Description
(Luke 10:38-42)
Sisters, Mary and Martha, opened their home to the Lord Jesus. While Martha was busy preparing for her special guest, Mary was sitting at His feet listening to all Jesus said. Martha felt upset and asked the Lord to tell Mary to help her with the work, but Jesus described the true problem. Hospitality is important, but unless Jesus is the center of our lives, we truly have nothing to share with our guests. Taking time to be in His presence and listening to His voice is more important than the preparations that need to be done, because at the feet of Jesus is where we experience peace that passes all understanding. This peace is worth sharing with others.
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship
[Preservice options include video countdowns, worship song videos, welcomes), CDs, or live music.]
Welcome & Time of Greeting
Pastor / Worship Leader
Come Lord Jesus- You are welcome in this place. We welcome You into our lives. Come Lord Jesus.
Worshipers
Lord, you are welcome here.
Time of Praise and Worship
You Are Holy (Prince of Peace)
Marc Imboden & Tammi Rhoton, ©1994 Imboden Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) Martha Jo Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
Good Good Father
Anthony Brown/Pat Barrett, © 2014 Capitol CMG Paragon (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Common Hymnal Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Housefires Sounds (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Tony Brown Publishing Designee (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Vamos Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
What a Beautiful Name
Ben Fielding & Brooke Ligertwood, © 2016 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
[Traditional Options]
The God of Abraham Praise
BH 75 25; BH 91 34; CH 23; CHH 24; EH 401; ELW 831; HWC 34; HFG 332; HLC 36; LBW 544; LSB 798; LW 450; NCH 24; PH 488; RS 685; STTL 73; WC 66; UMH 116; WAR 16; WHM 26
Praise Be To Christ
LSB 538
It Is Well With My Soul
BH 75 339; BH 91 410; CH 705; CHH 571; ELW 785; HWC 493; HPW 55; HFG 495; HLC 401; HGP 316; HSP 131; LBW 346; LSB 763; NCH 438; RH 433; STTL 554; WC 519; UMH 377; WHM 524; WIS 70
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Friends and family, children and adults, we pause in the midst of the busyness to sit at the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ. We open our hearts and minds to hear what He is saying so that we may obey Him. For the Lord is good!
Worshipers
We draw near to our Lord and wait in expectation.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Holy Lord, we are Yours. Nothing matters but You. We can fill our everyday lives with schedules and routines, but unless You are the center, we are left wanting and empty. Teach us to sit patiently and wait on You. May we learn the lesson of honoring You first.
Worshipers
In Jesus’ name we pray together in unity, amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord Jesus Christ, You came to this earth as a man and demonstrated how to pray. We confess that we neglect spending time alone with You in prayer.
Worshipers
We confess that we prioritize everything else before sitting at Your feet.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We have lived for ourselves apart from You.
Worshipers
We have soothed the pain in our souls with temporary remedies that leave us searching for more.
Pastor / Worship Leader
You, Jesus, are the one thing we need to live. Forgive us of our sin.
Worshipers
Have mercy on us, O God. Transform us by the power of Your Holy Spirit, we pray, Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Genesis 18:1-10a
Abraham’s supernatural encounter with three men near his tent changed his life forever. The Lord spoke to Abraham a prophecy that his barren and aged wife, Sarah, would bear a child. Upon hearing this, Sarah broke out into laughter.
The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. 3 He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord,[a] do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.” “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” 6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.” 7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree. 9 “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There, in the tent,” he said. 10 Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”
