Order of Worship
16th of February 2025 | 10:30 (Espoo)
Song 1 – May the Peoples Praise You
Ezekiel 36:26-27
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”
Song 2 – Turn Your Eyes
Song 3 – Lord From Sorrows Deep I Call
Song 4 – Jesus, Strong & Kind
Our welcome team members will pass an offering basket during this song.
For information about giving online, please visit ucclife.fi/give or follow the QR code on the screen. You can also speak to our pastors or leaders for more information about giving and generosity. You can also ask the welcome team or any of our staff team members for more info on giving online.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Amen
A warm welcome to all, and especially to any visitors joining us today – if you’d like to get connected or find out more about UCC, please see our digital visitors card or speak to us after the service!
If you have children, they are welcome to join our Sunday school classes!
Our Scripture reading today is 2 Corinthians 3:1–18 (ESV). Hear the Word of God:
3:1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
The Glory That Does Not Fade
In Christ, the veil is removed, and we are transformed by beholding His glory.
Outline:
I. A Letter Written by the Spirit vv 1-6
II. The Glory That Surpasses the Law vv 7-11
III. A Veil Removed in Christ vv 12-18
Dig Deeper:
John Owen writes that true transformation comes not by self-effort but by beholding Christ. The more we fix our eyes on Him, the more we are changed into His image. Many approach the Christian life as if growth depends on discipline alone, but Paul reminds us that holiness is not achieved—it is received. The law revealed our need, but only the Spirit gives life. If we live as though we must earn God’s approval, we are still living under the old covenant. The new covenant sets us free, not to try harder, but to see Christ more clearly.
Song 5 – Let Us Be Known
Song 6 – A Christian’s Daily Prayer
“‘The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’
– Numbers 6:24-26
For all church announcements, please see our digital announcements page: ucclife.fi/announcements
Life Group Study
Introduction
- Think about a time you received a handwritten letter or note. How did it make you feel? What made it more meaningful than a text or email? In the sermon, it was said that our lives are not just about what we say, but what we show. If your life is a letter from Christ, what do you think it communicates to those around you?
Into the Text
Read vv 1-6. Paul says, “You yourselves are our letter… written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God.” Why is it significant that the new covenant is written by the Spirit, not on tablets of stone? How does this change the way we think about obedience and faith?
Read vv 7-11. Paul calls the old covenant the ministry of death and the new covenant the ministry of righteousness. In the sermon, it was said, “The law was a mirror, not medicine. It could diagnose the problem, but it could never heal.” What does this teach us about the difference between religion and the gospel?
Read vv 12-18. Paul speaks of a veil that remains over people’s hearts when they rely on the law. Why does relying on our own efforts keep us from truly seeing Christ?
In the sermon, we saw that transformation does not happen by trying harder but by beholding Christ. What does it mean to behold Christ, and how does that lead to real change?
Application
Paul says, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” In what areas of your life do you still live as though you are under the law rather than under grace?
If transformation happens by beholding Christ, what are practical ways you can fix your gaze on Him daily? How can this change the way you approach spiritual growth?
Order of Worship
16th of February 2025 | 16:00 (Helsinki)
Song 1 – Lord I Need You
Ezekiel 36:26-27
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”
Song 2 – Before the Throne of God Above
Song 3 – Turn Your Eyes
Song 4 – Great Are You, Lord
Our welcome team members will pass an offering basket during this song.
For information about giving online, please visit ucclife.fi/give or follow the QR code on the screen. You can also speak to our pastors or leaders for more information about giving and generosity. You can also ask the welcome team or any of our staff team members for more info on giving online.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Amen
A warm welcome to all, and especially to any visitors joining us today – if you’d like to get connected or find out more about UCC, please see our digital visitors card or speak to us after the service!
If you have children, they are welcome to join our Sunday school classes!
Our Scripture reading today is 2 Corinthians 3:1–18 (ESV). Hear the Word of God:
3:1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
The Glory That Does Not Fade
In Christ, the veil is removed, and we are transformed by beholding His glory.
Outline:
I. A Letter Written by the Spirit vv 1-6
II. The Glory That Surpasses the Law vv 7-11
III. A Veil Removed in Christ vv 12-18
Dig Deeper:
John Owen writes that true transformation comes not by self-effort but by beholding Christ. The more we fix our eyes on Him, the more we are changed into His image. Many approach the Christian life as if growth depends on discipline alone, but Paul reminds us that holiness is not achieved—it is received. The law revealed our need, but only the Spirit gives life. If we live as though we must earn God’s approval, we are still living under the old covenant. The new covenant sets us free, not to try harder, but to see Christ more clearly.
Song 5 – Yet Not I, But Through Christ in Me
Song 6 – A Christian’s Daily Prayer
“‘The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’
– Numbers 6:24-26
For all church announcements, please see our digital announcements page: ucclife.fi/announcements
Life Group Study
Introduction
- Think about a time you received a handwritten letter or note. How did it make you feel? What made it more meaningful than a text or email? In the sermon, it was said that our lives are not just about what we say, but what we show. If your life is a letter from Christ, what do you think it communicates to those around you?
Into the Text
Read vv 1-6. Paul says, “You yourselves are our letter… written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God.” Why is it significant that the new covenant is written by the Spirit, not on tablets of stone? How does this change the way we think about obedience and faith?
Read vv 7-11. Paul calls the old covenant the ministry of death and the new covenant the ministry of righteousness. In the sermon, it was said, “The law was a mirror, not medicine. It could diagnose the problem, but it could never heal.” What does this teach us about the difference between religion and the gospel?
Read vv 12-18. Paul speaks of a veil that remains over people’s hearts when they rely on the law. Why does relying on our own efforts keep us from truly seeing Christ?
In the sermon, we saw that transformation does not happen by trying harder but by beholding Christ. What does it mean to behold Christ, and how does that lead to real change?
Application
Paul says, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” In what areas of your life do you still live as though you are under the law rather than under grace?
If transformation happens by beholding Christ, what are practical ways you can fix your gaze on Him daily? How can this change the way you approach spiritual growth?