Description
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Jesus shared the Parable of the Sower and the Soils. He described the conditions of the listeners’ hearts from being hardened, never taking root, choked out, or those prepared to receive the Gospel and producing an abundant harvest. How we experience God can depend upon the condition of our hearts. What’s the condition of your heart?
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
King of My Heart
John Mark McMillan & Sarah McMillan, © Meaux Jeaux Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Raucous Ruckus Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) McMillan, Sarah (Admin. by Moniker Music Group)
Open The Eyes Of My Heart
Paul Baloche, ©1997 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
Refiner’s Fire
Brian Doerksen, ©1990 Vineyard Songs Canada (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) ION Publishing (Admin. by Vineyard Music USA)
*I want to be holy…Text adapted with permission by Mercy/Vineyard Publishing
[Traditional Options]
Hark The Voice of Jesus Calling
BH 91 591; HFG 669; HLC 493; LBW 381; LSB 826/827; LW 318; RH 365
Now All The Vault of Heaven Resounds
ELW 367; LBW 143; LSB 465; LW 131
Faith and Truth and Life Bestowing
LSB 584
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
This is the Lord’s day. Let’s rejoice together and be glad!
Worshipers
This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, we come to You with gladness that we can praise You and You hear us. We can sing with our voices and clap with our hands just like the trees of the fields. You water the earth with rain and You are the living water that quenches our thirsty souls. You have given us new life through Jesus. We ask You to take root in our hearts and make us a fruitful people. It’s in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth that we pray.
Worshipers
Amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Forgiving Father, we approach Your throne knowing full well that we are stained with sin.
Worshipers
The conditions of our hearts vary from hardened to soft, from stubborn to obedient, and from prideful to humble.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We ask that You, Lord, would till our hearts so that the good seeds you plant in us would grow strong and healthy. We desire to be a spiritually nourished and be a healthy body so that we may impact the Kingdom of Heaven.
Worshipers
Where there is hardness, give us a heart of flesh. Where there is pride, uproot the evil and replace it with Your love. We ask that You’d forgive us for allowing the seeds of bitterness, strife, envy, and lust to grow and fester in us. By the shed blood of Jesus, cover us, free us, replace in us Your life.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We accept Your forgiveness and grace. Help us to walk in the light of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Isaiah 55:10-13
Just as the rain and snow nourish the earth, so the Word of the Lord nourishes His people with eternal life. God’s people will go out rejoicing and in peace at the everlasting triumph of God’s grace.
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. 12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.”
