Description
John 3:14-21
“God so loved the world.” Probably the most well-known verse in the Bible. Everywhere else in John’s gospel, consistently, the world, or the “cosmos” is depicted in opposition to Jesus Christ. And that’s the case even though in chapter 1 the gospel writer proclaims that God created the world. Now we learn that the God who created the world loves the world. Indeed, God loves the world (not just humans, the created order) so much that God gave God’s only son that we might have everlasting life. But there is a choice which confronts us. We can look up to the light, to Christ glorified on the cross, a symbol and sacrament of God’s love for us and the world, or we can turn away, scuttle into a dark corner and hide, fearful of the light shining in the darkness of the world, the light shining on the darkness of our own lives. As we approach Holy Week and draw nearer to the cross, may the light and love of God shine in our hearts and help us to experience the fullness of God’s love, the fullness of new life in Christ.
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship
[Preservice options include video countdowns, worship song videos, welcomes), CDs, or live music.]
Welcome & Time of Greeting
Pastor / Worship Leader
We welcome you all this morning in the name of Jesus Christ! We gather this morning to worship God, grow in His Word, and join with one another in fellowship and love.
Time of Praise and Worship
God So Loved
Ed Cash, Scott Cash, Franni Cash, Andrew Bergthold, Martin Cash, 2019 We The Kingdom Music, Andrew Bergthold Designee, We The Kingdom ASCAP Designee, Capitol CMG Genesis, Capitol CMG Paragon (Admin by Capitol CMG Publishing)
One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)
Brian Johnson, Christa Black, & Jeremy Riddle, ©2010 Bethel Music (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing) Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) ChristaJoy Music Publishing (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing)
Your Love Awakens
Chris Quilala & Phil Wickham, © Capitol CMG Genesis (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Jesus Culture Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Phil Wickham Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) Seems Like Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) Sing My Songs (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
[Traditional Options]
What Wondrous Love Is This
BH 75 106; BH 91 143; CH 314; CHH 200; EH 439; ELW 666; HS 98 860; HWC 177; HPW 25; HFG 283; HLC 137; LBW 385; LSB 543; NCH 223; PH 85; RH 90; STTL 245; WC 212; UMH 292; WAR 257; WHM 201
Renew Me O Eternal Light
LBW 511; LSB 704; LW 373
O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
BH 75 368; BH 91 292; CH 606; CHH 540; HWC 374; HFG 404; HLC 351; HGP 351; HSP 5; LBW 324; NCH 485; PH 384; RH 93; STTL 474; WC 531; UMH 480; WAR 446; WHM 508; WIS 35
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
This is love.
That you spoke words of comfort, walked with the unclean and unloved, shared wisdom, bread, and wine, brought healing into lives, and challenged the status quo.
Worshipers
God is love. We love because he first loved us.
This is love.
That you spoke the word of God, walked a painful road to the Cross, shared living water, bread of life, brought Salvation to the world and died for the sake of all.
Worshipers
God is love. We love because he first loved us. Amen.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
We praise you loving and eternal God for your love of all people expressed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We praise Lord you for your commitment to justice, your zeal for true worship and your willingness to replace all other sacrifices with the sacrifice of your own life. In Jesus name we offer you our worship.
Worshipers
Amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
God, you loved this world so much that you sent your own son, Jesus Christ to live and die among us, in order that we might have life.
Worshipers
Lord Jesus, you paid the price for my sins so that I might have peace with God.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Forgive us for hiding ourselves from you, for loving darkness more than light, for seeking to be the god of our own lives and forsaking you as Lord.
Worshipers
Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Teach us what it means to live as children of the light, to love you with our whole hearts, to walk in your truth, and obey your word.
Worshipers
Lord Jesus, help me to abide in your light and your love now and always. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Numbers 21:4-9.
In this passage God’s people have become impatient and begin to complain and accuse God and Moses of not meeting their needs adequately. Next thing you know, there are poisonous serpents who begin to bite and kill people. God’s people repent, now recognizing their sin, and God has Moses put a serpent on a stick and hold it up for all to see, that His people might be healed. John quotes this passage in relation to Jesus’ death on a cross, which is for the healing of the world from sin.
From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.” Then the LORD sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD to take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.
