Description
John 1:43-51
The social network “Twitter” makes it possible to follow almost anyone — a politician, an entertainer, your favorite team, or your best friend. You can watch where they go, how they respond to others, how they spend their “downtime”, or see what’s important to them. There’s no better way to know someone than to follow them – just ask Philip! As he followed Jesus and came to realize who He really was, he couldn’t wait to get the word out! When we see who Jesus really is, we can’t help but want to follow Him!
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
Meet With Me
Lamont Hiebert, ©1999 Maranatha! Music (Admin. by Maranatha! Music)
I Walk By Faith
Chris Falson © 1990,1999 Maranatha! Music (Admin. by Maranatha! Music)
O Worship the King
Chris Tomlin, Johann Michael Haydn, & Robert Grant, ©2004 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
[Traditional Options]
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 Follow Me, The Savior Spoke
ELW 799; LBW 455; LSB 688; LW 37
With The Lord Begin Your Task
LBW 444; LSB 869; LW 483
Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme
Pastor: The LORD God speaks to His people by name.
ALL: Here we are LORD, your servants are listening.
Pastor: Those who believe and follow will see great and mighty things.
ALL: In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
OPENING P RAYER: [This prayer is offered as an idea] — Blessed Jesus, You are the only one worth following, for in You are all the answers of life and death, hope and happiness. May Your Spirit turn our hearts to follow You ever more fervently, just as the Father’s love and protection follow us until we are united in eternity with You; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Time of Greeting
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor: Like Adam, we want to hide from God when we have sinned. We wrongly think if we don’t mention it to God, He won’t know! But He knows. And you know. Let us humbly go to the Father and acknowledge our sin.
O Lord, you have searched us and know our ways.
ALL: Forgive us for not following the ways of Your Son, Jesus.
Pastor: Lord, You understand our thoughts from afar, before we even know them.
ALL: Forgive us for the times we have let our minds be deceived by the world.
Pastor: Lord, You know our sitting down and rising up.
ALL: Forgive us for acting outside of Your will. Forgive us for being still when we should have acted.
Pastor: There is not a word on our tongue, O Lord, that You do not know.
ALL: Forgive us for not sharing Your words. Forgive us for not recognizing Your voice.
Pastor: Heavenly Father, there is no place we can go away from Your presence. There is no where we can hide from Your Spirit.
ALL: Forgive us for feeling scrutinized instead of protected by your mighty Hand.
Pastor: The Lord hems us in – behind and before. He lays His hand upon us.
He knows nothing more about us now than before our confession. But in our confession we find the reassurance of His mercy and grace. Your souls are cleansed and your sins are forgiven.
ALL: Let us rejoice that His hand will lead us and hold us fast.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
FIRST READING: 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) (NIV)
The voice of the Lord can be unexpected, but our response should always be
“Speak Lord, for your servant is listening”.
1The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions. 2One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. 4Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me. ”But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. 6Again the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” 7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 8The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. 9So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (11And the LORD said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle. 12At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. 13For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them. 14Therefore, I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’” 15Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, 16but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.” Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 17“What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you.” 18So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes.” 19The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. 20And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD.)
