What You See Makes A Difference-Twenty first Sunday after Pentecost-LCMS Readings

Description

Luke 17:11-19 

Isn’t it interesting when we gather several people together, how many diverse views emerge when discussing a subject? Often, we hear others point out something that we had not thought about before.  We might say, “I see what you are saying” or “I never looked at it that way before.”  We also bring views and experiences to the table that others haven’t seen as well. What we SEE in life will have a large bearing on how we live and respond. You can have ten people look at the same painting and it may only be one that sees the most important message in that work of art. In the story before us, it is the tenth leper who REALLY SEES as he turns back to Jesus. He is the one out of ten who responds in praise and is not only healed, but made whole. What you see does make a difference!

 

… 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

Nothing Is Impossible

Jonathan Hunt © 2008 Planet Shakers Ministries Int. Inc. (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

Open The Eyes Of My Heart

Paul Baloche, ©1997 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music

Song of Hope (Heaven Come Down)

Chase Jenkins, Dan Hamilton, Robbie Seay, Ryan Owens, Taylor Johnson, Tedd Tjornhom, ©2007 Birdwing Music (a div. of EMI Christian Music Publishing) Meaux Hits (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Tedasia Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

[Traditional Options]

O Worship The King   

BH 75 30; BH 91 16; CH 104; CHH 17; EH 388; ELW 842; HWC 10; HPW 13; HFG 336; HLC 21; HGP 1; HSP 6; LBW 548; LSB 804; LW 458;  NCH 26; PH 476; RH 5; STTL 64; WC 29; UMH 73; WAR 2; WHM 14; WIS 6

The Lord, My God, Be Praised

LSB 794; LW 174

O Bless The Lord My Soul

EH 411; LBW 538; LSB 814; LW 457; WC 71

 

 

Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme

 

Pastor              We come together to worship in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

 

ALL                  Amen!

 

 

Opening Prayer

 

Pastor              Faithful and loving God, we join together as one body in Christ, giving thanks for how You revealed Yourself to the disciples and others through healing, acts of mercy, love, and forgivness. You opened their eyes through the ministry of Jesus, the clear revelation of who You are in the world. As You strengthened the faith of the disciples through Your ministry on this earth and helped them see, help us to see in a clearer way. Give us powerful vision so that we can accomplish Your will for us on earth. Open our eyes and hearts to Your word and help us to act on it. We now turn to You and give You praise, honor and glory for who You are and what You have done for us.

 

ALL                  In unwavering faith, we pray this in Jesus’ name.  Amen.   

 

 

Time of Greeting 

 

Time of Confession and Forgiveness

 

Pastor              God of promise and faithfulness, You revealed Your love and care for us through Jesus.   He is the light that has come into the darkness of this world filled with sin and despair. What we see is so telling when it comes to our faith in Jesus. We confess that at times, we see God as a stern judge rather than a loving parent. At times, we see ourselves as  failures rather than beloved children of God. Often, we see in front of us uncertain fear rather than a horizon of potential and hope. We know this causes us to respond and act in ways which are contrary to Your will and design for us. We are sorry that our sight has been blurred by our cynical attitudes and the ways of the world. Break forth into our lives with your radiant beams of light so that we will recognize You and respond by praising and glorifying Your name.

 

(A time of personal reflection and confession)

 

ALL                  Lord God, we know what we have done and are sorry for our offenses. We openly lay our sins before You and with a contrite heart, and humbly ask You to forgive us.   We confess that we have lost sight of who You are and have been blinded by our own doubts and behavior. We haven’t adequately thanked You when you bring healing and restoration to our lives.

 

Pastor              Trust now what it says in the Word of God:   “If we confess our sins, He who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. As a called minister and servant of Christ, know without a doubt that your sins are forgiven. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

 

  

… We Hear God’s Word …

[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]

 

First Reading                      Ruth 1:1-19a

 

Ruth, a Moabite, had tremendous love for her mother in law, Naomi, and displayed her loyalty by staying with her.  She also had a deep faith in God whom she worshiped.

 

1 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. ² The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there. ³ Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. ⁴ They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, ⁵ both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband. ⁶ When Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. ⁷ With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah. ⁸ Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. ⁹ May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.” Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud ¹⁰ and said to her, “We will go back with you to your people.” ¹¹ But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? ¹² Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— ¹³ would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord’s hand has turned against me!” ¹⁴ At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her. ¹⁵ “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” ¹⁶ But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. ¹⁷ Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” ¹⁸ When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. ¹⁹ So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”