Description
Luke 6:27-38
Jesus taught the crowd to treat their enemies with love instead of hatred. What a challenge this can be for us today. In times of violence, hatred, and strife, we witness betrayals against brothers and sisters all over the news and in our own lives. But Jesus breathed and spoke of love, and we as believers must follow His leading. Not only should we love our enemies well, but we should also go the extra mile and extend good deeds, lending without expectations of any returns, forgiving continuously, and leaving the judging up to the Lord. We are to be merciful like our loving Father God, who loved us even while we were still sinners and extended His grace to us freely.
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
If We Are The Body
Mark Hall, ©2003 My Refuge Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Songs LLC)
Who You Say I Am
Ben Fielding | Reuben Morgan, © 2017 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Adore
Graham Kendrick / Martin Chalk, © 2015 Common Hymnal Publishing, Common Hymnal Digital, worship together.com Songs, Worship Together Music, sixsteps Music, sixsteps Songs, Vamos Publishing, S.D.G. Publishing (Admin Capitol CMG)
[Traditional Options]
O God, My Faithful God
ELW 806; LBW 504; LSB 696; LW 371; PH 277
What God Ordains Is Always Good
ELW 776; LBW 446; LSB 760; LW 422; NCH 415; PH 284; WC 82
Where Charity and Love Prevail
BH 75 257; EH 581; ELW 359; HS 98 878; LBW 126; LSB 845; NCH 396; UMH 549
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Praise the Lord!
Worshipers
Praise the Lord!
Pastor / Worship Leader
In our inmost being, we will…
Worshipers
Praise the Lord!
Pastor / Worship Leader
In this space, in our hearts, we will…
Worshipers
Praise the Lord!
Pastor / Worship Leader
With our lips and our minds, we will…
Worshipers
Praise the Lord!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Gracious and compassionate God, You are abounding in love. As high as the heavens are above the earth, as far as the east is from the west, and like a father has compassion on his children, so Your love surpasses us all. Teach us to love like You. Move in us to have compassion for our neighbors, forgiveness for those who have wronged us, and courage to admit when we are wrong. We desire to be more like You, Jesus. Teach us Your loving ways.
Worshipers
In Christ’s name we pray, amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Father, we admit when we’ve been mistreated, our hurt clouds our vision.
Worshipers
Instead of loving those who have wounded our hearts, we seek out revenge and dwell in unforgiveness. This is not how You’ve asked us to live.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Forgive us, Lord, for we have sinned.
Worshipers
You say from everlasting to everlasting You love those who fear You. We confess that at times we don’t fear You at all. We go our own ways, and we mistreat others to elevate ourselves. Forgive us, Lord Jesus.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Give us the courage to admit our faults. We need Your strength to forgive others.
Worshipers
Make plain to our eyes how You’ve forgiven us and convict us by Your Holy Spirit to extend freely and graciously Your forgiveness, love, and grace. We don’t deserve it, but because You love us, You give it.
Pastor / Worship Leader
May the God of Love grant us His mercy and forgiveness. May He teach us His lovingkindness and move us toward mercy. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Genesis 45:3-15
After being mistreated by his brothers, Joseph, extended undeserved grace to them. What was meant for evil, God intended for good and redeemed their familial relationships. Where do you see God working in your own families?
3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. 4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 9 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11 I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’ 12 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. 13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.” 14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.
