Worship Program - 10/5/25
- Pastor Gary
- Oct 3
- 6 min read
Welcome to Worship!
We’re so glad you’re here today. Whether this is your first Sunday or you’ve been part of this church family for years, it is a gift to gather in God’s presence together.
This morning we continue in the story of David from 2 Samuel 19:8–39, where a broken kingdom and broken relationships are brought face to face with the power of forgiveness. On his way back to Jerusalem, David meets former enemies, loyal friends, and divided tribes. Some ask for mercy, some risk being misunderstood, others simply offer gratitude. Through it all, we see that forgiveness initiates, cancels debts, risks misunderstanding, and remembers God’s goodness.
Why this matters: our lives are filled with conflicts big and small—at home, at school, at work, even in church. God’s Word calls us not to let emotions rule, but to let devotion to Him guide our steps. In Christ, we see the perfect King who forgives freely and unites His people forever.
As a Global Methodist congregation, we believe God calls His people to live out three discipleship practices:
Worship Passionately – Because God is worthy of our praise, in every circumstance.
Love Extravagantly – Because forgiveness and mercy are the truest signs of love.
Witness Boldly – Because the world needs to see hope lived out in steady, obedient faith.
Thank you for being with us today. If you’d like to talk more about faith, prayer, or next steps in your journey, please reach out. You can reach us at the church office at 410-639-2144, or send an email at the address below.
In Christ,
Pastor Gary
Order of Worship
Welcome | |
Prayer of Adoration | |
Opening Worship | |
Prayer of Confession | |
Prayer of Intercession | |
Message | Freedom on the Far Side of Forgiveness 2 Samuel 19 Rev Gary Priddy |
Next Steps | |
What you can do for a “next step” of faith. | |
Prayer of Thanksgiving | |
Benediction | |
Life is much more than an accident. Wherever I go, I believe God needs me there. Wherever I am, I trust God has put me there. He has a purpose for me being there - Christ, alive in me, wants to do something through me, no matter where I am. I believe this and go in His grace and His love and His power. | |
Songs for Worship
Wesley Chapel Standing on the Promises 434 Let Us Break Bread Together 418 O Jesus I Have Promised 592 Crown Him with Many Crowns 278 | Rock Hall Church 10,000 Reasons Build My Life Clean Trust and Obey |
Message Notes
David #32: Freedom on the Far Side of Forgiveness
2 Samuel 19:9-43
4 Facets of Forgiveness
Judah & Amasa (vv. 9–14)
Forgiveness Initiates
Forgiveness is proactive—it takes the first step toward peace, just as God made the first move toward us in Christ.
Shimei (vv. 16–23)
Forgiveness Cancels
Forgiveness means releasing the right to payback and canceling the debt—handing justice over to God.
Mephibosheth & Ziba (vv. 24–30)
Forgiveness Risks
Forgiveness often means living with unresolved questions—it risks being misunderstood, but it chooses peace.
Barzillai (vv. 31–39)
Forgiveness Remembers
Forgiveness grows out of gratitude—remembering God’s grace and those who stood by us helps us pass on blessing.
Bottom Line:
Forgiven people forgive freely.
Take it Home: Living Out Forgiveness
Forgiveness isn’t easy, but it is essential for anyone who wants to follow Jesus. Use the passages below and these questions to guide your reflection this week.
Forgiveness Initiates (Rom 5:8; Matt 5:23–24; Rom 12:18)
God made the first move toward us in Christ. Where is God calling you to make the first move toward reconciliation? What would that look like in practice this week?
Forgiveness Cancels (Matt 6:12; Eph 4:31–32; Rom 12:19)
Jesus taught us to pray “forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Whose “debt” do you need to cancel before God today? How does trusting God with justice free you to forgive?
Forgiveness Risks (Col 3:13; 1 Cor 6:7; Matt 5:9)
Sometimes forgiveness leaves us misunderstood, like Mephibosheth. Are you willing to risk being wronged or not fully understood for the sake of peace? How might that reflect Jesus to others?
