Description
John 10:11-18
John, in his Gospel, quotes Jesus as “the Good Shepherd”. Jesus says that the good shepherd lays his life down for the sheep. He compares His relationship to His sheep with the relationship between His Father and Him. Jesus also states that there are sheep outside of the pen that He must bring also. There shall be one flock and one shepherd. Jesus says He will lay down His life, only to take it up again.
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
I Thank God
Aaron Moses | Chuck Butler | Dante Bowe | Enrique Holmes | Jesse Cline | Maryanne J. George
© 2021 Bethel Worship Publishing; Heritage Worship Music Publishing; Maverick City Publishing; Aaron Moses Chiriboga Music; Be Essential Songs; Holmeboy Music Group; Jesse Cline Publishing Designee; Jord A Lil Music; MJ George Music
Christ Is Risen
Matt Maher & Mia Fieldes, © Thankyou Music | spiritandsong.com | Unknown (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Gratitude
Benjamin Hastings, Brandon Lake, Dante Bowe; © 2019 Bethel Worship Publishing; Brandon Lake Music; Maverick City Publishing; Maverick City Publishing Worldwide; SHOUT! Music Publishing Australia; Bethel Music Publishing
[Traditional Options]
I Am Jesus’ Little Lamb
LSB 740; LW 517
Good Christian Friends, Rejoice and Sing
BH 75 123; EH 205; ELW 385; HLC 170; LBW 144; LSB 475; LW 129; PH 111; RS 586; WC 255; WAR 307
Christ Is Our Cornerstone
LSB 917; LW 290
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
We gather together in the presence of our Shepherd God, who calls us each by name, who restores our souls.
Worshipers
Who leads us in the way of righteousness, and whose goodness and love never stops pursuing us. This is the God we have come to worship!
Pastor / Worship Leader
Shout with joy to the Lord! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy! Know that the Lord is God!
Worshipers
He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name.
Worshipers
For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We gather together to worship God, the Shepherd of our souls. Hallelujah! Amen!
Worshipers
Hallelujah! Amen!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
The Suffering Servant becomes the healing source. The stone rejected becomes hope’s cornerstone. The Crucified One is raised to new life. The God of healing, hope and life is in our midst: Let us celebrate and worship our good God! O Good Shepherd, You desire to guide all into safety, refreshment, and peace. Meet us here today and fill us with your love, that we may look into your world with your loving knowledge, welcome our sisters and brothers with your joy and offer our lives with your generosity as members of your beloved community: in your name we pray, Amen.
Worshipers
Amen!
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, we confess.
Worshipers
Forgive us for not looking upon You as our Shepherd.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, we would follow you wherever you might lead. Lord, we would follow you. Forgive us when we stumble and when we stray.
Worshipers
Forgive us when distracted, we lose our way. Be the one to whom we turn, whose hand we hold, the Shepherd who leads us safely to the fold.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We confess that we fear, even though You are with us, even though You promise to comfort us.
Worshipers
Forgive us for forgetting that You have prepared a table for us and that Your goodness and love will follow us all the days of our lives.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, you are good and upright; Instruct us sinners in your ways. Guide us in what is right and teach us your ways.
Worshipers
For the sake of your name, Lord, forgive us our sins, though they are great. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Acts 4:5-12
Peter and John, in the Book of Acts, had healed a lame man. And while speaking with the people, the temple guards and Sadducees had them arrested. Peter and John were claiming the resurrection of the dead. Many were believing. When the high priests questioned them the next day, Peter gives a Spirit filled message: it is by Jesus, whom they crucified and whom God raised from the dead, that the man was healed. Peter proclaims that salvation is found in no one else but Jesus.
5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
