Description
Matthew 5:1-12
Jesus sat on a mountainside and inspired the crowds with the foundational teaching of living the Christian life. These qualities included meekness, mercy, purity, peace, and persecution for righteousness, just to name a few. Blessings such as gaining the kingdom of heaven, inheritance, fulfillment, and seeing God are some of the wonderful promises given for those who pursue these Beatitudes that Jesus described. All in all, we are promised an eternal future in Heaven one day where we will meet our Lord face to face.
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
God So Loved
Ed Cash, Scott Cash, Franni Cash, Andrew Bergthold, Martin Cash, 2019 We The Kingdom Music, Andrew Bergthold Designee, We The Kingdom ASCAP Designee, Capitol CMG Genesis, Capitol CMG Paragon (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)
Blessed Be Your Name
Beth & Matt Redman, ©2002 Thankyou Music
[Traditional Options]
Hope of the World
BH 75 364; CHH 538; EH 472; HLC 515; LBW 493; LSB 690; LW 377; NCH 46; PH 360; UMH 178; WC 434; UMH 178; WAR 404
Blest Be The Tie That Binds
BH75 256; BH 91 387; CH 426; CHH 433; ELW 656; HWC 286; HFG 560; HLC 207; HGP 169; HSP 130; LBW 370; LSB 649; 975; LW 295; NCH 393; PH 438; RH 342; STTL 677; WC 708; UMH 557; WHM 337; WIS 307
Your Kingdom, O God, is My Glorious Treasure
LSB 654
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
With a glad and sincere heart, I welcome you today. Let’s make our boast loud in the Lord through worship, singing, and prayer.
Worshipers
The Lord is worthy of all honor and glory and power and praise! We lift up our voices to Him now.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Father, You are pure, and You are good. While You were on this earth, You taught the crowds and disciples so many treasures that we still learn from today. We glean from your wisdom. Not even the wisest philosopher or scholar compares to Your vast knowledge. As we open the Word of God today, we ask that You’d open our minds and allow us to understand. Release Your Spirit of Revelation and Wisdom upon Your people today.
Worshipers
In the name of the Son, Jesus Christ, amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Heavenly Father, you peel back the layers of our soul and peer deep inside. We try to hide our secret sins from everyone, but we cannot hide them from You.
Worshipers
We confess that we are like foolish children, forgetting Your commandments and sinful in so many ways. We seek Your wisdom and Your forgiveness in our lives.
Pastor / Worship Leader
In Psalm 103, we read that our transgressions are as far as the east is from the west. We don’t understand Your love for us, but we accept it.
Worshipers
And we are so thankful to You, Jesus, for the sacrifice that made freedom from sin possible for people like us. Thank You, Jesus! Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Micah 6:1-8
The Israelites were a stubborn nation, but the Lord loved them. He performed so many miracles as well as provided for their every need, and yet, like distracted and complaining children, they wandered away from their Father. Yet God never stopped pursuing them, just like He continues to pursue us.
Listen to what the Lord says: “Stand up, plead my case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say. 2 “Hear, you mountains, the Lord’s accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For the Lord has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel. 3 “My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me. 4 I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam. 5 My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.” 6 With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
