Description

Luke 7:1-10

Often Jesus would heal with a touch.  He put His fingers in a deaf man’s ears.  He rubbed a concoction of mud on a blind man’s eyes.  He touched the coffin in which was lain the son of the widow of Nain.  There is power in touch.  We appreciate touching.  The Centurion didn’t need a touch.  He knew Jesus could heal without coming anywhere near his servant.  “Just say the word,” the Centurion said.  And Jesus marveled at the centurion’s faith.  When God chose to heal the world, He wrapped His Word in flesh and spoke Him in the midst of our sin-torn existence.  He said the Word, and we are healed.

 

… 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

Amazed

Jared Anderson, ©2004 Vertical Worship Songs (Admin. by Integrity Music, Inc.)

Your Great Name

Krissy Nordhoff & Michael Neale, ©2008 Integrity’s Praise! Music | TwoNords Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)

Awakening

Chris Tomlin & Reuben Morgan, ©2010 worshiptogether.com Songs/sixsteps Music / Vamos Publishing / Hillsong Publishing (ASCAP) (admin by EMI CMG Publishing)

 

[Traditional Options]

To Your Temple, Lord, I Come

LSB 981, LW 207

O Worship The King   

BH 75 30; BH 91 16; CH 104; CHH 17; EH 388; ELW 842; HWC 10; HPW 13; HFG 336; HLC 21; HGP 1; HSP 6; LBW 548; LSB 804; LW 458;  NCH 26; PH 476; RH 5; STTL 64; WC 29; UMH 73; WAR 2; WHM 14; WIS 6

Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord

ELW 395; LBW 163; LSB 497; LW 154

I Trust O Lord Your Holy Name

LSB 734

 

Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme 

Pastor:          In the name of the Father, Who spoke His Word into the world

In the name of the Son, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.

In the name of the Holy Spirit, Who works the Word in our lives.

 

ALL                  Say the Word, Lord, and we are made whole.  Amen

  

Opening Prayer

 

Pastor             Almighty God, you have power beyond our ability to comprehend.  You hold all things in existence by the power of Your Word.  Your Word creates whatever You                                     desire.  Your Word goes forth and produces Your intent.  Your Word is sharper than a two-edged sword.  We come as Your children, lifting our praise before You.  Our                    little words have meaning to You, because You have spoken Your Word into our hearts, and we are made whole.

 

ALL                  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen. 

  

Time of Greeting

  

Time of Confession and Forgiveness

[Alternate location:  following Message]

Pastor              Our words are stilled, as we come into the holy presence of the Lord

 

(a time of silence)

 

Father, we come as Your children, acknowledging that we have fallen short

 

ALL                 Say the Word, Lord, and we are healed.

 

Pastor            We confess that our faith is weak.  We demands signs and proof that You are at work in our lives.  Instead of trusting You, we doubt You

 

ALL                 Say the Word, Lord, and our faith is strengthened.

 

Pastor            We choose a discipleship that is convenient for us.  We decide when we want to follow You and when we don’t.  We are willing to live for You, unless the cost is too                                   high.

 

ALL                  Say the Word, Lord, and we are set apart unto You.

 

Pastor             The Centurion in today’s Gospel recognized Jesus’ authority.  We confess we rely on ourselves, rather than on the authority of Jesus.  We pick and choose our values.                              We live in the way we determine.

 

ALL                  Say the Word, Lord, and we bow before You.

 

Pastor              God spoke His Word into our broken world.  He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, as the sacrifice for the sins of the world.  Through the cross and empty tomb, Jesus has                                   spoken redemption into our lives.  By His authority, we are healed.

 

ALL                  Say the Word, Lord, and we live under Your authority.

  

… We Hear God’s Word …

[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]

 

First Reading:  I Kings 8:22-23, 41-43                       

Solomon dedicates the Temple, thanking God for keeping His promise to David, and asking God to hear the prayers of people from His heavenly dwelling place

22 Then Solomon stood in front of the Lord’s altar. He stood in front of the whole community of Israel. He spread out his hands toward heaven. 23 He said, “Lord, you are the God of Israel. There is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below. You keep the covenant you made with us. You show us your love. You do that when we follow you with all our hearts.

41 “Suppose there are strangers who don’t belong to your people Israel. And they have come from a land far away. They’ve come because they’ve heard about your name. 42 When they get here, they will find out even more about your great name. They’ll hear about how you reached out your mighty hand and powerful arm. So they’ll come and pray toward this temple. 43 “Then listen to them from heaven. It’s the place where you live. Do what those strangers ask you to do. Then all of the nations on earth will know you. They will have respect for you. They’ll respect you just as your own people Israel do. They’ll know that your Name is in this house I’ve built.