Description
John 1:43-51
Nathanael thought that nothing good could come from Nazareth until he met Jesus. Nathanael confessed and believed that Jesus was the Rabbi, Son of God. Jesus told Nathanael that he would soon see great things. When we follow Jesus, we follow the Lord who knows us in every place- even under fig trees. Nothing is hidden from Jesus, yet He still calls us to follow Him.
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
Here For You
Jesse Reeves | Matt Maher | Matt Redman | Tim Wanstall, © 2011 worshiptogether.com songs | sixsteps Music | Said And Done Music | Thankyou Music | Valley Of Songs Music | Chrysalis One Songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Our God
Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Jonas Myrin, & Matt Redman, ©2010 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Said And Done Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Vamos Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) SHOUT! Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Come, Now Is The Time To Worship
Brian Doerksen, ©1998 Vineyard Song
[Traditional Options]
In Thee Is Gladness
ELW 867; HLC 64; LBW 552; LSB 818; LW 442; UMH 169
Splendor and Honor
LSB 950
I Have Decided To Follow Jesus
BH 75 191; BH 91 305; CH 602; CHH 344; HWC 376; HLC 451; RH 489; STTL 468; TFWS 2129; WC 576; WAR 344; WHM 385
Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme
Pastor The Lord is good!
ALL Indeed He is!
Pastor There is nothing hidden from Him
ALL He knows us near; He knows us far.
Pastor And He still loves us!
ALL Indeed He loves us!
Opening Prayer
Pastor Jesus, we humbly bow our hearts, lay aside our wills, our desires, our wants, and our priorities. We stop and acknowledge your name-
ALL Rabbi, Son of God!
Pastor Not our will, but your will be done, O Lord as it is in Heaven. Move in your mighty power, Holy Spirit, and change us today!
ALL In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Time of Greeting
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor Hear us, Lord, we confess…
ALL You’ve laid before us a path of life, yet we choose the path to destruction by
indulging in sinful desires. Forgive us, Father.
Pastor Hear us, Lord, we confess…
ALL We know what’s right, yet we do what we do not want to do and go on sinning.
Forgive us, Father.
Pastor Hear us, Lord, we confess…
ALL We ignore your calling and disobey. Forgive us, Father.
Pastor Children of God, hear the call of the Lord. Follow Him for He is full of grace, truth, and
mercy. By the stripes on Christ’s back and the shedding of His blood, our sins are
forgiven! Let us answer the call and follow Jesus.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)
Three times the Lord called Samuel who ran answering to Eli. Under Eli’s direction, Samuel answered the Lord the fourth time and listened as the Lord told him about His plan for Eli’s house. Samuel shared the message with Eli who answered, “He is the Lord; let Him do what is good in his eyes.” When we face a situation that seems difficult, let’s trust in the Lord to do what is good in His eyes.
The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. 2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. 6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 11 And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. 12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. 13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them. 14 Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’” 15 Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, 16 but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.” Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 17 “What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you.” 18 So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.” 19 The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord.
