Description
Luke 7:11-17
Two crowds collided at an intersection. One crowd was overshadowed by death. The other was dancing in life. One crowd was singing dirges, the other was celebrating. One crowd was filled with mourning, the other with laughter. And the crowds came together at an intersection. Death met life. Which would win? In our world, it seems death intersects life and holds the upper hand. Not so. When Jesus intersects our lives we are lifted out of sin, into holiness; out of death, into life; out of guilt, into joy; out of despair; into hope. Jesus meets us where we are, and we are never the same.
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship
[Preservice options include videos (countdowns, worship music, welcomes), worship music CD, or live music by worship band.]
Time of Praise and Worship
Mighty to Save
Ben Fielding & Reuben Morgan, ©2006 Hillsong Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Jesus Saves
Nick Herbert & Tim Hughes, ©2008 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Nothing But The Blood
Matt Redman, ©2004 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
[Traditional Options]
O Day of Rest and Gladness
ELW 521; HFG 12; HLC 549; LBW 251; LSB 906; LW 203
Come, Your Hearts And Voices Raising
LSB 375; LW 48
Praise to You, and Adoration
LSB 692
Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme
Pastor: In the name of the Father, Who sent His Son to redeem us
In the name of the Son, Jesus Christ, Who intersects our lives with His love.
In the name of the Holy Spirit, Who brings us to a crossroads, and gives us life.
ALL We come to this intersection, Almighty God, eager to meet You here. Amen
Opening Prayer
Pastor Heavenly Father, You sent Your Son to be our Redeemer. At the crossroads of our lives, as we wandered far from You, Jesus encounters us, and turns death into life. He lifts us, by the power of His Word, to be Your children. Here and now we worship You, in the name of Jesus and in the power of His Spirit.
ALL Amen.
Time of Greeting
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor In this moment, at this crossroads, we await the Word of the Lord
(a time of silence)
Father, we come as Your children, acknowledging that we have fallen short
ALL We have gone our own way, on a road of our own choosing, and have wandered from You.
Pastor Our journey is marked with pain and hurt and confusion, despair and death. Left on our own, we are lost
ALL We await Your Word of peace.
Pastor Just intersects our lives with his cross and empty tomb. He touches us with His grace, and speaks us into life. He lifts us from the bier of despair and loneliness, and claims us as His own, giving us to His Father.
ALL In the name of Jesus, we know the power of resurrection.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading: I Kings 17:17-24
Elijah prays for the dead son of the widow of Zarephath. God restores the widow’s son to life
22 Then Solomon stood in front of the Lord’s altar. He stood in front of the whole community of Israel. He spread out his hands toward heaven. 23 He said, “Lord, you are the God of Israel. There is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below. You keep the covenant you made with us. You show us your love. You do that when we follow you with all our hearts.
41 “Suppose there are strangers who don’t belong to your people Israel. And they have come from a land far away. They’ve come because they’ve heard about your name. 42 When they get here, they will find out even more about your great name. They’ll hear about how you reached out your mighty hand and powerful arm. So they’ll come and pray toward this temple.43 “Then listen to them from heaven. It’s the place where you live. Do what those strangers ask you to do. Then all of the nations on earth will know you. They will have respect for you. They’ll respect you just as your own people Israel do. They’ll know that your Name is in this house I’ve built.
