Description
Mark 9:38-50
You’ve heard the old adage, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” We love this saying because it offers opportunity for the whole truth to be revealed – for someone or something, whether a movie or love interest, to be seen for what or who they truly are. It’s like giving the benefit of the doubt. It is especially helpful when it applies to our own lives. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus exhorts His disciples to give the benefit of the doubt to those praying and driving out impure spirits in His name. We sense Jesus is focused more on the character of Christ and the redeeming power of the refiner’s fire to work in everyone’s lives over the ability of the man driving out demons. Jesus uses salt as a metaphor for purifying our hearts. We must look to what’s inside us, and not to what we think we have to offer. Then we can see ourselves rightly.
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
Soul on Fire
Brenton Brown, David Carr, Mac Powell, Mark Lee, Matt Maher, Tai Anderson, © Songs From The Quarry (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing)
At Your Name
Phil Wickham & Tim Hughes, ©2011 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing), Phil Wickham Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.), Seems Like Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
Salt and Light
Jan L’Ecuyer & John L’Ecuyer, ©2002 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
[Traditional Options]
Savior, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise
BH 75 65; EH 345; ELW 534; HWC 604; HFG 519; LBW 262; LSB 917; LW 221; NCH 80; PH 539; WC 835; UMH 663; WAR 711; WHM 321; WIS 509
Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me
ELW 767; LBW 333; LSB 722; LW 512
Oh, That the Lord Would Guide My Ways
ELW 772; LBW 480; LSB 707; LW 392
Invocation
Leader We come together today to worship our Savior! Surely He is our help, the One who sustains us.
ALL Together we gather in the name of the Lord: In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We join as one body to worship and praise His Holy Name. He will deliver us from all our troubles, Amen!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Leader Heavenly Father, our great Redeemer and Savior,
ALL Open our hearts to hear Your Word today. Grant us fresh eyes for Your Gospel and deep revelation of Your will and ways. We were created to reflect You in all we think, say, and do. Receive our humble confession and worship as offerings of our hearts faith and devotion. We choose to rely on You Father to be the King of our Hearts and the provider of all we need in this life and for all eternity. Use us as You will, Lord. Amen!
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor: Prepare our hearts for your word, Father. Help us to reflect on the truths your Spirit is speaking to each of us today.
ALL Let us acknowledge rightly what You desire for us to hear, and then put into practice what You show us. Show us the true condition of our hearts. We confess not one of us is righteous or worthy of praise and honor. We need You, Lord. It is only because of Your Great Love and Sacrifice we can be free. Refine us by Your love, grace, and mercy. We confess our hypocritical hearts to You. God, forgive us.
Pastor: Jesus has forgiven you this day. Receive fully what He offers by His great love poured out for you on the cross. He didn’t have to die but He chose to because He loves you so. He has sacrificed Himself for you. May your life be a sacrificial thank offering to the Lord. And may you live forgiven, forgiving, and free in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29
Moses pleads with the Lord to remove him from the groaning and complaining of the Israelites. They were dissatisfied with the manna, wailing in want of meat to satisfy their hungry hearts. Moses cannot carry the burden alone and asks for God’s intervention. The Lord listens (hears the prayer), responds (answers the prayer), and handles the situation (takes the burden on Himself).
The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. 6 But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!”
10 Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. 11 He asked the Lord, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their ancestors? 13 Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ 14 I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.” 16 The Lord said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you.
24 So Moses went out and told the people what the Lord had said. He brought together seventy of their elders and had them stand around the tent. 25 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied—but did not do so again. 26 However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders but did not go out to the tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp. 27 A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28 Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!” 29 But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”
