Description

John 3:14-21

Because of God’s love for us, Jesus was resurrected on the third day giving us the gift of eternal life.  He is the Light who brings life instead of condemnation.  Just as the Israelites looked to the bronze snake in the desert to be saved, we must look to Jesus to be saved.  However, some will reject the Light, hiding in the darkness in fear of what may be exposed in them.

 

… We Lift Our Hearts in Worship …

[Preservice options include videos (countdowns, worship music, welcomes), worship music CD, or live music by worship band.]

 

Time of Praise and Worship

Fierce

Chris Quilala, Joshua Silverberg, Mia Fieldes, © 2015 Capitol CMG Amplifier (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Capitol CMG Genesis (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Jesus Culture Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Red Red Pop (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Be Essential Songs (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC) Upside Down Under (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)

Great I Am

Jared Anderson, ©2011 Integrity Worship Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing (IMI))

Tremble

Andres Figueroa, Hank Bentley, Mariah McManus, and Mia Fieldes © 2016 All Essential Music, Be Essential Songs, Bentley Street Songs, Mosaic LA Music, Mosaic MSC Music, Upside Down Under

 

[Traditional Options]

What Wondrous Love Is This

BH 75 106; BH 91 143; CH 314; CHH 200; EH 439; ELW 666; HS 98 860; HWC 177; HPW 25; HFG 283; HLC 137; LBW 385; LSB 543; NCH 223; PH 85; RH 90; STTL 245; WC 212; UMH 292; WAR 257; WHM 201

Renew Me O Eternal Light

LBW 511; LSB 704; LW 373

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go                                  

BH 75 368; BH 91 292; CH 606; CHH 540; HWC 374; HFG 404; HLC 351; HGP 351; HSP 5; LBW 324; NCH 485; PH 384; RH 93; STTL 474; WC 531; UMH 480; WAR 446; WHM 508; WIS 35

 

 

Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme 

Pastor              For God so loved the world 

ALL                  That He sent His one and only Son

Pastor              That whosoever believes in Him

ALL                  Shall not perish, but have eternal life.

 

Pastor           John 3:16 may be the most well-known verse from Scripture.  Many of us can recite it

from memory, but how many of us allow these words to penetrate our hearts?  Today, let

us have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying.

 

Opening Prayer 

Pastor           Father God, may the truth of your Word penetrate our hearts and minds today.  May we walk away changed by your Spirit, renewed, and                                   made whole.  Give us an understanding of your deep love for us like never before.  In your precious name we pray, 

ALL               Amen. 

 

 

Time of Greeting

  

Time of Confession and Forgiveness

[Alternate location:  following Message]

 

Pastor              We once walked in darkness, dead in our transgressions and following the ways of the

world.

ALL                  Our sinful tendencies are to satisfy the cravings of our flesh and neglect the love

                          and truth you offer to us, Lord.  

 

Pastor              We in our sin deserve your wrath, but You poured out your wrath on your only Son,

Jesus, who was sinless and undeserving of death.

 

ALL                  You love us with a love we cannot fully comprehend. 

 

Pastor              We are no longer dead in sin, but alive in Christ!  We are free and forgiven.

 

ALL                  We are His beloved handiwork.  Praise be to the name of Jesus!

 

 

… We Hear God’s Word …

[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]

 

First Reading                                  Numbers 21:4-9

As the Israelites traveled in the desert, they grew impatient and began grumbling and complaining against God and Moses.  The Lord sent venomous snakes that bit and killed many of the people.  The Israelites begged Moses to pray, and God instructed him to put a bronze snake on a pole for people to look at when they were bitten.

 

4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” 6 Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.8 The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.