Description
John 13:31-35
As Jesus shared with His followers about his upcoming death, He emphasized to them the vital command to love one another as Christ loved them. They did not yet understand that Jesus would be crucified, and that this would define sacrificial love for others. When we sacrificially loving toward others as Christ commanded, we exude the love of Christ, marking us as His disciples.
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
One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)
Brian Johnson, Christa Black, & Jeremy Riddle, ©2010 Bethel Music (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing) Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) ChristaJoy Music Publishing (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing)
Christ Be Magnified
Cody Carnes, Cory Asbury, Ethan Hulse © 2019 Cory Asbury Publishing (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing) Capitol CMG Paragon (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Writer’s Roof Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Be Essential Songs (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC) EGH Music Publishing (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC) Bethel Music Publishing
Faithful Now
Eddie Hoagland | Hank Bentley | Jonathan Smith | Mia Fieldes, © Capitol CMG Amplifier (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing), Every Square Inch (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing), All Essential Music (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC), Be Essential Songs (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC), HBC Worship Music (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC), Hickory Bill Doc (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC), Jingram Music Publishing (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC), So Essential Tunes (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC), Upside Down Under (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)
[Traditional Options]
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
BH 75 58; BH 91 208; CH 648; CHH 517; EH 657; ELW 631; HWC 92; HFG 21; HLC 5; HGP 3; HSP 24; LBW 315; LSB 700; LW 286; NCH 43; PH 376; RH 34; STTL 507; WC 558; UMH 384; WHM 94; WIS 16
What Wondrous Love Is This
BH 75 106; BH 91 143; CH 314; CHH 200; EH 439; ELW 666; HS 98 860; HWC 177; HPW 25; HFG 283; HLC 137; LBW 385; LSB 543; NCH 223; PH 85; RH 90; STTL 245; WC 212; UMH 292; WAR 257; WHM 201
Lord, Thee I Love With All My Heart
ELW 750; LBW 325; LSB 708; LW 413
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Worshipers
We greet you in the name of the Lord.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Feel the love of the Lord meeting you right where you are. Embrace His lovingkindness today.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Heavenly Father, our outward appearances don’t influence Your love for us. Neither does fame or fortune, achievements or accomplishments, or popularity or poor. You love us because You created us. You love us because You made us in Your very image.
Worshipers
How good it is to be loved by the Lord!
Pastor / Worship Leader
Help us to love others like You love us, and in no other way. In the name of Jesus we pray,
Worshipers
Amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
We cannot continue without confessing our sins.
Worshipers
For the Lord’s kindness leads us to repentance.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We admit we fall short of the glory of the Lord.
Worshipers
In the darkness of our hearts, forgive us Lord.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We come to You, Blessed Redeemer, and ask for Your forgiveness.
Worshipers
In His love, we are forgiven and accepted. We are approved by God and loved by Him. Hallelujah! We praise the Lord!
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Acts 11:1-18
Paul shared the vision that God had given to him about Gentiles being granted access to salvation. Those listening began to praise God.
The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6 I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ 8 “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ 10 This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again. 11 “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. 12 The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’ 15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
