Description
Matthew 5:1-12
Set on a hillside near Capernaum, Jesus taught the multitudes about the most important traits in life. Contradictory to the authority, positions, and money that the legalistic rulers and religious leaders valued, the famous Sermon on the Mount spurred the listeners on toward faithful obedience, humility, mercy, and righteousness and called the people with these traits, blessed. Let us be reminded as Colossians 3:2 says, to “Set our minds on things above, and not on earthly things.” As we attempt to live out these kingdom traits, we will face opposition and persecution. But be encouraged— we will be rewarded with supreme blessedness!
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
Happy Day
Ben Cantelon & Tim Hughes, ©2006 Thankyou Music (Admin by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Hosanna (Praise Is Rising)
Paul Baloche & Brenton Brown, ©2005 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
At Your Name
Phil Wickham & Tim Hughes, ©2011 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing), Phil Wickham Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.), Seems Like Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
[Traditional Options]
For All The Saints
BH75 144; BH91 355; CH 767; CHH 637; EH 287; ELW 422; HWC 546; HFG 614; HLC 533; HGP 25; LBW 174; LSB 677; LW 191; NCH 299; PH 526; RH 667; STTL 685; TFWS 2283; WC 751; UMH 711; WAR 529; WHM 597; WIS 310
Today Your Mercy Calls Us
LBW 304; LSB 915; LW 347
Blest Are They
ELW 728; LSB 982; TFWS 2155; WOV 764; WAR 666
Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme
Pastor Praise be to God, our Father, His Son, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit!
ALL Praise the Lord!
Pastor He blesses those who are obedient to Him.
ALL We desire to be your obedient, humble servants, Father.
Pastor As we strive to live lives of righteousness, humility, and obedience, Lord, give us strength. In Your Holy name we pray,
ALL Amen.
Opening Prayer
Pastor Blessed Lord, it’s so easy to shift our focus from you to the things of this world. It’s easy to be seduced by power, money, and indulgences. It’s easy to go with the flow and do whatever is in the style of our culture. But God, you have called us to a much higher standard. You have called us to be a people of righteousness, mercy, humility, love, and obedience. You have also promised us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us and to help us strive toward holiness. This righteous road is not an easy one. You’ve warned us of the persecution that comes with being your followers, but you’ve also promised a great reward! Lord, we want to be your blessed followers. Give us the endurance to run this race.
ALL Give us your strength, Lord. Amen.
Time of Greeting
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor Darkness plagues our hearts and lures us toward sin.
ALL We need a Savior!
Pastor Jesus Christ, our Lord and King, has saved us from our sins! He has forgiven us our
trespasses!
ALL We accept your forgiveness and thank you, Jesus, for your relentless love.
Pastor His love never fails and His mercies are new every single morning!
ALL We thank you for your many blessings, Lord.
Pastor Praise Him for His goodness and His mighty grace!
ALL We praise you, Lord, for your goodness and grace! Amen and Hallelujah!
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Revelation 7: 2-8; 9-17
John explains his vision of what occurs when the sixth seal is opened. 144,000 were sealed from the tribes of Israel, and he sees a great multitude of people from every nation wearing white robes and proclaiming praises before God’s throne.
2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3 “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” 4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000,6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000, 8 from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000. 9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen!” 13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” 14 I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.16 ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
