Description
Mark 10:23-31
Jesus has been confronted by a man who falls on his knees asking what HE MUST DO to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells him and then challenges the man’s response by asking him to give everything away and follow Him. The man rejects the offer. Jesus then teaches his disciples about the rich, how difficult it is for them to enter the kingdom of God. The disciples wonder who then can be saved.
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
My Jesus
Anne Wilson | Jeff Pardo | Matthew West, © 2021 BrentHood Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Capitol CMG Paragon (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Jacobs Story Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Meaux Mercy (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Remaining portion is unaffiliated
Praise You Anywhere
Ben Fielding | Brandon Lake | Hank Bentley | Jacob Sooter, Brandon Lake Music; Capitol CMG Paragon; SHOUT MP Brio; Songs By That Dog Will Hunt; Just When Publishing; So Essential Tunes
Great Are You Lord
David Leonard, Jason Ingram, Leslie Jordan, © 2012 Integrity’s Alleluia! Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (IMI)) Integrity’s Praise! Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (IMI)) Open Hands Music (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC) So Essential Tunes (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)
[Traditional Options]
God Himself is Present
LBW 249; LSB 907; LW 206; NCH 68
Built on the Rock the Church Doth Stand
BH 75 235; BH 91 351; CHH 273; ELW 652; HFG 555; HLC 201; LBW 365; LSB 645; LW 291; WC 705; WAR 546; WHM 340
What Is The World To Me
LSB 730; LW 418
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Praise the Lord, Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.
Worshipers
Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights above.
Worshipers
Praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
Pastor / Worship Leader
How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
Worshipers
Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. Sing to the Lord with grateful praise.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Amen!
Worshipers
Amen!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Heavenly Father, in abundance you give us things both spiritual and physical. We are thankful that what looks impossible in our eyes is possible because of you. We praise you that You have saved us, not because of anything we have done, but because of your death and resurrection. Help us to hold lightly the fading things of this earth and grasp tightly the lasting things of your kingdom, so that what we are and do and say maybe our gifts to you through Christ, who beckons all to seek the things above, where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Worshipers
Amen!
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, we confess our sins.
Worshipers
We confess that we have put other things before you, idols like money and career. We have broken the first commandment and have put other gods before you.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We confess that we do not seek you.
Worshipers
We confess that we do not seek first the Kingdom of God.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We confess that we do not keep our hearts and minds on You Jesus, seated at the right hand of the Father.
Worshipers
Forgive us Lord for our sins.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We pray this, counting on your grace.
Worshipers
Renew in us the grace and strength of your Holy Spirit, for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Savior. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Ecclesiastes 5:10-20
Solomon, the writer of Ecclesiastes, writes about the meaninglessness of money, of accumulating wealth. Those who love it are never satisfied. It dominates their thoughts, even to the point of no sleep. And then, it can all be lost in a moment. And words for all to hear- We depart from this world just as we came- naked and with nothing.
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.
