Description
John 2:13-22 (23-25)
Jesus made His way to Jerusalem for the Jewish Passover where he stopped in the temple courts to find people selling livestock and exchanging money. Jesus made a whip and drove out merchants, sheep, and cattle, overturning tables and emphasizing the reverence that should remain in the house of God. Jesus’ actions cause us to pause and reflect during this Lent season on the purity and motives of our own hearts. We are challenged to refocus our devotion to the Father and be spiritually cleansed, purified, and renewed.
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship
[Preservice options include video countdowns, worship song videos, welcomes), CDs, or live music.]
Welcome & Time of Greeting
Pastor / Worship Leader
Welcome to this sacred season of Lent, a time of introspection and spiritual renewal. As the Psalmist penned in Psalm 19, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” May we attune our hearts to what the Lord has for us today.
Worshipers
May we draw nearer to our Creator during this time of worship and praise.
Time of Praise and Worship
House of the Lord
Jonathan Smith | Phil Wickham, © 2020 Be Essential Songs (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)
Cashagamble Jet Music (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC) Phil Wickham Music (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC]) Simply Global Songs (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC]) Sing My Songs (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC])
Open The Eyes Of My Heart
Paul Baloche, ©1997 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
Jericho
Andrew Ripp | Ethan Hulse, © 2020 Be Essential Songs; EGH Music Publishing; Songs By Fishbone
[Traditional Options]
Lord, This Day We’ve Come to Worship
LSB 911; TFBF 137
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
Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain
CHH 215; EH 199,200; ELW 363; HLC 164; LBW 132; LSB 487; LW 141; NCH 230; PH 114,115; RS 575; UMH 315
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Today we draw inspiration from a very passionate Jesus, who in an act of cleansing the temple, serves as a profound reminder of the reverence and purity God desires in His dwelling and in our hearts. As we gather, let us prepare our souls to reflect, renew, and recommit ourselves to consecrating God’s presence among us.
Worshipers
We seek His transformative grace in all aspects of our lives. Let us worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Father, as we gather in Your holy presence, we declare Your glory along with the heavens and proclaim Your handiwork with the skies. We ask You to guide our hearts and minds to perceive Your wisdom in every moment of our lives. Light our paths with Your divine Word, and may we walk in Your truth.
Worshipers
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, we pray, amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Beloved, in today’s passage, we are confronted with the image of Jesus cleansing the temple. This serves as a powerful reminder of His zeal for righteousness. This also reminds us of the areas we lack in purity; areas where we have allowed impurities and distractions to cloud our relationship with God and others.
Worshipers
Lord, help us!
Pastor / Worship Leader
So let us examine our hearts and humbly approach God’s throne of grace, confessing our shortcomings and seeking God’s merciful forgiveness.
Worshipers
We confess that we have fallen short. We have valued money over God, broken the Ten Commandments, and have relied on ourselves as the source of power rather than God. Forgive us, Lord! We are not worthy- You alone are! We seek Your forgiveness, Jesus.
Pastor / Worship Leader
When we confess our sins, the Lord is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. We follow You, Jesus, into freedom and forgiveness, and we worship the one, true, God!
Worshipers
Thank you, Jesus, for Your forgiveness. Help us to walk with You. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Exodus 20:1-17
God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai, setting forth guidelines for right living. These commandments explained instructions about worshiping only God, honoring one’s parents, keeping the Sabbath holy, and abstaining from sinful actions like stealing, adultery, and bearing false witness.
And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his .8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 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 animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. 13 “You shall not murder. 14 “You shall not commit adultery. 15 “You shall not steal. 16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
