Description
Luke 2:40-52
From a young age, Jesus knew He belonged with the Father. During the Festival of Passover in Jerusalem, Jesus stayed behind in the temple sitting amongst teachers and engaging in conversations while his parents, unknowingly leaving Jesus behind, journeyed home. When his parents returned and found Jesus in the temple, Jesus responded, “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” We, too, find the Father when we find Jesus, for Jesus is the only path to God.
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
Good Good Father
Anthony Brown/Pat Barrett, © 2014 Capitol CMG Paragon (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Common Hymnal Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Housefires Sounds (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Tony Brown Publishing Designee (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Vamos Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
This Is My Father’s World
Aaron Purdy, Franklin Lawrence Sheppard, Jennie Lee Riddle, Maltbie Davenport Babcock © 2009 Jennie Lee Riddle Music (div. of New Nation Music [Admin. by Music Services, Inc.]) Tent Peg Music (div. of New Nation Music [Admin. by Music Services, Inc.])
My Soul Magnifies the Lord
Chris Tomlin & Daniel Carson, © 2009 worshiptogether.com songs | sixsteps Music | Vamos Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
[Traditional Options]
Once in Royal David’s City
CH 286; CHH 165; EH 102; ELW 269; HWC 155; HLC 109; LBW 376; LSB 376; LW 58; NCH 145; PH 49; RS 526; STTL 170; WC 161; UMH 250; WOV 643; WAR 183
O Word of God Incarnate
BH 75 140; CH 414; CHH 322; EH 632; ELW 514; HWC 269; HLC 219; HSP 111; LBW 231; LSB 523; LW 335; NCH 315; PH 327; RH 229; WC 310; UMH 598; WAR 670; WIS 91
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
BH 75 94; BH 91 1-6; CH 279; CHH 163; ELW 276; HS 98 812; HWC143; HFG 194; LBW 44; LSB 393; PH 37; RH 131; RS 509; STTL 186; WC 169; UMH 229; WAR 221; WHM 148
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Praise the Lord all people!
Worshipers
Praise the Lord!
Pastor / Worship Leader
It is good and pleasant to sing praises to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Worshipers
How fitting it is to praise His holy name.
Pastor / Worship Leader
As the Psalmist penned, God sends His command to the earth; His Word runs swiftly. Like a blanket of white wool, the Lord spreads snow and scatters the frost like ashes. He hurls down hail like pebbles. Who can withstand His icy blast?
Worshipers
The Lord is powerful and good. We praise the Lord!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Holy Lord, Your voice is like thunder; Your presence is commanding. You number the stars and call each of them by name. You know Your creation so intricately and intimately- even the hairs on our heads are numbered. Your knowledge and understanding has no limit, and yet You love us so much that You became flesh for us. Your Son Jesus gave His very life for our sake in payment for our ransom. We don’t deserve this love and our behavior doesn’t consistently reflect a lifestyle of gratitude for Your great sacrifice. We are broken and undeserving people, and in humility today, we recognize and remember whom You are- Jesus, our only path to the Father. We love and thank You today.
Worshipers
In the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit. Amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Father God, You command us to sing with grateful praise, to give cheerfully, to obey faithfully, to pray fervently, and to walk humbly and in step with You.
Worshipers
But we fall short of Your glory, God. We fail at every attempt. We’re not good enough, not smart enough, not wise enough, to follow You perfectly.
Pastor / Worship Leader
It is the perfect Savior that we so desperately need to save us from our sinful nature, to lead us into righteousness, to extend to us the sufficient grace of God.
Worshipers
We need Jesus! We need Jesus!
Pastor / Worship Leader
We need Jesus to save us, to forgive us and cleanse us of our unrighteousness. We accept His sacrifice and blood poured out for us.
Worshipers
We raise with Christ’s resurrection and step into the light of God. We follow Jesus and trust Him with the gaps. We set our foot on the solid rock of Christ, the Cornerstone, and proclaim that because of Christ, we are forgiven and free!
Pastor/ Worship Leader
Hallelujah! Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading 1 Kings 3:4-15
As Solomon was stepping into his father’s footsteps as king, and since he was just a young child, he sought the Lord for wisdom. This pleased the Lord and He blessed Solomon with a long life.
4 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” 6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. 7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 15 Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.
