Description

Luke 18:9-14

Jesus tells a parable about a Pharisee and a tax collector who both go to the temple to pray.  The Pharisee boasts of his accomplishments, elevating himself above sinners.  The tax collector humbles himself before the Lord and repents.  When you find yourself listing your good deeds, remember this lesson of true humility and the reward that the Lord bestows upon the humble.

 

 

… 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

Blessed Be Your Name

Beth & Matt Redman, ©2002 Thankyou Music

I Come To The Cross

Bill Batstone & Bob Somma, ©1996 Maranatha Praise, Inc. (Maranatha! Music [Admin. by Music Services]) Meadowgreen Music Company (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

Give Us Clean Hands

Charlie Hall, ©2000 worshiptogether.com Songs/sixsteps Music

[Traditional Options]

Not All the Blood of Beasts

LSB 431; LW 99

How Great Thou Art

BH 75 35; BH 91 10; CH 147; CHH 33; ELW 856; HWC 4; HPW 17; HFG 2; HLC 32; LBW 532; LSB 801; LW 519; NCH 35; PH 467; RH 2; RS 663; STTL 33; WC 21; UMH 77; WAR 51; WHM 111; WIS 5

 

Lord, Whose Love Through/In Humble Service

CHH 461; EH 610; ELW 712; HS98 882; HLC 512; LBW 423; LSB 848; UMH 581; WAR 575

 

 

Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme

Pastor              Exalted Lord, you alone are worthy to be praised!

 

ALL                  Indeed, you are the sovereign God.

 

Pastor              Righteousness and justice belong to you.

 

ALL                  Humble our hearts now.

 

 

Opening Prayer

 

Pastor              Almighty God, when we humble ourselves before you, it is you who lifts us up.  So often we become prideful in our own accomplishments forgetting that it is pride that comes before a fall.  But when our hearts bow down to your will, Your truth, and Your goodness, you reward us.  Let today be the day that marks our transformation as your disciples.  Let today be the day that we refuse pride and walk in humility with you, God.  Thank You for loving us when we succeed and even when we fail.  In your holy name we pray.

 

ALL                  Amen. 

 

 

Time of Greeting

 

Time of Confession and Forgiveness

[Alternate location:  following Message]

 

Pastor             Forgiving Father, when we choose salvation through your Son, Jesus Christ, we are

forgiven of all of our sins.

 

ALL                  We thank you for your forgiveness.

 

Pastor              Even though we have been forgiven, we seek to confess our sins as your Word commands in James       5:16, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”  In this time of quiet, bring to our minds now what we need to confess to you and to others.

 

                        (Allow for a time of quiet reflection and prayer)

 

Pastor            Lord, as we confess our sins, heal our hearts.  Relieve us of the well of guilt that pools in

our hearts.

 

ALL                  Grant us courage to confess and ask one another for prayer.

 

Pastor             Let our prayers of confession for one another be powerful and effective and bring us

freedom.  In your gracious name we pray, Jesus, Amen.

 

ALL                  Amen.

 

  

… We Hear God’s Word …

[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]

 

First Reading                      Genesis 4:1-15

 

The first brothers, Cain and Abel, present their offerings to the Lord.  The Lord is well pleased with Abel’s offering, but Cain lacked favor with the Lord.  Cain kills his brother and faces the punishment of the Lord.

 

Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.” 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” 8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”[d] While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Not so[e]; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.