Description

Mark 8:31-38

When Jesus spoke to his disciples about His coming suffering and death, Peter rebuked Jesus.  Clashing with Peter’s scold, Jesus then rebuked Peter of his human concerns instead of Godly ones.  Calling a crowd, Jesus explained the weight of being a disciple- losing your own life for the sake of the Gospel and denying yourself on earth to someday gain eternal life.  Our human nature will often clash with God’s nature.  We must deny ourselves and submit to His will to experience true life.

 

… 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

The Wonderful Cross

Hymn by Isaac Watts; Arr. by, Chris Tomlin, J.D. Walt, Jesse Reeves, & Lowell Mason, ©2000 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)songs

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)

Matt Redman & Jonas Myrin, ©2011 Thankyou Music, Said And Done Music, sixsteps Music, SHOUT! Publishing (Admin EMI CMG Publishing)

O Come to the Altar

Chris Brown. Mack Brock, Steven Futick, Wade Joye, ©2015 Music by Elevation Worship Publishing (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)

 

[Traditional Options]

Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me

ELW 767; LBW 333; LSB 722; LW 512

In The Cross Of Christ I Glory

BH 91 554; CH 328; CW 345; ELW 324; HFG 251; LBW 104; LSB 427; LW 101; NCH 193; PH 84; WC 209

Glory Be To Jesus

EH 479; HLC 143; LBW 95; LSB 433; LW 98

  

Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme

 Pastor              We gather together today as members of one body. 

ALL                  We are the Church. 

Pastor              We submit to Christ, our King.

ALL                  He is the source of true life!

 

Opening Prayer

 Pastor            Lord, we feel blessed to be a part of your body.  Open our hearts and give us your eyes so that we may see this world as you see it.  Help us to                              live out the calling that you have on our lives to advance the Gospel.  As we open your Word today, may it be like fresh bread to our hungry                                souls.  

ALL                  Fill us, Lord.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

 

Time of Greeting

 

Time of Confession and Forgiveness

[Alternate location:  following Message]

 

Pastor             Holy God, we are a fallen generation concerned with pleasing our sinful desires even

when it’s against your commands.

ALL                  Forgive us, Lord. 

Pastor              Our human nature clashes with your nature, God.  You are good, we are not.

ALL                  There is no one righteous, not even one. 

Pastor              But, by faith, there is a way!  Through your Son, we are made righteous in your sight!

ALL                  We are not alone.  God is with us and has made a way for us to be reconciled to

                         Him. 

Pastor              We accept the love of Jesus and put our faith in you.

ALL                  Thank you for your forgiveness and your grace. 

Pastor              It’s in the name of Jesus that we pray,

ALL                  Amen.

 

… We Hear God’s Word …

[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]

 

First Reading                                  Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16

Abram and Sarai received new names when God established a covenant with them to greatly increase their number of descendants.  He promised to bless them by making nations and even kings from their generational line. 

 

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. 2 Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” 3 Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, 4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

15 God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. 16 I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”