Description
John 6:51-69
In today’s reading, Jesus continues his discourse on the Bread of Life, and now his audience begins to dwindle because instead of food, Jesus is feeding them a hard truth. The crowds have gone from gratitude to grumbling, from satisfaction to skepticism. He had given them, “a hard teaching.” But it wasn’t hard because they could not understand him, it was because the truth Jesus speaks is downright offensive to our old, sinful nature, and that’s the point. When the picture of discipleship Jesus painted got too graphic for their tastes, they turned away. When his words upset the comfortable and familiar way they thought things ought to be, they gave up. And, as in the Exodus story, the issue is not simply the grumbling of the people but the lack of trust in God that it represents. The Greek word pisteuo is a common word in John that is usually translated “believe.” However, its more common meaning is to “trust or rely upon someone”. So the belief of which Jesus speaks is not a cognitive one, not merely a mental assent, but, rather, an issue of trust. Pisteuo never occurs in the form of a noun. It is always a verb in John. Faith is not something you have but something you do. For Peter, this profound tension was the beginning point of deep faith. Faced with the scandal of reliance on the very body and blood of Jesus, Peter found himself abiding in Christ. John 6 makes it clear that the Gospel is hard. It’s offensive. The love of Christ is far more than we could ever believe or imagine. And confronted with that reality, we are shaken to the core. But Jesus not only speaks out and challenges us in the tension, He allows us to sit with it, too. The good news of Jesus Christ is that the scandal of our sin is no match for the scandal of God’s self-giving love. The most amazing news of all is that the Word was made flesh and dwelled among us. The good news of the Gospel is that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus – nothing. Will we be offended, or will we believe?
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
Good morning! We welcome you today in the name of Jesus Christ!
Time of Praise and Worship
You Are The Way
Ben Smith | Daniel Bashta | Pat Barrett, © Heritage Worship Publishing (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing) Capitol CMG Genesis (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Housefires Sounds (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Go Forth Sounds (Admin. by Heritage Worship Publishing) Bread & Wine Sounds (Admin. by Watershed Music Publishing)
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
Chris Tomlin, John Newton, & Louie Giglio, ©2006 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Vamos Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
All The Way My Savior Leads Me
Chris Tomlin | Fanny Jane Crosby | Matt Redman | Robert S. Lowry, © 2008 Vamos Publishing | worshiptogether.com songs | sixsteps Music | Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
[Traditional Options]
Just As I Am
BH 75 186,187; BH 91 303,307; CH 488; CHH 339; EH 693; ELW 592; HWC 342; HPW 40; HFG 417; HLC 260; HGP 221; HSP 300; LBW 296; LSB 570; LW 359; NCH 207; PH 370; RH 275; STTL 343; WC 445; UMH 357; WAR 354; WHM 497; WIS 232
Speak, O Lord, Your Servant Listens
LSB 589; LW 339
Come Unto Me Ye Weary
LSB 684; LW 345
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
God comes into a world filled with uncertainties and darkness.
Worshipers
God seeks out the voids of belief and conviction.
Pastor / Worship Leader
God embraces the wounded and broken.
Worshipers
God knocks down the walls of division and strife.
Pastor / Worship Leader
God is the candle shining in the darkness of our days.
Worshipers
God is the light of our lives.
Pastor / Worship Leader
God is the one who makes all things new.
Worshipers
Praise be to God, now and forevermore! Amen.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
You are the God who makes extravagant promises. We relish Your great promises of fidelity and presence and solidarity, and we exude in them. Only to find out, always too late, that Your promise always comes in the midst of a hard, deep call to obedience. You are the God who calls people like us, and the long list of mothers and fathers before us, who trusted the promise enough to keep the call. So we give You thanks that You are a calling God, who always calls us to dangerous new places. We pray enough of Your grace and mercy among us that we may be among those who believe Your promises enough to respond to Your call. We pray in the name of the one who embodied Your promise and enacted Your call, even Jesus.
Worshipers
Amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Generous God whose giving knows neither measure nor end, We confess that all too often we have kept our own hearts, hands and minds firmly closed. Forgive us for those times when our own wants and wishes have filled the horizon to the exclusion of all else, and made us blind and deaf to the needs and concerns of others. Forgive us for those moments when the fear that sharing what we have will lead to our own impoverishment, has kept us silent and still when those around us are in need. Forgive us for those situations when seeing only a problem rather than daring to dream a solution, has left us fettered and powerless where we might have been building Your Kingdom. Forgive us Father. Help us to transcend self-centeredness, greed, and fear and to always to feel, think and act as those who know the hope that is rooted in the generous giving of God.
Worshipers
Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Proverbs 9:1–10
Wisdom is pictured here as a woman who has constructed a building and set up food and drink and sends out an open invitation to come and partake of what she is offering. When we need wisdom, we need only ask.
1 Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars. 2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. 3 She has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point of the city, 4 “Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she say 5 “Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. 6 Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.” 7 Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. 8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. 9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning. 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
