Proper 28 (2025)

Otterbein Church of Paris

*Opening Prayer

*Call to Worship

(based on Isaiah 12)

Leader: Surely God is our salvation; we will trust and not be afraid.

People: The Lord, the Lord Himself, is our strength and our song.

Leader: With joy we will draw water from the wells of salvation.

People: Sing to the Lord, for He has done glorious things; let this be known to all the earth.

All: Amen.

Hymn # All Hail The Power Of Jesus' Name

#96 or 97???

Scripture Reading

Luke 21:5-19 Kathy

Luke 21:5–19 NIV

Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.” “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?” He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.” Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. And so you will bear testimony to me. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life.

Sharing of Joys and Concerns

Hymn #43, v. 2 Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Silent Prayer

Pastoral Prayer

Lord's Prayer

Children's Message Gladys

Scripture Reading

Isaiah 65:17–25 NIV

“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. “Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed. They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them. Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.

Sermon

How many times have you been watching TV, or listening to the radio, or reading the paper, and you see a commercial—or hear an advertisement—that says, “new and improved”? I started wondering… what actually qualifies as “new and improved”? So, of course, I looked it up.

It turns out, it depends on the context—food, cosmetics, or just advertising in general. The Federal Trade Commission, the FTC, actually has rules about this. When a company labels something “new and improved,” they can’t just slap it on the package because it sounds good. There has to be a real, meaningful change. You can’t call something “new” forever, and you can’t call it “improved” unless people can actually see the difference.

Now, the FTC has rules, but here’s the thing—they have no control over the Kingdom of God. God’s standards for “new and improved” are on a whole different level. Through the prophet Isaiah, God told the nation of Israel that He was about to do a new thing. And this new thing would be incredible. God says, “I will create new heavens and a new earth” (Isaiah 65:17).

Most of the time, we think of this as a future event. We picture Christ returning, the world being made right, evil being removed, and heaven coming down to earth. And that’s true—God will do that. One day, all who trust Him will dwell with Him for eternity. And that place? It will be far beyond anything we can imagine—truly “new and improved.”

But here’s the thing—this passage isn’t just about the distant future. It’s also about the here and now. I can hear someone saying, “Pastor, how can you say that? Look around! Our world is a mess. Families are struggling, couples are divorcing, children are hurting, wars rage on. How can this passage fit our life today?”

I say this: because when I was seven years old, I knelt beside my bed and encountered the God who makes all things new. When I stood up, I was still seven. I was still Troy. But I was different. My life had changed. I had been made new and improved.

Maybe you’ve had a moment like that too. Maybe it wasn’t when you were seven, but there was a point when you realized that life on your own terms wasn’t enough. You tried to make things work with your own wisdom and strength, and it fell short. Maybe at that moment, you realized you needed something—or someone—greater. And that’s when God met you. And when He did, your life became new. Your name didn’t change. Your age didn’t change. But your heart did. Your perspective did. You were made new in Christ.

Sometimes, that transformation is dramatic. Sometimes, it’s quiet—like a small spark in the middle of a storm. But either way, God’s “new thing” in our lives is real and noticeable. And that’s what Isaiah was pointing to. The people he was speaking to were in exile, living in pain, uncertainty, and despair. God was reminding them: I am still at work. I am still making things new.

And maybe it’s not about changing everything around you right now. Maybe it’s about changing the you in the middle of it all. That’s the miracle—God works in our hearts first. He renews our hope, our love, our courage, and our perspective. And suddenly, even in a messy, broken world, we can see glimpses of heaven.

Isaiah’s promise has two horizons:

The future horizon: God’s final healing of creation.

The present horizon: God’s healing work in our hearts right now.

Sometimes, we get so focused on the future we forget the present. But God invites us to experience His new creation today, even while we wait for the fullness of His promises. And that can make all the difference—because it gives us hope in our homes, in our workplaces, in our relationships, and in our own hearts.

Maybe you’re sitting here today, and your life feels far from new. Maybe your marriage is struggling, or your health feels fragile. Maybe you’re carrying burdens that no one else can see. I want you to hear this: God is still the One who makes all things new—eternally and today.

The only question to ask is: Will we let Him? Will we open our hearts and let God do His “new thing” in our lives, so that we too can be new, transformed, and made whole by His grace?

Isaiah reminds us that God doesn’t just plan to remake the world someday—He is already at work, making things new inside of us. He is the God of surprises, of restoration, and of hope. So don’t settle for life as it is. Step into the life God is offering. Let Him make you new and improved—not because you’re perfect, but because He is. He is the King of Kings.

King Of Kings

Giving of Tithes and Offering

Doxology

Prayer of Dedication

Hymn #76 O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing

*Benediction

Go out knowing this: God is still in the business of making things new.

He can’t change your age or your name—but He can change your heart, your hope, your life.

So go, and let Him do His “new thing” in you today. Amen.

Sanctuary