Description
John 10:22-30
You’re familiar with voice recognition technology. A device responds to a voice command and begins operation. In some ways, the same is true with us. We not only hear the Word of the Shepherd, we recognize the voice, and because we are in relationship with Him, we respond. He speaks, and we follow, not because we know the commandments, but because we know Him.
+ WE PREPARE TO WORSHIP +
[Worship Planners: A Worship CD and/or the praise team can play in the background 10-15 minutes before the service.]
TIME OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP
Let God Arise
Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Ed Cash, ©2006 worshiptogether.com songs/sixsteps Music
Today Is The Day
Lincoln Brewster & Paul Baloche, ©2008 Integrity’s Praise! Music / Integrity’s Hosanna! Music / Leadworship Songs
The Noise We Make
Chris Tomlin and Jesse Reeves, ©2000 worshiptogether.com songs/Six Steps Publishing (adm. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
[Traditional Options]
Thy Strong Word
CW 280; ELW 511; H 82 381; LBW 233; LSB 578; LW 328
Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty
ELW 533; LBW 250; LSB 901; LW 198
INVOCATION AND INTRODUCTION OF TODAY’S THEME
Pastor: We bind unto ourselves this day the name of the Trinity:
People: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Pastor: In the name of the Father, who has loved us with an
everlasting love; Who has given His Son as the Lamb, and
raised Him as the Good Shepherd..
People: In the name of God the Son, Jesus Christ, the Good
Shepherd; who knows his sheep by name, who lay down
His life for the sheep, and took it up again.
Pastor: In the name of God the Holy Spirit, who works faith in those
who will receive, and guides those who are believers in the
way of the Good Shepherd, enabling them to recognize the Shepherd’s voice.
People: Amen.
OPENING PRAYER: [This prayer is offered as an idea] — Almighty Father, You sent Your Son, Jesus Christ, as the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world. He is the Good Shepherd, Whose sheep know His voice and follow Him, and He gives them security for all eternity. Fill us with the power of His Spirit, that we might know His voice, and follow Him into death and resurrection. In Him we pray. Amen.
TIME OF GREETING
TIME OF CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Pastor: Let us confess our sins before God our Father.
(A time of personal reflection and confession)
Father, in the words of Your prophet, Isaiah, You described our condition: “All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned, everyone, to his own way.”
People: You sent Your Son to be our Good Shepherd. We must confess that at times –
– We have chosen to ignore His voice.
– We have abandoned the green pastures You have prepared and have searched for shallow satisfaction.
– We have wandered off the path of righteousness.
– We have hid from Your presence, Your rod and staff, and have gone off on our own.
– We have turned aside from the table You have prepared, and have anointed ourselves with the oil of fleeting pleasure.
– We have not always recognized Your goodness and mercy.
Forgive us, we pray.
Pastor: We have gone astray. We have turned to our own way. Yet we hear the words of our Lord: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.” Christ is the Good Shepherd, Who lay down His life for us. He died for our sins, and rose again that we might have new life in Him. Those who believe in Him belong to Him, and shall not want.
+ We Hear the Word of God +
[It is suggested that the introductions be read out loud as well as the Scripture itself]
FIRST READING Acts 20:17-35 (NIV)
Paul is about to leave for Jerusalem, and, knowing the danger he faces, says farewell to the leaders of the Church at Ephesus, encouraging them to preach the Gospel that was delivered to them.
17From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. 18When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. 20You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. 22And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. 25“Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. 32“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”
