Description
Matthew 13:31-33, 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 1 Kings 3:5-12
If God said that you could ask for whatever you want, would you ask for a heart of wisdom just like Solomon did? In Solomon’s request, God was pleased and granted him great wisdom unlike any other king.
5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” 6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. 7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.
