Description
(Luke 11:1-13)
The disciples were curious about how to pray in the way that Jesus was praying. So, Jesus taught them to say the Lord’s prayer, but went on to explain more than just lip service. He compared Father God to a loving parent meeting the needs of His son. The Lord desires relationship with each and every one of us. We build this relationship through sharing our hearts and learning the heart of our good Father through prayer.
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
Who You Say I Am
Ben Fielding | Reuben Morgan, © 2017 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Come As You Are
Ben Glover, David Crowder, & Matt Maher, ©2014 9t One Songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Ariose Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing)
Great Are You Lord
David Leonard, Jason Ingram, Leslie Jordan, © 2012 Integrity’s Alleluia! Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (IMI)) Integrity’s Praise! Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (IMI)) Open Hands Music (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC) So Essential Tunes (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)
[Traditional Options]
Come, My Soul, With Every Care
LSB 779; LW 433
Eternal Spirit of the Living Christ
EH 698; ELW 402; LBW 441; LSB 769; LW 432; NCH 520; WAR 475
Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord
ELW 395; LBW 163; LSB 497; LW 154
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
We praise the Lord with all our hearts!
Worshipers
We praise Him for his unfailing love and faithfulness.
Pastor / Worship Leader
When we call on the name of the Lord, He answers.
Worshipers
May all who hear rejoice together- praise the Lord!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Our lips praise the Lord, but are our hearts soft before Him? We may lift our hands, but are our spirits in the posture of praise? We desire to worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth, so let us position ourselves in humility, asking the Lord to shed the layers of hardness from our hearts so that our praises would be like sweet incense unto Him.
Worshipers
May the praises of our tongues be ever pleasing to You, O Lord, we pray, Amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Father bind our hearts and minds together with Your Spirit. We confess that our lips will offer empty words, a dangerous habit that destroys our souls.
Worshipers
Forgive us, Lord, for our lying lips.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We desire to be pleasing to You, Father. Rid us of lies, empty promises, and steer us by the power of Your Holy Spirit into the light of truth.
Worshipers
Keep our tongues from speaking evil that spreads like wildfire. Replace the evil with Your truth. Give us hearts of flesh, sold out to You.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Thank you for your forgiveness and strength. In Jesus’ name, amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Genesis 18: (17-19) 20-33
Abraham pleaded with the Lord to not destroy the righteous ones living in Sodom and Gomorrah, whose sin was so great the Lord grieved. The Lord told Abraham that if there were ten righteous people in the city, he would spare the whole place. Unfortunately, only Abraham and his family were considered righteous.
Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? 18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. 19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” 20 Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.” 22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord. 23 Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” 26 The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” 27 Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, 28 what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?” “If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.” 29 Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?” He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.” 30 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?” He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” 31 Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?” He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.” 32 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?” He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.” 33 When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.
