Description
Luke 9:51-62
In today’s Gospel, Jesus encounters three would-be disciples. All three had reasons they could not follow Jesus – in fact, their refusal to follow seems almost reasonable. And all three are left behind. Discipleship is not convenient; it is not cultural; and it is not conditional. We cannot follow Jesus on our terms. Jesus’ call is all-encompassing, and He brooks nothing that would stand in the way.
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
Day After Day
Tim Hughes, ©2001 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Everyday
Joel Houston, ©1999 Joel Houston / Hillsong Publishing
Here Is Our King
David Crowder, ©2005 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Sixsteps Music (EMI Christian Music Publishing)
[Traditionsl Options]
Alleluia! Jesus is Risen
ELW 377; LSB 474; WOV 674; WAR 306
Let Us Ever Walk With Jesus
ELW 802; LSB 685; LBW 487; LW 381
Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme
Pastor: We begin in the name of the Father,
ALL Who have loved us from the beginning of time
Pastor We begin in the name of the Son, Jesus Christ
ALL Who become one like us, that we might be restored to our true identity
Pastor We begin in the name of the Holy Spirit,
ALL Who calls us to follow Jesus. Amen.
Opening Prayer
Pastor Almighty Father, You have loved us from all eternity. You sent Your Son when we were lost that we might be restored to You. In Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are redeemed. Your Spirit calls us to follow Jesus, and to love You with all we are. Here and now we gather as Your people, in the name of Jesus, in Whose Spirit we pray.
ALL Amen.
Time of Greeting
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor Forgiven, we take this opportunity to acknowledge we yet fall short of what God has redeemed us to be
(a time of silence)
Father…
ALL We want to follow Jesus, and we will – someday. We want to live as disciples, and we will – when we are able. We want to live boldly as Your people – as soon as we have the messes in our lives cleaned up. We want to be Yours – but there are those who would not understand. We want to surrender everything to You – but there are still things we need to do. We want to step out and love those around us, and we will – as soon as they become loveable.
Pastor God calls us to love Him with our whole heart, and to live a radical discipleship, living as those who are His. He has called us to be His people, and He brooks nothing that would compete with His call.
ALL Forgive us, Lord. Forgive our reluctant discipleship. Forgive our quick words, and our slow feet.
Pastor This is the Gospel – we do not deserve the love of God. There is nothing about us that merits His grace. But He is love. He gave His heart. He gave His all. He gave His Son to our Savior. And Jesus was obedient to His Father, in every way and in all things. Jesus died, and we are forgiven. He rose again, and we are set free. He calls us to leave everything and follow Him.
ALL Fill us with the power of Your Spirit, Father, that we might truly live as disciples of Jesus. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading: 1 Kings 19:9b-21
The Lord speaks to Elijah in a ‘gentle whisper’
9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” 19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.” “Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?” 21 So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.
