Description
John 6:35, 41-51
There’s a saying, “Only a mother could love a face like that,” to express that even the ugliest baby or animal could at least be loved by its parents. Scripture paints a picture of us pre-conversion as VERY ugly: “far short of the glory of God,” all our works “like filthy rags” and that “no one – not even one – sought God or was righteous.” How could a holy God love such wretched, unholy people? Obviously, not on the basis of our test scores, our experience, our natural beauty or effort! The answer is in today’s Gospel: “unless the Father draws Him.”
If you are a believer, do you realize it means you are beloved of God? You are already on the team despite your lousy scores! C.S. Lewis talked about being dragged kicking and screaming into the kingdom of God and Paul talked the same way: “I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man.” So, ugly faces – look up and smile BIG for God’s camera! “The Foolish Love of God” in Jesus’ shed blood shows how much God loves you, has drawn you and continues to draw you not because of who you are but because of who He is.
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship
[Preservice options include videos (countdowns, worship music, welcomes), worship music CD, or live music by worship band.]
Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme
Pastor We make our beginning in the name of the one true God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
ALL Lord God, we have come to worship You in spirit and in truth! You are the only God and You are our God! Amen!
Prayer Opening
Pastor Heavenly Father, we come to You this day as Your children. Please draw us even closer to you in this time of worship. Open our ears and hearts to Your holy word this day. So, we might come to know you even better as our Father who has drawn us to Himself by the very power of Your Hold Spirit- because of your great love.
ALL In Jesus name, Amen.
Time of Greeting One Another
Time of Praise and Worship
Open The Eyes Of My Heart
Paul Baloche, ©1997 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
Here I Am To Worship
Tim Hughes, ©2001 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music
(*consider altering text from “gladly choose You now” to “gladly serve You now”)
Your Name
Glenn Packiam & Paul Baloche, ©2006 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music; Vertical Worship Songs (Admin. by Integrity Music, Inc.)
[Traditional Options]
Built on the Rock the Church Doth Stand
BH 75 235; BH 91 351; CHH 273; ELW 652; HFG 555; HLC 201; LBW 365; LSB 645; LW 291; WC 705; WAR 546; WHM 340
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
BH 75 37; BH 91 8; CH 151; CHH 65; EH 687,688; ELW 503,504; HWC 26; HPW 18; HFG 118; HLC 11; HGP 10; HSP 31; LBW 228,229; LSB 656,6577; LW 296,297; NCH 439,440; PH 259,260; RH 17; STTL 30; WC 43; UMH 110; WAR 507; WHM 13; WIS 4
Lord, Open Now My Heart To Hear
LSB 908; LW 197
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message – SPECIAL NOTE: Today’s Confession and Forgiveness would fit very well just before communion this week]
Pastor Let us confess our sins and our sinfulness:
(a quiet moment to seek God’s presence and truth in our hearts “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4:24)
Pastor Lord, we begin by confessing the foolish pride that likes to think of ourselves as “not too bad” compared to others.
ALL We don’t like to think of ourselves and our sin as ugly, despicable and a stench in your presence without the blood covering of Jesus. This lack of humility actually keeps your Spirit OUT, not IN.
Pastor Help us to humble ourselves, get real, and ask ourselves the question, “Who am I….?”
ALL … that the Lord of all the earth would care to know my name, would care to feel my hurt?
Pastor Help us to humble ourselves, get real, and ask ourselves the question, “Who am I….?”
ALL …that the eyes that see my sin, would look on me with love, and rise in me again!” Move us from pretentious pride to humble hallelujahs. Thank you for your Trinitarian love that came down from heaven, the Father drawing me, Your Word and Spirit shaping me. Forgive us, guide us, and lead us, Jesus, Lover of my Soul,
(quiet time for personal silent confession)
Pastor: I have good news and bad news for you. First, the bad news, “No one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws him.” Now the good news, “No one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws him.
In other words, your very faith is the evidence that the Father HAS drawn you, that you have a place in His heavenly home, that you’re already in the will! So, ugly face – look up and smile BIG for God’s camera! “The Foolish Love of God” in Jesus’ shed blood shows how much God loves you and still draws you not because of who you are but because of who He is. Through His body, broken and crushed under God’s wrath in your place, and His blood, shed instead of yours on the cross your sins have been wholly forgiven. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading: 1 Kings 19:4–8 (NIV)
Elijah at the lowest point of discouragement is fed bread by the angel of the Lord.
4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
