Description
Matthew 21:33-46
Jesus continues to teach at the temple. He has been teaching in parables and here in the parable of the tenants, the landowner sends servants to collect his fruit. The tenants beat and kill the servants. Then the landowner sends his son, whom they also kill. The chief priests and Pharisees actually judge themselves when asked what should happen to the tenants. Once they understand that the parables were about them, they begin looking for ways to arrest Jesus.
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
I Will Follow
Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram, & Reuben Morgan, ©2010 SHOUT! Publishing | sixsteps Music | worshiptogether.com songs | Vamos Publishing | Sony/ATV Timber Publishing (Admin. by Integrity Music, Inc.) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by Sony/ATV Sounds LLC)
God So Loved
Ed Cash, Scott Cash, Franni Cash, Andrew Bergthold, Martin Cash, 2019 We The Kingdom Music, Andrew Bergthold Designee, We The Kingdom ASCAP Designee, Capitol CMG Genesis, Capitol CMG Paragon (Admin by Capitol CMG Publishing)
One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)
Brian Johnson, Christa Black, & Jeremy Riddle, ©2010 Bethel Music (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing) Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) ChristaJoy Music Publishing (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing)
[Traditional Options]
What God Ordains Is Always Good
ELW 776; LBW 446; LSB 760; LW 422; NCH 415; PH 284; WC 82
Built on the Rock the Church Doth Stand
BH 75 235; BH 91 351; CHH 273; ELW 652; HFG 555; HLC 201; LBW 365; LSB 645; LW 291; WC 705; WAR 546; WHM 340
Lord Jesus Christ, The Church’s Head
LSB 647; LW 293
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
The Spirit of God bids us, “Come.” Let everyone who hears within their hearts “Come.” Hear the whole earth rejoice and sing of our God’s steadfast love.
Worshipers
We come to rejoice in the Holy One, our God. We give thanks for God sets us free!
Pastor / Worship Leader
Let everyone who is thirsty for the Spirit “Come.” Let anyone who wishes “Come,” and receive the water of life as a gift.
Worshipers
We come to rejoice in the Holy One, our God. We give thanks for God’s steadfast love that brings joy to our hearts in the night, lights our lives like the dawn, and sets us free.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We do not gather in vain, for God is working in our hearts.
Worshipers
The love of Jesus Christ calls us together. The love of Jesus Christ shines in our lives.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Our worship strengthens and empowers us to share the gospel. Amen.
Worshipers
Amen!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Almighty God, you have built your Church on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. Join us together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may become a holy temple, acceptable to you: through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. We stand before you today, with our human foibles and our short attention spans, asking that you would make yourself known to us, that you would help us to recognize the presence of the Holy, that you would continue to challenge us, inspire us, and make us into the people you want us to be.
Worshipers
Amen!
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, we confess.
Worshipers
Forgive us, Lord, when through neglect, preoccupation, or wrongfulness, we turn our back on You.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We confess that we have shunned Your messengers; sending them away with clipped words
and cold eyes. We have often hurt the agents of Your care; we are too busy or self-absorbed to notice
Your invitation in their words.
Worshipers
We confess that we have many times passed by unaware of Your calm Presence, unfeeling of Your beckoning gaze.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Teach us to see, to listen, and to walk with an open heart, so that we can welcome You, and answer You, when, in grace and love, You call us to follow.
Worshipers
We pray Lord, for your mercy and your forgiveness.
Pastor / Worship Leader
In Jesus’ name, amen!
Worshipers
Amen!
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Isaiah 5:1-7
The Prophet Isaiah sings about a vineyard, a vineyard planted with choice vines, and expected to produce good grapes. The Lord asks why the vineyard yielded only bad fruit. The Prophet shows that the vineyard is the nation of Israel and that the Lord will exercise judgment on Israel.
I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside.2 He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit. 3 “Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. 4 What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad? 5 Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed; I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled. 6 I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and briers and thorns will grow there. I will command the clouds not to rain on it.” 7 The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel, and the people of Judah are the vines he delighted in. And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.
