Description

Luke 17:5-10

This week we delve into a conversation that Jesus is having with his disciples about faith and duty.  Jesus warns his disciples about causing little ones to stumble and then teaches the men to forgive their fellow brothers and sisters often. The disciples quickly ask the Lord to increase their faith.  Mustard seed sized faith is the only amount that it takes for even a tree to obey their command, is how Jesus answers them.  Jesus then shifts his teaching to a servant obeying what his master has commanded him to do.  The master has no obligation to thank the servant because the servant is just doing his duty.  In this way, we disciples of Christ must remember that in a world of extraordinary accomplishments and successes, we must remain consistently faithful in our ordinary and daily practices of service to our Lord.

 

 

 

 

… We Lift Our Hearts in Worship …

 

[Preservice options include videos (countdowns, worship music, welcomes), worship music CD, or live music by worship band.]

 

Time of Praise and Worship

Your Grace Is Enough

Matt Maher, ©2003 Spiritandsong.com; Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

Awesome God

Rich Mullins, ©1988 BMG Music

Build Your Kingdom Here

Rend Collective Experiment, ©2011 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing

 

Cornerstone

Edward Mote, Eric Liljero, Jonas Myrin, Reuben Morgan, William Batchelder Bradbury, ©2011 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

[Traditional Options]

If You Will Trust In God To Guide You

BH 75 203; BH 91 57; CHH 565; EH 635; ELW 769; HWC 600; HFG 605; HLC 420; LBW 453; LSB 750, NCH 410; PH 282; WC 636; UMH 142; WAR 429; WHM 604

Lord Jesus Christ Be Present Now

ELW 527; LBW 253; LSB 902; LW201; NCH 324

Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty

ELW 533; LBW 250; LSB 901; LW 198, NCH 67; PH 489

 

Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme 

Pastor:             Heavenly Father, we come before you now, laying aside the events of our day and opening up our hearts to you.

 

ALL:                 Hear us, Lord Almighty.

 

Pastor:             You are mighty, loving, and faithful toward us.

 

ALL:                 Thank you, Lord, for your love.

 

Pastor:             You give us the desires of our hearts when we take delight in you.

 

ALL:                 Our delight is in you, God.

 

Pastor:             May we trust you in the little things and the big things for you are worthy of our faith.

 

ALL:                 Yes, Lord, you are worthy!

 

Pastor:             Gracious God, we are but mere dust of the earth breathed on by you.  You are powerful

and good. We humble our hearts before you now, just like Jesus did when he was sent to earth as a man to die for our sins and brokenness.  We are grateful for your Son’s sacrifice and the grace that you have so freely given to us.  You call us to obey you in small and large ways.  We answer your righteous calling by saying yes and amen!

 

ALL                  Yes and amen!

 

 

Time of Greeting

  

Time of Confession and Forgiveness

[Alternate location:  following Message]

 

Pastor:       From before the beginning of time, grace was given to us in Christ Jesus.  It is by Him we

we are saved from the sin that entangles us.  We, however, so easily allow sin to creep

back into our lives and trap us.  Perhaps we turn our attention to the successes of others

and invite jealousy into our hearts.  We seek rewards for our good deeds instead of

faithfully serving the Lord knowing that our reward will come eternally one day.  Let us

take a moment to reflect on our own hearts and rid ourselves of any impure motives or ill

intentions.

(A time of personal reflection and confession)

 

ALL:                 Lord, we renounce any sin that resides in our hearts and fully accept your

wonderful forgiveness.  Where our ambitions have been self-seeking or our hearts have been disobedient towards your will, or where we’ve neglected our duties as faithful disciples, we confess this before you now. Renew our minds and our hearts so that we can learn and grow to be more like you, Lord.  We want to live in the truth of your Word.

 

Pastor:             Father, you have extended the gift of grace freely to us through your son, Jesus Christ,

and because of His sacrifice, our sins are forgiven. Even now you reach out your hand of mercy toward us when we don’t deserve it.  Thank you for always guiding us to live in the light of the one and only way, truth, and the life of Jesus Christ.  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen!

 

ALL:                 Amen!

 

 

… We Hear God’s Word …

[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]

 

First Reading:         Habakkuk 2:1-4

Habakkuk was saddened by the corruption he witnessed in Judah and voiced his concerns to God.  The Lord answers Habakkuk and tells him of things to come. 

 

I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint 2 Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. 3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.4 “See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness—