Description

1 John 5:9-13

We often define ourselves by our possessions.  We have a good job or we have a wonderful family.  We have a nice house or drive a nice car.  We have a college degree or we have some great friends.  How often do we consider “having Jesus” as a part of our lives?  In the 5th chapter of John’s first letter, he explains further what it means to “have Jesus”.  As opposed to other things we “have” in life, this particular item also promises that we will “have” something else: eternal life.

 

… 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

Crown Him (Majesty)

Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, George Job Elvey, Godfrey Thring, Matt Maher, & Matthew Bridges, © 2013 A Thousand Generations Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Sixsteps Songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Valley Of Songs Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Worship Together Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Alletrop Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)

Come As You Are

Ben Glover, David Crowder, & Matt Maher, ©2014 9t One Songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Ariose Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing)

Hosanna (Praise Is Rising)

Paul Baloche & Brenton Brown, ©2005 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music

[Traditional Options]

Crown Him With Many Crowns           

BH 75 52; BH 91 161; CH 45; CHH 234; EH 494; ELW 855; HWC 234; HFG 345; HLC 85; HGP 24; HSP 83; LBW 170; LSB 525; LW 278; NCH 301; PH 151; RH 192; RS 626; STTL 272; WC 92; UMH 327; WAR 317; WHM 51; WIS 162

You Are The Way, To You Alone

ELW 758; LBW 464; LSB 526; LW 283; NCH 40

Come, My Soul, With Every Care

LSB 779; LW 433

  

Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme 

Pastor              Almighty and everlasting God, You have given the promise of eternal life for those that believe in Christ Jesus. 

ALL                  Come let us worship the Lord. 

Pastor             We often talk about what material goods that we have in our lives as if it defines who we are.  Yet all of these possessions are nothing compared to the relationship                                      that  we have in You and in Your Son’s glorious resurrection. 

ALL                  Come let us worship the Lord. 

Pastor             “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). “In him                                  we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us” (Ephesians 1:7-8a). 

ALL                  Come let us worship the Lord. 

Pastor              We begin this service in the name of the holy and triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

 ALL                  AMEN!

  

Opening Prayer

Pastor:             O Lord, we give You praise and thanks that we have Christ Jesus.  For You have not only given us Your only begotten Son, but You have also given us faith to believe                                   in His death and resurrection, giving us eternal life.  It is a gift that You have freely given, yet one that is worth more than any earthly possession.  This gift compels us                               to give You praise and adoration, this day and for all of our days to come.  In the name of Jesus Christ, our savior, who sits at Your right hand in glory. 

ALL:                 AMEN!

  

Time of Greeting

 

Time of Confession and Forgiveness

[Alternate location:  following Message]

Pastor              We love our possessions to the point where they possess us.  We invest so much time in trying to reach for the next material good that we forsake the Lord and His                                    promise to us.  Our focus on these earthly things causes us to also hurt others along the way.  We put meaning into the utterly meaningless, and turn away from God’s                                word and His will in the process.  At this time, I invite you to join me in taking pause to confess to God the ways where our sinful nature causes us to stumble.

                                                                                                (pause for silent reflection) 

Pastor              Almighty God, our earthly desires have gotten in the way of loving You with all our heart, soul, and mind.  It has interfered with loving our neighbors as ourselves.   

ALL                  Lord, have mercy. 

Pastor             We are embarrassed and ashamed at how we have treated You and how we have treated others.  We ask that You pour out Your mercy upon us.  Forgive us, renew us                                  and sustain us so we can once again walk in Your ways and delight in Your holy and perfect will. 

ALL                  Lord, have mercy. 

Pastor             The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against Him (Daniel 9:9).  He still loves us despite our faults, and He has demonstrated this                              love through the sacrifice of His son. Therefore I, as an ordained servant of our Lord, I announce the grace of God to you all. Your sins have been forgiven.  Give praise                              to the Lord for He is good! 

ALL                  And His mercy endures forever!  Amen!

 

… We Hear God’s Word …

[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]

First Reading                      Acts 1:15-17; 21-26

In light of the recent death of Judas, Peter and others decide that it would be good to add someone to the official list of apostles, bringing the number back up to 12.  Men are nominated and through the casting of lots, Matthias is chosen to be a leader within the early church.

15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”

 

21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” 23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.