus 32:7-14 (ESV)
And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’” And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.” But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’” And the Lord relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.

Reflection: Who or what situation in your community or the world needs your intercessory prayer today? Will you take a moment to pray specifically for them, asking God for mercy and transformation?

Day 4: Resisting Idols of Fear and Greed

In times of uncertainty, it is tempting to seek security in things that promise safety, power, or wealth—modern-day idols that cannot truly save. The story of the golden calf reminds us how easily fear and impatience can lead us to trust in what glitters rather than in the living God. We are called to resist these idols, to recognize when fear is driving our choices, and to turn instead toward God’s mercy, compassion, and the building of beloved community. [31:47]

Isaiah 44:9-11 (ESV)
All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame. Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing? Behold, all his companions shall be put to shame, and the craftsmen are only human. Let them all assemble, let them stand forth. They shall be terrified; they shall be put to shame together.

Reflection: What “idols” of security, power, or comfort are you tempted to trust in when you feel afraid? How can you intentionally turn from them and trust God more fully today?

Day 5: Building Beloved Community Through Compassion and Welcome

God’s answer to a world divided by violence, fear, and greed is not more division, but the creation of a beloved community marked by compassion, welcome, and joy. We are invited to open our doors and our hearts, to care for one another, and to celebrate when anyone is restored to life and love. This is how we build God’s kingdom here and now—not by condemning or excluding, but by embracing and rejoicing in the restoration of all. [33:04]

Romans 15:5-7 (ESV)
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can help build a more compassionate and welcoming community this week—at church, at home, or in your neighborhood?

Sermon Summary

Today, as we gathered for Homecoming Sunday, we entered God’s presence with hearts open to renewal and hope. In a world marked by violence, division, and fear, we are reminded that these struggles are not new. The ancient Israelites, in their fear and impatience, turned to idols for comfort—just as we are tempted today to seek security in wealth, power, or weapons. Yet, God’s response is not more fear, but mercy; not condemnation, but the relentless pursuit of restoration.

The readings from Psalm 51 and Luke 15 invite us to reflect on the nature of repentance and the boundless love of God. The psalmist’s cry, “Create in me a clean heart, O God,” is a prayer for transformation—a recognition of our need for God’s mercy and a willingness to be made new. In the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, Jesus reveals the heart of God: a love that seeks out the lost, rejoices in their return, and refuses to give up on anyone. This is not a passive love, but an active, searching, and welcoming love that breaks down barriers and restores community.

We are called to be intercessors like Moses, standing in the gap for our communities, pleading for mercy and healing. We are called to be people of repentance, continually seeking God’s renewal in our own hearts. And we are called to be people of welcome, embodying the radical hospitality of Jesus by reaching out to those who have been marginalized or cast aside. In doing so, we resist the idols of fear and greed, and instead build a beloved community marked by compassion, generosity, and reconciliation.

This calling is not easy, especially in times of deep division and pain. But as we mourn the violence and loss in our world, we are also invited to be agents of peace, hope, and restoration. We are reminded that God’s kingdom is not a distant dream, but something we are called to build here and now—through our prayers, our actions, and our love for one another. May we have the courage to seek out the lost, to welcome the stranger, and to rejoice in every act of restoration, knowing that in doing so, we reflect the very heart of God.

Key Takeaways

1. Idolatry Is Born of Fear, Not Faith When we are anxious or afraid, we are tempted to create idols—whether they are objects, ideologies, or people—that promise us security or control. Like the Israelites with the golden calf, we may turn to what is visible and tangible, forgetting the living God who calls us to trust beyond what we can see. True faith requires us to resist these temptations and to seek God’s presence, even in uncertainty. [25:11]
2. Intercession Is a Sacred Calling Moses’ willingness to stand in the breach for his people, pleading for mercy, is a model for us today. Intercession is not just about prayer, but about advocacy, compassion, and refusing to give up on our communities—even when they falter. We are invited to be those who remind God (and ourselves) of the promises of mercy and to work for the restoration of all. [27:16]
3. Repentance Opens the Door to Renewal The psalmist’s plea for a clean heart is a recognition that transformation begins within. Repentance is not about shame or self-condemnation, but about opening ourselves to God’s renewing grace. When we acknowledge our need and turn back to God, we make space for joy, healing, and a new spirit to take root in us. [27:50]
4. God’s Love Actively Seeks and Welcomes the Lost Jesus’ parables show us that God does not wait passively for the lost to return, but actively seeks them out, rejoicing in every restoration. This challenges us to move beyond “us and them” thinking, to see every person as beloved, and to participate in the work of reconciliation. Our calling is to welcome, embrace, and celebrate those who find their way home, no matter where they have been. [29:23]
5. Building Beloved Community Requires Courage and Compassion In a world fractured by violence, greed, and division, we are called to be a people of peace, generosity, and love. This means resisting the idols of our age, opening our hearts and doors, and celebrating every act of restoration. By doing so, we do not merely dream of God’s kingdom—we help to build it, here and now, as a living witness to God’s grace. [33:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:48] - Call to Worship and Opening Prayer
[03:09] - Opening Hymn: Give Me a Clean Heart
[05:01] - Announcements and Community Life
[06:21] - Planting and Growing Our Community
[08:39] - Relay for Life and Service Opportunities
[09:13] - Children’s Video: The Lost Sheep
[12:05] - Welcoming Paul and Responsive Psalm Reading
[14:05] - Psalm 51: Prayer for a Clean Heart
[15:53] - Gospel Reading: Luke 15, Lost Sheep and Lost Coin
[17:18] - Reflections on Division and Media Bubbles
[20:37] - Mourning, Compassion, and the Call to Mercy
[24:35] - Idolatry, Fear, and the Golden Calf
[27:16] - Intercession, Repentance, and God’s Mercy
[28:22] - Parables of the Lost: God’s Relentless Love
[30:05] - Seeking, Welcoming, and Building Community
[32:07] - Resisting Idols and Embracing Beloved Community
[34:03] - Sharing Ideas for Ministry and Outreach
[35:15] - Prayers for Transformation and Community
[41:32] - Communion: God’s Table of Grace
[47:11] - Offering and Special Music
[52:14] - Closing Hymn: Amazing Grace
[55:45] - Benediction and Sending Forth

