Description
Luke 18:9-17
Jesus, while on the road to Jerusalem, continues His teaching of the disciples. In this parable Jesus seems to speak directly to those who consider themselves righteous, perhaps the Pharisees. He tells the story of a Pharisee and a tax collector praying. One has words of arrogance and another words of humility. Later Jesus states the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like children.
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
Blessed Be Your Name
Beth & Matt Redman, ©2002 Thankyou Music
I Come To The Cross
Bill Batstone & Bob Somma, ©1996 Maranatha Praise, Inc. (Maranatha! Music [Admin. by Music Services]) Meadowgreen Music Company (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Give Us Clean Hands
Charlie Hall, ©2000 worshiptogether.com Songs/sixsteps Music
[Traditional Options]
Not All the Blood of Beasts
LSB 431; LW 99
How Great Thou Art
BH 75 35; BH 91 10; CH 147; CHH 33; ELW 856; HWC 4; HPW 17; HFG 2; HLC 32; LBW 532; LSB 801; LW 519; NCH 35; PH 467; RH 2; RS 663; STTL 33; WC 21; UMH 77; WAR 51; WHM 111; WIS 5
Lord, Whose Love Through/In Humble Service
CHH 461; EH 610; ELW 712; HS98 882; HLC 512; LBW 423; LSB 848; UMH 581; WAR 575
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Praise be to the Lord!
Worshipers
Praise to the Lord of Heaven and Earth! The Creator of life.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We worship You Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!
Worshipers
We know You are with us, to the very end of the age.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We welcome You here, Lord. We thank you for your presence.
Worshipers
To You be glory and power, for ever and ever!
Pastor / Worship Leader
Amen!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Jesus, We come to You, our Savior, humbly in prayer. We are thankful and in awe of what You have done for us. Your sacrifice. Your pain. Your life here on earth. We cannot fully understand Your grace, love, or forgiveness. Heavenly Father, sending Your only begotten Son to die for us should have us on our knees daily. Help us to do this. Draw us closer to you. Show us how to lift our faces to You in humble adoration. We pray in Your Holy Name. Amen!
Worshipers
Amen!
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, we confess our sins.
Worshipers
We confess the sin of pride, the sin of believing we are righteous by our own actions, our own works.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We confess that we love and even prefer the praise of humans to that of You.
Worshipers
We confess that our instinct is to trust in ourselves first, and then, You.
Pastor / Worship Leader
I confess that I am more concerned with my will, vice Your will.
Worshipers
Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my Savior.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Have mercy on me Lord, a sinner.
Worshipers
Amen!
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Genesis 4:1-15
Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam and Eve, both make an offering of their work to God. God looks with favor on Abel’s but not on Cain’s. The dejected Cain is counseled by God to do what is right and beware of sin. But the jealous Cain attacks and kills Abel. The Lord drives Cain from the land under a curse, and yet, promises protection for him.
Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.” 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So, Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” 8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”15 But the Lord said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.
