Description
Mark 12:38-44
Jesus criticized the religious leaders for their hypocrisy and love of status, while commending a poor widow who gave two small coins as her offering to the temple. He highlighted that her sacrificial giving is worth more than the large sums given by the wealthy as she gave all she had to live on. As we reflect on this passage, we are prompted to be generous and selfless givers of our resources as we trust God for His provision regardless of our financial situations.
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship
[Preservice options include video countdowns, worship song videos, welcomes), CDs, or live music.]
Welcome & Time of Greeting
Pastor / Worship Leader
Welcome, beloved brothers and sisters in Christ! Today, we are excited to be together. We ask for the presence of the Holy Spirit to be strong in our midst as we reflect on the profound truths found in God’s Word.
Worshipers
May our hearts be open to the lessons He has for us today. Lord, open our hearts.
Time of Praise and Worship
Jesus Son of God
Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram, & Matt Maher, ©2012 Sixsteps Songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Worship Together Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing), A Thousand Generations Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing), Valley Of Songs Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing), Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing), Sony/ATV Timber Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Sounds LLC), Open Hands Music (Admin. by Sony/ATV Sounds LLC)
This is Amazing Grace
Jeremy Riddle, Josh Farro, & Phil Wickham, ©2012 Bethel Music (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing) Phil Wickham Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) Seems Like Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) Sing My Songs (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) Warner Chappell Music (Admin. by Unaffiliated Admin (UA))
You Are My All In All
Dennis Jernigan, ©1991 Shepherd’s Heart Music, Inc. (Admin. by PraiseCharts)
[Traditional Options]
Brightest And Best Of The Stars Of The Morning
CHH 174; EH 117,118; ELW 303; LBW 84; LSB 400; LW 86, NCH 157,156; PH 67; RS 533; WC 182; WAR 235
O Bless The Lord My Soul
EH 411; LBW 538; LSB 814; LW 457; WC 71
What Is The World To Me
LSB 730; LW 418
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Come, Holy Spirit, and guide our thoughts as we delve into Your Word. Help us to see Your provision, recognize the sacrifice of Your Son, and embrace the call to live generously.
Worshipers
Amen.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Gracious Lord, we ask You to inspire us to trust Your provision and to become a generous people that brings You glory. Empower us to live out our faith in action as Jesus did on earth.
Worshipers
Open our hearts and minds to receive Your message today. In Jesus’ name we ask, amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Brothers and sisters, let us come before the Forgiver with humble hearts and acknowledge our need for His forgiveness, grace, and mercy.
Worshipers
We confess that we have relied on our own plans, understanding, and money and have failed to trust in You.
Pastor / Worship Leader
In our moments of doubt, we have neglected to recognize the sacrifice of Christ, who gave Himself for our sins.
Worshipers
We confess that we have at times held back our generosity, forgetting the call to love and serve others.
Pastor / Worship Leader
But God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness!
Worshipers
We receive His forgiveness with grateful hearts, trusting in his love and grace to transform us. We are forgiven and renewed and renewed to live in faith and generosity! Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading 1 Kings 17:8-16
God instructed the prophet Elijah to go to Zarephath where he met a widow who was gathering sticks. He asked her for water and bread, and she gave him the last of her flour and oil. As a result, her jar of flour and oil miraculously did not run dry throughout the famine.
8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.” 12 “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” 13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’” 15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.