Forgiveness Remembers (Psalm 103:2; 1 Thes 5:11; Heb 6:10
David remembered Barzillai’s kindness. Who are the “Barzillais” God has used to bless your life? How can gratitude toward them deepen your ability to extend forgiveness to others?
Bottom Line for the Week: Forgiveness is not optional for disciples of Jesus—it’s how we live out the forgiveness we’ve already received.
Daily Devotional Reading:
Wake-Up Call provides a daily encouragement to shake off the slumber of our busy lives and turn our eyes toward Jesus. Each morning our community gathers around a Scripture, a reflection, a prayer, and a few short questions, inviting us to reorient our lives around the love of Jesus who transforms our hearts, homes, churches, and cities.
SIGN UP HERE: https://seedbed.com/wakeupcall
This Week's Announcements:
Prayer Request Policy Change In order to maintain a more current prayer list, we provide a copy of this past week’s prayer requests. Submit prayer requests using the prayer request cards in the pews or the digital prayer request form on our website: pray.yourrhc.com Please make sure you have permission to share other’s information.
Current Prayer Requests
Our children and youth ministries
Caregivers and first responders
Our nation’s leaders
Healing of our nation
People battling addictions
Single parents and their kids
Pastor Gary and family
Rosalie and Eddie Kuechler
Dickie & Bettie Porter
Hubbard & Sharon Kendall
Joan & Mike Melvin
Joanne Carson
Audra Ashley
Jack Johnson
Diane McIntyre
Elma (Sis) Myers
Joe Holliday
Pam & Tom Glenn
Dean Wood
Stacey Angel
Edna Cox
Alfred Cornelius
Bruce Pirotte
Rick & Mary Etta Reedy
Elmer & Marsha Gustafson
Susan Medley
Tim Cloud
Moe Morton
David Black
Sam Kuma
Mike Hickman
Vernon Rodney
Active Military & their families including:
Trevion Hopkins
Kyle Schauber
Brock Willey
Makenzie Williams
Steve McCarthy
Geoffrey Andersen
Jonathan Conner
Dante Spagnolo
This week's prayer focus:
Join us in focused and specific prayer for our church, our community, and our world. Be prepared to see God do great things as we collectively turn to Him in prayer.
Sunday – Our Worship God, You made the first move toward us in Christ. Teach us to begin each week with thankful worship, initiating love because You first loved us. Romans 5:8
Monday – Our Relationships Lord, help us to forgive as You forgave us—canceling debts, releasing revenge, and trusting You with justice. Heal our homes, friendships, and church family. Ephesians 4:31–32
Tuesday – Our Leaders Father, steady our church, community, and national leaders with courage to “sit in the gate” and do what is right. Let them lead not by emotion or pressure, but with wisdom and integrity. James 1:5
Wednesday – Families & Caregivers God, when relationships get messy and stories are unclear, give us grace like Mephibosheth—to risk being misunderstood but to choose peace. Make our homes places of patience and forgiveness. Colossians 3:13
Thursday – Our Community Lord, help Rock Hall and our neighboring towns remember the Barzillais among us—the faithful ones who bless quietly. Make us a people of gratitude who pass on blessing to the next generation. Hebrews 6:10
Friday – Farmers, Ranchers, and Watermen Father, protect and provide for those who labor in fields, rivers, and bays. Teach them to trust You with outcomes, to work with integrity, and to see You as the Lord of harvest and storm. Psalm 107:23–24
Saturday – The Nations Sovereign Lord, remind the nations that only King Jesus can unite what is divided and bring lasting peace. Until He returns, teach rulers and peoples to walk in justice, mercy, and humility. Micah 6:8
This week’s events:
Monday:
6:00 pm - Study Group at Debbie Elburn’s
6:30 pm - WSG
Wednesday:
3:30 pm - Rock Solid Kids @ RHMC Hall
6:30 pm - Youth at RHMC Hall
Thursday:
7:30 pm - Praise Band practice @RHMC
Friday:
7:00 pm - Praise in the Pasture
Sunday:
9:30 am - Worship Celebration @ WCMC
11:00 am - Worship Celebration @ RHMC
WCMC - Wesley Chapel
RHMC - Rock Hall Church
