Description
John 6:22-35
We become familiar with bread before we can even remember back that far in our lives. Bread is a staple when it comes to foods that we eat starting at a very young age. Jesus made correlations all the time with historical accounts and stories from the Old Testament. Bread is an element and food which people could easily relate to. The story of “manna” in the wilderness and the complaining of the Israelites would easily be recalled. Jesus redirects his hearers from “bread” which satisfies bodily hunger to the “bread” which endures forever. This is the bread beyond bread, the bread that will satisfy forever, the bread of life that “endures” to eternal life. This bread is none other than Jesus himself, the Son of God, God in the flesh, Redeemer of the world. Yes, the bread beyond bread is Jesus himself. With this bread you will never be hungry.
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship
[Preservice options include video countdowns, worship song videos, welcomes), CDs, or live music.]
Welcome & Time of Greeting
Time of Praise and Worship
Marvelous Light
Charlie Hall, © 2005 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Still
Reuben Morgan, ©2002 Hillsong Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)
Matt Redman & Jonas Myrin, ©2011 Thankyou Music, Said And Done Music, sixsteps Music, SHOUT! Publishing (Admin EMI CMG Publishing)
[Traditional Options]
Alleluia! Sing to Jesus
CH 377; CHH 377; EH 460,461; ELW 392; HS98 851; HWC 223; HLC 174; LBW 158; LSB 821; NCH 257; PH 144; STTL 273; WC 263; WAR 320
Christ the Eternal Lord
LSB 829; WAR 339
Christ, the Word of God Incarnate
LSB 540
Invocation
Pastor/Worship Leader speaks
Pastor Our worship begins today in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
ALL Amen!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor/Worship Leader speaks
Pastor Gracious and Loving God, we unite together as one body in Christ, giving thanks for how you revealed yourself through acts of mercy, healing, the parables, and the miracles. As you deepened the faith of the disciples through your ministry on this earth, deepen our faith in Jesus, the bread of life, which has come down from heaven. We trust in you and know in the very depths of our hearts that there is nothing that can fully satisfy our hunger like the bread beyond bread, Jesus our Savior. Fill us today with your word.
ALL We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor Faithful and Loving God, you displayed your love and incredible care for us through Jesus. He said, “I am the bread of life; I am the light of the world; I am the way, the truth, and the life.” It is apparent that we choose darkness over the light and find ourselves putting more faith in things of the world rather than in Jesus. We are sorry that we have turned away from you and have tried to satisfy our souls with other things. Break into our lives with your radiant beams of light and feed us with your word, that it may lead to good works and glorify your name.
(A time of personal reflection and confession)
ALL Lord God, we know what we have done and are sorry for our offenses. We humbly lay our sins before you and with a contrite heart, ask you to forgive us. We confess that we have not shown our faith in you even though you have promised to empower our witness. We have relied on our own attempts feeble attempts when life is falling apart – thinking that we have control. Help our faith grow and help us surrender our lives to your control, care, and power.
Pastor Hear these words of truth: “If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. As a called minister and servant of Christ, know without a doubt that your sins are forgiven. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Exodus 16:2-15
God met the need of the Israelites in the wilderness by providing them with food (manna) and also in the process tested their obedience.
2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. 5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.” 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?” 8 Moses also said, “You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.” 9 Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’” 10 While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud. 11 The Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’” 13 That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat.
