Description
Luke 13:1-9
Jesus used the parable of the fig tree, representing Israel’s last chance to repent before God’s judgment. During a period of grace, Jesus will tend to the tree in hopes that it will bear fruit. If it doesn’t, the tree will be cut down. This gracious and compassionate opportunity is extended for a year, but not infinitely. The final judgment is coming one day to the entire world. True repentance is the key to bearing life-producing fruit.
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
Holy Water
Andrew Bergthold, Ed Cash, Franni Cash, Martin Cash, Scott Cash © 2019 Andrew Bergthold Designee (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Capitol CMG Genesis (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Capitol CMG Paragon (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) We The Kingdom ASCAP Designee (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) We The Kingdom Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Come Thou Fount, Come Thou King
Robert Robinson & Thomas Miller, ©2005 Gateway Create Publishing (Admin. by Integrity’s Praise! Music)
In Christ Alone
Keith Getty & Stuart Townend, ©2001 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
[Traditional Options]
Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me
ELW 767; LBW 333; LSB 722; LW 512
Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me
BH75 163; BH91 342; CH 342; CHH 214; EH 685; ELW 623; HWC 204; HFG 108; HLC 149; HGP 336; HSP 9; LBW 327; LSB 761; LW 361; NCH 596; RH 277; STTL 445; WC 227; UMH 361; WAR 384; WHM 507; WIS 47
Glorious Things of Thee/You Are Spoken
BH 91 398; CH 400; CHH 709; EH 522, 523; ELW 647; HWC 278; HFG 376; HLC 209; HGP 165; LBW 358; LSB 648; LW 294; NCH 307; PH 446; RH 339; STTL 670; WC 694; UMH 731; WAR 598; WHM 35; WIS 308
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
It is the Lord who quenches our thirsty souls.
Worshipers
So we who are thirsty, come.
Pastor/ Worship Leader
With His love, God quenches us. With His grace He reaches us. So, we come.
Worshipers
We come. Amen.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, Your covenant is eternal. You are faithful and true. We have softs hearts before You for You change us, mold us, and shape us by Your Holy Spirit. You are the merciful Forgiver, extending Your grace to us. We love You and worship You today.
Worshipers
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
The Lord calls us to repentance.
Worshipers
It’s His kindness that leads us there.
Pastor / Worship Leader
When we repent, we turn from sin to God. We enter eternal life through the Son, Jesus Christ, through confession, repentance, and believing in faith.
Worshipers
Ready our hearts now for true repentance. Reveal the sin in us to us by Your grace. Rid us of sin, Lord, and forgive us. We confess that we cannot do this on our own.
Pastor /Worship Leader
Lord, You are faithful to forgive us. We are so thankful that You are the God we serve, and who loves us to our core.
Worshipers
We love You, Lord. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Isaiah 55:1-9
In this passage, we witness the heart of the Father who invites everyone to come and enter into His promised blessings. How can this be if humans are stained with sin, hurt, and wickedness? God’s thoughts are not ours, neither are His ways ours. He is higher, incomparable, and is love.
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. 3 Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. 4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples. 5 Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.” 6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
