Description
Luke 2:40-52
Imagining Jesus as a young child stirs our curiosity. The Scriptures devote only a small portion to His childhood, but what we know is that Jesus was filled with the wisdom of God. He grew and became strong, and God’s grace was on Him. When Mary and Joseph desperately searched for Jesus after realizing He was not with them on their return home, they found Him sitting amongst teachers taking in all their knowledge and asking questions. As a child, He had favor with both God and man, and was also obedient to his earthly parents. We can learn a lot from this young Jesus. Are we pursuing all that we can on this earth to grow in the wisdom and stature of the Lord? Are we obedient to our earthly authorities while serving God? Do we have favor with both God and man?
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
House of the Lord
Jonathan Smith | Phil Wickham, © 2020 Be Essential Songs (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)
Cashagamble Jet Music (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC) Phil Wickham Music (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC]) Simply Global Songs (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC]) Sing My Songs (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC])
Same Power
Jeremy Camp / Jason Ingram, © Stolen Pride (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing), Open Hands Music, Sony/ATV Timber Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing)
This Is Our God with chorus of What Child is This?
David Moffitt, Sue C. Smith, & Travis Cottrell, ©2006 New Spring (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.) CCTB Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Cool Springs Blvd., Franklin TN 37067) First Hand Revelation Music (Admin. by The Loving Company) // William C. Dix, ©Public Domain
[Traditional Options]
Of The Father’s Love Begotten
BH 75 62; BH 91 251; CH 240; CHH 82; ELW 295; HWC 118; WFG 172; WLC 122; LBW 42; LSB 384; LW 36; NCH 118; PH 309; RS 510; STTL 164; WC 145; UMH 184; WAR 181
Once in Royal David’s City
CH 286; CHH 165; EH 102; ELW 269; HWC 155; HLC 109; LBW 376; LSB 376; LW 58; NCH 145; PH 49; RS 526; STTL 170; WC 161; UMH 250; WOV 643; WAR 183
Savior Of The Nations Come
EH 54; ELW 263; LBW 28; LSB 332; LW 13; PH 14; RS 480; WC 138; UMH 214; WAR 168
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Welcome to the first Sunday of 2022! It has been an eventful 2021 (insert here some highlights/events that happened in your church from 2021). Let’s praise the Lord for all that He did in 2021 and for everything He is going to do in 2022.
Worshipers
Lord, we praise You! We surrender the things of the past, and we surrender the things of the future to You. You work for the good of those who love You, and we trust You. Thank you for bringing us through the storms, the fires, and the pain. Thank You for bringing us to the foot of the cross every single time. Carry us when we are weak, for You are strong. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord may our praises rise before You as sweet incense today. May You accept our worship as an offering, and may our eyes and hearts be focused upon You. We invite the Holy Spirit into this time and place. He is already here; we just want to welcome Him.
Worshipers
We welcome You, Holy Spirit.
Pastor / Worship Leader
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Let’s praise the Lord!
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Father, You offered King Solomon anything he desired, and he desired a discerning heart. Lord, if you asked us what we desired, we may not be as wise as King Solomon. In our hearts, we may find the desire to get ahead in life, to gain the extra bonus, to buy the bigger house or car, and to gain the things of this world. We may find the struggle to compare our lives to others around us, to keep up with the Jones’s so to speak, or to impress our friends with our possessions.
Worshipers
We confess that these desires do not come from you. Forgive us, Lord.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, when confess these aloud, we feel the heavy weight of sin that shackles us to shame, guilt, and pride. Would you forgive us?
Worshipers
You set us free by the blood of the Lamb. You have paid the price for this heavy weight of sin, and You have broken the shackles of sin and given us life and freedom. This is what we desire! We desire Jesus!
Pastor / Worship Leader
We thank You, Jesus, and we praise You for the forgiveness of sins.
Worshipers
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we pray, amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading 1 Kings 3:4-15
The Lord offered Solomon anything he asked for. Solomon, knowing He needed help to carry out his duties as a young king, wisely asked for discernment to govern God’s people and to know right from wrong. The Lord was pleased with Solomon, and gave him all that he asked for and more.
4 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” 6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. 7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 15 Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.
