Description
John 21:1-14 (15-19)
“Simon, do you love me?” asked Jesus three times. Simon Peter answered all three times with, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Then Jesus responded with an action for Simon to accomplish- to feed His lambs and take care of His sheep. He also foreshadowed the death of Simon Peter. Following Jesus is no easy task. What is required is devotion and careful obedience even if…unto death. When we remember the Lord’s death, we remember His obedience to His father and the horrific pain and suffering. But the suffering was short-lived compared to the glory of the resurrection that changed humanity forever! Following Jesus on earth leads to a glorious resurrection and eternal life that outweighs the suffering on this temporary earth.
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
A Thousand Hallelujahs
Brooke Ligertwood | Phil Wickham | Scott Ligertwood © 2022 Brooke Ligertwood Designee (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)Phil Wickham Music (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC]) Simply Global Songs (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC])
Until The Whole World Hears
Bernie Herms, Jason McArthur, Mark Hall, Roger Glidewell, ©2009 BanaHama Tunes (Admin. by Word
Music Group, Inc.) Word Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.) My Refuge Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Songs LLC) Unknown MGE Songs (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.
Christ Is Risen
Matt Maher & Mia Fieldes, © Thankyou Music | spiritandsong.com | Unknown (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
[Traditional Options]
Come, Let Us Join Our Cheerful Songs
BH 75 126; EH 374; ELW 847; LBW 254; LSB 812; LW 204
Dearest Jesus We Are Here
ELW 443; LBW 187; LSB 592; LW 226; PH 493
Now All The Vault of Heaven Resounds
ELW 367; LBW 143; LSB 465; LW 131
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
The Lamb of God sits on the throne!
Worshipers
He is the Lord forever!
Pastor / Worship Leader
He is the Miracle Worker, the Risen King, and has victory over sin and death!
Worshipers
We worship Jesus Christ and Him alone!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Jesus, You are worthy. In humility, we bow before You, our King.
Worshipers
We confess You as our Lord and Savior.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We ask You to be with us now, to invade our space and take over. We don’t want to miss out on all You have for us. We want to know You, Jesus.
Worshipers
Yes, we want to know You as Your disciples did.
Pastor / Worship Leader
In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Father God, we stumble and are stained by the residue sin leaves.
Worshipers
Who is the Lamb who can take away our sins?
Pastor / Worship Leader
We confess that we have been tricked by the enemy and have given into his temptations.
Worshipers
Help us, Lamb of God.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Free us from sin’s hold, Jesus!
Worshipers
The Unblemished Lamb was slaughtered for humanity’s sin. His blood declares us spotless, pure, and healed.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We are forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ- the Lamb who took the sins of the world.
Worshipers
Praise the Lord!
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Acts 9:1-22
The greatest persecutor of his time was Saul, but the Lord had big plans for him. Meeting him on the Road to Damascus, Jesus completely changed his life forever including his name to Paul. God can and will transform anyone He chooses. Don’t give up praying for others.
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. 10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. 11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
