Description
Luke 24:13-35
Two men were walking and talking about the events of Jesus’ death and resurrection when Jesus himself began walking with them, appearing as a stranger. After a long day of traveling, Jesus dined with the men. As He broke bread, the men’s eyes were opened to see Jesus and they believed. How would life change for us if our eyes were opened to divine interruptions? And what if we opened up the locked areas of our hearts and invited in the Savior to dine with us there? Would our eyes be opened to the freedom He has to offer?
What does it mean to meet the resurrection on the road, as stranger, when we are between places and perhaps beside ourselves?
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 The Eyes Of My Heart
Paul Baloche, ©1997 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
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)
Lord, Reign In Me
Brenton Brown, ©1998 Vineyard Songs (UK/Eire) (Admin. by Vineyard Music UK)
[Traditional Options]
Be Thou My Vision
BH75 212; BH 91 60; CH 562; EH 488; ELW 793; HWC 382; HPW 46; HFG 468; NCH 451; PH 339; UMH 451; PH 339; WC 532; WOV 776
Alleluia! Jesus is Risen
ELW 377; LSB 474; WOV 674; WAR 306
With The Lord Begin Your Task
LBW 444; LSB 869; LW 483
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Praise the Lord!
Worshipers
Hallelujah!
Pastor / Worship Leader
The Lord hears our cries for help.
Worshipers
He walks beside us, and guides us to Himself.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We are not left alone, no!
Worshipers
The Lord is near.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Holy Lord, we come with hearts unfolded and open before You and ask that Your perfect will be done in our lives. We turn to You for help, for guidance, and for direction. We ask that You’d open our hearts to see You so that we would live this short life on earth experiencing You in us.
Worshipers
In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Jesus, we love You. We acknowledge that You are our Savior and that we need You.
Worshipers
We confess that we are sinners gone awry, deceived by the enemy, and led astray.
Pastor / Worship Leader
You are our Shepherd, and we are like sheep in Your pasture. You care even about one of us. We hear You calling us home. Forgive us, Lord, for our sins.
Worshipers
When we hear Your voice, we return to You. When we are covered in sin and shame, You remind us that we are covered in Your blood and are forgiven and shameless. You took our sin. You took our shame, and we are free in the name of Jesus.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Thank you, Jesus, for your forgiveness. We love you, amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Peter declared to the Jews that Jesus was both Lord and Messiah. He urged them to repent and be baptized and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. About three thousand Jews accepted the message that day.
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day