Description
Mark 2:23-3:6
Mark, in his Gospel, relates two instances where it appears that Jesus is working, and not resting, on the Sabbath, in violation of the law. (Deut 5:12-15) The Pharisees challenge Jesus. He has picked grain and healed a man, both on the Sabbath. The Pharisees who are looking for reasons to accuse him, challenge Jesus who gives answers that they are not satisfied with. Answers of who the Sabbath was made for and the choice between saving a life or killing, even on the Sabbath. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. After the healing, the Pharisees begin to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.
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
Open Up the Heavens
Andi Rozier, James McDonald, Jason Ingram, Meredith Andrews, & Stuart Garrard, ©2012 Word Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.) HBC Worship Music (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing) Open Hands Music (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing) Sony/ATV Timber Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing) Stugio Music Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing)
Who you say I am
Ben Fielding, Reuben Morgan
2018 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Build My Life
Brett Younker, Karl Martin, Kirby Elizabeth Kaple, Matt Redman, and Pat Barrett © 2016 Martin, Karl Andrew, Kaple Music, Capitol CMG Genesis, Housefires Sounds, Said And Done Music, sixsteps Music, Thankyou Music, worshiptogether.com songs, Bethel Music Publishing
[Traditional Options]
Praise, My Soul, The King of Heaven
BH 75 8; BH 91 32; CH 1; EH 410; ELW 865; HS 98 893; HWC 3; HLC 26; HFG 339; HGP 9; LBW 549; LSB 793; PH 478; RS 684; STTL 42; WC 26; UMH 66; WAR 82; WHM 48
O That the Lord Would Guide My Ways
ELW 772; LBW 480; LSB 707; LW 392
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
Worshipers
The voice of the Lord is over the waters, the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
Pastor / Worship Leader
The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars, the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
Worshipers
The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning. The voice of the Lord shakes the desert.
Pastor / Worship Leader
The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare.
Worshipers
The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever. The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.
Pastor / Worship Leader
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!” Amen!
Worshipers
Hallelujah! Amen!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
We acknowledge you, O God, as creator and as liberator. You are the One who brought the captives out of Egypt and delivered them from the oppression of slavery. You gave laws which shaped how people were to relate to you and to each other. You implored people to worship only you, knowing that whatever was put in your place would become the object of idolatry—would become the priority of people’s lives.
In this time of worship, help us to focus on you, O God, as the priority of our lives. Remind us of your steadfast love revealed so clearly in the new commandment of love which Jesus disclosed with his life and, as we especially remember, with his death. Speak to us anew as we offer this prayer and our worship in Jesus’ name and for his sake. Amen.
Worshipers
Amen!
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, we confess.
Worshipers
We confess that we have spoken words which harm others. We have failed to honor another of Your children. We have let our fears, our worries, our desires come between us and you God.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Even with those simple commandments, we manage to get it wrong. We misuse your name and dishonor our friends and neighbors.
Worshipers
We hunger for what others have and we find little enough time for our families, for ourselves, you – much less setting aside an entire day for that rest you call Sabbath.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Forgive us. We think we are so wise with the choices we make, only to end up with all that keeps us from you. Your Word has come to fill our speech with grace, with hope, with peace.
Worshipers
Day to day, You offer us mercy and hope. Moment to moment, we are surrounded by Your never-ending love.
Pastor / Worship Leader
You take our brokenhearted prayers and craft them into words of grace, of joy, of peace. Thanks be to God, we are forgiven. Amen.
Worshipers
Thanks be to God! Amen!
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Deuteronomy 5:12-15
Moses, after receiving the 10 commandments from God, has summoned the Israelites. He declares that God has made this covenant with those who are alive today, not their ancestors. They are to learn and follow these laws. Observation of the Sabbath is one of the laws- the command to keep it holy, to not do any work, to rest. And to remember that they were once slaves in Egypt, delivered by God.
“Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it, you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do. 15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.
