Description
Mark 1:21-28
Words are powerful. Words can heal or wound. Words can build up or tear down. Words can curse or bless. And when Jesus speaks words they hold the utmost power! Just by speaking words Jesus set a man with an impure spirit free. When Jesus speaks wholeness is poured out upon we who are broken. By His truth spoken today may our confusion subside, and healing prevail, that we might be free to serve Him! Speak to us Jesus.
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
Open the Eyes of My Heart
Paul Baloche, ©1997 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
Draw Me Close
Kelly Carpenter, ©1994 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing
Better Is One Day
Matt Redman, ©1995 Thankyou Music
[Traditional Options]
Father We Praise Thee
EH 1,2; ELW 558; LBW 267; LSB 875; LW 482; PHH 459; UMH 680
Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
CHH 140; EH 616; ELW 311; LBW 87; LSB 398; LW 82; NCH 104; UMH 203
Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme
Pastor We gather in the name of the one True God.
ALL Our Father, from whom all things come,
Jesus Christ, the Living Word of God,
and the Holy Spirit, who brings His Word to life.
Prayer Opening
Pastor Compassionate God, You gather the whole universe into Your radiant presence and continually reveal Your Son as our Savior. Bring wholeness to all that is broken and speak truth to us in our confusion, that all creation will see and know Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
ALL Amen.
Time of Greeting
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor In the light of God’s radiant presence we become aware of our sin and our spirit is saddened. We come to God to admit our wrongs and receive healing.
ALL Lord, we confess that we have misrepresented Your grace. At times we have used our freedom in Christ as an excuse for bad behavior. Forgive us.
We confess that we have been impressed by our own achievements rather than with the finished work of Christ . Forgive us.
We confess that we have been quiet and not spoken against the false prophets of this world. Forgive us.
We confess that we have been spiritually arrogant. We have confused knowledge about You with truly knowing You. Forgive us.
Pastor Christ has paid the penalty for your sin so that you may live in fellowship with God the Father. Your sins have been forgiven – as well as forgotten. Now, live with the joy of a cleansed heart and the peace of His compassion.
ALL Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Deuteronomy 18:15-20
God’s promise to send a prophet “like Him” and “from the people” is the promise of Christ. God admonishes the people to listen and obey the words of His prophet, but warns that any false prophet should be put to death.
15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. 16 For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.” 17 The LORD said to me: “What they say is good. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. 19 I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name. 20 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.”
