Description
Matthew 13:44-52
The Kingdom of Heaven was described by Jesus in parables that appealed to the many different members of His audiences. Some were farmers, fishermen, bakers, and merchants. In this week’s Gospel passage, we are encouraged to seek the Kingdom of God like we would seek a precious treasure. Just like the tiny mustard seed, we continue to grow in stature as we seek Him. We join in casting our nets with the fishermen and are raised with Christ just like leaven causes bread to rise.
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
Build Your Kingdom Here
Rend Collective Experiment, ©2011 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
My Savior My God
Aaron Shust & Dorothy Dora Greenwell, ©2005 Bridge Building Music, Inc. (Admin. By Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Cool Springs Blvd., Franklin TN 37067
Sing Sing Sing
Chris Tomlin, Daniel Carson, Jesse Reeves, Matt Gilder, & Travis Nunn, ©2008 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Vamos Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Shadow Rock Music (Admin. by Music Services
[Traditional Options]
I Love Your Kingdom, Lord
BH 75 240; BH 91 354; CH 405; EH 524; HWC 280; HFG 545; HLC 203; HGP 168; HSP 189; LBW 368; LSB 651; LW 296; NCH 312; PH 441; RH 330; WC 702; UMH 540; WAR 549; WHM 349; WIS 311
O Jesus King Most Wonderful
HLC 73; LBW 537; LSB 554; LW 274
God of Grace and God of Glory
BH 75 265; BH 91 395; CH 435; CHH 464; EH 594,595; ELW 705; HWC 292; WFG 528; HLC 466; LBW 415; LSB 850; LW 398; NCH 436; PH 420; STTL 720; WC 669; UMH 577; WAR 569; WHM 332
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Here and now, the Lord is King over our lives.
Worshipers
Here and now the Kingdom of God is at hand. Lord, open our eyes.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, we seek You first above all else. We pursue Your righteousness. Show us Your holy ways that we may follow. Enlighten our hearts that we may understand your truths.
Worshipers
Lord, give us this treasure- Your Kingdom- that we may cherish and grasp it now. Sustain us on earth as we await our eternal destiny with You. Hallelujah, Lord! We ask this now, amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Father, full of grace and truth, we approach You boldly only because of the forgiveness provided through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We do not approach You out of our own strength, but only the strength and confidence of our redemption through Jesus. Lord, we repent of our evil ways.
Worshipers
We repent of our dates with temptations and the sin that was birthed after. We repent of living out of our fleshly desires and not keeping in step with the Holy Spirit.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We humbly ask for Your forgiveness and the desire of righteousness to dwell within us. Awaken us to Your will for our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Deuteronomy 7:6-9
The Lord called His people His treasured possession. The Kingdom of God is like a treasure we find when we seek God who is faithful to a thousand generations.
6 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.7 The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. 8 But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
