Description
Matthew 21:33-46
The Pharisees were more concerned with the Law than with accepting Jesus as the Son of God. They had failed in their responsibilities to lead the nation of Israel both in their personal lives and public ones. So, Jesus told the Parable of the Tenants to illustrate that both Jews and Gentiles producing good fruit would occupy the Church and experience the unfolding of God’s Kingdom through the Cornerstone- Jesus Christ.
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
Cornerstone
Edward Mote, Eric Liljero, Jonas Myrin, Reuben Morgan, William Batchelder Bradbury, ©2011 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Yes and Amen
Chris McClarney | Nate Moore | Tony Brown, © 2016 Bethel Worship Publishing (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing), Mouth Of The River Music (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing), Songs Of Simply Hymns Music (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing), Tony Brown Music Designee (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing), Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Rock Of Ages
Rita Baloche, ©1997 Maranatha! Praise, Inc. (Admin. by Maranatha! Music)
[Traditional Options]
Christ Is Our Cornerstone
LSB 917; LW 290
My Song Is Love Unknown
BH 75 486; EH 458; ELW 343; LBW 94; LSB 430; LW 91; NCH 222; PH 76; RS 572; TFWS 2083; WOV 661
Alleluia! Let Praises Ring
LSB 822; LW 437
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
We cry to the Lord who hears.
Worshipers
Restore us, oh God.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Shine Your face on us that we might be saved.
Worshipers
We are Your people. We turn our hearts in worship to You, Lord.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Jesus, You are the Cornerstone and we be believe in You by faith. We do not follow the ways of this world; we follow You. Help us to love You with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Give us the grace to know You, to obey You, and to seek You above all else.
Worshipers
We humbly ask this in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
It’s the rules that bind us to the Law. It’s Love that frees us from the Law of sin and death.
Worshipers
Yet we are bound to the black and the white, the definitive answers, the moral codes. We put boundaries on a boundless God. We put limits on the limitless Creator. We withhold forgiveness of others when our own sins have been cast out as far as the east is from the west. Lord, we confess.
Pastor / Worship Leader
What would it look like to live a life led by Jesus? To follow His pure example and to seek Him for everything? What would it be like to forgive as we’ve been forgiven, to offer grace in place of judgment, and to speak truth and see the Spirit of God transform lives? What would it look like to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, even when our minds can’t make sense of the answers? Lord, we need You to fill us with Your Spirit.
Worshipers
We ask for Your forgiveness, Jesus. You freely gave Your life for us on the cross. Your blood was shed to cover a multitude of trespasses, and Your body was bruised, beaten, and abused on our behalf.
Pastor / Worship Leader
May we learn the lesson of forgiveness and live out a lifestyle of truth and grace, just as Jesus, the Cornerstone, did for us.
Worshipers
By Your grace alone, may we live according to Your Word. In Jesus’ name we ask these things, Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Isaiah 5:1-7
Israel is compared to a vineyard that was once fertile, but eventually yielded bad fruit. When the Lord looked for justice and righteousness in His people, He saw instead bloodshed and distress.
I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside.
2 He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it
and cut out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit. 3 “Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. 4 What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad? 5 Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed; I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled. 6 I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and briers and thorns will grow there. I will command the clouds not to rain on it.” 7 The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel, and the people of Judah are the vines he delighted in. And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress
