Description
Luke 23:27-43
At the place called the Skull, Jesus Christ was crucified. Bloody, beaten, and mocked by the soldiers and the crowd, they nailed our innocent Lord to the cross in between two criminals. In His pain, words came forth from the mouth of our beautiful Savior: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). “Save yourself! That is… if you are who you say you are,” echoed angry, doubting, spiteful voices. A sign that read, This is the king of the Jews, hung above His thorny crowned head. One criminal joined in on the mockery while the other saw past the crowd and laid eyes on the King; not just the King of the Jews, but of the Gentiles, the criminals, and the whole world. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” the thief pleads in verse 42. You see, although to the crowd it looked as if Jesus’ Kingdom was ending, this criminal had faith that Jesus was who He claimed to be and that His Kingdom was coming. The horrible crucifixion of Jesus brought the wonderful salvation to the world! If you have not yet said yes to the offer of hope through the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, follow the criminal’s example. Repent and put your faith in Jesus today!
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
Lay Me Down
Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram, Jonas Myrin, & Matt Redman, ©2012 A Thousand Generations Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Said And Done Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) SHOUT! Music Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Sixsteps Songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Worship Together Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Sony/ATV Timber Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Sounds LLC) West Main Music (Admin. by Sony/ATV Sounds LLC) Windsor Hill Music (Admin. by Sony/ATV Sounds LLC)
Lord, I Lift Your Name On High
Rick Founds, ©1989 Maranatha! Music (Admin. by Maranatha! Music)
Sing To The King
Billy James Foote, ©2003 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
[Traditional Options]
Praise To The Lord, The Almighty
BH 75 10; BH 91 14; CH 210; CHH 25; EH 390; ELW 858; HWC 8; HPW 1; HFG 337; HLC 43; HGP 2; HSP 1; LBW 543; LSB 790; LW 444; PH 482; RH 6; STTL 20; WC 77; UMH 139; WAR 71; WHM 24; WIS 3
O God of God, O Light of Light
LBW 536; LSB 810; LW 83
Lift High The Cross
BH 91 594; CH 450; CHH 108; EH 473; ELW 660; HWC 304; HLC 141; LBW 377; LSB 837; LW 311; NCH 198; PH 371; STTL 237; WC 229; UMH 159; WAR 28; WHM 221
Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme
Pastor King of Kings, you are ruler over all.
ALL You are Lord over everything!
Pastor It is with gladness that we exalt your holy name, recognize your sovereignty, and bow our thankful hearts to you.
ALL We praise you, honor you, and lift you high, Almighty God!
Pastor In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
ALL Amen!
Opening Prayer
Pastor Lord, as we ponder the mystery of the cross today, help us remember that this event isn’t something that just occurred years ago. Instead, let us feel the weight of sin lifted from our lives, the burdens of this world given over to you, and let us know the power of your wonderful grace freely given to us because of your sacrifice.
ALL In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Time of Greeting
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor Yes, we were once lost, but have been found by the Lord of love.
ALL Your love is wider and deeper than the biggest ocean!
Pastor We confess our sins to you, known and unknown, for we are sinners.
(Allow time for personal reflection, confession, and prayer)
Pastor Lord Jesus, you forgave the thief on the cross. You forgave your persecutors. You
forgave the Pharisees, and you forgave us. In our wayward sinful ways, make our paths
right and straight. We accept your forgiveness and thank you for the love you show to us
even in our darkest hours.
ALL We thank you for loving us while we were still sinners. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Malachi 3:13-18
Israel speaks arrogantly against God, but the faithful remnant feared the Lord.
13 “You have spoken arrogantly against me,” says the Lord. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against you?’ 14 “You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty? 15 But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly evildoers prosper, and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it.’” 16 Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name. 17 “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. 18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.