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Psalm 51:1-12 (ESV) — > Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
> Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
> For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
> Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
> Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
> Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
> Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
> Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
> Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
> Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
> Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
> Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Luke 15:1-10 (ESV) — > Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
> So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
> “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Exodus 32:1-14 (ESV) — > (Summarized: The Israelites, in fear and impatience, make a golden calf to worship while Moses is on the mountain. Moses intercedes for the people, pleading with God for mercy, and God relents from destroying them.)

Observation Questions

In Psalm 51, what does the psalmist ask God to do for him, and what does this reveal about his understanding of his own heart?
In the parables Jesus tells in Luke 15, what actions do the shepherd and the woman take when something is lost? What is their response when the lost is found?
According to the sermon, what motivated the Israelites to create the golden calf, and what modern parallels did the pastor draw? [[25:11]]
How does Moses respond to God’s anger toward the Israelites, and what is the outcome of his intercession? [[26:20]]

Interpretation Questions

What does the psalmist’s plea for a clean heart teach about the nature of repentance and transformation? How is this different from simply feeling guilty?
The sermon says that idolatry is “born of fear, not faith.” What does this mean in the context of both the Israelites’ story and our own lives today? [[25:43]]
In the parables of the lost sheep and coin, what does Jesus want us to understand about God’s love and the way God seeks out those who are lost? [[29:23]]
The pastor described Moses as an intercessor who “stood in the breach” for his people. What does it look like for someone today to be an intercessor for their community? [[27:16]]

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to recognize the “idols” we turn to when we are afraid or anxious—whether that’s money, power, or something else. What is one “idol” you are tempted to trust in for security, and what would it look like to resist that temptation this week? [[25:43]]
Moses pleaded with God for mercy on behalf of his community. Is there a person or group in your life or neighborhood that you feel called to pray for or advocate for, even if it’s difficult? What’s one step you could take to stand in the gap for them? [[27:16]]
The psalmist’s prayer is for a clean heart and a renewed spirit. Is there an area in your life where you need God’s renewal? What would it look like to open yourself to God’s transforming grace in that area? [[27:50]]
Jesus’ parables show God actively seeking out the lost and welcoming them home. Who in your life or community might feel “lost” or left out? How could you reach out to them in a practical way this week? [[29:23]]
The pastor said, “We are called to be people of welcome, embodying the radical hospitality of Jesus.” What is one way you or your group could practice radical hospitality in your church or neighborhood this month? [[32:36]]
Building a beloved community requires courage and compassion, especially in times of division and pain. What is one barrier—internal or external—that keeps you from reaching out to others? How might you ask God for courage to overcome it? [[33:19]]
The sermon reminded us that God’s kingdom is something we are called to build “here and now.” What is one small, concrete action you can take this week to help build a more compassionate and generous community? [[33:32]]

Sermon Clips

God's anger burned against Israel in that moment. But Moses, Moses stood in the breach, pleading for mercy. Moses reminded God of the covenant, of the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And scripture says God changed God's mind. Turned away wrath and gave the people another chance. [00:26:14] (22 seconds) #PowerOfIntercession

Psalm 51 is a prayer of someone who knows the weight of sin, the weight of being separated from God, the weight of the things that pull us away from that of what is right. The weight of someone who knows how easy it is to wander into greed and fear and violence. And yet, the psalmist also knows that there is mercy. We can be made new, and our hearts can be restored. [00:27:43] (31 seconds) #MercyRestoresHearts

God seeks and searches and rejoices when one that has wandered off is found. When one that has started indulging in sin, indulging in greed and fear and hate, comes back to the love and the grace and the compassion of God. [00:29:29] (16 seconds) #JoyInRedemption

So what does that mean for us, here and now? It means we must become people of intercession, like Moses. Praying and pleading for our communities, not giving up on them. It means we must become people of repentance, like the psalmist. Asking God to cleanse our hearts and renew our spirits all the time. It means we must become people of welcome, like Jesus. Seeking out the lost, not turning them away. [00:32:16] (31 seconds) #IntercedeRepentWelcome

To build God's beloved community, here and now, we have to resist those idols of fear and of greed. We must open our doors and our hearts. We must show compassion, care for one another, and celebrate when anyone, anyone, is restored to life and love. [00:32:47] (22 seconds) #ResistIdolsBuildCommunity

``Friends, the world is aching for such a community. In the face of violence, we can be a place of peace. In the place of division, we can be a people of reconciliation. And in the face of greed, we can be a people of generosity. In the face of fear, we can be a people of love. [00:33:09] (21 seconds) #PeaceReconciliationGenerosity

So let us pray with the psalmist. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Let us plead with Moses. Spare your people, O God. And let us live with Jesus, welcoming the lost, rejoicing in mercy, and building God's beloved community together. [00:33:37] (18 seconds) #OpenHeartsCelebrateLife

Like a lost sheep, you are found by the good shepherd. Like a lost coin, you are gathered up by God. Be a good shepherd to those who are lonely. Be a good home for those longing to belong. Go in the untiring goodness of God, the unending patience of Christ, and the infinite peace of the Holy Spirit. [00:55:40] (26 seconds)

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