Description
Mark 10:2-16
We live in a world filled with laws and regulations. For example, is it lawful to drive over 90 miles an hour on any US highway? Is it lawful to discriminate as an employer? Is it lawful to break into someone’s house and steal? Is it lawful to let a dog pursue a bear or bobcat at any time? I heard it is against the law to sing off key in North Carolina. Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? This is the question the Pharisees posed before Jesus in the gospel text. Millions and millions of people have asked that same question since then. It is a very important question because it is directly connected to the most important relationship two people can possibly have other than the relationship one has with God. In Jesus’ response, he shifts the conversation from divorce to marriage. In essence, he is saying that divorce is grounded in law but marriage is grounded in creation. He moves the discussion from legalism to the area of gift and grace which is essentially more demanding, but also more free. Jesus emphasizes the personal rather than the legal. He dwells on God’s intention which goes back to creation, thereby lifting up the sanctity of marriage.
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
Promises
Jared Anderson, ©2006 Vertical Worship Songs (Admin. by Integrity Music, Inc.)
Counting on God
Jared Anderson, ©2007 Vertical Worship Songs
Strong Enough
Matthew West © 2010 External Combustion Music / Songs For Delaney / Songs Of Southside Independent Music Publishing, LLC (Admin. by Wixen Music Publishing, LLC) (ASCAP)
[Traditional Options]
Sing Praise To God, the Highest Good
ELW 871; LBW 542; LSB 819; LW 452
I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus
CH 582; HWC 346; HFG 73; HLC 330; LBW 460; LSB 729; LW 408; WC 524; WHM 451
I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light
EH 490; ELW 815; LSB 411; RS 651; WC 539; UMH 206; WOV 649; WAR 249
Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme
Pastor Brothers and sisters in Christ, we gather together in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
ALL Amen!
Opening Prayer
Pastor Gracious God, you value relationships, therefore you created male and female in your image and made the union of husband and wife the primary relationship on earth. We give you praise and honor for fashioning this world and humanity. Thank you for making yourself known in the person of your Son, Jesus Christ. He has provided the perfect example for us through his display of love, mercy, service, teaching, preaching, and outreach to the world. In Jesus, we have a model for living. Your intention and design for marriage from the very beginning is that husband and wife unite in as one flesh.
ALL In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Time of Greeting
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
Pastor God of love and compassion, you are always there—listening to our prayers of confession. It is comforting to know that we can bring to you our sins and shortcomings at all times. It is clear that temptations surround us at every corner and we continuously fail to heed your Word and commands, thus we find ourselves failing and falling. We often give in to our own selfish desires and suffer the consequences. Our relationships with others can easily be damaged. We can deceive others but we cannot deceive you. Lord, we are deeply sorry that we have not adhered to your Spirit where we experience the benefits of God. We need you and your wisdom for living so that we can be examples for others to see.
(A time of personal reflection and confession)
All God of goodness and mercy, your Word is clear. It is the greatest instruction book in the world. We confess to you that we have let sin gain ground in our lives and we need your help. Give us the strength to do what is right and pleasing in your sight in our relationships with others. Lord, we do not want to travel down the wrong path but rather we yearn to walk as new creations in Christ. Give us courage and wisdom to follow Jesus and His example and not grow weary.
Pastor Family of faith, be confident that your sins are forgiven. You have been cleansed and made free through Christ to live with that assurance. As you live day to day. know that the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ has given you new life. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Genesis 2:18-25
God created woman out of the rib of man and communicated the importance of oneness and unity as man and woman join together in marriage as husband and wife.
18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. 25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
