Description
John 17:1-11
In His final prayer, Jesus prays for Himself and then prays for His disciples. Jesus completed His mission on earth to glorify the Father. He taught His disciples that knowing God is not confined to intellectual knowledge, but comes from relational intimacy with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit unified as One. This is eternal life- to know God and thus give Him all glory.
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship
[Preservice options include video countdowns, worship song videos, welcomes), CDs, or live music.]
Welcome & Time of Greeting
Time of Praise and Worship
Here I Am To Worship
Tim Hughes, ©2001 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music
Build Your Kingdom Here
Rend Collective Experiment, ©2011 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing
Break Every Chain
Will Reagon, © 2009 United Pursuit Music
[Traditional Options]
O Christ, Our True and Only Light aka O Christ, Our Light, O Radiance True
ELW 675; LBW 380; LSB 839; LW 314
He Who Began A Good Work In You
CH 537; TFWS 2163
I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus
CH 582; HWC 346; HFG 73; HLC 330; LBW 460; LSB 729; LW 408; WC 524; WHM 451
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
The night before Jesus died, He took time to pray for His disciples. If Jesus were to pray for you right now in this moment, what do you think He would ask for on Your behalf? Would He give thanks to the God for creating you? Would He pray about your secret sins, your broken heart, or the struggles you just can’t seem to overcome? Or do you think He would pray for protection, unity, and for you to truly know God the Father just like He did for His disciples?
Worshipers
We want to know God intimately. Eternal life with Him is our reward!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Let us pray to the Lord who hears.
Worshipers
Lord Jesus, just as you modeled for us, we pray. We ask that Your will be done on this earth as it is done in Heaven.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We ask that You would be glorified in our lives so that when people look at us, they see You. We pray that You would do Your transformative work in us to mold us into Your likeness even more.
Worshipers
We need more of You, Lord, and less of me. We humbly ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, we follow Your lead and pray. We don’t always trust You. We don’t always live by Your power. We ask that You would forgive us for seeking out our own strength and will above Yours. We
Worshipers
We know we are supposed to pray, but there are times when prayer is our last resort. Forgive us for forsaking You. Forgive us for our arrogance.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We need Your forgiveness, Jesus. We need Your grace. We cannot live the life that You meant for us without it.
Worshipers
Help us, Lord, to trust You with everything. Help us Lord to walk as free children of God, marked by the power of Your Holy Spirit.
Pastor / Worship Leader
In the name of Christ we pray, Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Acts 1:12-26
Jesus ascended into Heaven after commissioning His disciples to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth. With Judas being dead, the disciples cast lots and chose Matthias to take his place.
12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alpheus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. 15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, “Brothers and sisters,[d] the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.” 18 (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms: “‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, “‘May another take his place of leadership.’ 21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” 23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
