Description
Luke 16:19-31
Heaven and hell are real places where people will spend their eternities like in this parable of the rich man who ignored the beggar, Lazarus, who laid at his gate. After dying, the rich man went to Hades while Lazarus was carried by angels to Abraham’s side. The wealthy man requested to be comforted and to have a warning sent to his brothers so they would not end up in Hell like him. However, neither of his requests were answered. Our lives are but fading vapors on this earth. Eternity will either be spent with God in Heaven or forever separated from Him in Hell. True followers of Christ will show mercy to the poor and be the hands and feet of Jesus wherever they go. If we choose to spend our lives on earth apart from God, then so it will be in our eternities.
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
King of Kings
Brooke Ligertwood, Jason Ingram & Scott Ligertwood, ©2019 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Fellow Ships Music (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC) So Essential Tunes (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)
Battle Belongs
Brian Johnson | Phil Wickham, © 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]) Bethel Music Publishing
Crown Him (Majesty)
Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, George Job Elvey, Godfrey Thring, Matt Maher, & Matthew Bridges, © 2013 A Thousand Generations Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Sixsteps Songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Valley Of Songs Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Worship Together Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Alletrop Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
[Traditional Options]
Praise the Almighty
ELW 877; LBW 539; LSB 797; LW 445
What Is The World To Me
LSB 730; LW 418
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
BH 75 32; BH 91 6; CH 33; CHH 66; EH 423; ELW 834; HWC 25; HPW 11; HFG 319; HLC 35; LBW 526; LSB 802; LW 451; NCH 1; PH 263; RH 13; STTL 65; WC 62; UMH 103; WAR 48; WHM 42; WIS 29
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Praise the Lord, oh my soul!
Worshipers
We will sing praise to God as long as we live.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We will not put our trust in others who cannot save.
Worshipers
Only Jesus can save us!
Pastor / Worship Leader
Praise the Lord, oh my soul!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Father, we praise Your holy name. You are wonderful, kind, and good. We believe in You and eternal life in You provided through the death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus. We are here today for one reason- to bring You glory and honor. May we not become so complacent in our worship that our aroma isn’t pleasing to You. May our praises be pure and honoring and pleasing to You.
Worshipers
We worship You, King of Kings. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
With heavy hearts, we come before You Lord in humility and with repentant hearts.
Worshipers
We confess of our complacency, our numbness to sin. We relate to the Israelites. We slumber and aren’t awake. We lounge on our couches and feed our minds with junk. We dine without thanksgiving, and we don’t grieve over the ruin of others around us. We are fools in this world, and not fools for You. Please, Lord, forgive us of our sins and awaken us by Your Holy Spirit. May our senses return and may we be led by You.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, You have lavished Your love on us. You have poured out mercy and grace through Your blood. We need You more now than ever before.
Worshipers
In Jesus’ name, we ask these things and receive Your forgiveness. Set our minds on things above that last for eternity. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Amos 6:1a, 4-7
The Israelites were living in the comfort of God’s blessing and ignoring the needs of the poor around them. Material wealth is to be received with thanksgiving and poured out through acts of generosity just as Christ has shown us.
1 Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation to whom the people of Israel come!
4 You lie on beds adorned with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine on choice lambs and fattened calves. 5 You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments. 6 You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph. 7 Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile; your feasting and lounging will end.
