Description
John 9:1-41
There is a man mentioned in John 9 who was born blind, but when Jesus arrived on the scene, this blind man’s life drastically changed. Not only would he see with his eyes, but he would also come to a clear spiritual view of Christ. His words do not explain the cause of the man’s blindness, but the purpose. He sees in the blind man an opportunity to display the works of God. Additionally, as a result of this miracle, there was yet another head-on collision between the Pharisees and the Lord Jesus Christ. From this account, we learn of a blindness far more dangerous and devastating than that of the mere loss of (physical) sight. Here we find the blind given sight and the seeing blinded.
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship
[Preservice options include video countdowns, worship song videos, welcomes), CDs, or live music.]
Welcome & Time of Greeting
Pastor / Worship Leader
Good morning and welcome to each of you in the name of Jesus Christ. As we prepare our hearts let us be still for a moment as we draw near to worship God. Take just a few seconds to remind yourself why we are gathered together today. Listen, God speaks even through the background noise of the world around us.
Time of Praise and Worship
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)
Nobody Loves Me Like You
Ed Cash & Scott Cash, © Alletrop Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Capitol CMG Paragon (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) S. D. G. Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Remaining portion is unaffiliated
Here I Am To Worship
Tim Hughes, ©2001 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music
[Traditional Options]
My Faith Looks Up To Thee
BH 75 382; BH 91 416; CH 539; CHH 576; EH 691; ELW 759; HWC 410; HFG 84; HLC 366; HGP 192; HSP 8; LWB 479; LSB 702; LW 378; PH 383; RH 423; STTL 433; WC 552; UMH 452; WAR 419; WHM 433; WIS 54
Thy Strong Word
EH 381; ELW 511; LBW 233; LSB 578; LW 328
Thee Will I Love My Strength My Tower
LBW 502; LSB 694; LW 375
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord God, in this short time together, open our ears and our eyes to see your vision for this place and our part within it. Teach us, hear our prayers and enable us for service wherever you might take us, to your praise and glory. Amen.
Worshipers
Here we are Lord; your people, your Church meeting together in your presence. We welcome each other and we welcome You. Make yourself known to us new ways through our worship, our prayers and our understanding of your Word today. Amen.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, pull back the veil” and reveal your presence and work around us. When our eyes are open, we see that you are everywhere, in everything, always. When our eyes are open, we see every day is brimming over with your love and presence: filled with Your majesty, Your activity and Your miracles.
Worshipers
Open my eyes, that I may see the Your love, mercy, and grace in the Lord Jesus Christ. Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law. Open my eyes to see Your glory in all of creation. Open my eyes to see the blessing in every hardship. Open my eyes to see the Gospel in every person. Amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
O Holy One, we call to you and name you as eternal, ever-present, and boundless in love. Yet there are times, O God, when we fail to recognize you in the dailiness of our lives. Sometimes shame clenches tightly around our hearts, and we hide our true feelings. Sometimes fear makes us small, and we miss the chance to speak from our strength. Sometimes doubt invades our hopefulness, and we degrade our own wisdom.
Worshipers
Holy God, in the daily round from sunrise to sunset, remind us again of your holy presence hovering near us and in us. Free us from shame and self-doubt. Help us to see you in the moment-by-moment possibilities to live honestly, to act courageously, and to speak from your wisdom.
Pastor / Worship Leader
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading 1 Samuel 16:1-13
In 1 Samuel Chapter 16, the Lord rejects Saul as the King of the Israelites, but Samuel grieves anyway. God reproves Samuel for mourning Saul but tells him to go to Bethlehem to a man named Jesse. God has chosen one of Jesse’s sons to replace Saul. When God saw David, He decided early on during Saul’s reign that David would be king over all of Israel. The least likely in Samuel’s eyes was the perfect man for God because He saw David as a man after His own heart. We rely for almost everything on our sight, but it often proves untrustworthy. We also tend to pick our leaders–politicians, principals, coaches, celebrities, and so on–based on our society’s norms about appearance. We see from the outside. God sees from the inside. The difference is when God leads our hearts.
The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.” 2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?” 5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” 12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.
