Description

Series Theme          “Genuine Christianity”

“Organic” is a big buzzword these days.  It seems everyone is talking about food with no artificial additives or fillers.  More and more labels are claiming their product as 100% pure and organic.  Could Christianity make the same claim?  This 5-week series looks at some basic elements of our faith as recorded in the Gospel of Mark.  See for yourself if Christianity’s message has changed, or if we’re still proclaiming the genuine message of Christ.

This Week’s Theme           “Absolute Truth”   Mark 6:14-29

God is the source of pure, absolute truth.  How do people today respond to both God’s truth and worldly lies?  Much the same way they responded 2,000 years ago!  Absolute truth has an interesting and powerful effect on the hearer, as we see in this passage from the Gospel of Mark.

 

… 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

Arise

Don Moen & Paul Baloche, ©2003 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music

Awakening

Chris Tomlin & Reuben Morgan, ©2010 worshiptogether.com Songs/sixsteps Music / Vamos Publishing / Hillsong Publishing (ASCAP) (admin by EMI CMG Publishing)

Light of The World

Matt Redman, ©2000 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

Marvelous Light

Charlie Hall, © 2005 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

 

[Traditional Options]

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

I Know My Faith Is Founded   

LSB 587; LW 354

O God, My Faithful God          

ELW 806; LBW 504; LSB 696; LW 371; PH 277

 

Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme 

Pastor              In the world of technology and multi-media ministry, including radio, tv, internet and satellite imaging, we can sometimes see or hear things that seem almost true.. . .                              but something is just a bit askew [expound].  Today we look into the Word of God, the sixth chapter of Mark’s Gospel, and find some nuggets of ABSOLUTE TRUTH                                  that we can stake our reputations and very lives on.  We can trust the Lord to accomplish His will and meet our needs in sometimes unusual circumstances. 

ALL                  We are here to offer our heartfelt worship and to receive Words of absolute truth to live by today.

 

Opening Prayer 

Pastor              Oh Sweet Jesus, because of Your precious blood poured out for us on Calvary, we can approach the majestic throne of Our One True God.  Through the faith won in                                   us by the power of the Holy Spirit, we come in the Name of the Holy Trinity, to honor You today — seeking absolute truth that is found in the Bible – Your Holy                                         Word.                        

ALL                  Speak, Oh Lord, Your servants are listening.  Amen!

  

Time of Greeting 

Pastor     This morning let’s cross the aisle and greet someone that you have not spoken with yet today.  Speak these words to one another as together we enter into worship:  “You                         who have ears, let them hear!”

  

Time of Confession and Forgiveness

[Alternate location:  following Message] 

Pastor               It has been said, and we believe it to be true, that God’s character is flawless; He cannot go against His own nature. Conclusion: He does not and cannot lie. His Word is                        truth.

ALL                  We, on the other hand, tell half-truths and out-and-out lies in things we say, think and do. Many times we alter reality in order to make                                            ourselves, or someone else, appear to be less ungodly than they actually are; as if somehow we will better the situation if we attempt to cover up                            the truth.

Pastor               Together we admit . . .

ALL                  that we have grown used to not only saying things that are not true, but we ha ve also accepted the world’s version of truth, in spite of knowing                              better.  Forgive us, Dear Lord.

Women and children    We have leaned, in our own frail human wisdom, to interpret what we feel is the best for ourselves and those around us, often failing to look at Your Word,                                                    Lord, to guard our mouths and to guide our steps.

Men                  Too often, as heads of our families, we have neglected our responsibility to not only make the best choices for our own lives, we have let those                                we love slip by without godly guidance from us.

Pastor                Each of us daily falls short of that standard of perfection that God demands. But, in His mercy, He does not give us what we deserve; in His grace He gives us what we                                do not deserve; that is forgiveness because of His Son, Jesus’ death and resurrection.  Jesus willingly sacrificed His perfect blood so that we can be forgiven.

ALL                  we confess that we fall prey to the devil’s schemes. He is the “Father of Lies” and uses the same old deception that he used in the Garden of                                     Eden on us. And, as much as we do not want to, we must admit that his temptation still works.  Forgive us, Father of Truth, and help us to                                         ignore wrong choices. We want to be 100% truthful; by the power of Your Holy Spirit in us, help us to live a life filled with truth.

Pastor              God’s Word tells us that He will forgive those who confess and repent. Help us to reverse the wrong direction we have taken in the past and to go toward God in our                                    daily decisions of life.

ALL                  In Jesus Name we strive to live as He lived among us. Amen.

Pastor              You are forgiven. Because He lives, you, too, shall live.

 

… We Hear God’s Word …

[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]

First Reading          Amos 7:7-15 

This prophetic book of scripture is spoken through Amos, a common shepherd.  God often uses the  weak things of the world to confound the mighty.  Here, Amos warns both the careless sinners as well as the “too-comfortable” people of God, that God’s mercies may not last much longer. 

This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in his hand. 8 And the Lord asked me, “What do you see, Amos? ” “A plumb line, ” I replied.  Then the Lord said, “Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer. 9 “The high places of Isaac will be destroyed and the sanctuaries of Israel will be ruined; with my sword I will rise against the house of Jeroboam. ” 10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent a message to Jeroboam king of Israel: “Amos is raising a conspiracy against you in the very heart of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words. 11 For this is what Amos is saying: “‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will surely go into exile, away from their native land.’” 12 Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. 13 Don’t prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king’s sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom. ” 14 Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. 15 But the Lord took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’