Description

Mark 1:14-20

Jesus called Simon, Andrew, James, and John to leave their current fishermen roles and follow Him. Jesus would teach them to be fishers of men.  Without hesitation, the disciples left behind their belongings and followed Jesus.  Immediately, they left what they knew and risked everything to follow Christ.  Do we have that same courage to step out of our current “boats” and follow Jesus in obedience?

 

… 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

Strong Tower

Aaron Sprinkle, Jon Sumrall, Marc Byrd, Mark Lee, ©Meaux Mercy (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Blue Raft Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Consuming Fire Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Thirsty Moon River Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Indecisive Music Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Spinning Audio Vortex, Inc. (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Flush On The Flop Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

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)

Old Church Choir

Colby Wedgeworth, Ethan Hulse & Zach Williams, © 2016 Anthems of HopeBe Essential Songs EGH Music Wisteria Drive Colby Wedgeworth Music Fair Trade Music Publishing (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)


[Traditional Options]

Be Strong In The Lord

BH 91 476; CH 734; HS98 866; LSB 665; WC 661, WAR 514

O Christ Who Called the Twelve

LSB 856

Come Follow Me, The Savior Spoke

ELW 799; LBW 455; LSB 688; LW 379

 

Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme

Pastor              Can you hear the voice of our Savior calling?

ALL                  He calls us by name. 

Pastor              Will you answer His call?  Will you step out of your comfort zone and follow Him?

ALL                  By the grace of God, we will do it!

  

Opening Prayer 

Pastor              Gracious God, righteous and true, it is in your name we gather here together.        

ALL                  We worship you. 

Pastor              Open our hearts and ears that we may hear your voice.  Give us the courage to obey you in all that we do. 

ALL                  Not by our might or power, but by Your Spirit, Lord, move in us! 

Pastor              Amen. 

  

Time of Greeting 

Time of Confession and Forgiveness

[Alternate location:  following Message]

 

Pastor             Father, we have the Scriptures inspired by You, yet we grow lazy, fearful,

and selfish.  We walk away from the light of your truth and hide our sin in secret.

ALL                  Forgive us of our selfish ways. 

Pastor             We busy ourselves with selfish ambitions, ignoring your higher calling.

ALL                  Forgive us of our pride.

 Pastor            Forgive us, Lord, for we are sinners who have fallen short of your glory.

ALL                  Yet, while we were still sinners, Christ gave His life for us as the substitutionary

                          sacrifice and we are forgiven!  Hallelujah!

 

… We Hear God’s Word …

[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]

First Reading                                  Jonah 3:1-5, 10

After spending three days in a belly of a big fish to run away from God’s call, Jonah decides to carry out God’s plan for Nineveh.  As a result, the people of Nineveh fasted, and God relented his wrath on them. 

Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.