Description
John 6:56-69
Jesus lays out the simple plain truth to his disciples and some respond by no longer following Him! He clearly says that “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me”- and they found it to be hard to accept. So, the “truth telling “Truth-Teller” says His words are full of life and the Spirit. He laid down the gauntlet on purpose; creating a “line in the sand” for the disciples and each of us today! Jesus also said that only those that the Father has drawn to Himself can accept this “hard teaching”. How do these words of Jesus, the truth telling Truth-Teller” strike you today? Do you receive these words as the truth? Do you believe that Jesus is the “Truth-Teller” who is telling you the truth?
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
10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)
Matt Redman & Jonas Myrin, ©2011 Thankyou Music, Said And Done Music , sixsteps, Music SHOUT! Publishing (admin EMI CMG Publishing)
Today Is The Day
Lincoln Brewster & Paul Baloche, ©2008 Integrity’s Praise! Music; Integrity’s Hosanna! Music; Leadworship Songs (Admin. by Integrity Music, Inc.)
Come Thou Fount, Come Thou King
Robert Robinson & Thomas Miller, ©2005 Gateway Create Publishing (Admin. by Integrity’s Praise! Music)
[Traditional Options]
Blessed Jesus, At Your Word
EH 440; ELW 520; LBW 248; LSB 904; NCH 74; PH 454; UMH 596
Come Thou Fount of Ev’ry Blessing
BH75 12,13; BH 91 15, 18; CH 11; CHH 16; EH 686; ELW 807; HS98 876; HWC 2; HPW 4; HFG 318; HLC 28; HGP 9; HSP 16; LBW 499; LWB 686; NCH 459; PH 356; RH 11; STTL 51; WC 45; UMH 400; WAR 68; WHM 30; WIS 62
Christ the Eternal Lord
LSB 829; WAR 339
Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme
Pastor We see the impact of Jesus’ words in Biblical times as being controversial and sometimes divisive. He knew the words He spoke would not be understood or received by everyone. Some things have not changed much since those days. May we, His modern-day disciples open our hearts and minds and gain understanding through His Word that He draws us closer to Himself.
ALL Amen!
Opening Prayer
Pastor We make our beginning in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen. Lord, Heavenly Father, in the Name of Jesus we come this day to worship. We intentionally made efforts to meet together. With fellow believers we gather to worship You and to hear Your Words that You would have for us today. May You Holy Spirit speak to our hearts.
ALL In Jesus’ Name we pray….. Amen.
Time of Greeting Greet one another with this exhortation: “May your worship and hearing of the Word draw you closer to God today.”
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor Our Almighty God, You know us and our lives. Clean up our hearts and minds by your example. We will try to love you – to show you what You are through the things we say and do, by the power of Christ’s life, death and resurrection.
ALL Amen.
Pastor We have to stop being egotistical – to sometimes go against society – and be honest with ourselves. Fortunately, if we admit to these sins, God, who is a constant and reliable source for every need and the ultimate judge of all truth, will forgive us for all the ways we turn against Him and give us a fresh start.
(Silence for reflection and self-examination)
Pastor Most merciful God,
ALL we admit that we are prone to sin and we need your help to free us. Every day of our lives we sin against You with our actions and our inability to act, as well as our hurtful words of painful silence – we continually drop the ball – sin has consumed our lives and there are a lot of things we have not done but should be doing to glorify Your name. We have held back from loving You fully. We have focused on loving ourselves, and with what we have left, we have not reached out to our neighbors. Your Son sacrificed and died for us. Show us Your mercy, forgive our sins, refresh our hearts and guide us through our days. We do love You and want to be like You. We are thankful for Your grace so that our sins do not permanently separate us from You.
ALL Amen.
Pastor We are in need of a savior – in need of mercy – and God provided Jesus who loves us so much He died for us. Through Jesus’ love, God has forgiven all our sins. If you have faith, you belong to God’s family and have been sealed with the Holy Spirit
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Joshua 24:1-2a; 14-18
From this portion of Joshua comes the famous phrase, “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord”. The tribes of Israel were emphatically announcing their allegiance to serve their God.
Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.2 Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your forefathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the River and worshiped other gods. 14 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” 16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods! 17 It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our fathers up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18 And the Lord drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God.
