Description
John 10:22-30
The Jews asked Jesus if he truly was the Messiah during the Festival of Dedication. Jesus had already told them that He was, but their hearts and minds would not believe Him. Jesus knew they were not His sheep and would choose to reject Him. Not everyone will receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ although we are commanded to share it with the world. Some will reject Jesus and face eternal punishment, while others will step into the redemptive family of God and experience eternity with Jesus Christ.
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
He Shall Reign Forevermore
Chris Tomlin | Matt Maher, © 2015 S. D. G. Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing), Sixsteps Songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing), Worship Together Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing), Be Essential Songs (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC), I Am A Pilgrim Songs (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)
My Redeemer Lives
Reuben Morgan, ©1998 Hillsong Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
From The Inside Out
Joel Houston, ©2005 Hillsong Publishing
[Traditional Options]
The King Of Love My Shepherd Is
BH 75 215; CH 683; EH 645/646; ELW 502; HWC 468; HLC 46; LBW 456; LSB 709; LW 412; NCH 248; PH 171/174; UMH 138; WIS 425
Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me
ELW 767; LBW 333; LSB 722; LW 512
The Day of Resurrection
BH 91 164; EH 210; ELW 361; HWC 226; HLC 168; LBW 141; LSB 478; LW 133; NCH 245; PH 118; WC 247; UMH 303; WAR 298; WHM 261
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Who calls His sheep?
Worshipers
The Great Shepherd!
Pastor / Worship Leader
Who knows His voice?
Worshipers
His sheep!
Pastor / Worship Leader
We are the sheep, the sheep of the Great Shepherd.
Worshipers
To Him we belong, we are the sheep of His pasture.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, You are the Great Shepherd. We want to know Your voice as we should! Your voice calls us out of the lonely places where we are lost and back into the pasture where we belong. You tend to our needs, and love us when we fail. We ask for your mercy and grace today.
Worshipers
Amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
This life is noisy. It’s filled with opinions from others and ourselves. It’s filled with music that doesn’t glorify the Lord. It’s filled with thoughts from the enemy and voices from the world.
Worshipers
Lord, help us hear Your voice.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We are foolish and fill our lives with noise. We listen to the standards of the world and build our lives on them. We forsake the truth and are swayed by opinions. Lord, the only opinion that should matter is Yours. The only voice that we should listen to is Yours.
Worshipers
Forgive us, Father.
Pastor / Worship Leader
But just as we listen to the other voices, we hear the Great Shepherd’s voice. It rises above all the others and we know it, for we are His sheep.
Worshipers
We belong to the Great Shepherd, and He calls us back!
Pastor / Worship Leader
We thank You for Your love. We are grateful that You find us when we are lost and return us back to green pastures. Thank You for forgiving our sins and giving us a safe place to belong- the family of God.
Worshipers
Thank You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Acts 9:36-43
A disciple named Tabitha became sick and died. While the women were mourning, Peter kneeled and prayed. Suddenly, Tabitha came alive!
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!” 39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. 40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.
