Description
Spiritually Speaking and Believing” John 3:1-17
Entering God’s Kingdom requires a Spiritual rebirth through believing in Jesus as the only begotten Son who saved the world through His sacrificial death and resurrection. A Pharisee named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council had trouble understanding these words from Jesus as he visited him at night. Sometimes those with the most earthly knowledge have the most trouble believing in Spiritual things. In the words of Jesus, “I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?”
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
Holy, Holy, Holy (God With Us)
John Bacchus Dykes, Matt Maher, & Reginald Heber, © Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing), Valley Of Songs Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
All The Earth Will Sing Your Praises
Paul Baloche, ©2003 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
Here I Am To Worship
Tim Hughes, ©2001 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music
[Traditional Options]
Holy, Holy, Holy
BH 75 1; BH 91 2; CH 3; CHH 4; EH 362; ELW 413; HWC 262; HPW 2; HFG 323; HLC 1; HGP 51; HSP 12; LBW 165; LSB 507; LW 168; NCH 277; PH 580; RH 213; RS 624; STTL 2; WC 2; UMH 64; WAR 136; WHM 47; WIS 8
Alleluia! Let Praises Ring
LSB 822; LW 437
Come Thou Almighty King
BH 75 2; BH 91 247; CH 8; CHH 27; EH 365; ELW 408; HWC 26; HPW 3; HFG 341; HLC 4; HGP 53; HSP 11; LBW 522; LSB 905; LW 169; NCH 275; PH 139; RH 212; STTL 3; WC 5; UMH 61; WAR 148; WHM 3; WIS 21
Invocation
Pastor/Worship Leader speaks
Pastor Open your hearts and listen. The Lord calls us!
ALL We are listening.
Pastor He beckons us to fellowship with Him.
ALL We rejoice in His fellowship!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor/Worship Leader speaks
Pastor Father, we are in awe of your plan for us. We cannot fathom why you love us so. Of all
Your creation, you desire us to be with You eternally.
ALL We, too, desire to be with you, Jesus.
Pastor The miracle of salvation is mysterious and glorious. Thank you for making a way for us.
ALL Amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor Father, your mercy is deeper than the ocean, your grace is wider than the expanse of the sky. We trust you as the author of life and make our confession before You and one another.
(Allow for time of individual prayer)
Pastor Let us pray together.
ALL We step out of darkness into the Lord’s light of truth. We invite you, Holy Spirit do your powerful work of healing in our hearts. We seek your presence and yearn to understand your forgiveness. We are grateful, Lord. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Isaiah 6:1-8
This is a stunning vision of the Lord seated high on a throne pitby seraphim calling out, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty…” and should move us to our knees out of reverence for the awesome God. As Isaiah saw this, he also heard the voice of the Lord and answered, “Here am I. Send me!” Let this, too, be our heart’s cry.
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
