Description

Mark 9:14-29

When you are in the midst of a desperate situation, it can leave you feeling out of control and helpless. Perhaps you are in this spot today, needing an extra dose of help and you aren’t positive your prayers are being heard. Have you ever experienced this co-existence of doubt and faith? Jesus can use whatever faith you have to offer. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus addresses the feeble faith of His own disciples and a father seeking healing for his son, stricken with seizures and an impure spirit. Jesus brings wonder, healing, and wisdom just by being there. He brings Himself, fully. Mark causes us to consider how taking a seed of belief in the power of Jesus has the ability to transform lives and move mountains. We are called to simply and fully entrust it all to Him and believe He hears us and will respond in His timing and way.

 

…  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

Everlasting God

Brenton Brown & Ken Riley, ©2006 Thankyou Music

Always

Jason Ingram & Kristian Stanfill, ©2010 sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Sony/ATV Timber Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing) West Main Music (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing)

Windsor Hill Music (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing)                                                             

Shoulders

Ben Glover, Joel Smallbone, Luke Smallbone, Tedd Tjornhom, ©2015 Ariose Music, 9t One Songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing), Kilns Music, Method to the Madness, Shankel Songs, Shankel, Shau, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., WB Music Corp. (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.), R1WAY Music

[Traditional Options]

My Faith Looks Up To Thee    

BH 75 382; BH 91 416; CH 539; CHH 576; EH 691; ELW 759; HWC 410; HFG 84; HLC 366; HGP 192; HSP 8; LWB 479; LSB 702; LW 378; PH 383; RH 423; STTL 433; WC 552; UMH 452; WAR 419; WHM 433; WIS 54

Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling

ELW 582; LBW 523; LSB 650; LW 164; NCH 59; WC 28

 

Invocation

Leader              We gather here today, as God’s holy and loved children.

All                    We gather with hearts open in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!

  

Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction

Leader              Lord of all creation, You are Almighty and all knowing. We come to You, just as we are.

All                   Grant us Your love, mercy, and grace today. Transform us, Lord. Make our desires Your desires. Let us bring all that we are today and surrender                          it before You. We receive Your Word as truth and confess in faith that we will choose to walk any road You ask, for Your Will and Namesake. We                          believe and proclaim You are Worthy, Holy, and Lord of Lords – greater than all our fears and worry. We trust You God, Amen!

 

Time of Confession and Forgiveness

[Alternate location:  following Message]

 

Pastor              Lord Jesus,

ALL                Save us. We confess that we praise You with our lips, and mock You with our actions. We, too, like the disciples, proclaim You are Christ,                                        Healer, and Redeemer,  and then live like You are not enough. We have seeds of faith and caverns of doubt. Help our unbelief, Lord. Remind us                            that You are enough as we surrender all to You. We long to follow You with all of our hearts. Keep us faithful by the power of Your Holy Spirit.                              Amen.

Pastor             Jesus loves you. He came down to earth in a lowly place, humbling Himself for you. He walked the Earth fully man and fully God, so He could be with you and know                                   you. He loves you. He suffered rejection, insults, lies, and persecution to the point of death, for you. He desires for you to come fully to Him today. You have been                                       forgiven of all your sins, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

 

… We Hear God’s Word …

[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]

 

First Reading          Isaiah 50:4-10

The Servant of the Lord has settled his heart on enduring through any trial the world or evil may throw his way. We are given a picture of sheer obedience; a foreshadowing of the most sacrificial act of service, the work on the cross. We are called to endure with steadfast hearts as we entrust all to our Sovereign Lord.

4 The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. 5 The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away. 6 I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide from mocking and spitting. 7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. 8 He who vindicates me is near.  Who then will bring charges against me? Let us face each other! Who is my accuser? Let him confront me! 9 It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me. Who will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up. 10 Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let the one who walks in the dark,
who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God.