Description
John 20:19-31
Even locked doors could not stop Jesus from entering the room where the fearful disciples were gathered together. Jesus brought peace in the midst of fear and proven truth to a doubting Thomas who desired to see in order to believe. What hope we have knowing that Jesus meets us right where we are. Whether we are in a season of fear and anxiety, despair, or doubt, Jesus breaks through the locked doors of our lives to meet us there. He sees us, knows us, and invites us in return to see Him and know Him.
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
Because He Lives (Amen)
Chris Tomlin, Daniel Carson, Ed Cash, Gloria Gaither, Jason Ingram, Matt Maher, & William J. Gaither, © 2014 S. D. G. Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Sixsteps Songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Worship Together Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Hanna Street Music (Admin. by Gaither Copyright Management) Alletrop Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) Open Hands Music (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing) Sony/ATV Timber Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing) Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing)
Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)
Wilbur Chapman, Mark Hall, & Michael Bleecker, © 2009 Word Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.) My Refuge Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Songs LLC)
Forever Reign
Jason Ingram & Reuben Morgan, ©2009 SHOUT! Music Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Sony/ATV Timber Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Sounds LLC) Windsor Hill Music (Admin. by Sony/ATV Sounds LLC) West Main Music (Admin. by Sony/ATV Sounds LLC)
[Traditional Options]
The Strife Is O’er
BH 91 172; CHH 221; EH 208; ELW 366; HLC 161; LBW 135; LSB 464; LW 143; NCH 242; PH 119; RS 587; WC 233; UMH 306; WAR 290
Awake, My Heart, With Gladness
ELW 378; LBW 129; LSB 467; LW 128
Christ Be My Leader
LSB 861; LW 365; WC 107; WAR 453
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Holy Spirit, You don’t need an invitation, for You are already with us, but we open up our hearts to You right now and proclaim
Worshipers
Holy Spirit, You are welcome here!
Pastor / Worship Leader
Where there are locked areas in our hearts, bust through them and change us.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, like Your disciples we are Your followers. We want to make a difference in this world for You. We recognize this as part of our calling as Your people. But we need You. We can’t do this task alone, nor did you create us to be isolated. Today in prayer and worship, we invite You to do the work in our lives to change us. We invite You to unlock our hearts so that You can have Your way with us. We trust You, Jesus. Allow nothing to stand in our way.
Worshipers
Break down the walls in our hearts. Shatter the shells of doubt and unbelief. Do Your holy work in us, God. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
We are imperfect people standing before a perfect God.
Worshipers
He is holy; we are not.
Pastor / Worship Leader
God is holy, and calls us into His holiness. Therefore, we must live like the holy people of God.
Worshipers
But we fail and we sin, and then we fail again!
Pastor / Worship Leader
Therefore, we must be quick to confess and repent allowing the blood of Christ to wash us clean.
Worshipers
We repent of our sins right now. Rid us of evil, Lord! We are sinners in need of saving grace. Save us now!
Pastor / Worship Leader
In His mercy, we are forgiven. In love, He extends to us the gift of grace.
Worshipers
Thank You, Jesus. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Acts 5:12-20 (21-32)
The Holy Spirit filled the apostles and worked miracles through them. Their number increased daily, and many people experienced deliverance and healing. Their authority was Christ, not the Sanhedrin.
12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed. 17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.” 21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to. 25 Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” 26 At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. 27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
