Description
Matthew 14:22-33
On a stormy night, the disciples were traveling in a boat ahead of Jesus fighting the waves. Suddenly, Jesus appeared walking on the water toward them and the disciples thought He was a ghost. Jesus called Peter out to walk on the water, but Peter became afraid and began to sink. Saved by the hand of the Savior, Peter, and the others in the boat worshiped Jesus. Our feet may fail us, but Jesus never does.
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
Surrounded (Fight My Battles)
Elyssa Smith, © 2017 UR Global Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Unfailing Love
Chris Tomlin, Cary Pierce, & Ed Cash, ©2004 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Alletrop Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Popular Purple Publishing (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.) Bridge Building Music, Inc. (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Cool Springs Blvd., Franklin TN 37067)
I Will Lift My Eyes
Bebo Norman | Jason Ingram, ©2006 Appstreet Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing,
Inc.) New Spring (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.) Peertunes, Ltd. (Admin. by peermusic) Windsor Way Music (Admin. by peermusic)
[Traditional Options]
Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me
ELW 767; LBW 333; LSB 722; LW 512
God Moves in a Mysterious Way
BH 75 439; BH 91 73; EH 677; HFG 603; LBW 483; LSB 765; LW 426; NCH 412; WC 73; WAR 65; WIS 22
My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less
BH 75 337; CH 526; CHH 537; ELW 596; HFG 92; HLC 313; HSP 125; LBW 293,294; LSB 575; LW 368; NCH 403; PH 379; RH 419; UMH 368; WAR 405
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Welcome to this house of worship, this place of prayer, this body that belongs to Christ. Come into this sanctuary of praise and reverence for the Lord God Almighty and put on the garment of praise. Welcome to your heart the Holy Spirit of God who pours out grace and supplication. You who are broken, weary, faithful, lost, afraid, lonely, and fatherless- you are welcome here.
Worshipers
The Lord God welcomes us with an outstretched arm to rescue and redeem us from death. We take His hand in trust and love and keep our eyes on Him.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Dear Jesus, we trust You to pull us through the storms of life. We look to You to be the lighthouse in the darkness. We seek You as our anchor in the midst of stormy seas. We listen for Your voice that calls us out to join You on the waters. When we are afraid, we will trust in You because You are faithful and steadfast, just, and full of mercy, worthy of honor and overflowing with abundant grace and love.
Worshipers
Lord, we ask that You, by Your power and mercy, command the darkness to flee, the storms to still, and the wind to silence right now. Limit the distractions in this room so that we may focused on all that You are and all that You have to offer. We worship You in Spirit and in truth. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit we pray, amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, we confess.
Worshipers
Our confession is soaked in guilt and shame as we admit our faults and sins.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, we repent.
Worshipers
Because of Your kindness, we repent of our wicked and vile ways. We take our eyes off of you and fall into sin’s trap. It’s a dark pit that leads us to death.
Pastor/ Worship Leader
Lord, we seek forgiveness.
Worshipers
You reach out for us and offer us a way out. Your arm is strong and breaks through strongholds to deliver us from evil. You are the only one who forgives us unconditionally and wipes away our sins.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, we give thanks.
Worshipers
We offer sacrificial thanksgiving as an offering of surrender. We accept the forgiveness You have to give, and we say thank you for redemption! Thank you for grace! Thank you for love! Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Job 38:4-18
God describes His sovereignty, dominion, and power to Job in a humbling and stunning speech reminding Job of God’s inimitable living and eternal presence. We, too, must remember that God is above us all and worthy of all of our worship.
“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. 5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? 6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone—7 while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? 8 “Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, 9 when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, 10 when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place,11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’? 12 “Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place, 13 that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it? 14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment. 15 The wicked are denied their light, and their upraised arm is broken. 16 “Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? 17 Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness? 18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this.
