Description

John 18-33-37

Here Jesus stands on trial before Pilate.  What’s really on trial is Truth.  Pilate wants to find an easy way to walk away from Jesus.  He really is after a middle ground where he can believe what he wants to about Jesus without having to declare allegiance to Christ or deny Him.  On Christ the King Sunday, we must ask ourselves the same question as Pilate, “What is truth?”  Will we have an answer or will we walk away and wash our hands?  Will we proclaim Christ king?  Will we deny him?  We see in this exchange with Pilate Jesus leaves no middle ground.

 

… 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

Forever Reign

Jason Ingram, Reuben Morgan  © 2009 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)Sony/ATV Timber Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Sounds LLC)Windsor Hill Music (Admin. by Sony/ATV Sounds LLC)West Main Music (Admin. by Sony/ATV Sounds LLC)

The Lord Reigns

Klaus Kuehn, ©2005 Gateway Create Publishing (Admin. by Integrity’s Praise! Music)

The River Is Rising

Michael W. Smith, ©2008 Smittyfly Music (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.) Word Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)

 

[Traditional Options]

The King Of Love My Shepherd Is      

BH 75 215; CH 683; EH 645/646; ELW 502; HWC 468; HLC 46; LBW 456; LSB 709; LW 412; NCH 248; PH 171/174; UMH 138; WIS 425

Lord, Whose Love Through/In Humble Service

CHH 461; EH 610; ELW 712; HS98 882; HLC 512; LBW 423; LSB 848; UMH 581; WAR 575

Oh, That the Lord Would Guide My Ways       

ELW 772; LBW 480; LSB 707; LW 392

  

Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme

Pastor              We come today in faith in our living Lord.

ALL                  We come, living in the midst of doubts and questions.

Pastor              We come today to worship Christ our King.

All                    Fill us with your Spirit to believe!

Pastor              We gather now in the name of God the Father who created us, Christ who redeemed us in the Holy Spirit who guides us each day.

ALL                  Amen!

  

Opening Prayer

Pastor            Loving Lord Jesus, just as the disciples and those around you struggled to believe, so do we.  We live faced with doubt, questions and struggles.  Just                              Pilate, we ask “What is truth?”  Give us your Holy Spirit now, fill us with your Spirit as we turn to your Holy Word.  Empower us to believe, fill us with                            faith as we seek to live in your grace, the King of Kings, Messiah, Redeemer, Savior. 

ALL                  In Jesus’ …..  Amen. 

 

Time of Greeting

 

Time of Confession and Forgiveness

[Alternate location:  following Message] 

Pastor              We come before you Jesus our sins, our failures, our sinfulness… 

                                                              (silence) 

Pastor              Lord, we confess that we doubt, struggle and question.

All                     We want clear answers in life.

We want to know truth without doubt.

Just like Thomas, we want proof.

Forgive us, for failing so often to live out of faith.  We demand answers to questions.  We want to live out of certainty and fail to trust.

Pastor            Know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords has died, taking the weight of our sins, failures and even our doubts                            and struggles.  He alone rose from the dead and has overcome all that separates us from God.  Experience now the complete forgiveness of your sins                                in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

All                   Amen

  

… We Hear God’s Word …

[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]

 

First Reading:         Dan. 7:9-10, 13-14 

Jesus is the ONLY King – and His kingdom will never pass away.  

 

9 “As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. 10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened. 13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.