Description
Mark 10:23-31
You have likely seen an Organizational Chart of Authority, with one square on the top representing the head of the organization. The remaining employees’ status is labeled in various lower-level boxes. God’s organizational chart, if He had one, would look a little differently. Although Jesus has authority over all, He willingly left His heavenly position to become The Ransom for many. In God’s house the order is topsy-turvy: The greatest shall be the least and the least shall be the greatest.
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship
[Pre-service options include videos (countdowns, worship music, welcomes), worship music CD, or live music by worship band.]
Time of Praise and Worship
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)
Lead Me To The Cross
Brooke Fraser, ©2006 Hillsong Publishing (Admin. in U.S. & Canada by Integrity’s Hosanna! Music)
Jesus Saves
Nick Herbert | Tim Hughes, ©2008 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
[Traditional Options]
The God of Abraham Praise
BH 75 25; BH 91 34; CH 23; CHH 24; EH 401; ELW 831; HWC 34; HFG 332; HLC 36; LBW 544; LSB 798; LW 450; NCH 24; PH 488; RS 685; STTL 73; WC 66; UMH 116; WAR 16; WHM 26
O Jesus, Blessed Lord
ELW 541; LWB 220; LSB 632; LW 245
Salvation Unto Us Has Come
ELW 590; LBW 297; LSB 555; LW 355
By Grace I’m Saved
LSB 566; LW 351
Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme
Pastor This morning our worship focus is on the role we each are called to perform in the Lord’s Kingdom that is the role of being a servant. May the Holy Spirit impart in each of our hearts the message that applies specifically to our own individual lives. Lord, speak. . Your servants are listening.
Opening Prayer
Pastor We give thanks to You, heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ Your dear Son, that You protected us through the night from all harm and danger. We ask that You would guide Your servants’ worship of You today so that our words, lives and actions may please You. Into Your hands we commend our worship of You now. Let your Holy Spirit be with us, so that the wicked foe has no presence among us.
Amen.
ALL In the power-filled Name of Jesus … Amen.
Time of Greeting
As you greet one another, say something like this: “Good Morning, I am God’s servant, Bob. Blessings on your worship.
[This would be a fitting time to share the peace of the Lord]
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor Do you believe that you have personally kept God’s law perfectly?
ALL No.
Pastor Do you believe that you can do enough good to make up for all of the bad things you think, do and say every single day, to merit eternal life on your own?
ALL No.
Pastor Do you realize that apart from the saving grace from God, the Father, your eternal life will not be spent forever with Him in heaven?
ALL Yes, I realize that. Jesus alone can save me from eternal punishment apart from Him.
Pastor God hears the of the faith you profess from your lips. We now confess our shortcomings with silent thoughts in our hearts. . .[pause for reflection in silence] . . . Having confessed your sin and claimed your faith in His Son, Your Savior, Jesus Christ, I announce forgiveness to you in the Name of our Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Now go, and live freely with joy, as His called and forgiven servants.
ALL We stand as joyful, forgiven Christian servants of the Lord, ready to do His will. AMEN.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Ecclesiastes 5:10-20
The book of Ecclesiastes offers a realistic view of life as seen through the eyes of King Solomon, “son of David, King of Jerusalem”. In particular, the book addresses those who seek to find significance outside of faith with God.
10 Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
This too is meaningless.11 As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them 12 The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep 13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners, 14 or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit. 15 Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands. 16 This too is a grievous evil: As everyone comes, so they depart, and what do they gain, since they toil for the wind? 17 All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. 20 They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.
