Description

Mark 1:29-39

How easy to fall into the trap of being religious.  We think that if we behave in certain ways, or follow certain rules, we will be blessed.  We desire God to act in ways that we determine, and we fully expect Him to serve us by making our lives better.  Jesus turns religion inside out.  He redeems us, not to make us comfortable, but to make us fit for us in His Kingdom.  Jesus does not belong to us.  We belong to Him, and He calls us to follow Him into all, the world.

 

… We Lift Our Hearts In Worship …

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

Call to Worship:  Isaiah 40:21-31 (First Reading)

21 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? 22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. 23 He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. 24 No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.   25 “To whom will you compare me?  Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. 26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name.  Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. 27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God”? 28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

  

Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme

 

Pastor              In the name of God the Father, the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth;

 ALL                  In the name of God the Son, Jesus Christ, Who came as the Savior of the world;

Pastor              In the name of the God the Holy Spirit, Who gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

ALL                  Our hope is in the Lord.  Our strength is renewed.  We soar on wings of eagles.  Amen.

 

 Opening Prayer

 

Pastor            Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not                              grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  We bow before Him now. Almighty God, You sent Your                                  Son Jesus into our fallen world to restore us as Your children.  Fill us with the power of His Spirit that we might not expect                             Jesus to make us comfortable, but to follow Him into all the world.  In His name and in the power of His Spirit we pray.                                  Amen. 

Time of Greeting 

Time of Praise and Worship

Everlasting God

Brenton Brown & Ken Riley, ©2006 Thankyou Music

God Of Wonders

Marc Byrd & Steve Hindalong, ©2000 New Spring Publishing, Inc

 

Forever

Chris Tomlin, ©2001 Worshiptogether.Com Songs

 

[Traditional Options]

All Glory Be To God Alone     

LSB 948; LW 210

Spread the Reign of God The Lord

LBW 379; LSB 830; LW 32

 Earth and All Stars

EH 412; ELW 731; HFG 10; LBW 558; LSB 817; LW 438; PH 458; RS 681; WC 357; WAR 642

 

… We Hear God’s Word….

Second Reading:  1 Corinthians 9:16-27

Paul is compelled to reach people, using whatever means possible, as well as every ounce of strength. 

16 Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it. 19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.