Description
John 2:13-25
Our passage today describes Jesus driving corrupt businessmen from the temple during Passover in Jerusalem. This was a prescribed religious observance for the Jewish people, and bringing a pure animal sacrifice was expected. What began as a means to facilitate ease of worship, having pure animals to purchase at the temple so that people did not have to bring them from afar, became an opportunity for the greedy and expedient to take advantage of the situation. While those going to Jerusalem were focused on obtaining pure animal sacrifices to fulfill the form of religious observance, and those selling them were concerned about making a profit, Jesus was focused on the purity of the worship and the attitude and actions of those who are participating at His Father’s house. Jesus calls us to purity of worship, and to never mistake form, function, or convenience for the relationship that lies at the heart of it all.
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
Good morning and welcome to each of you. Thank you for joining us in worship today. I encourage each of you to bring your hopes, your hurts, joys, troubles, fears, and praise to the throne of Jesus this morning and see what mighty things God will do in your life.
Time of Praise and Worship
Way Maker
Osinachi Kalu Okoro Egbu, © 2016 Integrity Music Europe (Admin by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Christ Be Magnified
Cody Carnes | Cory Asbury | Ethan Hulse,© 2019 Cory Asbury Publishing (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing) Capitol CMG Paragon (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)Writer’s Roof Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Be Essential Songs (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC) EGH Music Publishing (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC) Bethel Music Publishing
Jesus Only Jesus
Chris Tomlin, Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill, Matt Redman, Nathan Nockels, Tony Wood, ©2013 A Thousand Generations Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Said And Done Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Sixsteps Songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Sweater Weather Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Worship Together Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Songs From Exit 71 (Admin. by Sony/ATV Tunes LLC) Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Tunes LLC)
[Traditional Options]
Lord Jesus Christ Be Present Now
ELW 527; LBW 253; LSB 902; LW201; NCH 324
Come To Calvary’s Holy Mountain
HFG 276; LBW 301; LSB 435; LW 96
O God of Mercy, God of Light
ELW 714; LBW 425; LW 397; LSB 852
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Thank you Lord God for the opportunity of worship, for the freedom to be amongst your family meeting together in your house and in the warmth of your embrace. Thank you that in worship we can put aside the uncertainties of this world and rest upon the certainties of the Kingdom for your promises are immovable and eternal. Thank you that we can bring to your feet all the hurts and fears that trouble us and leave them there knowing that your strength and assurance are all that we require Thank you that as we draw near in worship we are transported from a world of concerns and fears to a place where we can be at peace in your presence find healing, wholeness, and refreshment. Thank you Lord God for the opportunity of worship.
Worshipers
Amen.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you;
Worshipers
My soul thirsts for you,
Pastor / Worship Leader
My body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Worshipers
I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
Worshipers
I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
Pastor / Worship Leader
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
Worshipers
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
Pastor / Worship Leader
On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.
Worshipers
Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. Amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Creator God, forgive our moments of ingratitude,
Worshipers
Have mercy on us.
Pastor / Worship Leader
when our spiritual blindness that prevents us from appreciating the wonder that is this world,
Worshipers
Have mercy on us.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Forgive us for taking without giving,
Worshipers
Have mercy on us.
Pastor / Worship Leader
for reaping without sowing,
Worshipers
Have mercy on us.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Open our eyes to see, our lips to praise, our hands to share.
Worshipers
May our worship be true, may our hearts be pure, and our footsteps be worthy of following, that they may lead to you. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Exodus 20:1-17
In this passage Moses shares with the Hebrew people God’s commandments as they were given to him on Mount Sinai. These commandments would serve as the basis for how they were to live as God’s holy and chosen people.
And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”
