Description

John 20:19-31

The doors were locked because the disciples feared for their lives as havoc wreaked after Christ’s resurrection.  But locked doors couldn’t stop Jesus from appearing in the room with them.  He stood amongst the disciples proclaiming peace from God and encouragement to receive the Holy Spirit.  One disciple, Thomas, was not present and doubted what the others told him about Jesus’ appearance.  The Lord appeared to Thomas allowing him to touch His nail-scarred hands and pierced side.  Thomas believed.  It’s been years since Christ’s resurrection and ascension into heaven.  Our eyes cannot behold Him and we must believe in pure faith. For the Lord calls those who believe without seeing blessed.

 

…  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

Christ Is Risen

Matt Maher & Mia Fieldes, © Thankyou Music | spiritandsong.com | Unknown (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

This I Believe (The Creed)

Ben Fielding & Matt Crocker, ©2014 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

Risen

David Binion, Israel Houghton, Joshua Dufrene, © Covenant Worship (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (IMI)) Covenant Worship Group (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (IMI)) Integrity Worship Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (IMI)) Integrity’s Praise! Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (IMI)) Sound Of The New Breed (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (IMI))

 

[Traditional Options]

The Strife Is O’er

BH 91 172; CHH 221; EH 208; ELW 366; HLC 161; LBW 135; LSB 464; LW 143; NCH 242; PH 119; RS 587; WC 233; UMH 306; WAR 290

Awake, My Heart, With Gladness

ELW 378; LBW 129; LSB 467; LW 128

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               Rejoice for the Lord is here.  He dwells with us as we are His temples.  Let go of your reserves and allow the Spirit of God to break down the barriers of doubt and                              fear.

 

ALL                Remove the walls of protection that we’ve built in our hearts.  You are our

                        Defender, the God in whom we trust.

 

 

Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction

   Pastor/Worship Leader speaks

 

Pastor               Lord, we are your followers and just like Your disciples, we want to change this world in

                          Your name.  Fuel our faith with Your Word today.  Allow nothing to stand in our way.  We

                         want to live for you!      

 

ALL                You are holy and You are good.  Break down the hard shells of doubt and unbelief

                        in our hearts so that we may hear Your Word and believe.  In Jesus’ name we pray,

                        Amen.             

 

Time of Confession and Forgiveness

[Alternate location:  following Message]

 

Pastor             Jesus Christ is the risen Lord and He will return one day.  We must not wait until the last

                        minute to live according to His Word.  We must be quick to obey to the Lord’s commands

                        and extend love to our neighbors, loving God wholeheartedly and with everything we

                        have. 

 

ALL                There is not one of us who is perfect in obeying the Lord, and we must confess

                        now.  We confess that we disobey and doubt the truth that is in the Word of God. 

                        We form our own boundaries without consulting Your will and allow fear to keep

                        us from pursuing Your ways.  Forgive us, Lord, of this sin and others.

 

Pastor              In His mercy, the Lord forgives us.  His loving grace saved us.  We are loved by the

                         compassionate and holy God. 

 

ALL                We thank you, Father, for your forgiveness.  Teach us to follow you all the days of

                        our lives.  In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, amen.

 

…  We Hear God’s Word  …

[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]

 

First Reading                                  Acts 5:12-20 (21-32)

The Spirit of God filled the apostles and enabled them to perform many signs and wonders among the people.  Daily the Lord added to their number, and they healed the sick and delivered those possessed by demons.  The Sanhedrin didn’t approve and called in the apostles who declared that God’s authority was their authority, and they would choose to obey God.

 

12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed. 17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.” 21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to. 25 Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” 26 At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. 27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”