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 as 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: Daniel 12: 1-3
A time of distress will come like never seen before but those who believe will have eternal life.
1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
