Description
John 10:11-18
It’s an interesting phrase: “by heart.” Knowing something ‘by heart’ means we have such familiarity with something that it has been internalized. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, knows His sheep by heart. He has internalized us. He knows our nature, our pridefulness, our endeavors, our attempts at piety. He knows us through and through. And as our Good Shepherd, we know Him – ‘by heart’. The Spirit reveals to us the very nature of Jesus, the heart of Jesus, and we internalize Him. We experience His love and His peace and His faithfulness.
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship
[Preservice options include videos (countdowns, worship music, welcomes), worship music CD, or live music by worship band.]
Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme
Pastor In the name of God the Father, holy and perfect in all His ways.
ALL In the name of God the Son, Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, Who knows His own.
Pastor In the name of the God the Holy Spirit, Who leads us down paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
ALL Amen.
Opening Prayer
Pastor Almighty Father, all things are of You, and all things are from You, and all things live unto You. You have sent Your Son, to be our Savior, and our Good Shepherd, to restores us to You. He knows us and loves us, and in Him we know You. Give us faithful hearts that we might recognize Jesus as our Good Shepherd, Who lay down His life for us. In Him we pray, through the power of His Spirit. Amen.
Time of Greeting
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor Let us confess our sins and our sinfulness
(silence)
Pastor Father, in the words of Your prophet, Isaiah, You described our condition:
“All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned, everyone, to his own way.”
ALL You sent your Son to be our Good Shepherd. We must confess that at times –
– we have chosen to be our own shepherd.
– we have abandoned the green pastures You have prepared and have searched for shallow satisfaction.
– we have wandered off the path of righteousness.
– we have hid from Your presence, Your rod and staff, and have gone off on our own.
– we have turned aside from the table You have prepared, and have anointed ourselves with the oil of pleasure.
– we have not always recognized Your goodness and mercy.
You empower us to live in freedom and security, and we are so often fearful and trapped.
Pastor: We have gone astray. We have turned to our own way. Yet we hear the words of our Lord: “I am the Good Shepherd; I know My own and My own know Me…and I lay down My life for the sheep.”
Jesus knows us. He knows us intimately. He knows our weaknesses and our sinfulness. He knows everything we try to keep hidden.
And yet He loves us. He loves us enough to die for us that we might be restored.
He knows us better than we know ourselves. For He knows not only who we are, but who we were created to be, and Whose we are.
Time of Praise and Worship
The Way
Paul Baloche, ©2001 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
In The Hands of God
Peter Furler, Jeff Frankenstein, Steve Taylor, ©2009 FB Holden Music (Admin. by 21 Songs LLC)
First Company Publishing (Admin. by 21 Songs LLC) Oinchtech Music (Admin. by 21 Songs LLC)
Don’t Chase Music (Admin. by 21 Songs LLC) Soylent Tunes (Admin. by Integrated Copyright Group, Inc.)
Strong Enough
Matthew West, ©2010 External Combustion Music / Songs For Delaney / Songs Of Southside Independent Music Publishing, LLC (Admin. by Wixen Music Publishing, LLC) (ASCAP)
[Traditional Options]
O Worship The King
BH 75 30; BH 91 16; CH 104; CHH 17; EH 388; ELW 842; HWC 10; HPW 13; HFG 336; HLC 21; HGP 1; HSP 6; LBW 548; LSB 804; LW 458; NCH 26; PH 476; RH 5; STTL 64; WC 29; UMH 73; WAR 2; WHM 14; WIS 6
Eternal Spirit of the Living Christ
EH 698; ELW 402; LBW 441; LSB 769; LW 432; NCH 520; WAR 475
Oh, That the Lord Would Guide My Ways
ELW 772; LBW 480; LSB 707; LW 392
We Hear God’s Word
FIRST READING Acts 4:5-12
Peter and John boldly stand before the Sanhedrin and proclaim they gave healing to a crippled man in the name of Jesus Christ.
1The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand. 5The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest’s family. 7They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11He is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.”12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved
