Description
Luke 18:1-8
Jesus shared a parable with His disciples that demonstrated the importance of persistent prayer. In the parable, a determined widow continued pleading to a godless judge about granting justice against her adversary. It was the woman’s faithfulness that moved the judge to grant her request. God listens to the faithful and wants us to present our requests to Him for He cares for us.
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
Open The Eyes Of My Heart
Paul Baloche, ©1997 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
Your Grace Is Enough
Matt Maher, ©2003 Spiritandsong.com; Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Always
Jason Ingram & Kristian Stanfill, ©2010 sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Sony/ATV Timber Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing) West Main Music (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing)
Windsor Hill Music (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing)
[Traditional Options]
With The Lord Begin Your Task
LBW 444; LSB 869; LW 483
Holy God, We Praise Your Name
CH 2; EH 366; ELW 414; HWC 12; HFG 385; HLC 9; LBW 535; LSB 940; LW 171; NCH 276; PH 460; RS 657; STTL 12; WC 3; UMH 79; WAR 138; WHM 117
Today Your Mercy Calls Us
LBW 304; LSB 915; LW 347
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
We serve a God who cares for us. Let us cast our cares on Him today. Turn over the yokes that burden us to the Lord whose hands are open. May we trust Him today with all of our worries, doubts, and fears.
Worshipers
Lord, we surrender ourselves to You and drop our burdens at the foot of the cross.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Jesus, you meet us in our brokenness, our wavering, and our fears and remind us that You’ve got this. We don’t have to worry about the little things or even the big things. We can trust You with it all. You desire for us to knock on Your door and present our requests before You. So today, we give You all the “things” that weigh us down, and focus our minds and hearts on You, our Healer, our Deliverer, and the God in whom we can trust. It’s in the powerful name of Jesus we pray,
Worshipers
Amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
We turn our hearts to confession now.
Worshipers
Of the sins we committed this morning, the unconfessed sins of our past, we confess and ask for Your forgiveness, Lord Jesus Christ.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Jesus, You know everything and desire a relationship with us. So, in our shame, guilt, disgust, and anguish, we confess that we are sinners in need of Your beautiful saving grace. Nothing compares to Your matchless love. You have forgiven us and by Your stripes, we are healed. Thank You for your love and redemption and grace. We couldn’t live this life without it.
Worshipers
We love you, Lord, amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Genesis 32:22-31
Jacob was so determined to receive God’s blessing that he wrestled with a man for hours until he was blessed. After the man gave Jacob a blessing, Jacob knew that He had seen God face to face but was spared his life.
That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. 28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” 29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” 31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.
