Description

The Promised Advocate

John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

The Advocate was sent from the Father to testify about Jesus and convict us of sin.  He guides us into all truth and speaks only what He hears from Jesus.  God knew that we couldn’t accomplish His will on earth without Him.  So, He sent the Holy Spirit to be our helper and the revealer of truth.  How comforting it is to know that we have the Spirit advocating for us.

 

…  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

Holy Spirit

Bryan Torwalt & Katie Torwalt © 2011 Capitol CMG Genesis (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

Jesus Culture Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) 

Open Up the Heavens

Andi Rozier, James McDonald, Jason Ingram, Meredith Andrews, & Stuart Garrard, ©2012 Word Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.) HBC Worship Music (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing) Open Hands Music (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing) Sony/ATV Timber Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing) Stugio Music Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing)

Overcome

Jon Egan, © 2007 Vertical Worship Songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

[Traditional Options]

O Holy Spirit, Enter In

ELW 786; LBW 459; LSB 913; LW 160

Come Down O Love Divine

ELW 804; LBW 508; LSB 501; LW 162; NCH 289; PH 313; RS 617; UMH 475; WC 30

Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest

LSB 498, 499

 

Invocation

   Pastor/Worship Leader speaks

Pastor               Welcome friends and family.  Let’s focus our attention and our hearts on the God who gives breath to dry bones and hope to people.

ALL                  He is our hope! 

 

Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction

   Pastor/Worship Leader speaks 

Pastor             Father, your promises are true.  Your hope and your love endure forever.  You are kind

                         to us.  May we remember today your power, your provision, and ponder your great love

ALL                Amen.

 

 

Time of Confession and Forgiveness

[Alternate location:  following Message]

 

Pastor               It’s easy to doubt the Lord.  It’s easy to forget how far He’s brought you through something.  But then we hear and read stories about God’s mind-blowing power,                                   power that rushes in like dancing fire and causes miracles, and we are reminded that the one,  true God is not to be doubted or forgotten.  Let’s take a moment now                              to remember. 

ALL                  Lord, we confess that we are doubters.  We confess that we forget to remember

                        Your goodness, grace, and power.  We ask for your forgiveness as we repent of

                        complaining, complacency, and covetousness. 

Pastor               Forgive us, Lord. 

ALL                  We receive your love and forgiveness and grace.  Thank you, Amen. 

 

…  We Hear God’s Word  …

[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]

First Reading                                              Ezekiel 37:1-14

An intriguing scene of dead, dry bones scattered all over the valley floor is painted for the reader.  Ezekiel, standing before the bones is asked by the Lord, “Son of man, can these bones live?”  As prophetic words from the Lord are given to Ezekiel to speak, the dead bones become a vast living army representing the people of Israel who are filled with the Spirit of the Lord. 

The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. ² He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. ³ He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” ⁴ Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! ⁵ This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. ⁶ I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” ⁷ So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. ⁸ I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. ⁹ Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” ¹⁰ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

¹¹ Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ ¹² Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. ¹³ Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. ¹⁴ I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”