Description
Luke 12:49-53
Our world isn’t perfect and our relationships aren’t perfect. Often Jesus in the Gospels reminds of this to teach us that perfection and peace only come through Him by faith. Today, our Gospel lesson brings all of this up in one of the seemingly harshest passages in the Gospels. By our repentance and being brought into God’s family, divisions on earth arise between us and those who do not turn to Christ. Our hope and prayers remain however, that God would heal all divisions and gather everyone into His Heavenly Kingdom.
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
Mighty to Save
Ben Fielding & Reuben Morgan, ©2006 Hillsong Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Our God Saves
Brenton Brown and Paul Baloche, ©2007 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Integrity’s Hosanna! Music Leadworship Songs (Admin. by Integrity Music, Inc.)
Your Grace Is Enough
Matt Maher, ©2003 Spiritandsong.com; Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
[Traditional Options]
O Jesus King Most Wonderful
HLC 73; LBW 537; LSB 554; LW 274
This is the Day the Lord Has Made
BH 75 68; BH 91 358, 359; CH 209; CHH 286; EH 50; HWC 590; LSB 903; LW 200; NCH 84; PH 230; RH 705; STTL 26; WC 801; UMH 657, 658; WAR 652
Salvation Unto Us Has Come
ELW 590; LBW 297; LSB 555; LW 355
Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme
Pastor We come together as God’s family gathered here in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
ALL Amen!
Opening Prayer
Pastor Lord of Heaven and Earth, hear Your people today.
ALL Thank you for this day Lord and for gathering us together. We praise Your name for all that You have done for us. Continue to bless us Lord and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.
Time of Greeting
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor Let us spend some time with our Father, letting Him purify our hearts and minds.
Silence for reflection and confession
Pastor We pray:
ALL We confess Lord that we rely on Your mercy this day. We have sinned against You and one another. We have not always lived lives that show us as disciples of Your Son. We have not always trusted Your and often rely on our own ideas and plans. Forgive us Lord. Have mercy on us. Renew us and lead us that we may bring glory to Your name. Amen.
Pastor Jesus Christ died for you. He gave up everything for your redemption. Because of that, in the stead of Christ, and by His command, I gladly forgive you all your sins and declare You as God’s Holy people.
ALL Amen, Amen!
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Jeremiah 23:16-29
Through the prophet Jeremiah God brings warning about and judgement on false prophets. Even today these words are striking: only listen to the word of the Lord.
16Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. 17They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’” 18For who among them has stood in the council of the Lord to see and to hear his word, or who has paid attention to his word and listened? 19Behold, the storm of the Lord! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest; it will burst upon the head of the wicked. 20The anger of the Lord will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intents of his heart. In the latter days you will understand it clearly. 21“I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. 22But if they had stood in my council, then they would have proclaimed my words to my people, and they would have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their deeds. 23“Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God afar off? 24Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord. 25I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ 26How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart, 27who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name for Baal? 28Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declares the Lord. 29Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?”
Reader The word of the Lord.
ALL Thanks be to God.
