Description
Luke 7:1-10
Jesus is asked to heal a servant of a Roman centurion. This Roman was loved by the people because of his leadership in the midst of occupation. His servant is sick and he shows tremendous care for even those underneath him. A true leader loves the people underneath him. He also knows the authority that Jesus has. When Jesus comes near, the centurion shows tremendous humility, not wanting to put Jesus in an awkward position by having to come into his house. But he also shows tremendous faith because he is fully aware that Jesus has authority over sickness and disease. By just speaking it, Jesus can heal. That is faith that knows the hierarchy of authority. So we must ask the question… is Christ our authority?
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
Glorious One
Steve Fee, ©2006 Worship Together Music | Six Steps BMI Designee (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)Firm Foundation
Nancy Gordon & Jamie Harvill, ©1994 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music & Integrity’s Praise! Music
Here Is Our King
David Crowder, ©2005 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Sixsteps Music (EMI Christian Music Publishing)
[Traditional Options]
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
BH 75 202; BH 91 56; CH 682; CHH 622; EH 690; ELW 618; HWC 51; HFG 608; HLC 448; HGP 363/364; HSP 33; LBW 343; LSB 918; LW 220; NCH 18/19; PH 281; RH 78/79; STTL 96; WC 634; UMH 127; WAR 501; WHM 551; WIS 64/65
Thee Will I Love My Strength My Tower
LBW 502; LSB 694; LW 375
Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me
ELW 755; HLC 446; HGP 374; LBW 334; LSB 715; LW 513; NCH 441; RH 605; UMH 509; WHM 402; WIS 482
Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme
Pastor: O Heavenly Father, we begin this worship service in praise and humble adoration of you.
ALL: Praise to you, O Almighty God.
Pastor: You rule the universe with great splendor and majesty. You have authority over the heavens and the earth. Even the waves and the wind obey your commands.
ALL: Praise to you, O Almighty God.
Pastor: When our lack of faith causes us to sink like Peter, you are there to lift us up and keep us strong in your mighty word.
ALL: Praise to you, O Almighty God.
Pastor: You have called us to gather together, and you have given us the authority to make disciples of all nations.
ALL: Praise to you, O Almighty God.
Pastor: We begin this service in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!
ALL: Amen!
Opening Prayer
Pastor: Almighty God, thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path (Psalm 119:105). It is a word of supreme authority. It compels waters to calm, and it rebukes waves. It has the power to heal, to cure, to make the sick whole and the unclean clean. It has the power to save as the Word made flesh. Through the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it has authority over sin, death, and the power of the devil. It is an authority that works within us through the Holy Spirit, as we spread the good news of the Gospel to the ends of the earth. “To the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen” (Jude 1:25).
ALL: AMEN!
Time of Greeting
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor: O most merciful God, we have acted like we have authority over you.
ALL: Lord have mercy.
Pastor: We have planted seeds of doubt in our faith. These seeds have produced thorny stalks that prevent us from reaching out to you.
ALL: Lord have mercy.
Pastor: We have taken the credit for your authoritative works. We have blamed you when our own sinful actions and inactions have caused things to go awry.
ALL: Lord have mercy.
Pastor: We know you have the authority to condemn us to the temporal and eternal punishment that we deserve. Yet you also have the authority to forgive our sins and make us whole.
ALL: Lord have mercy.
Pastor: For the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter suffering and death of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Renew us and restore us, so that we may once again delight in your will and your ways.
(pause for silent reflection)
Pastor: Our God is a God of great authority, but he is also a God of great mercy, and “mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13b). Upon this your confession, I as a called and ordained servant of the word, announce the grace of God to all of you, and in this stead and by the command of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I proclaim the forgiveness of all your sins. May the good news of his wonderful mercy and salvation carry you through this day and the days to come.
ALL: Thanks be to God!
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading: 1 Kings 8: 22–24, 27–29, 41–43
Solomon prays a powerful prayer as he dedicates the recently completed temple. He prays for God to instill His characteristics of love, mercy,
and justice into the very fabric of the worship life of the people.
2 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven 23 and said: “Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. 24 You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today.
27 “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 28 Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. 29 May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 41 “As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name— 42 for they will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, 43 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.
