Description
Mark 9:50
Salt does not exist for itself. It does no good unless it is added to something else, thereby providing flavor and/or a preservative. So with those who are followers of Jesus. We make a difference in the world, and nowhere is that seen more clearly than in how we deal with each other, and with the world around us. God shakes us out into the world, flavoring it; and we live in peace with each other.
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
Salt and Light
Jan L’Ecuyer & John L’Ecuyer, ©2002 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
We Shine
Louie Giglio and Steve Fee, © 2007 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)
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]
O God, My Faithful God
ELW 806; LBW 504; LSB 696; LW 371; PH 277
Church of God, Elect and Glorious
HS98 864; LSB 646; WAR 541
O Holy Spirit, Enter In
ELW 786; LBW 459; LSB 913; LW 160
Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme
Pastor: In the name of the Father, Who so loved the world He gave His only-begotten Son;
In the name of the Son, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, offered as the sacrifice for our sins;
In the name of the Holy Spirit, Who salts the world with His people.
ALL Amen
Opening Prayer
Pastor Almighty God, You are wonderful in every way. You call us to live as Your people, impacting the world around us with Your love, and living at peace with each other. Fill us with the Spirit of Jesus, Who became the sacrifice for our sins, that we might salt the world with peace and love. In Him, we pray.
ALL Amen.
Time of Greeting
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor We confess our sins and our sinfulness before God our Father, trusting in what Jesus has done for us in the cross and empty tomb.
(a time of silence)
Father, we gather as Your people, confessing we have not lived as Your people.
ALL You have called us to offer ourselves as a sacrifice, and we are not willing to lose ourselves.
We make an offering, then claim it is a sacrifice.
You call us to love You with our whole heart, and we hold back.
We ignore those in need; we make judgments about those in the pews next to us; we do not care about those who do not know You; and we hold grudges.
We want to be followers of Jesus, as long as it’s convenient for us.
Forgive us, we pray. And salt us with Your Holy Spirit that we might live in power and peace.
Pastor God so loved the world He gave His Son, as the sacrifice for our sins. In His cross we are forgiven; and in His empty tomb we are empowered to live and love in joy and peace. As a called and ordained servant of the Word, I forgive you all your sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
ALL Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading: Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29
The people of Israel grumble. God provides additional men to help Moses.
4 The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. 6 But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!”
10 Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. 11 He asked the Lord, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their ancestors? 13 Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ 14 I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”16 The Lord said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting that they may stand there with you.
24 So Moses went out and told the people what the Lord had said. He brought together seventy of their elders and had them stand around the tent. 25 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied—but did not do so again. 26 However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp. 27 A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28 Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!” 29 But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”
