Description
(Luke 15:1-10)
The Pharisees scoffed at Jesus who dined with sinners, but Jesus didn’t care. In fact, He illustrated the Father’s relentless love through picture parables. One parable showed a shepherd leaving behind his flock of 99 to search for the one lost sheep and bring it home. The other parable told a story of a woman who lost a silver coin only to rejoice with her friends when she found it. We are all lost without Jesus. When we repent as sinners, all of Heaven greatly rejoices!
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
Everlasting God
Brenton Brown & Ken Riley, ©2006 Thankyou Music
Living Hope
Brian Johnson & Phil Wickham, © 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]) Sing My Songs (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC]) Bethel Music Publishing
Who You Say I Am
Ben Fielding | Reuben Morgan, © 2017 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
[Traditional Options]
Jesus Sinners Doth Receive
LBW 291; LSB 609; LW 229
I Will Sing My Maker’s Praises
LSB 977; LW 439
Come Thou Fount of Ev’ry Blessing
BH75 12,13; BH 91 15, 18; CH 11; CHH 16; EH 686; ELW 807; HS98 876; HWC 2; HPW 4; HFG 318; HLC 28; HGP 9; HSP 16; LBW 499; LWB 686; NCH 459; PH 356; RH 11; STTL 51; WC 45; UMH 400; WAR 68; WHM 30; WIS 62
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
The Lord is merciful!
Worshipers
He is faithful and strong.
Pastor / Worship Leader
He knows our transgressions, our prior ways, and yet He loves us.
Worshipers
He has mercy on us even though we are undeserving.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Let us be quick to lift up praise to the God of mercy!
Worshipers
We praise Almighty God!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Merciful God, full of compassion, we are undeserving of being in Your presence. You are above all kings, enthroned in majesty, and full of glory, and somehow You tell us to approach Your throne in confidence. We are not worthy of Your relentless love. Thank you, Father, for loving us in the trenches, just as we are. In the name of Your holy begotten Son, Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen.
Worshipers
Amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, we come to You now as sinners ready to confess.
Worshipers
Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your unfailing love.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We confess that we have been sinful from birth and have done what is evil in Your sight.
Worshipers
Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great compassion.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We ask You to wash away our sin, to cleanse us whiter than snow.
Worshipers
Create in us pure hearts, O God.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We thank you for forgiving us. It is only because of the propitiation made for our sins by Jesus Christ that we are forgiven and set free from this sin burden.
Worshipers
Renew steadfast spirits within us. We follow You, Jesus. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Exodus 32:7-14
The Israelites quickly rebelled against God and built and worshiped a golden calf while Moses was on the mountain with the Lord. The Lord burned with anger, but He relented from destroying them.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. 8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’ 9 “I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people.10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.” 11 But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. 13 Remember you
your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’” 14 Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.
