Description
Mark 12:38-44
Jesus warned His listeners against giving for the wrong the reasons. As He watched the rich toss in large amounts of money into the temple treasury, He admired a poor widow who put in everything of the little she had. As believers, we should be like the widow and give out of faith and sacrifice unlike the religious leaders who donated to give a good impression.
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
Jesus Son of God
Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram, & Matt Maher, ©2012 Sixsteps Songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Worship Together Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing), A Thousand Generations Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing), Valley Of Songs Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing), Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing), Sony/ATV Timber Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Sounds LLC), Open Hands Music (Admin. by Sony/ATV Sounds LLC)
This is Amazing Grace
Jeremy Riddle, Josh Farro, & Phil Wickham, ©2012 Bethel Music (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing)
Phil Wickham Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) Seems Like Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) Sing My Songs (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) Warner Chappell Music (Admin. by Unaffiliated Admin (UA))
You Are My All In All
Dennis Jernigan, ©1991 Shepherd’s Heart Music, Inc. (Admin. by PraiseCharts)
[Traditional Options]
Brightest And Best Of The Stars Of The Morning
CHH 174; EH 117,118; ELW 303; LBW 84; LSB 400; LW 86, NCH 157,156; PH 67; RS 533; WC 182; WAR 235
O Bless The Lord My Soul
EH 411; LBW 538; LSB 814; LW 457; WC 71
What Is The World To Me
LSB 730; LW 418
Invocation
Pastor The Lord reigns forever! He watches over us and sets us free. He cares about the motives of our hearts.
ALL We open our hearts to you, Lord.
Pastor Examine us from the inside out. We give you this time.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor Heavenly Father, we draw near to You and ask for Your holy presence to rule in our lives.
Make us new. Refresh our hearts and our minds. Wash us with the water of Your Word.
And transform us to be a generous people. In the name of Jesus we pray,
All Amen!
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor The religious leaders loved the limelight. Their outward reputation mattered more to
them than obeying and submitting to the Lord. We confess that we, too, are tempted in
this way. We confess that the appealing nature of pride traps us in sin. Forgive us, Lord.
ALL Forgive us, Lord, for sinning against You.
Pastor Jesus calls us to trust Him with our lives. He challenged us to live generously and
to give to those in need. We confess that we fear the future and hold back our resources
and time to keep for ourselves instead of allowing You, Lord, to use us in any way that
You see fit for Your Kingdom. Forgive us, Lord.
ALL Forgive us, Lord, for sinning against You.
Pastor Help us, Holy Spirit, to live selflessly devoted to giving. We trust You and thank You for
forgiving us.
ALL In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit we pray, Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading 1 Kings 17:8-16
Elijah obeyed the Lord and went to Zarephath where a widow would give him food. However, when Elijah asked for food, she barely had any. But God miraculously supplied her flour and oil daily without it running out.
8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.” 12 “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” 13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’” 15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.
