Description
Matthew 27:11-66
Falsely accused. Brutally beaten. Mocked and crucified. Jesus, the Ultimate Servant and the Son of God, didn’t shy away from death to save us. With faithfulness to the Father, love for the sinner, and patient endurance, He carried out the Father’s complete and perfect will. We will never know any love greater than the love of Jesus. His death marks the death of sin in us and gives us the great hope of eternal life.
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
Hosanna In The Highest
Tom Wuest, ©1997 Maranatha! Music (Admin. by Maranatha! Music)
Hosanna (Praise Is Rising)
Paul Baloche & Brenton Brown, ©2005 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
Hear Our Praises
Reuben Morgan, ©1998 Hillsong Publishing (Admin. in U.S. & Canada by Integrity’s Hosanna! Music)
[Traditional Options]
Hosanna, Loud Hosanna
BH 91 130; CH 297; HWC 174; HFG 248; HLC 134; HGP 28; LSB 443; LW 106; NCH 213; PH 89; RH 154; STTL 217; WC 203; UMH 278; WAR 267; WHM 220
Ride On, Ride On In Majesty
CHH 191; EH 156; ELW 346; HLC 132; LBW 121; LSB 441; LW 105; NCH 215; PH 90,91; WC 205; WAR 268; WIS 120
Praise To The Lord, The Almighty
BH 75 10; BH 91 14; CH 210; CHH 25; EH 390; ELW 858; HWC 8; HPW 1; HFG 337; HLC 43; HGP 2; HSP 1; LBW 543; LSB 790; LW 444; PH 482; RH 6; STTL 20; WC 77; UMH 139; WAR 71; WHM 24; WIS 3
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Welcome everyone on this Palm Sunday.
Worshipers
We come with hearts ready to worship the Servant King, Jesus.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
This Palm Sunday, we reflect on the love of Jesus Christ, divine and human in nature, He was led to the slaughter without sin to pay for ours. How wonderful is our Savior. Let us pray together.
Worshipers
Jesus Christ in Heaven, we don’t deserve the sacrificial gift of Your death in our place. We don’t deserve the eternal hope of glory. Yet, You’ve freely given us this gracious gift of salvation and suffered in our place. It is because of Your goodness and love that we stand here today. We are Yours, Lord. We worship You. In Jesus’ holy name, we pray, Amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
This time of year, it is so easy to get caught up in the festivities of the upcoming Easter holiday. Maybe you enjoy the colors of spring, the joy on children’s faces during Easter egg hunts, or the taste of savory ham. Perhaps you look forward to spending time with family and friends. But so often we forget the real reason for Easter. We go about the motions of attending an Easter service, mindlessly fasting a certain food or item for Lent, or overloading our minds with plans for the holiday, and we forget. We forget about Jesus. We busy ourselves with everything else, because we know the remembrance of his death is coming, and death is difficult for us. The death of Jesus was necessary for the forgiveness of our sins. Friends let’s set our hearts and minds on Jesus above, and repent of the sins we are guilty of committing. Let’s not waste another moment to meditate on the beautiful death of our Savior. For our Savior was a humble servant before the Father, so let us follow His example and humble our hearts before Him and confess our sins.
(Allow time for repentance and confession)
Pastor / Worship Leader
We are new creations, forgiven and free. We are still before the Lord and know that our hope in Jesus Christ will bring us to His eternal glory someday.
Worshipers
Father, thank You for Your unwavering love and forgiveness. Help us to walk in Your ways and not turn back to our old habits. Thank you, Lord. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Isaiah 50:4-9a
The servant Messiah listens and is faithful to the Sovereign Lord who protects, helps, and speaks to his servant.
The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. 5 The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away. 6 I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. 7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. 8 He who vindicates me is near. Who then will bring charges against me? Let us face each other! Who is my accuser? Let him confront me! 9 It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me. Who will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up.
