Description
Mark 4:26-34
Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to seeds scattered on the ground that grows and produces a crop without human effort. The smallest of seeds, the mustard seed, grows into a large plant that offers protection, shade, and comfort to wildlife. There is no stopping the sovereignty and rule of God. In the midst of much adversity, God’s Word, like a seed, is planted and grows by His power and will, producing a harvest of Kingdom followers.
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
Won’t Stop Now
Chris Brown, Steven Furtick, © 2018 Music by Elevation Worship Publishing (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)
Surrounded (Fight My Battles)
Elyssa Smith, © 2017 UR Global Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Great I Am
Jared Anderson, ©2011 Integrity Worship Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing (IMI))
[Traditional Options]
Come, Ye Thankful People, Come
BH 75 233; BH 91 637; CH 797; CHH 718; EH 290; ELW 693; HWC 559; HFG 392; HLC 565; HGP 490; HSP 327; LBW 407; LSB 892, LW 495; NCH 422; PH 551; RH 718; STTL 765; WC 281; UMH 694; WAR 721; WHM 89; WIS 87
Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty
ELW 533; LBW 250; LSB 901; LW 198, NCH 67; PH 489
The Word of God is Source and Seed
ELW 506; WOV 658
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
It is good to come together and sing and make music to praise the Lord our God!
Worshipers
We offer thanksgiving up to the Lord Most High and sing for joy at what He has done, is doing, and will continue to do. Great are Your works, O Lord!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Great are You, Lord, and worthy is Your name. You are exalted forever, and You are our solid Rock. May our worship be pleasing to You today, Lord, as we praise You with open hearts. You are sovereign and know the hearts of men. See us, hear us, and teach us how to live according to Your holy Word.
Worshipers
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, it is Your kindness that leads us to true repentance. Your love compels us. Your Spirit draws us near. When we aren’t living right, You call us back to right living with You. There is no place more satisfying than Your presence, so work in our hearts to confess and repent of our sins right now.
Worshipers
(Allow a few minutes for individual reflection and repentance.)
Pastor/ Worship Leader
Thank You, Holy Spirit, for doing Your sanctifying work in us. Thank You, Jesus, for dying for us so that we didn’t have to. Thank You for enduring our shame and sin on the cross and forgiving us. Thank You, Father, for accepting us in Your loving arms.
Worshipers
We love You, Lord. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Ezekiel 17:22-24
God describes Himself planting a fruit bearing cedar shoot that would grow and be a shelter. All the trees of the forest would know and recognize God as sovereign.
22 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. 23 On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches. 24 All the trees of the forest will know that I the Lord bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish.
